Live free or Die Roten! Official Hannover 96 thread (part II) [R]

[Borussia]

Someone is reading this thread!!!!!! *happy dance* ;)


Of course I do ... since I have to follow Howie & Thomas Kleine. ;)

Signing Lauth means you definitely won't get Miklu?

[F96]

I don't think so.

We have too many forwards already (6) and four of them are still nursing injuries so I doubt they want another one who is not fully fir and alwasy on the brink to being disabled.

I translated a recent Hanke interview:

You had to wach how your former girlfriend Caro was being put into an ambulante after getting seriously injured in a car accident. How did you handle that?

That was the worst day of my life. It was very difficult to concentrate on Football after that. I learned how valuable every human being and life is. Even though this was a terrible experience I learned to use every second to do something positive.

Your father was a miner. What did he teach you?
I went wich him three days and watched them work down there. Then I began to appreciate what a wonderful life I have. All of them were totally black and tired when they were done. That’s how I knew my dad. He came home, slept and went back to work, that’s how exhausting the work was.
I learned that I always have to give 100%. Fighting is the most important thing. I cherish my job. I earn a lot of money without having to work a lot.

Your baby is three months old. Can you eben concentrate on 96 right now?
The baby is totally relaxed. It sleeps from 9pm to 5am, gets something to drink and sleeps againt till 10am. We’re lucky that Janatha-Fey is such a sweet and satisfied baby.

The first child, a new club - do you have a sense of excitement about the future?
Yes of course, this a new beginning for the three of us and our dog in a new town.
We‘re looking forward to the Club and Hannover.

You have strong competition in Gomez, Kuranyi, Klose and Podolski. How do you see your chances of making the EC roster?
I talked to Jogi Löw on the phone recently. I told him about how I’m feeling fitness-wise right now. He assured me that I’m still a part of the NT. I’m very optimistic.

Wouldn’t it great to have to 96 players at the WC with you and Robert?
That would be great. This season is important. I need to score goals and play well. Then we’ll have to see if I’m part of the group.

Was the upcoming EC a reason for you to leave Wolfsburg?
Of course it was. Here at 96 I knew I’d find a well functioning team. You can see a structure and the vision of the coach.

Even though you were suspended for the first two WC games Klinsmann invited to you to the WC. Doesn’t this show a great amount of appreciation?
I was surprised. It was a honour and unbelievable experience to be part of that. I’m always thinking back to that great times.

Is your daugher a WC-baby?
Yes maybe, the WC was long. ;)

You like to drive fast. When will 96 have more points than you collected in Flensburg right now? (Flensburg is the home of the Verkehrs-Zentral-Register (central register for traffic offences). Every violation to traffic laws is rated in a system of points.)
My points will all be gone next year. I’m a good driver now. I’m certain 96 will have more points.

Will you be fully healed for the 1st Bundesliga match?
Yes. When I trained on Friday I felt a little bit of pain so I trained a little bit less. Yesterday I could already participate running slaloms so I’m further along in the recovery. I think I can start to play in friendlies already.

What are you first impressions of Hannover?
Very positive. (What is he supposed to say ;) ) People were very friendly. I know Balitsch from when we used to play together in the U21 EC and we talked about old times. Sergio Pinto I know from Schalke. I’m happy he’s here as well.

You are an emotional power-type of player. What do you expect of the 96 fans?
Mutual respect is very important. I hope the fans have faith in me and that I can pay tha faith back through goals and good play. I know that I’m the most expensive signing in club history so I know I have to deliver.

Do you feel the pressure?
No, I only feel anticipation.

Are you happy to be away from Wolfsburg?
Wolfsburg taught me to be a starter. That of course was a higher pressure than being a sub at Schalke. I want prove that I’m able to perform under pressure here in Hannover.

