Comments on: Catching up http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html News from Hamburger SV German football team Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:52:21 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: diana http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2237 diana Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:36:56 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2237 'Those guys make Bild look like the New York Times when it comes to reporting facts.' LOL! I like that! :P Gee, I was actually laughing out loud when I read that part. Frankly, whatever Marca reported...I don't take it seriously too. Just that when I first saw that report, I was like 'Not again!'. You never know what Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is going to say. Already even as a ManU supporter myself, the Cristiano Ronaldo issue...I am not bothered with it - anymore. ‘Those guys make Bild look like the New York Times when it comes to reporting facts.’
LOL! I like that! :P Gee, I was actually laughing out loud when I read that part.

Frankly, whatever Marca reported…I don’t take it seriously too. Just that when I first saw that report, I was like ‘Not again!’. You never know what Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon is going to say. Already even as a ManU supporter myself, the Cristiano Ronaldo issue…I am not bothered with it – anymore.

]]> By: Chris http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2236 Chris Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:11:51 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2236 Diana, I'm not buying anything written by a Spanish sports newspaper. Those guys make Bild look like the New York Times when it comes to reporting facts. I will get a post out today with updates. Diana, I’m not buying anything written by a Spanish sports newspaper. Those guys make Bild look like the New York Times when it comes to reporting facts.

I will get a post out today with updates.

]]> By: diana http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2235 diana Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:40:00 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2235 'And Real is a supermarket chain in Germany, which has inspired someone to create his version of the vdV to Real story' Whatever they say about learning something new each day. I cannot stop laughing at the link you posted, Jan. 'The Rafael van Der Vaart transfer saga may be concluding with a whimper, rather than a bang.' Chris, got a piece news to report. And given the link I read gets its source from Marca, up to you to interpret the whole thing. Apparently according to Marca, Real Madrid reported to have lodged a new bid of €10million. This is the one I am talking about - http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/germany/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/07/30/manual_095902.html&TEAMHD=germany Off-topic a bit...I do know Chinese, Chris. :P After English, it's my second language. Officially, English is my first language while Chinese is the second language. Or we always call it 'mother tongue' here (so in my case, you get the idea what is my mother tongue). I have to study that back in school given of my ancestry (and it's an examinable subject as well). I am the second generation in my family to be born and bred in Singapore after my parents (given their own parents were originally from China). But given now my Chinese is limited to speaking in daily life (and I actually speak more Chinese than English :P), it has sort of gone a little rusty over time. It has been reduced to the most basic aspects of the language. Embarrassing...given back in school I was always among the highest in class for Chinese. Since kindergarten! ‘And Real is a supermarket chain in Germany, which has inspired someone to create his version of the vdV to Real story’
Whatever they say about learning something new each day. I cannot stop laughing at the link you posted, Jan.

‘The Rafael van Der Vaart transfer saga may be concluding with a whimper, rather than a bang.’
Chris, got a piece news to report. And given the link I read gets its source from Marca, up to you to interpret the whole thing. Apparently according to Marca, Real Madrid reported to have lodged a new bid of €10million.

This is the one I am talking about – http://www.sportinglife.com/football/overseas/germany/news/story_get.dor?STORY_NAME=soccer/08/07/30/manual_095902.html&TEAMHD=germany

Off-topic a bit…I do know Chinese, Chris. :P After English, it’s my second language. Officially, English is my first language while Chinese is the second language. Or we always call it ‘mother tongue’ here (so in my case, you get the idea what is my mother tongue). I have to study that back in school given of my ancestry (and it’s an examinable subject as well). I am the second generation in my family to be born and bred in Singapore after my parents (given their own parents were originally from China).

But given now my Chinese is limited to speaking in daily life (and I actually speak more Chinese than English :P ), it has sort of gone a little rusty over time. It has been reduced to the most basic aspects of the language. Embarrassing…given back in school I was always among the highest in class for Chinese. Since kindergarten!

]]> By: Jan http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2233 Jan Wed, 30 Jul 2008 04:34:23 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2233 I'm just a bit more cautious about Trochowski. As you said, he has the technical skills and a powerful shot, but should vdV stay another year, you could see if Jol is able to build upon those qualities and take Trochowski to the next level (Nike style). I think you wouldn't need to play him in vdV's position to see whether his game plateaued or whether he improved. Then it would be much less of a risk to let him replace vdV. Van der Vaart scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists (+ numerous pre-assists for sure) last season. That's some big boots to fill. I’m just a bit more cautious about Trochowski. As you said, he has the technical skills and a powerful shot, but should vdV stay another year, you could see if Jol is able to build upon those qualities and take Trochowski to the next level (Nike style). I think you wouldn’t need to play him in vdV’s position to see whether his game plateaued or whether he improved. Then it would be much less of a risk to let him replace vdV.

Van der Vaart scored 12 goals and provided 10 assists (+ numerous pre-assists for sure) last season. That’s some big boots to fill.

