SV Werder Bremen

[Pat Murphy]

I will be following his case closely over the Summer. If Eto'o does leave then he is probably the only Striker we can get in the quality and non-overpriced ranged.

[Oliver_Kahn]

In the last game of the 2006/2007 season for the German national side, the DFB selection took on Slovakia at the World Cup arena in Hamburg and secured their place at the top of Euro 2008 qualifying Group D with a 2:1 win and have put themselves in a very comfortable position with a view to reaching the European Championship tournament in Austria and Switzerland next year. VfB midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger netted the winner for Germany with a first half header.

There was no one really expecting a footballing gem on the final day of a long and energy sapping season and in the end Jogi Loew’s men took the points thanks to a mixture of individual quality and determination. The Slovakian’s were aware that they needed a win to keep alive any remaining chances they may have had of qualifying but their limited attacks proved too harmless to really test the German eleven.

Werder Bremen winger Clemens Fritz got the nod on this occasion ahead of VfB Stuttgart’s Roberto Hilbert in the starting eleven with only Thomas Hitzlsperger representing the German champions from the outset whilst Werder had, alongside Fritz, Mirosalv Klose, Torsten Frings and PerMertesacker in the first choice selection. In a game that Germany seemed in control of without possessing the superiority they had shown throughout the season, the first two successful strikes were ironically own goals. Firstly Jan Durica, under severe pressure from Miroslav Klose, turned a loose ball over his own goal line. The Werder striker erupted in celebration, having been on the end of a goal for the national team after a long drought but UEFA officially recognised the effort as having been scored by the Slovakian defender (10’).
At the other end of the pitch some ten minutes later, Christoph Metzelder found himself caught out of position on the left and in the chase for the ball with the opposing striker, the Dortmund defender toe poked the ball past keeper Jens Lehmann to make it 1:1.

With the first half drawing to a close, Phillip Lahm took control of the ball on the edge of the Slovak penalty area and, twisting inside on to his weaker left foot, the Bayern Munich full-back picked out Thomas Hitzlsperger on the back post with a perfectly weighted cross and the VfB man nodded past the stranded keeper to give home side the lead again (43’).
After the break, the German’s took their foot off the pedal and allowed the hopeful but harmless Slovak’s to come at them. In the 65th minute, Loew introduced striker Mario Gomez for Schalke’s Kevin Kuranyi. The VfB man could, and probably should have had a penalty as he was held going for a header just two minutes after his substitution but the referee allowed play to continue.
For the final quarter hour, Miroslav Klose was allowed to begin his summer holiday’s and Loew brought local lad Piotr Trochowski from HSV but there was to be no change in the final score line. Germany had their three points to continue the fabulous run of results under Joachim Loew and round off a more than satisfactory season for the national team.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Werder Bremen very clearly documented their power in front of goal in the Bundesliga. The Green-Whites marked up 76 goals during the 2006/2007 season, a feat which no other side in the league could match. By way of comparison: German champions VfB Stuttgart managed 61 goals to take second place in the goal scoring rankings. Werder.de have put together some extra facts about the goal hungry Green-Whites.

Werder goalward bound: The Bremen club scored 76 goals in 34 games which amounts to 2,24 goals per game. With the exception of blocked efforts, Werder shot on goal 462 time – the league record. 48,3% of their efforts were on target with 16,5% finding the net.

Werder like to do it right: 42 of the 76 goals scored by Werder (55%) were scored with the right foot of the scorer, 19 goals were scored with the left (25%) whilst 13 headers (17%) found the mark – there were also two own-goals in the mix (3%).

Werder most dangerous in the closing phase: 23 of the 76 (30%) goals scored by Thomas Schaaf’s men were netted between the 76th and 90th minutes. It would appear the Green-Whites prefer to score in the second half with 43 goals (57%) falling after the break.

Goals in abundance, from every position: 37 goals from forwards, 24 from midfielders and 13 from defenders amounts to the top ratio in the Bundesliga. The top scorers in the individual positions were Miroslav Klose from the strikers with 13 goals, Diego in the midfield also with 13 goals and Naldo representing the defenders with six goals to his name.

Werder tops on their travels: Werder achieved the highest win of the season on the seventh match day when they travelled to VfL Bochum and ran out 6:0 winners. Hunt, Schulz, Vranjes, Diego, Fritz and Naldo were the goal getters on the day. On two further occasions whilst on their travels Werder managed to notch up six against their opponents – In Mainz and in Frankfurt.

[Oliver_Kahn]

Werder Bremen impressed in all areas of the pitch during the course of the last season. On the attack, Werder swept the rest of the Bundesliga aside with a stunning 76 goals in the 2006/2007 Bundesliga season whilst the newly form defensive duo of Naldo and Per Mertesacker combined to prove one of the league’s most formidable forces. Werder.de took an extra look at the defensive statistics over the season and found some interesting facts.

