Hier regiert der HSV thread 07/08 [R]

[natenate101]

We're happy to have VDV join the squad, especially since Sneijder went down, but I was wondering if Hamburg fans have fond thoughts of his time with the team? In the games I watched last season, many of them were shown on Goltv, he certainly seemed like the talisman for you guys. But, like others have mentioned, your squad looked pretty damned dangerous in the Emirates cup, so it may not be so big a blow.

Again, just curious how his time in Germany will be remembered. Thanks

Oh, Zidan's goal against us Saturday was quality. And I have to say Olic really impressed me in the Euros, if for nothing else than his 110% effort out there at all times.

[footyfan1]

But don't forget he is a young talent. In his first season he cannot be an equal ersatz for Van der Vaart who won many HSV matches alone. VdV is a Weltstar and Pitriopa a second league player coming up to his first BuLi season.

I did not mean to imply that Pitriopa would step in and be vdV. However, I think he will eventually help HSV win in ways that vdV did not.

And it might be sooner than you think.

Don't forget. HSV went undefeated in 5 matches without vdV last season. I don't think HSV needs a vdV as badly as some of you think.

I think the team will be closer overall without vdV.

They may start the season slowly, but it will come together.



btw: they actually another striker, Olic, Guerrero and Zidan are not a top team strike. But the market is empty. And they have enough medium-class players.

Those strikers got the job done last season. They didn't score just because of vdV.

[footyfan1]

I think Jol can balance the absence of VDV's match winning abilities by improving the collective of the team overall. VDV was important because the rest of the team always relied on him and got used to centering everything around him, similar to what happened at Bayern with Ribery and Toni. That took away from the rest of the team. With VDV gone now there is room for other players to step up and for a total team effort, they certainly have the players for that.

Totally agree.

[Duncan Idaho]

I think Jol can balance the absence of VDV's match winning abilities by improving the collective of the team overall. VDV was important because the rest of the team always relied on him and got used to centering everything around him, similar to what happened at Bayern with Ribery and Toni. That took away from the rest of the team. With VDV gone now there is room for other players to step up and for a total team effort, they certainly have the players for that.

The season is long and therefore I don't think this can be achieved over the whole season unless they buy players to improve their weaknesses. They were already lacking a proven and reliable striker last year and now with vdV they lost another player that guaranteed about 10 goals per season. They also have to find a way to replace the assists vdV would have done in the next season. I think they need to buy two players one for the midfield, who can fill the void vdV at least a bit and they also need to buy another striker to put Guerreo and Zidan on the bench. Therefore I don't see them finishing on the CL spots unless they do so. Even getting into UEFA might be too difficult if they don't do that. One should certainly not make the mistake and overrate the Emirates Cup as Juve really wasn't in training for a long time so far

[footyfan1]

The season is long and therefore I don't think this can be achieved over the whole season unless they buy players to improve their weaknesses. They were already lacking a proven and reliable striker last year and now with vdV they lost another player that guaranteed about 10 goals per season. They also have to find a way to replace the assists vdV would have done in the next season. I think they need to buy two players one for the midfield, who can fill the void vdV at least a bit and they also need to buy another striker to put Guerreo and Zidan on the bench. Therefore I don't see them finishing on the CL spots unless they do so. Even getting into UEFA might be too difficult if they don't do that. One should certainly not make the mistake and overrate the Emirates Cup as Juve really wasn't in training for a long time so far


Again, they seemed to do just fine in their five matches without vdV last season.......

[Duncan Idaho]

Again, they seemed to do just fine in their five matches without vdV last season.......

Bayern seemed to do fine as well when Ballack was missing but things looked different when he was gone. The point is HSV certainly wasn't the vdV one-man-show and but he was atleast an important goalscorer and assistmaker for them and I have more than doubts that the other players can step up that much and fill this bill alone

[footyfan1]

Bayern seemed to do fine as well when Ballack was missing but things looked different when he was gone. The point is HSV certainly wasn't the vdV one-man-show and but he was atleast an important goalscorer and assistmaker for them and I have more than doubts that the other players can step up that much and fill this bill alone


Bayern was also arrogant enough to think their team was so far ahead of the rest that they could just move on after Ballack without major adjustments.

The difference is, HSV has players on hand who given a different situation, should be able to make up for their "forced dependence" on vdV.

This isn't Bayern and Ballack. HSV's team showed last season that given the chance, they can play without vdV.

When vdV was out, they didn't use that as an excuse to fail, they went out and got the job done.

I think they will continue to do so.

Sure, they may start slowly as others get used to their new roles, but I believe they will pick it up as the season goes along.

Especially now that they have a more offensively minded coach......

[Wastl]

We're happy to have VDV join the squad, especially since Sneijder went down, but I was wondering if Hamburg fans have fond thoughts of his time with the team? In the games I watched last season, many of them were shown on Goltv, he certainly seemed like the talisman for you guys. But, like others have mentioned, your squad looked pretty damned dangerous in the Emirates cup, so it may not be so big a blow.

Again, just curious how his time in Germany will be remembered. Thanks

Oh, Zidan's goal against us Saturday was quality. And I have to say Olic really impressed me in the Euros, if for nothing else than his 110% effort out there at all times.

He will definately be remembered here. Pretty much the best player in a very long time. He could have been of Kevin Keegan like stature in Hamburg, if it wasn't for his antics last summer. Before that, he was a hero, beloved by pretty much everyone, and no one would have blamed him if he went to Real for an acceptable price.
Then he pouted when Hamburg rejected a low-ball offer by Valencia. He indirectly insulted the team, fans and city and there were photos of him posing with a Valencia-jersey. Many considered him a traitor at that point. In the press, they had a play on words with his nickname, it went from "kleiner Engel" (little angel) to "kleiner Bengel" (little rascal).

He sort of redeemed himself by playing hard every game and apologizing for what he had said, but it's still far from what he could have been.


Not having van der Vaart may be a blessing. Last season, in a very defensive system, everything depended on his play and when his game was off, the team wasn't dangerous at all. This year, with a more offensive approach, spreading the weight on more shoulders may prevent that. Though losing someone like van der Vaart, who can decide games on his own, is never a good thing. Not to mention that more help up front should have let to an even better season by him.

I'm not worried about the current form, the passing play looks very good right now, but all the forwards are known to run cold now and then. There is a need for someone who will thrive under pressure and chip in some key goals while the team is in trouble.

Olic is pure effort, he's all over the place, I have never seen a forward work so hard on the field. When he puts in 14 goals like he did last season, you really couldn't ask for more. They really need to give him a new contract, he has only one year left and has been asking for a new one for quite a few months now. Hamburg can't afford to lose him, yet somehow they have managed not to make an offer so far.

[Dead Fingers]

new season thread
http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=727789