The Leaving of Gojko Kacar
By: Abby |
2 Comments
It’s always felt, somewhat, that Gojko Kacar was just temporary. He never felt like the kind of player who would establish himself at Hertha. He was always too obviously ambitious, a bit too clearheaded, too obviously focused on the future. And, to be honest, that was okay with me. If he wanted to go to a bigger club, he had to play himself there, and we had enough of a contract for said larger club to have to pay us for the privilege. We’d both get something out of it.
Injuries and a terrible season meant that it didn’t quite go entirely to plan. This was supposed to be Gojko’s year, the one where he stepped up and led the team. This time in 2009 I was expecting great things from him as we pushed on after the surprise success of the season.
Things don’t always go the way you think, in football.
Anyway, it was announced Friday that Gojko has gone to Hamburg. He’d been linked there in the past, and it’s not a huge surprise to see that he’s gone in that direction. They’re building a team to challenge for at least something over there, and he should be a decent part of it. The fee is €5.5 million, which is somewhat less than I was hoping for him (especially as he was subject of a €10 million bid this time last season), but that’s what a relegation/injury season will do to a player. And there are clauses- if Hamburg qualifies for Europe, another one million is due, as is another if he gets sold on.
Best of luck in the Hanseatic, Gojko. 
But as young players go, young players arrive, and the name Hertha fans are most interested in now is Pierre-Michel Lasogga. The 18-year-old came from Bayer Leverkusen, where he did well in their junior setup, and is hoping to gain playing time in the 2. Liga. (We got him on a free, but if he does well apparently Leverkusen can buy him back cheaply.) The boy of the moment scored two goals in this weekend’s 4-0 demolition of BFC Dynamo, making his total 6 goals in 4 games. He’s got the confidence to be a starting striker, at least, and is hoping to pattern himself after Germany’s most celebrated underage (by American standards) player, Thomas Müller.
Lasogga wasn’t the only one to be impressive over the weekend- Daniel Beichler also impressed. The young Austrian had a goal and an assist, and like Lasogga, is looking to make a name for himself in Berlin. He was eye-catching in the Austrian league, and we all hope he does the same in Germany.
It’s an interesting team Babbel is putting together, and the phrasing is meant- the team that ended the last season and the team that begins this one will be almost entirely different. As it should be, it’s a mix of veterans and eager youngsters, and it seems to be working in pre-season, as so far the team is yet to concede a goal. (Not that they’ve played particularly testing sides.) It doesn’t seem to be done yet, though. Rumors suggest that we’re interested in Bremen’s Jurica Vranjes. Calling the 30-year-old a replacement for Gojko is a bit of a stretch, but he’ll probably be cheap.
Tomorrow there’s yet another training game, against VfB Lübeck, followed by a game on Wednesday against Rot-Weiß Efurt, followed by a Friday game against RB Leipzig. Babbel has the team working hard, and we’re likely to see several different combinations of players with the games coming so quickly upon each other.
We’ll see what we get when we get there.
Enter Nikita, And Some Other Stuff
By: Abby | 2 Comments
The signing spree to create the new-look Hertha Berlin squad continues.
First, as the departure of Lukas Piszczek to Borussia Dortmund meant that the squad was down one member that I found difficult to spell, Hertha has gone and signed Australian international Nikita Rukavytsya. The 23-year-old spent the second half of last season in Belgium at KSV Roeselare, where he was on loan from FC Twente. The striker was part of Australia’s World Cup squad at South Africa and is considered to be one one of their better prospects. He impressed at Perth Glory and is known for his speed. Perhaps even more importantly, he’s approved by Kickette. We all know that’s the most important.
Nikita’s not the only young attacker new to the Hertha Berlin lineup. Today the signing of Austrian international Daniel Beichler was announced. (The website claims he’s 21, but I find it hard to believe they didn’t reverse the numbers.) He impressed in the Austrian Bundesliga at his hometown club Sturm Graz, with 21 goals in 64 appearances, and like Nikita, is considered to be a promising talent. We paid the Austrian Cup winners €500,000 for his services.
