I took the opportunity on Saturday to cycle over to the Hertha team training session at Schenckendorffplatz.  It was just a brief session with the players being split into two groups and each group was sent on a gentle jog in opposite directions around the field.  Jos Luhukay remained in the centre as the players circled.

As usual I took a few snaps as the players trained and on this occasion I had the opportunity to welcome Johnny Heitinga to Berlin and wish him good luck for the season.  I said I hoped we'd do well this season and he replied he'd do his best.  What more can you ask of a man?

Anyway the first few pictures are in the slide show below I'll add a few more as I have the time - come back and check later if you want to see the rest as well. 

The build up to the World Cup Quarter Final today was a hot one today in Berlin.  Blazing hot sunshine and temperatures up to 30 degrees C kept my mind wandering towards cold drinks! We got back a little late and the local bars were already packed.  So rather than trying to find a corner somewhere to stand in to watch Germany's match against France we decided to cycle over to the Fanmeile near the Brandenburg gate.  It was a bit busy but the atmosphere was great and not too boisterous!

We got a great view on one of the big screens.  Coming back after the match we went past the Ku'damm which was totally jammed with cars flying flags tooting horns not really going anywhere - utter chaos bur great stuff.  Even the big advertising screen fipped to the German flag in between adverts! 

The fans after the final whistle - as you can see in the clip I took below . . . were a bit happy . .

It has appeared in the press today (18/06/213) that it looks like Pierre-Michel Lasogga has decided against staying in Berlin and will not be signing the contract extension beyond 2015. Instead it appears Lasogga would rather stay with Hamburger SV (HSV) and for this to work the two clubs will need to agree on terms as he is under contract in Berlin until June 2015.

It is reported that HSV would pay higher wages than Hertha, perhaps €3M, but I'm sure that is only one factor in Lasogga's mind. He was becoming the fans favourite in Hamburg and there he'll be able to play, and play every game. This is something that historically he has not had at Hertha so perhaps he was not suffiently convinced by Michael Preetz that he would get the game time he would like. This is pure speculation of course.

If Hertha cannot find a replacement in time however will they still agree to release him?

They do not want Lasogga to leave and they have made that perfectly clear to all concerned. For the move to be made it is being claimed that they will be requiring an eight figure fee to soften the blow. It has been reported in the Bild (25.06.14) that Hertha are asking for €12,000,000 and naturally HSV are saying this is outrageous. Per Skjelbred would like to stay in Berlin and could included in some kind of combined package. The transfer poker continues.

On June 30th it became clear that Lasogga will play by the Elbe rather than the Spree. It has been widely reported that the transfer between Hertha and HSV is a done deal. The only debate appears to be the price tag and perhaps how HSV are going to finance the deal. The Berliner Morgenpost report €10M whilst Bilt and BZ say €8M. I think I'd rather trust Uwe Bremer at the Morgenpost but that's just my opinion and I'm sure we will soon see. HSV still have to find the finances to be able to complete the deal however and Kicker are speculating that this may come from the sale of Hakan Calhanoglu.

Either way the real winner from all of this will be Pierre-Michel Lasogga with a significantly fatter wage packet next season. If things go well for him, perhaps the fans on the Elbe might do alright out of it as well.