After a horrible start to the season, it looks like Hamburg under Toppmoeller has finally gotten itself back on track and is on the winning path again. Relegation is not an issue right now, but will the winter break be a good thing, or a bad thing for HSV now that they've found their stride? Obviously it's impossible to say, but I think that they'll be even better when they come back for matchday 18 and will continue to work their way up the table and into a UEFA Cup spot.
The bad start to the season, and injuries have not been all bad for HSV. HSV have come back and shown tremdous character, the injuries have allowed several young players to break through. The one player I have been particularly pleased with is Kling. Toppmoller stated on the HSV web site that Kling has impressed more than Rahn, a German NT member. Wachter has started to settle in, in goal. I feel a lot of their problems were because of Pickenhagen's injury. The team is strong in the back and up front; the middle is only lacking with a creative force. I personally would like to see HSV pick up a young German MF, such as Bayern's Trochowski. He has played in the Hamburg area and would be an excellent addition. I do not know, or have read what Toppi's plan might be during the break as far as changes to the squad, but the last few months, minus the Cup loss to Munchen have been awesome. I hope they find their creative drive, they have some wonderful young players who seem to be coming along. Go HSV, HSV forever!!!
Hamburg reinforcements.. I don't think that we will see some major reinforcements in Hamburg - not in the winter break nor in the summer. Hamburg did a lot of scouting in Brazil in the last couple of weeks, but they don't have the money to sign a big player. Toppmoeller wants a brazilian defender as a successor for Hoogma who will end his career with Hamburg in the summer. Seems that Hamburg is interested in young Fluminense defender Rodolfo, maybe they can buy him in the summer, he's not too expensive at the moment ( which may change if he continues to show good performances..). Another transfer target is a fast striker. We were scouting brazilian U20 international Dagoberto for a year now but i doubt that we can get him. Another target may be Santos' William but i don't know if he is any good. The press also mentioned that Hamburg wants to loan Robinho from Santos but this is complete nonsense... And then there is a lot of transfer talk involving german based players. Hamburg is definitely interested in Stuttgart out of favor striker Amanatidis, another name mentioned is former Hamburg player Francisco Copado who is the actual Bundesliga 2 topscorer - he always talks into every camera and microphone that it is his dream to play for Hamburg again, but he is already 29... In addition to that, Hamburg is interested in Viacheslaw Hleb ( the younger brother of Stuttgart midfielder Aliaksander Hleb ) who plays for the Stuttgart amateur team, but he won't be an immediate reinforcement, this guy still has to learn alot though it is said that he is as talented as his brother.. Last name which was mentioned often is Luebecks ( Bundesliga 2..) playmaker Ferydoon Zandi. He scores alot, but i doubt that he can take care of the playmaker job in Bundesliga 1...
HSV reinforcements I just read on the HSV website that Hleb the younger's agent will be speaking with Stuttgart about a move over the break. So, that would be another young gun for HSV. I would still like to see Trochowski come to HSV, but I do not think Hitzfeld and Hoeness are going to let go of a player of such obvious talent. I am really waiting on the young forwards HSV have Sen and Streit to start blossoming, both are playing on the U-20 GNT. The winter break leaves me with Seasonal Affective Disorder, as I wait for January 31st. I do think the break is good for the players, time to heal, regain fitness. I feel for English teams who get no break at all. I feel the winter break is harder to ride out than the summer break, I guess it is because there is less to do outside in Northern VA. Well, HSV keep watching those sites for information, I think very little is needed for HSV to continue the form they finished the first half of the season with. HSV froever!!!
@HSV forever : forget about Sen and Streit for the near future. I saw Sen a couple of times - he is talented, he is fast and he is showing lots of heart but his finishing is awful . He doesn't even score for the Hamburg amateur team. This is definitely not enough for a Bundesliga forward at the moment, he still needs to mature for 1 or 2 years in Div 3. Streit was a big disappointment in the amateur team at the start of the season. He trained with the Bundesliga team but was soon sent back to the amateurs by former coach Jara. In the last couple of matches he showed some improved form, but he is very far away from making it into the Bundesliga at the moment, i doubt that he'll ever make it...
SKY sports has reported Iranian Winger Mehdi Madavakia has deadline of Jan 31 to accept a new contract, rumors have have linked him to AS ROMA. Also Iranian Midefielder Ali Karami, who currently plays in the United Arab Emirates, has also been linked to Hamburg. Just some insight on Ali Karimi, he is great scorer, but need to learn how to pass if he ever wants to play in Europe.