Oh, and his Berlin-born grandmother is named Hertha. Meant to be, right?
The good news, though, is offset by bad. Hertha fans everywhere were thrilled to see that Patrick Ebert had decided to stay in Berlin. Unfortunately, it seems like the joy of having his services in our promotion push was premature- he’s ruptured his cruciate ligaments and is out for a suspected 6 months. It’s a big blow to both the club and to Ebert himself. Get well soon.
He sustained the injury in the third friendly game Hertha have played of the pre-season, a 4-0 victory against SSV Ulm. Patrick had actually scored the first goal, after five minutes, but a collision with Ulm’s goalkeeper at the 10th minute saw him taken away. The remaining 3 goals were all scored by Pierre-Michel Lasogga, adding to his goal in the second friendly against TSV Kottern. (The first friendly was an 8-0 victory over amateur side FC Isny.)
It’s all part of the training camp in Oberstaufen, which, according to Markus Babbel, went very well. The players apparently rarely ran so much at training camp, and Babbel has been working on whipping them into shape after the break. They’re back in Berlin now and face BFC Dynamo in another friendly on the 24th.
In lighter news, congratulations to Michael Preetz and his girlfriend Kirsten Zopfy, who are expecting a child. The couple says it’s a boy, due in the autumn. Congratulations, and good luck to the parents!
Things That Aren’t the World Cup
By: Abby | 1 Comment
I’ve been enjoying a World Cup vacation (seriously- I’m using vacation time to stay home and watch games), and it’s been a delight for me. But the Hertha management doesn’t have that luxury. During the World Cup, in fact, they’ve been working hard on nearly transforming the Hertha BSC Berlin squad for the upcoming 2. Bundesliga season.
Category: transfer newsOh Hey, A New Goalkeeper!
By: Abby | 1 Comment
And it’s no one I predicted.
No, it’s Maikel Aerts, a 33-year-old Dutch goalkeeper coming to us on a free from Willem II Tilburg. His previous club were almost relegated last season, but won a relegation playoff and stayed in the Eredivisie. He’s a bit over 6′4″ and has a shiny bald head. Apparently at one point he was the captain at Willem II, but after clapping and swearing at fans after an error, he was stripped of that. However, he became captain after being voted their best player in 2008-2009, and has gained them some important points in the past. He’s also been somewhat injury-prone for a goalkeeper, so let’s cross our fingers that he’s done with that.
Also, his uncle Peter is a world-champion kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter nicknamed “The Dutch Lumberjack,” which is just awesome.
So welcome to Berlin, Maikel. I wish you all the best, and not just because your uncle could beat me up.
Category: transfer newsTwo de Araújos
By: Abby | 2 Comments
Surprisingly, it’s been a stream of good news for Hertha fans in the past couple of days. It all had to get positive again eventually, right?
The first bit of good news is that Raffael signed a new Hertha BSC contract, good until 2014. The Brazilian attacker has been one of our brighter figures since Lucien Favre brought him over from his old FC Zürich team. With a host of teams circling around him, it was always thought that he’d be one of the big names (such as there are) from the squad to leave, but I, for one, am quite happy that he’ll be sticking around. He’s sure to shine in the 2. Liga, and if we do come back up, he’ll be a big part of it.
While you can’t say that it’s the only reason he’s sticking around, it must be noted that we’ve picked up his little brother as well. Ronny Heberson Furtado de Araújo, mostly just known as Ronny, is joining us and big brother Raffael on a free from Sporting Lisbon. He’s a left-sided defender who spent last season on loan with União Leiria. Wikipedia says he has a powerful shot. That’s good, then. Who doesn’t like a powerful shot?