]]> By: don http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2231 don Wed, 30 Jul 2008 03:35:05 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2231 my thoughts on the whole van der vaart saga differ a bit from your guys's. i actually have this secret hope that he'll get sold this summer (for a ton of money, of course). i realize that's a bit heretical to say, but hear me out: the way i see it, it all centers around trochowski. he's a native son (lived in hamburg since he was five), he's a creative attacking midfielder, he has sick ball control skills, and of course there's his hammer of a shot. i think he's our next best hope for a real franchise player. (in my dream scenario, ballack retires from the national team and trochowski takes his place in the attacking midfield and gains thousands of swooning fans when germany wins in 2010.) now the reason i think it would help for vdv to go is because it would allow trochowski to take his place as the number 10, and that's what he really is. he's been on the wing forever now, and he's alright there, but not as good as he can be. i think if vdv goes, trochowski finally has room to come into his own, and this jol guy seems like he might be the kind of guiding influence to really allow him to flourish. anyway, that's my two cents. i agree with your guys's excitement about pitroipa, though -- he could be really fun to watch, and i'm looking forward to this season. my thoughts on the whole van der vaart saga differ a bit from your guys’s. i actually have this secret hope that he’ll get sold this summer (for a ton of money, of course). i realize that’s a bit heretical to say, but hear me out: the way i see it, it all centers around trochowski. he’s a native son (lived in hamburg since he was five), he’s a creative attacking midfielder, he has sick ball control skills, and of course there’s his hammer of a shot. i think he’s our next best hope for a real franchise player. (in my dream scenario, ballack retires from the national team and trochowski takes his place in the attacking midfield and gains thousands of swooning fans when germany wins in 2010.) now the reason i think it would help for vdv to go is because it would allow trochowski to take his place as the number 10, and that’s what he really is. he’s been on the wing forever now, and he’s alright there, but not as good as he can be. i think if vdv goes, trochowski finally has room to come into his own, and this jol guy seems like he might be the kind of guiding influence to really allow him to flourish.

anyway, that’s my two cents. i agree with your guys’s excitement about pitroipa, though — he could be really fun to watch, and i’m looking forward to this season.

]]> By: Chris http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2230 Chris Wed, 30 Jul 2008 01:44:05 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2230 Jan, you're stealing my thunder on Pitroipa. ;( JK I finally saw an online broadcast (is that a contradiction of terms? And it was in Chinese. . .but I digress) of the match and was going to report on it shortly. Pitroipa really looked like a great offseason pickup with his goal but the heat really took a LOT out of the match particularly in the 2nd half, making it really hard to effectively judge the performance. City looked tired, and understandably so considering how far they had to travel for their Intertoto match in the Faroe Islands. I was hoping that we would get a longer look at Zidan than we did. He's one of the guys who have reportedly have a new lease on life under BMJ (that'd be Big Martin Jol), along with *GASP* a surprisingly effective Thimothee Atouba at left back against City. Jan, you’re stealing my thunder on Pitroipa. ;( JK

I finally saw an online broadcast (is that a contradiction of terms? And it was in Chinese. . .but I digress) of the match and was going to report on it shortly. Pitroipa really looked like a great offseason pickup with his goal but the heat really took a LOT out of the match particularly in the 2nd half, making it really hard to effectively judge the performance. City looked tired, and understandably so considering how far they had to travel for their Intertoto match in the Faroe Islands.

I was hoping that we would get a longer look at Zidan than we did. He’s one of the guys who have reportedly have a new lease on life under BMJ (that’d be Big Martin Jol), along with *GASP* a surprisingly effective Thimothee Atouba at left back against City.

]]> By: Jan http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2229 Jan Tue, 29 Jul 2008 23:57:45 +0000 http://hamburg.theoffside.com/team-news/catching-up.html#comment-2229 "Juve (I *love* writing that name; in America “Juve” is slang for Juvenile Hall, which is the part of our justice system set up for youth offenders)" And Real is a supermarket chain in Germany, which has inspired someone to create his version of the vdV to Real story: http://www.fanartisch.de/news/rafael-van-der-vaart-real-madrid-wechsel-witze-und-dementis-beim-hsv/ It seems that Real Madrid are the only big club, who have an interest in vdV at the moment. And it's probably vdV's preferred destination anyway, so Real really are in a good position to keep the price down. I somehow don't buy into their statements, that they have no interest in vdV any longer. Especially because I don't believe that they can really get their hands on Ronaldo. I personally hope that Real don't make that €13-15m offer. I'd rather see Hamburg keeping vdV for another year. Another season with vdV equals: - as you pointed out, the chance to qualify for the CL and earn the money for a replacement. - one more season for Trochowski to finally realize his full potential. Or not. - one more season for Zidane to come good. Or not. Although if they can loan him out or even sell him, it might be the best for everyone involved. - one more season for the young talents to develop and take the next step. (Choupo-Moting, Chrisantus or the pre-season surprise package Pitroipa...) - one more season of vdV shirt sales. - one more season to develop a better international reputation, which would help signing a replacement. “Juve (I *love* writing that name; in America “Juve” is slang for Juvenile Hall, which is the part of our justice system set up for youth offenders)”

And Real is a supermarket chain in Germany, which has inspired someone to create his version of the vdV to Real story:
http://www.fanartisch.de/news/rafael-van-der-vaart-real-madrid-wechsel-witze-und-dementis-beim-hsv/

It seems that Real Madrid are the only big club, who have an interest in vdV at the moment. And it’s probably vdV’s preferred destination anyway, so Real really are in a good position to keep the price down. I somehow don’t buy into their statements, that they have no interest in vdV any longer. Especially because I don’t believe that they can really get their hands on Ronaldo.

I personally hope that Real don’t make that €13-15m offer. I’d rather see Hamburg keeping vdV for another year. Another season with vdV equals:
- as you pointed out, the chance to qualify for the CL and earn the money for a replacement.
- one more season for Trochowski to finally realize his full potential. Or not.
- one more season for Zidane to come good. Or not. Although if they can loan him out or even sell him, it might be the best for everyone involved.
- one more season for the young talents to develop and take the next step. (Choupo-Moting, Chrisantus or the pre-season surprise package Pitroipa…)
- one more season of vdV shirt sales.
- one more season to develop a better international reputation, which would help signing a replacement.

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