One of the greatest goal scorers in 2. Bundesliga is at it again this season as he showcases once again why he is not only too good for Germany’s second tier, but the underlying issue of not being quite good enough for the Bundesliga. Set to turn 31 in March, Simon Terodde is well-known in the lower league. A perennial goal scorer who has made it a regular habit of scoring plenty of goals with relative ease as he already has 22 league goals in just 17 appearances.
A phoenix rising from the ashes
Terodde has bounced around all of Germany in the pursuit of getting his opportunity in the Bundesliga. Unsuccessful stints at Fortuna Düsseldorf and MSV Duisburg left Terodde’s career on the precipice of collapsing. But a stint at Köln II was able to resurrect his drive and he was deserving in another stint in the 2. Bundesliga with Union Berlin on the call. Three seasons in Germany’s East welding a return of 25 goals in 93 appearances in all competitions. A poor final season meant that Terodde was gone and VfL Bochum would be his new home.
A new system and a change of fortune, after only five league goals with Union Berlin in the previous season. Terodde was a man possessed finding the back of the net on 16 occasions which included the Bocholt native scoring six goals in the opening four fixtures of the season. He would then follow that up with an incredible 25 goals in the 15/16 season which gifted Terodde the 2. Bundesliga Torschützenkönige for the first time. This would be a feat he would repeat the following season at Stuttgart as he’d help the Swabians gain promotion.
However, his time one and only season in the Bundesliga was a struggle with Terodde only finding the back of the net just the five times. A situation which saw Stuttgart bring in Mario Gomez from Wolfsburg with Terodde leaving to join Köln. Back in his natural habitat, Terodde has thrived in a more familiar surrounding.
Fox in the Box
Terodde is seen as a traditional number nine, someone who can be relied onto be in the right position at the right times. It’s no mistake that he has 22 league goals this season, but it is the variety of ways that Terodde has found the back of the net which has been the most impressive factor
In this scenario, Köln’s patience in possession leads to a Simon Terodde goal just before half time. Dominick Drexler has possession on the by-line inside the 18-yard box. Philipp Ziereis has the job of man marking Simon Terodde. However, with Ziereis drawn to the ball Terodde allows his opponent to defend Drexler which leaves Köln’s number nine in plenty of space inside the danger area. Without much fuss Terodde coverts.
Once again, his predatory instincts are on display against Dynamo Dresden. Whilst the defending is admittedly poor, Terodde does what is necessary to tuck the ball away. A total of four Dresden defenders are drawn in by the ball carrier whilst Terodde has a paddock to be well positioned for when the ball is played to him. It’s been a common theme with his goals scored this season. The ability to find plenty of space inside the penalty area and with defenders drawn to player in position it makes for easy pickings for Terodde.
All in the head
Of the 22 goals scored this season, a surprising 10 have come from headers. Not only is Terodde clinical with his feet but he is a strong finisher with his head. This comes down to great positioning, the timing of his run and jump as well as a strong goal presence.
Above, Köln had a comfortable cushion against then 6th placed Greuther Fürth with Markus Anfang’s side continuing to attack against a struggling defence. Jhon Cordoba finds Jannes Horn on the edge of the penalty spot. Simon Terodde has drifted into the penalty spot at the back post with the Fürth defender giving him a bit of space but not enough to be troubled if his fellow defencemen can defuse a quick ball in. Horn doesn’t hesitate to cross first time which immediately favours Terodde who is in impeccable position. His opponent is under the ball and Terodde has a good run at it.
Goalkeeper Sascha Burchert covers his near post well meaning the only real way to score would be at the Furth shot stopper’s back post. The difficulty of the shot is high and anything doesn’t find the top or bottom corner would be dealt with by Burchert. Yet despite all the variables of the situation, Terodde hits his header with pure class to add what was his second of the game and Köln’s fourth.
Link up play
A striker with a limited amount of touches, yet Terodde makes do with what he gets. We have seen in countless moves this season that Terodde can make a key pass into a dangerous area or to allow Köln a free-flowing move going forward.
In this play vs Heidenheim, Salih Ozcan plays a 50-50 ball towards Simon Terodde with defender Patrick Mainka right on his heels. Whilst Terodde could play the ball to his left with a Köln player in space and allow the play to circulate through the middle. He instead makes a lunging dive to beat Mainka to the possession and play the ball into Drexler. This play is quite well thought out as Terodde recognises that right-back Marnon Busch cheats the initial pass made by Ozcan.
History awaiting
With 16 games remaining this season, Terodde is on pace to break multiple records this season. Sitting equal second all-time for goals scored in the 2. Bundesliga alongside Theo Gries with 111 goals, sitting alone atop this list is striker Sven Demandt who found the net 121 times in 316 appearances. With an expected goal per game of 0.96, Terodde is projected to score another 15 goals for the rest of the season. This will not only break his personal best of 25 goals in a single season but also the all-time record goalscorer in the league.
Bearing a dry spell, Terodde could become the first 2. Bundesliga striker in 30 years to score over 30 goals in a season. The last player to do so was none other than Sven Demandt with Fortuna Düsseldorf.
Conclusion
Whilst the jury is still out on whether Simon Terodde can make it as a Bundesliga calibre striker, one thing is certain is the striker’s greatness in the 2. Bundesliga. With Köln in a fantastic position to gain promotion under Markus Anfang, Terodde has been a catalyst in Die Geißböcke’s return to form.
We are undoubtedly witnessing one of the greatest 2. Bundesliga strikers this generation has ever seen and it will be a matter of time before he becomes number one.