More good news is that Pal Dardai has signed on for another year. The Hungarian is Hertha’s longest-serving player, having been at the club since 1996. Of all the Hertha players I’ve come to “know”, Dardai is possibly the most likeable- he always has the right attitude, even when it gets tough, and it’s clear that he loves the club. If Raffael’s skills will be integral if we want to return to the Bundesliga, Dardai’s experience and attitude will be just as much so. He missed quite a bit of last season through injury, so let’s hope he stays fit for the next one. We’ll need him. (And if/when Arne Friedrich goes, I’d love to see him made captain.)
Of course, since this is Hertha, it’s not all good news. It’s now official that Jaroslav Drobny has left Hertha. I’m sad to see him go- while last season, with some errors and injuries, wasn’t vintage from the Czech, he’s been a massive part of any success and any hope that we’ve had since he’s been at the club. He’s rejected Hertha’s terms, which were said (by Hertha) to be generous, and is now looking for another club, preferably still in Germany. He’ll make some team very happy and it would be churlish not to wish him the best in the future.
As a result, we’ve been linked to about a thousand goalkeepers, including Michael Rensing, released from Bayern Munich, Artur who’s been released from Roma (probably not the one who drinks paint thinner), and intriguingly, Timo Hildebrand, who is free to leave Hoffenheim. It’ll be interesting to see who we come up with, when we do…
Category: transfer newsThunderbolts and Lightning
By: Abby | 2 Comments
The new jersey is out and it’s…well, it’s a jersey.
Traditional blue and white stripes, certainly, but with a jagged red outline that recalls both lightning and the styles of the early 1990s. Now, I’m a big fan of lightning bolt motifs, but I think that the 1990s were possibly the worst time for fashion/football kits ever. So I’m still a bit conflicted. I think I have to see it in action first.
It’s one of those fancy new Nike jerseys made of plastic bottles, so good for Nike. And a player who will be seen in it is Valeri Domovchiyski, who has extended his contract until 2012. I’m pleased about this, he’s a talented young man with some good years ahead of him.
He also spoiled Oliver Kahn’s last game, as you might remember.
Category: Team NewsGoodbye To You
By: Abby | 2 Comments
More is to be expected, but the first Hertha player to officially leave the club is the versatile Lukasz Piszczek. He’s been signed on a free transfer by Borussia Dortmund. The right-sided midfielder/defender has been officially with Hertha since 2004 (although he spent 2004-2007 on loan in his native Poland), and has been a regular first-teamer over the past two seasons. Only 24, he’s maturing into a very decent player indeed. It’s a bit annoying to lose a player who’s been with the club so long on a free when we need the money, but good luck to him anyway. (As I said on my Twitter, I am not going to miss spelling Piszczek.)
Theofanis Gekas has also gone, signing for Eintracht Frankfurt.
And it also seems that the talk of Gerhard Tremmel singing to replace Drobny were premature- he’s instead signed for energy-drink concern Red Bull Salzburg. He would have been a good replacement for the Czech, but perhaps one won’t be needed.
There are more disappearances sure to follow, but new boss Markus Babbel says that Raffael and Adrian Ramos will not be among them. He also hopes that Patrick Ebert will be sticking around as well. It’s hard to say. Babbel’s appointment, and Babbel himself, make sticking around more appealing than it was before, but who knows how far that can go?
Category: transfer newsBabbel Official
By: Abby | 3 Comments
After a circling cycle of speculation, it’s been confirmed. The manager tasked with reviving Hertha BSC Berlin is Markus Babbel.
The 37-year-old has been out of work since getting sacked by Stuttgart in December, after leading them to a third-placed finish the season before. He’d been appointed following the sacking of Armin Veh, having retired as a player (at Stuttgart) in 2007. As a young manager he’s shown promise, certainly, and hopefully he’s learned from his Stuttgart experiences. Plus, now he has all his badges.
He’s going to need everything he’s got to take on Hertha. A slashed budget means that he’s going to have even less to work with- there’s a good summary of what needs to be done/might be done here. While the veteran Levan Kobiashvili and the promising Roman Hubnik have signed up for the 2. Liga adventure, a lot of question marks remain around the rest of the squad. The expectation is that the team will come right back up (even Babbel’s contract assumes that, as it’s only for a year), and every team in the 2. Liga is going to be gunning for us.
