Hertha BSC Berlin - Page 12 - TalkSoccer

**Trim** · 17-05-2007, 07:28 AM

The Hertha president Bernd Schiphorst opened the 2007 members meeting at the International Congress Centrum (ICC) in Berlin on Monday evening at around 7.00 pm. Among the members present was the former home minister Otto Schily. The meeting ended after almost five hours.

Hostile welcome for the team
For the first time since the meeting has been held at the ICC, as the Hertha manager Dieter Hoeneß introduced the players to the proceedings, they were greeted by a lot of whistling. Skipper Arne Friedrich understood the reaction as he said: "We have played well under par this season, and still our fans got behind us. We would like to say thank you for that support."

Heine makes an honest assessment
Friedrich was praised by the Hertha head coach Karsten Heine who pointed out that he did not allow anyone to influence his selection of the Bundesliga team. Heine: "I am looking to the future with optimism. We have a squad of fine young players who share the same problems of all other people of their age." Heine also singled out Zecke Neuendorf and Joe Simunic for special praise. Heine again: "Zecke has worked hard and well, but he will agree with me that everyone else has too. Joe Simunic has always been a shining example in training."

Simunic himself apologised to the members and said he understood the reaction of the fans towards the team. The Croatian defender promised to improve next season. Heine had the last word at that point: "We have leaders within the team, and the mixture of youth and experience in the team makes me optimistic for the future."

Standing ovation for Zecke
The Hertha crowd favourite Zecke (who is leaving the club at the end of the season after Hertha decided not to offer him a contract extension)took to the microphone to a standing ovation. The midfielder praised the coaching staff and also talked about the character within the team: "I know the team and also know that things are never easy with us. The coaching staff have done well, but we can only blame ourselves for the weak end to the season. Whoever only views everything in a negative way will never move forward. Let us look to the future with optimism."

Hoeneß: "Hertha is not a one-man show"
Manager Dieter Hoeneß was politely applauded as he rose to speak. He told the 1,336 members that there would be a thorough analysis of the 2006/ season and that no stone would remain un turned in the search for the answers to so many questions. Hoeneß then spoke about the players leaving the club: "Bastürk kept us waiting for 18 months before deciding to move on. With regard to Dejagah, he wanted too much money. Zecke is also a player close to my heart as well, but we have to make the right sportive decisions for the club", explained the manager.

Self-criticism
Hoeneß was man enough to point the finger of blame at himself: "My mistake was to hang onto Falko Götz for too long. He is a good coach but the relationship between himself and the team wasn't right anymore. We wanted to finish the season with him before releasing him, and I take the blame for that." Hoeneß went on: "Hertha is not a one man show and all of the people in key positions are professionals. With regard to the management assistant and former Hertha striker Michael Preetz he said: "Michael Preetz will make more public statements and will take more responsibility from now on."

The Hertha manager concluded: "The Olympic stadium has to become a ground feared by visiting teams again, and the team has to function as a unit again. We must not forget the potential in our team, and finally we must continue to support young players progressing through the ranks. I for my part will continue to give the club 100%."

**Oliver_Kahn** · 19-05-2007, 09:16 PM

Eintracht Frankfurt 1 - 2 Hertha BSC

48' [0 - 1] J. Boateng
61' [1 - 1] A. Streit
86' [1 - 2] M. Pantelic

**Oliver_Kahn** · 26-05-2007, 12:50 PM

The disappointing 2006-07 season came to an end for Hertha, as they beat their partner town side Wittenberg 11-1 in front of 804 spectators in the Stadion im Volkspark.

Karsten Heine picked a side with a lot of Bundesliga experience and it showed, as Hertha dominated and the home side defended with man and mouse.

Captain Zecke lobs keeper

To their credit, Wittenberg kept a clean sheet until the 31st minute. Then "Zecke" Neuendorf who was playing his last game for Hertha, opened the scoring with a superb lob over the in-form Wittenberg keeper Steve Trollmann. Zecke was made the Hertha captain for the game.

