1899 Hoffenheim Thread [R]

[footyfan1]

Another thing is this. So many love to complain about the money spent.

As if Hopp could buy a title if he wanted.

According to Transfermarkt, Hoffenheim's roster transfer worth is third worst in the league.

The only two lower?

Bielefeld and Cottbus.

The only point is that is isn't ALL money.

And yes, I'm aware that it was third-best in the 2nd Bundesliga next season. ;)

[Projekt4]

Regarding "it's not only about Hopp's money" - the one fact that called my attention is the number of season tickets they sold, more than other small Bundesliga clubs.

It is possible that there is a real long-term fan potential in the area bigger than that of Cottbus, Bielefeld, etc. If Hopp manages to "activate" the whole region for Bundesliga football then so be it.

[footyfan1]

Regarding "it's not only about Hopp's money" - the one fact that called my attention is the number of season tickets they sold, more than other small Bundesliga clubs.

I was also a bit surprised that they sold out the Carl-Benz Stadion against Gladbach and it was actually more people there supporting Hoffenheim.

Some of my friends from Heidelberg were at the match. They loved it.


It is possible that there is a real long-term fan potential in the area bigger than that of Cottbus, Bielefeld, etc. If Hopp manages to "activate" the whole region for Bundesliga football then so be it.

Dude, it is more than "possible", it is so. I've been saying that since we've started debating Hoffenheim here. The problem is, everyone assumed that everyone in that region who is into football supports either Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, Bremen, Stuttgart, KSC, Kaiserslautern or Frankfurt and no one would become Hoffy fans.

I said they were wrong and once those people would not have to travel so far for 1st Bundesliga football, that they would not and even if they don't become die-hard Hoffy supporters, they will fill that stadium and yes, many would switch.

The jealous haters here loved to scream so much about "tradition" and they said Hoffy wouldn't have many fans at their matches.

Well, everybody's "tradition" had to start somewhere and they certainly made a good start with the fans this past weekend.

I can't wait to see how it is when the new stadium opens after the winter break.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

He could have thrown in behind an "established" big club with money troubles like Koln, Kaiserslautern or Dortmund and gone the "easy way" too.

Yes, he chose the long-term way by building a team up, but it don´t think
the way is "harder", because it is a stregth of Hoffenheim,
that they aren´t an established big city.

- it easier and cheaper to expand clubs facilities (training pitches, new stadiums, ...)

- you don´t have many other people to discuss with
(former famous players,

- no big fans demands as it would have been at a tradional team

[footyfan1]

Yes, he chose the long-term way by building a team up, but it don´t think
the way is "harder", because it is a stregth of Hoffenheim,
that they aren´t an established big city.

- it easier and cheaper to expand clubs facilities (training pitches, new stadiums, ...)

- you don´t have many other people to discuss with
(former famous players,

- no big fans demands as it would have been at a tradional team


I don't agree EE. I'll use Dortmund as an example.

We opened our new training facility last season. The only thing that took so long was just government red tape. It's on an old British military facility in Dortmund-Brackel. Hopp's money could have pushed along the process.

There's no "hierarchy" at Dortmund right now. Hans-Joachim Watzke is pretty much "all-powerful." I don't believe the board questions him about anything. Hopp would have the same thing.

"Fan Demands?" The fans in Dortmund would have been happy to not be facing bankruptcy anymore.

Perhaps you're thinking about difficulties he would have faced in Bremen and applied them everywhere??

It's just not the same.

[Borussia]

PS: Great, intelligent move of DFB president Theo Zwanziger to be Hoffenheim's greatest advocate when your son is being employed there.

Is that really true? Hmmm, a few Gladbach 'die-hards' from the Ultras scene apparently were chanting "Fußball-Hure Hoffenheim" ... while DFB-Präsident & BMG sympathisant Dr. Zwanziger sat on the main stand near Dietmar Hopp. :eek: ;)

Well, here's the immediate reaction from the BMG boss Rolf Königs. :-)

http://www.borussia.de/de/borussia_news_detail,185,0,newsid-163566.html

[footyfan1]

Is that really true?

I think he was being sarcastic Uwe.

I agree with him though. Zwanzinger shouldn't give the appearance of "sucking up" to Hopp even if he truly is.

Franz Beckenbauer was talking him up on Premiere too.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

"Fan Demands?" The fans in Dortmund would have been happy to not be facing bankruptcy anymore.

In my eyes in Dortmund there the people also dream
of quickly returning back into the top 5 of the BL.
(which is likey because your management does well IMHO)


Perhaps you're thinking about difficulties he would have faced in Bremen and applied them everywhere??

It's just not the same.

I was thinking of the other clubs you named:
Collogne and Kaiserslautern.
In Collogne there you have a very strong tabloid press,
who write the FC into the CL and about the end of the world,
when they loose. Sure you learn to deal with it, but nevertheless
these kinds of tabloids hurt the FC Collogne a lot in the last years.
And at Kaiserslautern there you have many "experts" around
the club, who bring from time to time trouble into the club.
I like their passionate fans a lot, but it´s really not easy
to work there.

