Tuesday 2 February 2010

Hope Dies Last

BEFORE Christmas Hertha Berlin looked dead and buried. Now, three
games into the second half of the season we have closed the gap on our
nearest rivals to six points. Can it be done? Can we escape? I want to
believe that it can be done – but people keep telling me that hope
dies last – especially other Herthaner.
Still you cannot fault the positive approach of the team since
January. Friedhelm Funkel clearly has a tactic to play attacking
football to get us out of trouble. It is going to be a tough battle, but despite not scoring goals in the last two games, we have still
picked up points. If we keep going at this rate, we will be alright. I
have mentioned before: Five points every three games until end of
season = 35 points = survival. Easy!
I found the first half of the season,
the worst feeling I have known in football. Week after week of losses,
bad news coming out of the club – managers leaving, players arguing
publicly, etc.
But since the restart of the season I have found Hertha’s
transformation quite exciting. It is good to see us playing with two
strikers - Gekas and Ramos. Both players look a threat and I am sure
there is more to come from them. Arne Friedrich seems more focused and
determined and the team as a whole seems to be playing with more
confidence.
We go to Bremen on Friday which, everyone knows, will be a tough task.
But I feel confident that we could at least get a point, which would
be another step in the right direction. We must be patient. Each time
we look at the Bundesliga table, it still looks like a long hard
fight. Every point we get is slowly helping us close the gap on the
others. Keep the Faith!
Before the Hoffenheim game on February 26, a group of international
Hertha BSc fans are meeting at Hanne's Bar in Joachimstrasse, Berlin
at 13.00. Germany, England and Sweden are represented so far.
I will travel from Leicester to cheer on the
team.
Thomas Bjelvenmark and two others, members of the Swedish fan club, and
friends of Hertha Unser fan club, will travel from Uppsala, Sweden.
Thomas said: "I've newly fall in love with the club our relationship
have only been for a little more then a year. When I saw Hertha for
the first time (Hertha-Frankfurt in january 2009), it was the first
time I've experianced true love too football, I've seen soccer many
times too, but Swedish soccer sucks. When I stepped foot on
Olympiastadion for the first time and felt its atmosphere I fell in
love, I've never felt that commitment that Hertha Supporters do for
there team before. I've never got goosebumps when other soccer teams
fans sing. But now I know why people all over the world loves this
game."
True love indeed!
Others will follow shortly – please come along, say hello and show
your support for the Old Lady in these difficult times!