Totally Not Mind-Numbingly Dull

You mean a game between two injury-or-suspension-hit teams in indifferent form wasn’t going to be super-exciting?

Er, well, that’s what can really be said about today’s game. It wasn’t all that interesting. It was a 0-0 draw against Hamburg, who’ve been in a bit of a slide lately and were missing some of their best players (as Chris elucidates here). Hertha, for their part, have also been in a bit of a slide lately and were missing some of their best players, with Raffael and Marko Pantelic both out with various leg complaints, as well as Steve von Bergen also still out, and even Solomon Okoronkwo picking up something.

Last game (which was Saturday, for those keeping track) resulted in a 1-1 draw away to Bochum. Not a bad result, as it’s Bochum’s strong home form that has been keeping them in the place they’re in, but it was a bit distressing that we can’t hold a lead. Nor can we win, it seems, without our top-scorer Marko Pantelic around. By most accounts it wasn’t all that interesting, either, and we probably should have won, but again, the final ball was missing.

Today it was at home to HSV, who despite their current run is still one of the better teams in the league. They’d just managed to lose at home to Duisburg over the weekend, and I was a bit concerned- it does seem that whenever a team needs a win, they get it at Hertha. Fortunately for us, they didn’t get it. Instead, it was a not-hugely-interesting 0-0 draw that suits us more than it does them, especially with those below us losing and those above Hamburg winning.

Both teams had a need for points, although HSV’s needs were more pressing than ours, as they still have something left to play for in the season. We just have to not screw up too badly in the remaining games. However, no team really looked like they needed anything to happen here.

But hey, at least it wasn’t a loss. And it could have been. Josip Simunic, showing the poise and nuance he’s known for, gave away a penalty in the 74th minute. And Ivica Olic, perhaps, as the people doing the live-blog on the Hertha website, in thanks for the good times he had as a bit-part player here in 1998 (he played two games), sent it wide. As the charming GolTV commentator said afterwards, you could see the two teams playing 160 minutes and there would be no goals. Yes, in this game, the most entertaining parts were the Hertha writers I followed the game with while at work and the GolTV commentator I listened to after.

But I savor all opportunities to watch my team, even if it’s a mind-numbing draw like this. And I’ll take a point rather than none. Bring on more news, and eventually Hannover at the weekend. And hey, maybe another win someday.

Category: match reports