The Green-Whites Brazilian centre half Naldo was in the team’s starting eleven in 32 of their Bundesliga games and scored six goals from a total of 42 shots on goal (18 of which were on target whilst 24 proved off the mark). The Brazilian international attempted 1429 passes, 897 in his own half and 532 in the opposition section of the pitch. From 215 long range passes, a very respectable 84,7% reached their target. Naldo also managed to win 70,8% of the 291 tackles he entered. He was involved in 163 clearances, blocked 14 shots, chased down 63 long balls and made 98 challenges. The referee decided against Naldo 44 times.

Per Mertesacker, Naldo’s partner at the heart of the Werder defence, played 25 games from the start and scored two goals despite having to deal with a number of injuries throughout the season. The lofty defender hit six shots on goal and was off the mark on 14 occasions. The German international played a total of 1065 passes – 720 in his own half and 345 in the opposite half of the pitch. From 159 tackles on the ball, Mertesacker won a phenomenal 71,7% of them. He cleared 120 efforts, blocked eleven shots and made 53 further challenges. In the whole season the still young defender was responsible for just 21 fouls.

Werder’s back line won 80,3% of the 783 tackles made during the season and made 1101 clearances. The Green-Whites conceded 40 goals (1,18 per game). There were 21 goals scored with an opponents right foot (52%), 10 with the left (25%) and eight headers (20%) whilst Naldo’s own goal against Frankfurt makes up the remaining 3%. 80% of the goals conceded were scored from inside the penalty area (32 goals), 8% from outside the box (3) and 12% from free-kicks(1) and penalties (4). On 18 occasions the scorer was a striker (45%), there were 15 goals by midfielders (38%) and 6 by defenders. From the goals conceded there were exactly 20 goals scored against Werder in each half with 9 goals being conceded within the first 15 minutes.

A further notable statistic about Schaaf’s men is that they managed to prevent their opponents scoring in 11 games during 2006/2007 in the Bundesliga. The German champions VfB Stuttgart lead the statistics here though with 14 clean sheets. Goal keeper Tim Wiese was often the reason for this impressive statistics with 81 saves to his credit – meaning he was equal to 69,8% of the shots hit at his goals.

[Trim]

Reports coming from Bremen claim that Werder Bremen have found the man to replace Miroslav Klose.

Werder’s Sports director Klaus Allofs is apparently in Argentina, and not only for a holiday. He is checking on two of Bremen’s potential transfer targets.

Reports in the ‘Weser Report’ claim he is there to watch strikers Ezequiel Lavezzi and Mauro Zárate. One of them is seen as the potential successor to Miroslav Klose.

Lavezzi is the more likely of the two to make the switch. At the moment he plays for San Lorenzo and has scored 16 goals in 52 appearances.

He is seen in Argentina as the ‘second Tevez’. Born in Genoa, Lavezzi made his debut for the Argentine national team in April. He is a quick, agile striker, who is very wily for his 22 years. He can also play as an offensive midfielder.

Mauro Zárate also appeals to Bremen. The 20 year old is also seen as a huge talent in Argentina becoming the leagues top-scorer aged 19.

However, UEFA Cup winners Sevilla are also interested in the striker. He has yet to make his international debut, but has been included in the Argentine squad for the Copa America.

Both strikers fit into to Bremen’s financial plans. It is believed they both would cost in the region of €6 million.

The one disadvantage if Werder were to sign one of the strikers is that they would miss a lot of Werder’s pre-season preparation as they will be at the Copa America until July 15th.

Goal.com - Germany - Werder Zero In On Klose Replacement

[Trim]

Some interesting and impressive stats there.

[Trim]

Werder Bremen appear to be standing by their stance over the issue of Miroslav Klose.

In the poker match that this saga has become, the gulf between the two sides has deepened.

"Because Bayern have clearly signalled that the current offer is their final offer, and the fact that there have been no new developments in the last 14 days, we see the negotiations over an early transfer of Klose as closed," Werder manager Klaus Allofs told Sportbild today.

It is understood that Bayern are unwilling to offer more than €10 million for a player they can get for free next season.

Werder have suggested a swap deal involving Lukas Podolski, but this has been flatly turned down by Bayern.

Werder director Jürgen Born stated: "Bayern do not want to give up Podolski, and we not want to give up Klose.

"Perhaps Bayern thought we would back down earlier, but we have no financial need to sell any players."

Bayern boss Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has commented that it will be difficult for Bremen to keep an unhappy Klose at the Weser Stadion next season, but it appears Werder are prepared to go down that route.

At the very least, they are ready to threaten to, unless Bayern improve their offer. They are also waiting for some other big clubs to declare their interest in the player, something that will only aid their cause.