Many didn‘t understand that you didn‘t start at Wolfsburg in the end. What went wrong?
They suddenly didn‘t count on me when the 2nd half started. I fought and made it back as a sub in the 2nd game, socred a goal and then a brace in the third game. That was my response. I can handle pressure. I usually don’t need a coach to motivate me. I don’t need anyone to climb out af a deeo hole.

96 isn’t a top-club like Schalke but different than Wolfsburg. Was that a reason for the transfer?
Here in Hannover people live football and there’s a lot of heart and passion in the club. In Wolfsburg people talked more about VW than the club.

96 was your favourite opponent and you scored lots of goals against them.
Mabye it’s the Niedersachsenstatuion. It could be a good omen that I scored here so often.

What are your goals with 96?
Finish better than 10th.[b]

But isn’t this - to quote Peter Neuruer - a ************ goal?
[b]Well, yes but what am I supposed to say?


UEFA-Cup or UI-Cup?
If you finish 10th people say you failed. That’s why there should be a certain goal and you can set higher goals internally. It’s possible to win the league. Wolfsburg lead the league after the first half three years ago. (Don’t worry, doesn’t make much sense in German either)

Are you still allergic to grass?
Yes I am. When I walk over the field with my dog I feel the effects but it’s different when I train or play. My doctor told me this is because of the adrenaline.

Still ********ing funny to see a football player that is allergic to grass.

[F96]

Pinto interview:
Sergio, what were your first impressions of your new teammates?
Sergio Pinto: They accepted me really well. It's obvious that this team has a lot of potential, we played some great combinations already.

After is was known that you‘d transfer to Hannover it wasn‘t easy in for you in Aachen.
Sergio Pinto: Yes, the first time was hard but that‘s understandable. I would have liked to get a little bit of support of the club though.

What exactly do you mean with that?
Sergio Pinto: Well, suddenly I didn`t play anymore But that's how it is in football. Not the first time this happenend. But I came back strong I think.

Still, Aachen was relegated. Was that a sad experience for you?
Sergio Pinto: Of course. I had three wonderful years in Aachen. This wasn‚t supposed to happen. We wanted to avoid relegation. Then I could have played against them this year. Who knows, maybe we'll meet in the DFB cup.

Why did you leave and why did you chose Hannover 96?
Sergio Pinto: Well, Aachen wanted to keep me but I told them it would be difficult to sign me. I wanted to take the next step. I want to play Bundesliga the next three years and I was sure 96 could offer me that. Aachen is always fighting to stay in the league. Hannover is a big chance for me and I‘m going to seize it.

You left the FC Porto when you were twelve and came to Germany to play for TuS Haltern before joining to Schalke. That sounds rather unusual.
Sergio Pinto: Meine parents went to Germany and I joined them later. I didn‚t want to drive 35 kilometer every day without knowing the language. That‚s why we decided that I should start at a small club first.

Do you go along well with your parents?
Sergio Pinto: Yes, we're talking on the phone daily. They don‚t live far away from Aachen and visited me often and watched every home-game. It won't be different here.

Did you find an apartment yet?
Sergio Pinto: Yes, in the Zoo-quarter. I'm in Hannover since may already even though I didn't get to see much of the city yet. My girlfriend will join me this Sunday. 96 helped her get a job in a bank.

What are your goals with 96?
Sergio Pinto: It would be great if we finish three or four places better than the last few years and I want to be a starter.

You are an exceptional all-rounder. What‘s your favourite position?
Sergio Pinto: In the Bundesliga I played behind the forwards for Aachen two times and scored two goals but I can play pretty much every position. Except for goalie and cb I played everything already. My best game last season was as a LB but if I could decide it would be right behind the forwards.
Could you explain that a little bit further. How does that work if the coach tells you play this position this day and that position another?
Sergio Pinto: In Portugal they start early to teach you about tactics. You rotate positions in every training so that you learn what to do if one of your teammates receives a red card for example. I maintained that.

Do you think about the Portuguese NT?
Sergio Pinto: Well, I‘m about to turn 27. That won‘t be easy to play for my home-country one day. Still, it‘s a dream of mine. They scouted me for the U21 once but nothing since then.

