Our next opponents: Plain speaking and a new captain

Position

It was a chance for Hannover 96 to move into the play-off spot but ended with a disaster at VfB Stuttgart. The match against a direct rival from Swabia ended in a 5-1 defeat, a result as clear as the words expressed after the final whistle. "I've been in the game for a long time but I've never seen a performance like that," said coach Thomas Doll (pictured above), who was appointed at the end of January to prevent the team from Lower Saxony being relegated. "The way we performed had nothing to do with the Bundesliga. Everybody involved with Hannover 96 can only be ashamed," said the coach immediately after the game. The position for Hannover 96 has clearly worsened since the defeat at Stuttgart. A two-point gap to the play-off position of 16th has now increased to five points and seven of the last eight games have ended in defeat. Straight after the match, Doll announced he would take immediate action and that started the next day. The 52-year-old coach cancelled the day off in the week before the game against Bayer 04.

Personnel

But that was not the only measure: Doll laid down another marker on Tuesday when he made Marvin Bakalorz the new captain, taking the armband off Waldemar Anton who had been the youngest captain in the Bundesliga at the age of 22. "He took it with relief in this situation," said Doll in describing the discussions with the central defender. As Bakalorz has not been an established first choice recently, it could be good that Doll has chosen the goalkeeper Michael Esser as the new vice-captain and he will lead the team onto the pitch against Bayer 04. In spite of conceding eleven goals in the last three games, Esser has mainly been the best player for Hannover this term. Doll is currently unable to call on a number of key players. The most dangerous striker, Niclas Füllkrug, Is sidelined for the rest of the season and the flanks are not currently occupied to the best possible level due to the absence through injury of Ihlas Bebou, Linton Maina and Noah Sarenren Bazee. Bebou, one of the most important players in Hannover's attack, is training again after a long period on the sidelines but the match against the Werkself could come too early for the Togo international. The relatively long injury list at the Lower Saxony club is completed by midfielder Edgar Prib plus the defenders Matthias Ostrzolek, Timo Hübers and Kevin Akpoguma. Defender Oliver Sorg picked up a fifth yellow card at Stuttgart and is suspended for the game against Bayer 04.

Problems

The absence of Sorg heightens the defensive problems for the Doll team. After the Stuttgart game, Hannover now have the weakest defence in the Bundesliga with 55 goals conceded to date and over the recent weeks the team has lacked organisation and discipline at times. In addition, the defence now almost selects itself due to the number of injuries. As well as Anton, who has recently played in holding midfield, only Felipe, Kevin Wimmer and Josip Elez are options for midfield, Miiko Albornoz and Julian Korb the only full backs available. The background of mounting problems in defence is not an ideal starting point.

Potential

The quality of the squad is currently compromised by the number of players on the injury list but the potential is still there. Above all, the home-grown players provide hope for the future at Hannover 96. Central defender Anton forced his way into the squad as a first choice and leading player at a young age, the two  currently injured wingers Maina and Sarenren Bazee have also shown their great potential  and are currently sorely missed. All three players come from the club's youth set-up and they should play a leading role in the next few years at Hannover.

Prediction

The clear defeat at Stuttgart and the furore after the game could act as a warning for the team – and it should do. If Hannover 96 are to avoid relegation from the top flight then there has to be a change of fortune in the coming weeks. The gap to the play-off spot can still be bridged but performances and results must change as quickly as possible. Another decisive factor in the mission to stay up is whether the injury list shortens quickly  and the returnees  are able to rediscover their best form.