| 03.12.2008 |
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| Hertha Berlin are third in the Bundesliga -- a sentence I never thought I write in December. Hertha aren't playing that much differently than usual, but they're winning. I've seen it with my own eyes. Two weeks ago in the fan section at the Olympic stadium: Berlin play one of the worst first halves since the demise of the 7-2-1 formation, going behind after a marshmallow-soft goal to Hamburg. Then, before I'd even gotten the half-time beers back to my seat, Hertha score twice. They hibernate their way through the remaining 40-odd minutes but, with a little help from aluminum, rack up three points. Last weekend in Bar 11 in the Kreuzberg district of Berlin: Hertha go up early against Cologne before conceding a stupid equalizer milliseconds before the break. The second half winds its way to a conclusion, both teams seem happy with a point. Typical Hertha, I think...and then Marco Pantelic scores the winner with a nifty back-to-the-goal header. The Bar 11 goes wild. I am truly confused. Can it be that this is our season? I know better to believe that. Been there too many times before. It's never our season. And yet... ...midfielders Cicero and Kacar have been excellent, and the interior defense is arguably the best in the Bundesliga. Why shouldn't they keep on winning? Well, maybe the fact that coach Lucien Favre can't stand Pantelic, the team's best goal-getter, and wants to flog him off at the winter break. After the Cologne match Pante practically begged to be allowed to stay, but will Favre relent? Just another soap opera to add to the emotional bewilderment of a Hertha fan who'd love to hope but who's learned -- the hard way -- to keep his enthusiasm well in check. |
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