What‘s your relationship to Portugal?
Sergio Pinto: I try to go there once a year but it‚s not like I'm there very often. If you only have two or three weeks it's not a vacation, it‚s rather stressfull because you have to visit friends and family all the time in Porto.

Where did you go this year?
Sergio Pinto: Marbella.

You know coach Dieter Hecking from Aachen. What are his strenghts?
Sergio Pinto: He's very fair. There was a phase in Aachen when I played really bad. He told me: „You're playing bad right now but if you give all you have in training and start to get better I will give you your chance.“ and he did.

Do you believe that you‘ll play internationally with Hannover 96 one day?
Sergio Pinto: Why not? We're good enough. We did it with Aachen and impressively I think. Even though I already played internationally with Schalke it was special to do the same with a 2.BL club like Aachen. Games against Lille who are always on top in France, against FC Sevilla, Zenit St. Petersburg, who had three very fast forwards, winning in Athens, and we dominated Alkmaar, who were leading the league back then. That was great, We would have deserved to advance. It's every footballer‚s dream to play internationally.

Mike Hanke is an old friend of your‘s from your Schalke days.
Sergio Pinto: Mike called me shortly after season's end and asked about the coach and his way of training. I said to myself: „Wow, I'm going to have a real nice teammate the next season.“ Of course I'm happy about his transfer. Mike is a forward who likes the penalty area, he will score his goals. Preferably because of my passes. We clicked right away here and are going to share a romm on the road.

What do you like to do in your free time?
Sergio Pinto: I like watching DVDs. I like everything except horror movies. I like to laugh and prefer comedies.

Do you know Marienfeld? Have you been her with another club before?
Sergio Pinto: Yes, I was here with Schalke and Aachen. But this part of the area is new, it was build for the WC.

What are you doing when you don‘t play football?
Sergio Pinto: I like to stroll around and shop. It doesn‘t have to be Milano or Rome. It‘s enough if I find a small shop in the city that has clothes that I like. There was this one store in Aachen were I fast all the time.

So it‘s important for you to dress well?Es ist Dir also schon wichtig, wie Du angezogen bist?

Sergio Pinto: Yes but that doesn‚t mean that I buy go home with thousand bags. Sometimes I only buy one T-Shirt. I have to like the clothes.

What else?
Sergio Pinto: I like to play games on my pc or on my play station. My favourite game is football-manager

To which club do you prefer to sell yourself?
Sergio Pinto: I sell to the club that pays me that highest amount of money. (laughs) Actually, I really sold myself at the start of the game. Since one can found his own club I do that

How is it called?
Sergio Pinto: „TuS Haltern!“ (laughs)

[Borussia]

Wow, bist du fleißig! ;)

[F96]

Well, you know thanks to the rain I'm not outside that much right now and that were rather fast translations (as one can see probably)..

This is a service to the thousands of non-German 96 fans ;) .

[Dead Fingers]

Make her a mod.

[Vfbstuttgartfan]

I love Neururer quotes :D

[Borussia]

Make her a mod.

Wouldn't mind doing something for the "Frauenquote" on this board...;)

[pepper96]

Wow, bist du fleißig! ;)


im endeffekt ist es so: so weniger man tut, desto fauler wird man.
siehe mich, ich gammle zu hause rum und fiebrrrre meinem ersten Semester entgegen. Ich weiß garnicht mehr wie ich damals Schule, Vorabi, Nebenjob und Weihnachtsgeschenke kaufen unter einen Hut gebracht habe. Wow.

I am very anxious to see Benny Lauth. next week I will check out a first time, when I watch the 96 training, and i hope he will take part in the testgame against egestorf. i am very curious.

[96Squig]

Pepper: What and where are you going to study?

[Borussia]

Nice article:

http://www.kicker.de/fussball/bundesliga/startseite/artikel/131237/

[Klask]

Anyone watching H96 - Rangers on eurosport?