This Madahvikia business I must say I just saw the Madahvikia story on soccer365 and am disappointed. Every one associated with HSV wants European football, who doesn't. Madahvikia stating an ultimatiumto the club is honest for sure, but none the less disheartening. HSV has just finished up the first half of the Bundesliga season clawing their way to 9th in the table, playing some inspiring if not entertaining football, and Madahvikia is a big reason why. He is very industrious, hard working, and talented, being only 26 I figured him in the HSV plans for a while. As comes to all Bundesliga teams aside from Bayern, the star players either themselves or the media start all the he's leaving for bigger things talk. Well, having loved sports all my life, and watched how champions are built, these players and teams need to look at the Man U. model. Building with youth, maintaining a core group of players, and adding veteran players to provide different talents for winning games. Now, Man U. is rich, and I know people will say that is why they are in the situation their in, but unitl Fergie arrived and applied his plan theywere no different from the rest of the Eupropean giants. If money was the only factor, then Tootenham would be a top 3 club. Hamburg have what I see as a good core (Pickenhagen/Wachter, Barbarez, Beinlich, Wicky, Ujfalusi, Romeo, Takahara, Maltritz, Reinhardt), good veteran players (Hoogma, Hollerbach), and youth (Rahn, Kling, Schlicke). Madahvikia is a core player and for him to go would be difficult for HSV to replace. I know this sounds I like the mindless ramblings of a whiner, but Hamburg have alot to offer, money, great fans, great city to play in, and with a few good years of receiving European money, and spending thifty would bring HSV long term glory. I hope beyond hope that Toppi and HSV management will do right by the team, city, and all of the fans and build a team that can recapture and maintain the glory HSV and Hamburg desevre. HSV forever!!!
Re: This Madahvikia business I thought the club issued the ultimatum to him to sign the contract by the end of winter break!!! Kia did mention that he wants to play in UEFA or Champions which is still feasible with Hamburg. They still have half the season to go, and they are making a strong come back. I like Kia to stay with Hamburg and hope the club recognizes his talents by making him a respectable offer. IMHO he's near to a perfect player and individual as a whole, the ultimate team player and a gentleman. It would be a huge loss for Hamburg. btw, HSV FOREVER, I like your passion for your team, that's great to see. Hope HSV does well.
I also like HSV and love their very passionate fans, they are fun to watch, of course I did not start liking them until there were Iranians there, but who cares.
Mahdavikia’s Wage Demands Refused by HSV By Reza Ghazinouri Dec 22, 2003, 09:01 HAMBURG- (Iran Sports Press): HSV have refused to meet Mahdavikia’s 3 million Euro wage demands according to HSV director of sport Dietmar Beiersdorfer, as reported by Kicker Sports magazine. Speaking to Kicker before leaving for Cuba, Dietmar Beiersdorfer said Mahdavikia will not be offered more than 2 million Euros. He also rubbished the story linking Mahdavikia with a move to AS Roma, as reported by Sky Sports, saying the Italian side would not be able to afford the Iranian, considering the financial state of the Serie A club. Hamburg’s top player Serjey Barabrez earns over 2 million Euros a year, and the Asian Player of the Year is asking for nothing less than what his team mate earns. There is also speculation in the German press that the new HSV coach, Toppmueller, has already began the task of replacing Mahdavikia in Hamburg by considering players like VFL Wolfsburg’s Albert Streit who can play in Mehdi’s position. Iran Sports Press So it looks like he wont be going to Roma
I am so sick of players leaving their clubs because of money. Sure, everyone wants more, but is your life that miserable when you're only making two million a year instead of three? And another thing - you leave your club because you want to play in the Champions League? Score three goals a game, stop your whining, and I'm sure that you'll be playing against Real Madrid and Juventus in the next few weeks. Go HSV!
Hehe - he will get paid here in Hamburg, that's for sure ( this might not be the case at Roma ..). I'm looking at the whole Mahdavikia story without big emotions anymore. If he stays, it would be great. But if he leaves, i won't be crying. Mehdi is a good player, but not a top class one ( he never will be..). I like him, he is a very good team player , a good dribbler and crosser, but his finishing is awful and his passing skills aren't the best, too. This season, he was very inconsistent so far. To make it simple : He definitely has *not* the skills you need in order to play for a real top club ( Bayern, ManU, Chelsa, Real, Milan ...). His 3 Mio demand is simply too high for Hamburg ( in comparison : Sebastian Deisler earns about 3 Mio at Bayern, too. But a healthy Deisler is a much better player than Mehdi ever will be ! ). If he wants to go to Schalke or another club to earn the money he is asking for, he must do it.