So Far, So Good

Two games played, two games won, back to the top of the table. Sure, there were a few wobbles in those games, maybe a couple more goals conceded than I would prefer, but you can’t argue with the numbers.

The story of the first two games has been Pierre-Michel Lasogga, with the 19-year-old scoring twice against Oberhausen (and winning a penalty) and then once again against Düsseldorf. Nicely-done goals too. He’s been in great form (and reminds me of a bull when he runs). Naturally, he’s now injured, having sprained knee ligaments during the Düsseldorf game. It doesn’t seem to be terrifyingly serious, but he’s still out for a couple of weeks right when he was looking fantastic.

This means that Rob Friend, who Lasogga has been replacing, will likely be given another chance at Arminia Bielefeld on Sunday, and even next week at the Berlin derby.

In good news, though, Andre Mijatovic will be back against Bielefeld, having served out his suspension. Anyone who’s watched the past two Hertha games would have noticed the defensive shakiness, so hopefully the captain will sort that all out. Scoring goals is great, but so is not conceding them and making me nervous.

In players we won’t be seeing again this season: Kaka (no, not that one), who came in while Mijatovic and Hubnik were both suspended, has gone back to Portugal on loan to Sporting Braga. He was originally signed for us from Académica de Coimbra in that country, so he’s back to a league he has some awareness with. Also on loan until the end of the season is Daniel Beichler, who has gone to St. Gallen in Switzerland. The young Austrian has been in the papers of late for complaining about his lack of game time, so hopefully he’ll get what he wants over there. The young Hertha product Sascha Bigalke was also supposed to go on loan, to Bielefeld oddly enough, but he’s broken his metatarsal and won’t go. Get well soon, Sascha.

Sunday’s opponents are Arminia Bielefeld, who sit absolute bottom in the 2. Liga, having won a grand total of two games all season. Since the break they’ve drawn once and lost once. Still, doesn’t mean we should get distracted by the game after that, which is the Berlin derby. These points are ours for the taking if we stay focused and can score without Lasogga.

Speaking of the derby – which everyone has to be excited about – the always excellent European Football Weekends has a great write-up about it, which I recommend you all read.

But first, hopefully, a very real three points from the possibly fictitious city of Bielefeld.

Category: match reports, transfer news