Congratulations on a VERY WELL DESERVED victory guys!! Babbel tactically kicked Klopp's ass and showed that when you can frustrate BVB, you can beat us.
True words here. Babbel really had the right tactics against Dortmund, the corridor between attack an defense was small and Hertha profited very much of the technical abilities and speed of their two strikers Raphael and Ramos who could hold the ball and allow one counter attack after another. I have to admit when Hertha relegated I had my doubts if the unexperienced Markus Babbel was the right choice as coach but he has proven me wrong. Furthermore manager Preetz did a good job, too. Ottl and Kraft who couldn't shine at Bayern Munich are great signings for Hertha and keeping Ramos & Raphael after the relegation has proven to be a very good (but expensive) decision. Very good to see Heartha in such good shape, hated it when Bayern Munich was the easternmost city in the Bundesliga.
Not used to badly officiated games in the bundesliga, but every yellow card was marginal at best ( exception being Ramos kicking the ball away). Raffeal could have had a PK and the following possesion when their goalie ran over our player and nothing was called. I'll give the team credit for holding on as long as they did.
Terrible refereeing in this one. Lell has been superb this season so far, but his sending off was justified, pretty much the only thing Dr. Brych got right that night. Pizarro's equalizer was clearly after a foul, sort of a reminder of Dzeko's goal two years ago in the match that probably made Wolfsburg champions and Hertha go to the "Loosers' Cup".
He did give Pizarro's first goal after an obvious foul and the third one after an offside position though, not to mention the different standards regarding the "little" calls. Considering the luck against Hannover that's just evening out over the course of the season I guess, although Hertha still has a pretty big pool from the 2009/10 season...
Good win today, what a goal by Raffael! TBF though, Koln offered nothing today. Based on everything today, I'd keep Ramos on the bench even though he will be back. Ben Hatira offered the pace that I think was missing from this team. Great 1st start from him.
So what now with Lassogga? Keep him in the starting line up? Surprised with how well Hertha have done so far?
I'm trying to buy Hertha tickets ahead of time for the Dortmund game February 18th (I think?). Any ideas on how to do this, mindful that I live in the states? I'll be arriving the weekend before, does anyone think I'll be able to manage to get two tickets?
Sadly, it had nothing to do with the team. It is starting to look as if Preetz has been the real problem all along......
While I am probably biased because I loved Rene Tretschok during his BVB days, I will still say I really feel Hertha should have let Tretschok keep the head coaching job. I thought Saturday's match against BVB was arguably Hertha's best team effort since before Babbel was let go. I really cannot stress how much I believe Hertha should have let Tretschok continue. Then, had Tretschok not done well, after four or five weeks, you get Rehhagel for the final six or seven matches. BVB did the same thing back in 1999-2000 as we were on the verge of relegation with Udo Lattek. No one else was beating down Otto Rehhagel's door. I really think Hertha has made a mistake hiring Rehhagel now. I might be wrong, but this is how I feel.......
Otto looks pretty good for 73 years old... You have to wonder if he keeps Hertha up, will Preetz have his contract renewed since it runs out in June. Maybe that's why Babbel didn't want to come back next year - there was a possibility that Preetz would return if Babbel had a decent year.
The team sure looked good against Dortmund. Moral victories are never fun, but you've got to be proud of the way they competed.
Decent article on The Score: http://blogs.thescore.com/footyblog/2012/02/23/horncastle-rehhacles-returns-to-save-hertha-berlin/
I agree. Just curious whether his "old school" tactics looks good as well. Is he going to reintroduce the "Libero"? )
Sorry for the result of last night's scandalous match. What a shame. I hope that FD gets hit HARD for their fans' antics.