Hertha have actually be the worst team in the Rückrunde (not just one of the worst). That said, the problem isn't primarily defense. They've conceded 22 goals since the winter break, 12 goals more than the best defensive team (Schalke, 10 goals conceded) and 4 goals less than the worst defensive team (Wolfsburg, 26 goals conceded). It's not great, but it's not terrible. However they've only scored 11 goals since the winter break, which is the lowest tally in the league. The next lowest are Bremen (12) and Hamburg (13), while the highest are obviously Bayern (38) and Hoffenheim (30).
Regardless, Brooks is being a mindless dolt right now. His decision to go and get this bloody tattoo is senseless. Hell, the medical trainers have to put a special cream on his back to prevent the damn thing from becoming infected before training. Given the struggles of the team, it's simply immature. Regardless of whether or not the problems lie in the defense. If you're being singled out by your trainer for lapses in judgement on the pitch, why on earth would you go and create even more consternation off of it? I don't know what Brooks was expecting Luhukay to think. Hope he grows out of this. My day has been made, though, because I just read "...die Nase voll" again. Makes me miss Germany so much lol.
It's a headscratcher. Even if he goes to the WC in the summer, there are two mandatory weeks of Holiday for Players that participate after that. Do it then and nobody gives a ****.
The article pretty much describes why Brooks is in Luhukay's dog house. 2/3 of it are spend discussing how a coach has to deal with the usual ups and downs of a season, sa injuries, and then there's the unexpected like a player getting a tattoo don't won't allow him to compete particularly at a time playing time was there for the begging. It goes on to say that Brooks pretty much is pissing away his chance at the World Cup.
I quite like those elbow tats he has, seems he must have got the idea from Dempsey though as Deuce has the same thing.
Given all of the fuss over this back tattoo, you'd think JAB joined the Sons of Anarchy, Berlin chapter.
Bundesliga clubs demand high professionalism from its players, especially when it comes to the body of the player. Some clubs even include a clause which forbids new tattoos during the season. Sometimes you do have to wonder what the hell is going on in the mind of those players. There would have been enough time for him to do that during the summer break. I'm aware that this might be a German attitude thing, but I expect a player who earns Millions of Euros to act professionally and at least ask his club for permission if he so desperately plans to have a new tattoo in the middle of the season that will have an effect on his training condition.
The tattoo story is so bizarre. It just seems ridiculous from all standpoints. After a really bright start to the season, Brooks got hurt, played poorly on return, played poorly for the nats, got back into the team only to have this tattoo issue come up. That's not a great way to finish the season. Can't imagine him being on the WC team. He needs to concentrate on winning the starting role at Hertha over the summer.
If there's a silver lining, it looks like his benching this past weekend was due to the tattoo and not performance...weird situation http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1...nches-john-brooks-tattoo-flap-reports?cc=5901
This is infuriating to me. I realize that he is just a kid but when you think about how many players in the US would give anything to be on the final 23, and here he is just pissing it away. Between this crap and Chandlers constant flaking out on us, it puts a bit of a damper on the idea of how disciplined and serious a player growing up in German soccer is expected to be.
As I eluded to earlier, I am still bemused that a tattoo can cause missed trainings and matches unless the artist seriously butchered his skin. I still contend the issue is less the tattoo and more of something else. I can assume discipline and his form. The tattoo is the easy scapegoat. I cannot condone or condemn a tattoo during the season. It's JAB's choice and his body. Nor can I condone or condemn his manager for his reaction and subsequent rumored punishment. After all, he is the manager; the man in charge. The bottom line and point I am trying to make is that there is a rift between JAB and the manager and for whatever reason it's spilling into the public. That's not good for both player and coach. The ball is in JAB's court to rectify the situation, though. I am curious to see how JAB comes out of this.
"Now he must take the next step in its development. Doing so, we will help him," assured Luhukay. http://www.morgenpost.de/sport/hert...ent-John-Brooks-riskiert-seine-WM-Chance.html
Luhukay states that Brooks is an option for the Augsburg match...it will be interesting though since Lustenberger is almost/if not already, back. Kobi is listed as "questionable" http://www.immerhertha.de/2014/04/1...z-fabian-lustenberger-ist-zu-100-prozent-fit/
They Quote an "expert" here who disagrees with you: http://www.bz-berlin.de/sport/herth...-luhukay-im-tattoo-streit-article1829980.html
Ah no, seems like a late injury to poor old Lustenberger during warmup forces Hertha to use Brooks anyway. Big chance for him
Looks like Lustenberger could be done for the season and his World Cup hopes are in doubt. "It does not look good . , It is probably not a sprain , but a hamstring ," said Hertha coach Jos Luhukay after the game. http://www.kicker.de/news/fussball/...traum-wohl-geplatzt.html#omrss_team_herthabsc As for JAB's performance these are the only tweets I could find really. It should also be noted he almost scored off a corner kick: American Soccer Now @ThisIsASN 1h An uneventful 90 minutes for #usmnt hopeful @j_brooks25 is a massive step in the right direction. @HerthaBSC #nonewsgoodnews Doug McIntyre @DougMacESPN 2h John Brooks solid for Hertha today in 1st Bundesliga start since 4/6. Young CB still in mix for next month’s #usmnt camp. The Twelfth Yank @twelfthyank 2h 90' for Brooks today. A rather dull affair between Hertha and Augsburg ends 0-0. Not many chances on either side. #USMNT