[footyfan1]

In my eyes in Dortmund there the people also dream
of quickly returning back into the top 5 of the BL.
(which is likey because your management does well IMHO)

There are people everywhere who dream of that.

And I don't think our management does well at all.

Well, financially, they are f#cking great.

When it comes to what "LoewenBoy" and I call "football savvy", which is basically knowledge of chemistry and other things that are important to building a winning team besides buying "talent", I think Dortmund's management is f#cking clueless.

Money isn't the reason we've been having the same freakin' problems on the field every year for the past five freakin' years.




I was thinking of the other clubs you named:
Collogne and Kaiserslautern.

OK, I just wasn't sure. I can only speak to their stadium and fan situations. On FCK, I can also speak to infastructure because I have spent a lot of time there in my life.

But I think Dietmar Hopp would have also affected those situations differently.

People complained about the area he wanted to build the SAP Arena in Mannheim in too, but he eventually got it done.


In Collogne there you have a very strong tabloid press,
who write the FC into the CL and about the end of the world, when they loose. Sure you learn to deal with it, but nevertheless these kinds of tabloids hurt the FC Collogne a lot in the last years.

To me, that is a sign of weak management. If you are a strong manager, YOU dictate to the press what goes and what doesn't. Just as Uli Hoeness does most of the time. And when they write crap that doesn't please him, he blasts them.

I thought he was "weak" one time. When he tried to blast the press and Klinsmann for "unsettling" Kahn. And then I thought he was trying to be more of a friend to Kahn than a manager and it made him look stupid.

But you can count those times on one hand.

I think your management at Bremen does a good job with the press too.

Another bad example of weak management who lets the press affect happenings at the club too much is my club. Dortmund.

Especially last season. I was embarrassed at the way management and Doll tried to blame the press for "unsettling" the team. The team was "unsettled" because management and Doll ALLOWED THEM to become that way.

And in Dortmund, this is still a problem. Players are "babied" and just aren't tough enough.

I don't see that happening in Hoffenheim nor do I think Hopp would have allowed that to happen anywhere else he could have gone.

Why?

Because I think no matter where he would have wound up, he would have hired Ralf Rangnick to oversee the building of his club.


And at Kaiserslautern there you have many "experts" around the club, who bring from time to time trouble into the club.

And I think Hopp would have cleaned them out before he put a cent into the club.


I like their passionate fans a lot, but it´s really not easy
to work there.

That's because of the way things are now. You're assuming Hopp would leave things the same.

A man like Dietmar Hopp didn't get where he is by allowing others to screw up his plans.

I think these situations you bring up would have been irrelevant. I think Mr. Hopp would have made sure things were to his liking at any club before he decided to invest.

I do agree with you that at Hoffenheim, while it was a bigger job, it was an "easier" one.

But I also think he could have succeeded at an "established" (I hate that word "traditional" as if new clubs have no worth....) club if he'd seen fit to do so.

[footyfan1]

Uli Hesse-Lichtenberger nails it again.


Story Here (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=572723&sec=europe&root=europe&cc=5739)


I still don't expect the jealous haters here to understand....... :cool:

[rksehga]

All,

A friend of mine is coming to Germany and wants to go to the match on October 4 between Eintracht Frankfurt and 1899 Hoffenheim match.

Any idea on how to get tickets? Please pm me. All help is appreciated.

Thanks,

Rishi

[hackespitze123]

'Plastic club' or not, Hoffenheim are playing some great football, it has to be said. Totally owning Dortmund right now, leading 4-0.

[footyfan1]

And we were deservedly whipped 4-1. We got a consolation goal in stoppage time.

[Syriaman]

Congrats Hoffenheim,you are second.:DYou owned Dortmund 4-1,unbelieveable!!!

You are playing great football with some really good players.

Hey CL-final 2010: Hoffenheim-Barca in Hoffenheim.:p

I am so happy for you.

But my VFB won,Important.

[Borussia]

Hoffenheim are playing some great football, it has to be said.


Well, I have to admit that as well. Impressive performance against Dortmund today.

[berloha]

Great game. Totally deserved.

Rangnick knows how to make the right tactics.

I am very happy for Carlos Eduardo, he is great. A future bayern-player. :eek:

[squidward123]

I am very happy for Carlos Eduardo, he is great. A future bayern-player. :eek:

haha...what a comment to make especially in this thread :rolleyes::p

[hackespitze123]

I am very happy for Carlos Eduardo, he is great. A future bayern-player. :eek:

I really don't think that Bayern can make Hoffenheim a financial offer they can't refuse.

You should get used to it. :)

[berloha]

haha...what a comment to make especially in this thread :rolleyes::p

You can write it down:

Hoffenheim and Bayern are going to make good deals between each other.

["Eisenfuß" Eilts]

It was about time for C.Eduardo to show his potential in BL.
Really a good performance.