Following the game against SC Freiburg on Saturday it’s hard to forget the length of time that it’s been since Hertha have scored. To be fair they’ve been hammering on the door at times but with nothing to actually show for it. My last post referred to the disappearing goal threat well, that threat is now entering the realms of legend.
The atmosphere approaching the match was a little unusual for us this time as I had my son and his girlfriend out to Berlin to visit us here and we had bought tickets for then near us in the stadium. To compound that the friends that we normally meet up with before the game were either out of town, ill or otherwise indisposed. It was quite strange and a little disappointing that my son didn’t meet most of my motley band of associates but it can’t be helped.
On the positive side we did meet an English party over from Sheffield (I think) who were over in Berlin to see both Hertha and Union play on a rare weekend when both were playing in Berlin on the same weekend. Although they remained in good spirits after of ninety minutes without a goal in the Olympiastadion little did either of us know that they would endure a further 90 minutes in a similar goalless state following day out in the woods in the east with Union Berlin.
We also had the pleasure of meeting a small but pleasant party from Noway, one living in Berlin and another visiting the city. It was nice to have a chat although I suspect they were just along for the ride.
The game started well with Hertha pressing and shutting Freiburg down on the rare occasions when they tried to venture forth. By the end of the second half the stats didn’t lie when they declared Hertha with nine shots to the visitor zero. However, and perps I’m being picky here, the ball did not end up in the back of the Freiburg net.
There were a few little runs by Lazaro which were stifled out by the defence. Quite often it appeared there were not enough overlaps being created and people not running into space quickly enough. As a result the visiting defence had time to get back into shape and kill off the phase. Nice passes of play were put together in midfield passing their way through opposition but as soon as it came to moving into the final third the confidence and creativity just drained away. To be fair there were a few passes put in by Weiser (perhaps with an enthusiastic eye focussed on potential transfers) that got through to the Vedator who was himself wrong footed or off Balance and so unable to strike.
The atmosphere approaching the match was a little unusual for us this time as I had my son and his girlfriend out to Berlin to visit us here and we had bought tickets for then near us in the stadium. To compound that the friends that we normally meet up with before the game were either out of town, ill or otherwise indisposed. It was quite strange and a little disappointing that my son didn’t meet most of my motley band of associates but it can’t be helped.
On the positive side we did meet an English party over from Sheffield (I think) who were over in Berlin to see both Hertha and Union play on a rare weekend when both were playing in Berlin on the same weekend. Although they remained in good spirits after of ninety minutes without a goal in the Olympiastadion little did either of us know that they would endure a further 90 minutes in a similar goalless state following day out in the woods in the east with Union Berlin.
We also had the pleasure of meeting a small but pleasant party from Noway, one living in Berlin and another visiting the city. It was nice to have a chat although I suspect they were just along for the ride.
The game started well with Hertha pressing and shutting Freiburg down on the rare occasions when they tried to venture forth. By the end of the second half the stats didn’t lie when they declared Hertha with nine shots to the visitor zero. However, and perps I’m being picky here, the ball did not end up in the back of the Freiburg net.
There were a few little runs by Lazaro which were stifled out by the defence. Quite often it appeared there were not enough overlaps being created and people not running into space quickly enough. As a result the visiting defence had time to get back into shape and kill off the phase. Nice passes of play were put together in midfield passing their way through opposition but as soon as it came to moving into the final third the confidence and creativity just drained away. To be fair there were a few passes put in by Weiser (perhaps with an enthusiastic eye focussed on potential transfers) that got through to the Vedator who was himself wrong footed or off Balance and so unable to strike.
Other than the solitary point, the other plus point for the game was the “Love Football - Hate Mondays” banner placed above the guest block by the visiting Freiburg fans. Kudos for them in making and displaying that banner. It was particularly relevant on a traditional 15:30 kickoff on a Saturday afternoon with a good turn out of away supporters coming from the right on the far Side of Germany, about as far away as you can get. On Saturdays supporters have time to get to the match but perps more importantly a day to both get home and recover before going back to work on the Monday. If this same game were to have been played on a Monday night how many away fans would make the trip to the other end of the country and take two days off work to do it?
Monday night games are good for TV companies and archer fans but are they good for football? I think not.
Coming up we have the next game. No matter how bleak things may, or may not appear there is always the next game. But even for the long suffering Hertha fan, 392 minutes is a long wait with scant reward but hey, next week HSV and surely . . . if the goal drought goes on much longer the prospect of goals will will go beyond legend and into the mythology of the flying horse Pegasus or perhaps more aptly Thors hammer Mjölnir forever hammering on the door.
Monday night games are good for TV companies and archer fans but are they good for football? I think not.
Coming up we have the next game. No matter how bleak things may, or may not appear there is always the next game. But even for the long suffering Hertha fan, 392 minutes is a long wait with scant reward but hey, next week HSV and surely . . . if the goal drought goes on much longer the prospect of goals will will go beyond legend and into the mythology of the flying horse Pegasus or perhaps more aptly Thors hammer Mjölnir forever hammering on the door.
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