Team Focus: New Signings Bring New Style to Gladbach

The summer of 2012/13 was certainly an eventful one for Borussia Mönchengladbach as Lucien Favre saw arguably his three best outfielders in Roman Neustädter, Dante and, most notably, Marco Reus head for the exit door. As a reaction the Swiss coach brought in eye-catching new recruits in the form of Luuk de Jong, Granit Xhaqa and Álvaro Domínguez, but it's fair to say none really hit the ground running as desired.

Though the latter formed a decent enough partnership with the experienced Martin Stranzl by the end of the campaign, with the side keeping 4 of their 9 clean sheets in the months of March and April, Xhaka and de Jong would be in and out of the side. The duo cost in excess of €20m but started just 15 and 17 league games respectively, though the Dutchman did end as the side's joint top scorer. Therein lied the problem for the foals however, with de Jong's meagre tally of 6 league goals only matched by hot prospect Patrick Herrmann.

In Europe's top 5 leagues last season only relegated Furth and Pescara saw their respective top scorers (4 and 5) register worse league tallies. It's a problem that Favre has acted on and while this summer's window at Borussia-Park was quieter than the last, the signings - this time around - have had an immediate impact.

The acquisition of Max Kruse from Freiburg was extremely astute, with the versatile forward capable of linking up a team's midfield and attack from an advanced position, which is an area where Gladbach have struggled in recent seasons. Former front men such as Mike Hanke and Igor de Camargo, who both left the club this summer, were neither real goal getters or had the technical ability that the 25-year old possesses, with his performances last term - netting 11 goals and picking up 8 assists - earning Kruse an international call-up.

He's now the third choice striker behind the vastly experienced Klose and Gomez, and when the former does eventually retire Kruse looks as though he may have an important role to play for Joachim Löw's side. He's began this season where he left off last, netting twice in his first 4 starts - in impressive wins over Hannover and Werder Bremen - as well as picking up an assist in the latter. A pass success rate of 87.4% thus far highlights his ability to keep the ball in advanced positions and bring others into play, not least fellow newcomer Raffael.

The Brazilian was reunited with Lucien Favre for the third time this summer with Gladbach's head coach having taken the Brazilian with him from Zurich to Hertha Berlin. After an unsuccessful spell in Ukraine with Dynamo Kiev the 28-year old returned to the Bundesliga with Schalke on loan in January and despite impressing at the Veltins-Arena they decided not to sign him on a permanent basis. That was despite the fact that Raffael picked up the third most assists at the club (5) having only started 7 of his 16 league appearances.

Schalke's apparent loss has been Gladbach's immediate gain. The playmaker has a goal and assist to his name already, and only 4 players have completed more dribbles thus far (14). The Brazilian's ability on the ball and attacking threat is clear but it's his quality in linking play with the equally impressive Kruse, having completed the most accurate through balls in the league (3), that has seen the biggest change in Gladbach's playing style. His 90.4% pass accuracy is remarkable for a player in such an attacking position.

Last season Favre's men averaged just 64.1 accurate passes in the final third per game, ranking them 13th in the division. This time around, with Kruse and Raffael in their ranks, that average has rocketed to 95.8, which is a figure that only Bayern and Dortmund can better. In terms of the overall accuracy of those passes a leap from 59.3% last season to 72.7% so far this means that only Guardiola's men have connected with a higher percentage thus far this season.

While it's a very small sample size, and one must take a side's opponents into account in turn, their standings become all the more impressive when you do so. Comfortable 3-goal margin victories at home to Hannover and Werder Bremen are not to be sniffed at while their two away matches thus far have come at Bayern and Leverkusen, having put up an impressive fight on each occasion.

The fact that Gladbach's average figures in terms of possession (54.3%) and pass accuracy (86.9%) have risen so significantly - from 48.9% and 78.3% respectively - across such tough matches is a great indication of the development this season. That pass accuracy figure is another only beaten by Bayern in the Bundesliga and is aided in no small part by another new addition at the club, with Leverkusen youngster Christoph Kramer slotting straight into the side following a two year loan deal. The 22-year old has been extremely assured in possession, averaging more passes per game than any teammate (65.5) with an exceptional 91.2% accuracy thus far.

It's no surprise that this summer's trio of additions are the top rated players at the club this season, with Kramer (7.49), and to a greater extent Kruse (7.91) and Raffael (8.22) having had a sensational start at Borussia-Park. Favre knows his team very well now and has fielded the same starting XI in every game. The fact that seven of those eleven are aged 25 and under bodes well for a brighter and far more attractive future after a mediocre 2012/13 season.