The home side had Trollmann to thank that the score was only 1-0 to Hertha approaching half time. On the stroke of half time though, Trollmann was powerless as Ellery Cairo set up Srdjan Lakic for a nicely worked goal to make it 2-0 to Hertha at half time.

**Oliver_Kahn** · 07-06-2007, 09:07 PM

Hertha BSC Berlin will hold its summer training camp to prepare for the 2007/2008 Bundesliga season from July 9 to 18, 2007 in Stegersbach.

On July 11 Hertha BSC will play a friendly match against Austrian third division SC Sparkasse Elin Weiz in the town of Weiz.

And on July 14 Hertha BSC will play a friendly against Bulgarian team Levski Sofia in Stegersbach and on July 17 they'll play a friendly against English side FC Middlesbrough in Bad Waltersdorf.

Kick-off time for all of the above friendly matches will be at 18:30 hrs.

**Trim** · 11-06-2007, 08:46 AM

The ‘Berliner Zeitung’ on Sunday has reported on Hertha Berlin’s secret spying mission in Brazil, led by Michael Preetz.

Preetz was in Brazil to watch transfer target Jorge Valdiva in action for Palmeiras against Sao Paulo.

The midfielder is just what newly installed Hertha coach Lucien Favre is looking for. He is young (23), technically sound, and with room for development.

Added to that, Favre knows the Chilean international from his time managing in Switzerland. Valdiva played in 2004/2005 for Servette, while Favre was coach of FC Zurich and followed the development of the youngster.

When, in 2005, Servette went into receivership, Valdiva returned to South America and played at Colo Colo until 2006, when he joined Palmeiras, where he has become a key player for the Brazilians.

Valdiva will get the chance to meet two potential future team-mates on 1st July when his Chile side meets Brazil in the Copa America.

Hertha Berlin’s Gilberto and Mineiro will line up against him.

One player Lucien Favre will not be bringing to Berlin is Gökhan Inler. His star player from Zurich, who he wished to bring with him, will be joining Udinese in Serie A.

Goal.com - Germany - Hertha Berlin Tracking Chilean Jorge Valdiva

**Oliver_Kahn** · 11-06-2007, 11:04 AM

He is amazing on FM lol.

**Trim** · 13-06-2007, 05:48 PM

Hertha's Brazilian duo of Gilberto and Mineiro are in the squad for the Copa America competition. Selecao coach Carlos Dunga called the Berlin duo into his 22 man squad for the tournament, which takes place between June 26th and July 15th in Venezuela. Brazil, who will be without their superstars Ronaldinho and Kaka, are drawn in Group B alongside Mexiko, Chile and Equador.

**Trim** · 13-06-2007, 05:49 PM

The majority of the passengers on the night flight from Frankfurt am Main to Rio de Janeiro on Thursday evening, had holidays on their minds. Not so one passenger-the former Hertha striker and nowadays management assistant Michael Preetz, who is on a secret mission in South America, searching for possible candidates for Hertha next season. Preetz is in Brazil at the right time, because the Brazilian league played their fifth round at the weekend. On Sunday Preetz watched a game between Palmeiras Sao Paulo and Botafogo Rio de Janeiro. Hertha are searching for a playmaker, at least one defender and a striker.

**Trim** · 13-06-2007, 05:49 PM

New coach, new candidates! Lucien Favre has his eye on bringing a former FC Zurich player to Berlin. The new Hertha coach wants Alhassane Keita to join him at the capital city club.

The 23 year old striker has been in talks with Salzburg for weeks, but because of Favre, Hertha are now the favourites for his signature. The Guinea-born striker is a little like Marcelinho, the Brazilian playmaker who played for over five years in Berling and now plays for Bundesliga rivals VfL Wolfsburg. The striker likes to colour his hair and is not very punctual!

