Please accept another apology for the lack of posts. Between the Euro ‘08 (lack of club news) and what’s been happening in the town where I reside (follow the link and look for Cedar Falls), I haven’t had a chance to write and not much to write about. . .
Euro News:
VDV was sublime for Holland versus Italy. ‘Nuf said. A couple more performances like that and he will get a nice fat payday from a big club come July. Can’t leave out Nigel de Jong who also turned in a very strong performance in support of Holland’s (previously suspect) back line. And lastly, Joris Mathijsen put in a brilliant day’s work on the aforementioned back line for Holland, holding Bundesliga scoring champ Luca Toni goalless. David Jarolim played a solid if unspectacular match for the Czech Republic in their 1-0 victory over host Switzerland. Ivica Olic was flying all over the field and really the only Croatian player who continued to press the attack after being fouled in the box in the early minutes of Croatia’s 1-0 victory over co-host Austria. And lastly, Piotr Trochowski was an unused sub in Germany’s 2-0 victory over Poland.
Player News:
Frank Rost is going to be given a contract extension, as well he should. He broke the club records this past season for fewest goals allowed (26!) and most clean sheets (13!!). Rost wants to end his career at HSV and the club is set to give him an extension through 2011. The club had previously talked with Rost’s agent, but weren’t willing to commit to an extension until after the new manager had been selected. BMJ (that’d be new manager Big Martin Jol) immediately gave his approval to the idea and a deal is in the works. Thoughts: While the guys in front of him deserve some credit for those numbers, the fact is that Rost was the best ‘keeper in the Bundesliga last season. Period. I felt that he should have been selected for the German team for the Euro, but what do I know?
Khalid Boulahrouz wouldn’t mind coming back to Hamburg. He was sold to Chelsea following the 2005/06 season, and spent the past season loaned out to Sevilla. Another story claims that Marseilles are hot for Boula and will likely make an offer after the Euro. We’ll see.
A follow up to an earlier post, nobody–and I mean nobody, not even his old mate Jurgen Klopp and his new club Dortmund–wants embattled striker Mohammed Zidan. The club is ready and willng to sell, and it was speculated in many places that Zidan would be reunited with his ol’ buddy Klopp now that Klopp was managing in the 1. Bundesliga. It’s just that HSV can’t get anyone to take him off their hands. Oh, and he’s a real team guy too.