Jiri Pavlenka is certainly having the better of Werder Bremen’s two goalkeeper transfers this season, after a hugely roller-coaster ride, as pointed out by Nordwest Zeitung on Saturday.
Felix Wiedwald had been in goal for the Bundesliga side and done well there over the second half of last season, so when manager Alexander Nouri decided to replace the German with a Czech, it didn’t go down too well.
Wiedwald upped sticks and went to Leeds United, with it being widely seen as a good signing for the Championship club, something they’d done well to pull off. The German started well, and Pavlenka faltered, which made everything even more ‘controversial’, Nouri’s judgement was questioned and as Bremen struggled, the manager’s tenure was cut short.
Now Pavlenka is riding high and getting praise all over Germany, and Wiedwald has been stuck on the Leeds United bench for the past month. Whereas earlier in the season, Wiedwald’s move looked the right decision, and Nouri’s decision was questioned, now it’s all completely different from a German perspective.
It must hurt somewhat for Wiedwald to know he’s dropped from being Bremen’s first choice, and impressing, to sitting on the bench watching Andy Lonergan for past the past few weeks.
Of course, there’s still time for everything to turn on its head again, but it may have been wiser, and fairer, for Leeds United manager Thomas Christiansen to have stuck with the German.
Wiedwald started for Leeds against Barnsley and did nothing wrong as the Whites got a win, whilst Pavlenka had a below average games as Bremen lost 2-0 to RB Leipzig.
There’s chance for Wiedwald to enjoy the last laugh.