Goal.com - Bayern Munich - Werder To Call Bayern’s Bluff In Klose Poker Game

[Trim]

The Miroslav Klose transfer saga which has been dubbed ‘a game of poker’ has taken a new twist with one of the ‘players’ apparently folding.

It was revealed by Klose himself earlier in the week that Olympique Lyon had entered the race to sign him from Bremen.

The move was to be part of a deal that could take Alou Diarra to the Weser Stadion.

However, the French Champions' interest in the German international striker seems to have cooled.

Their prime target is David Trezeguet, who has stated his clear intention of leaving Juventus.

Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas is very keen to bring the Juve striker back to France.

Juve, in turn, are now after Lyon midfielder Tiago, so could themselves use Trezeguet as a bargaining chip.

All that, however, means that there are just two players remaining at the table for the jackpot that is Miroslav Klose: Werder and Bayern.

Goal.com - Transfer Zone - Lyon Not Klose Enough

[Oliver_Kahn]

Verstärkung für Diego: Werder vor Verpflichtung von Carlos Alberto

Werder Bremens brasilianischer Regisseur Diego wird künftig aller Voraussicht nach Verstärkung aus seinem Heimatland an seiner Seite haben. Nach einem Bericht der «Bild-Zeitung»
(Freitagausgabe) hat der viermalige deutsche Fußball-Meister die Verpflichtung des Mittelfeldspielers Carlos Alberto perfekt gemacht.
Danach soll der 22-Jährige von Fluminense Rio de Janeiro zunächst für ein Jahr ausgeliehen werden, ehe Werder dann eine Kaufoption hat.

Werders Sportdirektor Klaus Allofs hatte bereits im Mai das Interesse an Carlos Alberto bestätigt. Der Brasilianer, der mit Diego schon beim FC Porto in einer Mannschaft stand, wäre die erste namhafte Verpflichtung der Bremer in der Sommerpause. Auch der Hamburger SV hatte sich um ihn bemüht.

Transfermarkt.de

[Trim]

Werder Bremen are on the verge of signing Brazilian Carlos Alberto.

The Bild Zeitung reports that the talented midfielder will join on a season-long loan with the option to buy at the end of this period.

The deal will cost Werder around €1 million, and he will join fellow Brazilians Diego and Naldo at the Weser Stadion.

Carlos Alberto has already played in Europe having had a spell with FC Porto in 2004.

He scored Porto’s first goal in their 3-0 victory over Monaco.

He has 5 international caps for Brazil and is currently playing for Fluminense, although he is officially owned by Corinthians.

Bundesliga rivals Hamburg are also reported to be interested.

Goal.com - Germany - Carlos Alberto Close To Werder Switch

[Oliver_Kahn]

Carlos Alberto has talent, but he is a trouble maker, but for 1million €, he is good

[Trim]

Former Werder Bremen and Bayern Munich star Mario Basler is the latest figure to come out with an opinion on the Klose transfer saga.

The former German international, who won 2 Bundesliga titles at Bayern and the German Cup at Werder says that he believes that "Klose will have problems at Bayern."

"Toni is guaranteed a starting place, while Lukas Podolski will fight for his place in the team," analysed Basler.

"And then there is the question of Roy Makaay who scored 16 goals last season to be Bayern’s top scorer." Klose netted only 13.

"Klose has put his foot in it with the comments he has made. He hasn’t done himself any favours with the fans," continued Basler. "He has made many mistakes, and I hope he has learnt from them."

Klose had earlier intimated that he would not move to a club within Germany as he wished for a move abroad.

Then before the important UEFA Cup game against Espanyol, there was the secret meeting with Uli Hoeneß, which he at first denied, then admitted.

After the international against Slovakia, he came out and stated clearly, his wish to join Bayern.

According to Basler "No matter where he plays, Klose will have a very difficult season next year. With every poor performance, he will be attacked."

Goal.com - Germany - Klose Will Have Problems Wherever He Plays - Basler

[Oliver_Kahn]

Jérome Polenz will leave Werder Bremen to sign for second division Alemannia Aachen. Werder general manager Klaus Allofs announced the news on Friday morning: “Jérome Polenz was hampered by injury and wasn’t able to break through at Werder Bremen as we and he both had hoped that he would. We are sure that Alemannia Aachen is the right place for him and that he can reach the goals he has set himself. We wish him all the very best in doing so.”

The 20 year old has received a three year contract with Alemannia Aachen. His contract with Werder, which would have been valid until 30.06.2009, has been prematurely dissolved. Both the Green-Whites and those in charge at Aachen have decided not to release the details of the agreement.

Polenz arrived at the Weser from Tennis Borussia Berlin in 2002 and in the last three seasons he has made 64 appearances for Werder in the Northern ‘Regionalliga’ and scored 15 goals in that time. In the Bundesliga, the Berlin born youngster made three appearances.