Keita was the Swiss league's top scorer with 20 goals in the 2005/6 season. He was then lured by money to the Saudi Arabian club Al Ittihad Jedda, where he reportedly earned 700,000 Euros, scoring 28 goals in only 40 games.

**Trim** · 13-06-2007, 05:50 PM

The Hertha new signing Lukasz Piszczek (pronounced: "Lukasch Pischtschek"), arrived at the Olympic stadium with a Polish league champions medal in his pocket. The 22 year old striker joins the capital city club from Zaglebie Lubin, who won the Ekstraklasa (Polish first division) last season.

"Very impressive"
Piszczek who scored 11 league goals last season, was shown around the Olympic stadium which is currently being prepared for a concert by Herbert Grönemeyer, before inspecting the training complex.

"The stadium is very impressive! I am very much looking forward to playing here soon", said Lukasz, who played a season for the Hertha reserve side in the 2004/2005 season. Since then, he has been out on loan, and he admitted that the stadium has gone through major changes since he last saw it.

Welcome chance
Before being shown around, Lukasz had a long chat with manager Dieter Hoeneß and new head coach Lucien Favre: "For me it is the perfect time to return to Hertha. Under Favre I will get a chance to show what I can do", said a confident Piszczek . Favre is convinced that his new signing will be an asset: "He will shake up the competition for first team places up front, and I am sure he can do a job for us", said the Hertha coach.

**Trim** · 17-06-2007, 10:46 AM

The tug of war surrounding Harald Gämperle shows no sign of abating. While the Swiss league champions FC Zürich are counting on him being at the club next term, Hertha are optimistic that they will be able to entice him to Berlin as Co.trainer alongside Lucien Favre.

Manager Dieter Hoeneß: "We had a positive but non-binding chat with him on Tuesday. I got the impression that he would like to move to Berlin, but things are not in our own hands."

The facts: Gämperle has a contract at FCZ until 2008. And: The Swiss club is in no mood to let him go. Hertha would have to buy him out of his contract, which Hoeneß says: "Is out of the question."

**Trim** · 18-06-2007, 01:48 PM

During their preparation for the 2007/08 season, Hertha BSC have announced that they will play a friendly game against the former Marcelinho club Trabsonspor, who play in the Turkish first division.

The game will be played on July 27th at the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Sportpark in Berlin.

The exact kick off time has yet to be announced. Tickets for the game can be bought at all five of Hertha's official fan shops, at a time also yet to be announced.

**Trim** · 19-06-2007, 08:13 AM

Lucien Favre is a crowd magnet! Hertha's new head coach who has stated that he prefers attractive attacking football has had a positive effect on season ticket sales. Until now 11,000 fans have bought a season ticket for Hertha's home games next season.

Fine gesture by Deutsche Bahn AG
Thanks to the club main sponsor Deutsche Bahn AG, all season ticket holders can buy the new Hertha home shirt for half price (34,95 Euro). The shirts can be bought at the official Hertha fan shops from the day Hertha play their opening Bundesliga home game in the 2007/08 season.

3 categories - 3 prices
To make things easier for potential season ticket buyers, Hertha have constructed a simple system of 3 categories and therefore only three prices. Tickets can be bought at the official Hertha fan shops (Club offices, Europa-Center, Gropiuspassagen, Olympiastadion and the main railway station), or by calling the Service-Hotline (01805-189200, 0,14 EUR/Min.), or of course the online shop.

**Trim** · 19-06-2007, 08:15 AM

The Copa America has yet to begin, but the Hertha midfielder Gilberto is already onto a winner! Before the competition begins (June 27th until July 15th in Venezuela), the Brazilian has won back the heart of his former wife Thais (30). Gilberto: "We are back together and we will marry again in December!"

In April 2006 it was announced that the couple had divorced. The problems began in spring 2005, as their first daughter Marina was born. Thais didn't want to join her husband with their second daughter in Berlin, because she was still studying medicine in Brazil.