Stajner looks like a fat 50 year who can't run, oh my he's slow.

[F96]

Anyone watching H96 - Rangers on eurosport?

Stajner looks like a fat 50 year who can't run, oh my he's slow.

And this was the game where he was supposed to raise his transfer fee...
He wants to leave because he probably won't play much this season but 96 doesn't want to sell him for less than €1Mio.

I was at the game today. Test-matches are so boring.
No atmosphere, no fouls.

Fahrenhorst and Lauth were atrocious tonight, I was almost stunned.

I don't really like Hecking's one-forward system I have to admit. Well, let's hope he's successfull with it.

This would be my ideal starting line-up:
Enke -- Cherundolo, Vinicius, Fahrenhorst, Tarnat --- Balitsch, Yankov --- Pinto, Rosenthal, Huszti --- Hanke.

I like Bruggink but he shouldn't start, he slows the game down too much. What I have seen from Lauth so far didn't impress me at all, I wouldn't sit down Rosenthal or Pinto for him.
If Fahrenhorst doesn't improve I would give Zuraw and Kleine a chance to challenge him for the CB spot.

[Klask]

I noticed Lauth was not having his best day, very few things went his way. And the game was kind of boring, even for a test match. I was surprised how many balls H96 managed to throw away. As far as Fahrenhost I have never rated him high in my book. I wouldn't be afraid to give others his place.

I didn't even know Stajner wanted to leave, and to be honest with the way he played against Rangers I don't think anyone would offer 1 million for him, he better show something soon, or else I'll stick to my belief that's he's done, washed up etc.

Since Hecking is a fan of playing only one striker, what will happen to Hashemian. Will he stick around and be some kind of a backup? For some reason the guy has just been a poor at finishing for H96. I remember when H96 played against Cottbus, I believe it was one of the last games of the season. I couldn’t avoid smiling and thinking why does this guy need so many opportunities to score goals, his efficiency is surprisingly low.

[F96]

Since Hecking is a fan of playing only one striker, what will happen to Hashemian. Will he stick around and be some kind of a backup? For some reason the guy has just been a poor at finishing for H96. I remember when H96 played against Cottbus, I believe it was one of the last games of the season. I couldn’t avoid smiling and thinking why does this guy need so many opportunities to score goals, his efficiency is surprisingly low.

They want to sell him as well even though I'm not really a fan of this idea.
These are our forwards right now:

* Lauth - I don't expect much from him and don't want him to start over Pinto and Rosenthal
* Stajner - a nice sub
* Vahid Hashemian - works hard, keeps the ball well and can assist but lost his scoring touch
* Thomas Brdaric - good finisher but on the verge of being invalide
* Gunnar Heidar Thorvaldsson - works hard but is he a Bundesliga player?
* Mike Hanke - I hope he works out

I would get rid of Stajner and keep Hashemian because if Brdaric's knee doesn't improve I'd rather play Hashemian than the other three.

[Klask]

That's a whole lot of players for one position :D


Concerning Brdaric, maybe he should consider retirement. I read on his web page that he had some trouble with his knee again and a break from training was required. That was something like 2 weeks ago. And age isn't exactly on his side either, 32 years old and things won’t get easier the next few years. That's for sure.

[mcnaulty21]

Quick question about Cherundolo's health. Is he looking fully fit, or still being nagged by the injury that left him out of the Gold Cup?

[johan neeskens]

So is anyone going to the friendly v Twente tomorrow night then? There's an interview with Bruggink on the Twente website, he's looking forward to meeting up with former team mates Heubach and Boschker. "Twente will always be a special club to me" and all that.

[F96]

Quick question about Cherundolo's health. Is he looking fully fit, or still being nagged by the injury that left him out of the Gold Cup?

He played every pre-season friendly and looked pretty good.

[mcnaulty21]

He played every pre-season friendly and looked pretty good.
Thanks for the update. Good luck to your boys this season