Source: Alexander Hassenstein/Bongarts–Zimbio
Pal Dardai was given the chance of a lifetime, one that few coaches receive, given the keys to the ship of a Bundesliga club. Funny that it is in fact Hertha Berlin.
Having been a long time player for the capital club he had a good vision of what it could possibly be and what it seems to always battle against. Good years followed by relegation struggles.
After finishing a disappointing seventh when picking up only two points in their last seven matches some figured that an early exit to Brondby in the Europa League spelled a difficult future. That has definitely not been the case as the club sits happily in third.
American John Anthony Brooks has been as key to this squad as Saint Louis native Vedad Ibisevic as been. One has been the offensive engine and captain, the other the key tall defender that every successful club needs to make a run at the big time.
Fact is that this squad is a year wiser and Dardai will have his own players ready to handle any dip in form that they were unable to cope with last season.
This is one of the teams whose potential stretches far and wide and sustained success would make this club one of the more lucrative clubs to a foreign investment when the time comes and the 50+1 rule is done away with.
Moment of the Hinrunde
When a club is possibly to experience the new coach bounce any team must be wary. Visiting Wolfsburg was a tricky possibility and being down not once but twice within the first 2o minutes was even bigger of a mountain to overcome. And yet they did. Down 1-0, got an equalizer, down 2-1 score another equalizer and get a winning goal in stoppage time.
The ‘A Ha’ Moment of the Hinrunde
A visit to Frankfurt is never an easy task these days. While going up early in the first half conceding two goals to trial at halftime was dreadful position to be in. Two second half goals seemed to have the club coasting to a full three points when a stoppage time equalizer was scored. That goal taken away Berlin is in third with a three point buffer and only four off of second. Now the gap is merely one point.
Ruckrunde prediction
Lessons were learned last season and quite frankly all the major pieces from last year remain. This will be a club playing not only in Europe but in the Champions League group phase. Admittedly this club is not ready for the two front campaign but with the new investment and Champions League money that will come in this club could be primed for a prolonged stay at the top.