Still, though, I’m glad it’s sorted out quickly and I’m pretty positive about the appointment. It’s more inspiring than some of the other candidates I heard bandied about. As long as we get that first flush Babbel.
Welcome to Berlin, Markus, and good luck.
Category: Team NewsChanges
By: Abby | 4 Comments
Everything about Saturday was terrible, and let’s just leave it at that. No relegated team wants to see another team be presented with the championship trophy in their stadium, especially if the other team is Bayern Munich. It will be a memory that burns for a long time.
Now Hertha BSC Berlin must begin life in the 2. Bundesliga, and we’re starting with something that was probably expected- Hertha Berlin and Friedhelm Funkel have parted ways. The team improved in the second half of the season, under his tenure, but it (obviously) wasn’t enough and the truly laughable home record is enough to get most coaches sacked. While I’m not exactly Funkel’s biggest fan, I wouldn’t have minded seeing if he could get us promoted, considering he’s done it before, and I’m a fan of stability when possible. But I’m not really upset with him leaving either. Thanks for the bit of hope, good luck next job, and we’ll always have Wolfsburg.
This, of course, leaves questions as to who will succeed him. The various tabloids seem convinced that the top choice is Markus Babbel, who was sacked by Stuttgart after their customary terrible start to the season, after saving them from their customary terrible start at the beginning of the season before. A 37-year-old decorated former German international, with several trophies to his name as a player, he would be a flashy sort of managerial signing, but there are definitely questions about how he would handle a club like Hertha. His predecessor at Stuttgart, Armin Veh, and former Nürnberg manager Michael Oenning have also been mentioned.
Player-wise, there are reports that we’ve signed Energie Cottbus’ Gerhard Tremmel to replace Jaroslav Drobny in goal. One of the legion of ex-Herthaners littering the leagues, he only played a handful for the Hertha first team, but has done well down in Cottbus. However, it’s not quite final yet, so there’s nothing more than that to report.
It’s uncertain as to who exactly will be leaving, but expect to see a lot of the higher earners disappear. Arne Friedrich to be one of them. We’ll see who else is out the door, and who else might come in to replace them.
Category: Team NewsI Know It’s Over
By: Abby | 9 Comments
“Hertha should have won,” my friend told me Saturday afternoon.
“The amount of games Hertha should have won and the games they did win…” I responded, complete with hand motions.
In the end, that’s what it is.
Hertha were terrible without always being awful this season, if that makes any sense at all. If we’d been lucky at times last season, we were extremely unlucky this one. We can count moments- if only Drobny (or Gojko Kacar) had been fit the whole time, if only a goal had been scored on this chance or that one, if only we’d won against Mainz when we were leading in the 80th minute. But it’s all meaningless now. We improved tremendously in the second half of the season, but despite all those glimmers of hope, it was just too late and much too little. Hertha BSC Berlin, after twelve years in the 1. Bundesliga, are relegated.
Now, as the mourning starts to fade, the questions come in. What is the team going to do now? The financial situation was dire enough in the 1. Liga, and I can’t imagine it improving now. Players are going to drift off fairly quickly (Getafe is the latest to be linked with Gojko Kacar) and it looks likely that we’ll be finding a new manager as well.
In theory, it’s not completely hopeless. Newcastle are an example of how a team in total crisis can regroup and come right back. The best-case scenario is the club regrouping, rediscovering some identity in adversity, working with the youth system that at one point was mentioned as one of the better ones in Germany, finding some of those hard-working professionals that win over a crowd. It’s going to take a lot of work on the part of the club management to get Hertha on the right track, though, and that’s what makes me nervous. I can’t say I’ve been impressed with the decisions they tend to make.
There are other things to look forwards to – an actual derby, a new set of teams to learn. But those are a little minor.
It will be a long summer and season ahead. We’ll see how it turns out.
Category: Team News
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