First half of the season is over, many nice performances by Werder, but due to harsh defense mistake and chance wasting in offense a bad standing in the table. So time to guide the team into a more successful future with good transfers. Here is the thread to discuss news, wishes and rumors.
Transfer confirmation First winter transfer is confirmed. Mateo Pavlovic, a 22 old Croatian defender comes from NK Zagreb and signed until summer 2016. He will substitute Francois Affolter, whose loan ends this winter. werder.de
Biography of Mateo Pavlovic: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mateo_Pavlović He is considered as talented player in Croatian national league, his father Luka Pavlovic coached him in NK Zagreb. It's not often to see that one Croatian player goes abroad from other Croatian clubs. They usually go from NK Hajduk Split or GNK Dinamo Zagreb. I think that he will have a nice future. Several other Croats played in Werder Bremen: Željko Čajkovski (1956-1958), in modern times Ivan Klasnic, Ivica Banovic, Jurica Vranjes, can't remember other players. Werder deserves better positions than 12th. Europa League is not so far, only four points for now. Viel Gluck!
Hopefully we can bring in a winger. Right now it looks like we only have 3 wingers: Arnautovic, Elia, and Fuellkrug. Fuellkrug does not feel like a natural winger, Elia is useless, and Arnautovic is suspended for the next match. If we were going to play 4-3-3, why did we dump Marin?
Did we not just cash in on him? As I recall the fee was around 20m Euro? Either way its not like he's getting any looks at Chelsea, I feel like it could be another Pizarro situation in that they send him packing without much of a chance.
The transfer fee was less than 10 m €, but Werder had to sell Marin because he only had one year contract left and did not want to extend. Well, but indeed it is strange that Werder sold him at the moment Schaaf switched to a system that fits him. I would not call that good planning. Thank you, lets hope he shows positive performances like most of the Croatians playing for Werder before.
Ah yes, the Werder way of doing business. Never let someone leave on a free. Sell Almeida with 6 months left, sell Oezil with 1 year left, and now sell Marin with 1 year left. Well, I guess it's good business. We just need another winger.
Hey, lads, I hope you had a great christmas. Meanwhile Werder made itself a late gift - a new sport manager. Former Mönchengladbach and Nürnberg player Thomas Eichin (46) will join Werder from Collogne Sharks (Kölner Haie). After his football career he first assisted Rolf Rüssmann at M'Gladbach in the late 90s before working as sports manager of hockey club Collogne Sharks (won with them 1 championship, 1 cup and 1 international cup in the past 13 years and helped making them an established top team). Werder respects (in constant to the VW club) contracts and thus Eichin will join us after the hockey season ended (Collogne is currently 2nd in the table and will most likely reach the playoffs). This means Eichin will most likely join us in April. werder.de --- Yes, a backup will be great, Elia, who is sadly in bad form, needs some pressure to perform well.
Kevin De Bruyne stated yesterday in an interview, that he think of staying in Bremen. He said: "It is possible that I stay in Bremen, but it depends on Chelseas plans." So that is a way more positive interview compared to the one in October, where he stated that he did not feel well and wants to leave in summer. Sources: kicker.de kreiszeitung.de
Wow, that is great news. Perhaps he is just learning how to play the media/fans, but if he is sincere then that is great to hear. Really enjoyed watching him this season with his work-rate, technical ability and lung bursting runs.
According to kicker Greuther Fürth is interesting in signing Florian Trinks last minute. Trinks scored the winning 2-1 at Germany's U17-EC final victory vs. the Netherlands in 2009, made his BL debut for Werder in season 2010/11, but could not make it this season into the starting 11. kicker.de
A new signing for the reserve. Forward Davie Selke, German U18 national player, comes from TSG Hoffenheim. He has a good record in the U19-BL South with 12 goals in 13 matches. It is planned to build him up in the U19 and U23. Hope he joins the U19 since Votava is IMHO a good coach and when next year Skripnik takes over the U23, he should develope well (if no risks like injuries, ... happen).