Hannover 96

By: Helmut | Add Comments

96’s season came to conclusion with a 2-2 draw against Bielefeld.

Fighting to avoid relegation the schwarz-weiß-blauen took the lead two minutes in as Oliver Kirch’s off-course drive hit Mario Eggimann and into the net. Eight minutes prior the break Florian Fromlowitz was forced to enter the match for Robert Enke who ripped open a wound to his head from Eggimann’s boot. Despite the loss of the captain, Jiří Štajner squared the match three minutes before the hour as he re-directed Vinícius’ free-kick from the left to the bottom of the net. Forced to play for the win in an effort to avoid automatic relegation, Bielefeld was completely exposed at the back and allowed 96 free reign in the counter. Finally with six minutes left Jan Schlaudraff and Sergio Pinto played one-two with the latter sending the ball in from the edge of the area to make it 2-1. Polish international Artur Wichniarek drew one back for the home side as the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

With all things consider, Dieter Hecking should be satisfied with the forty-point tally. 96 were challenged throughout the year with troublesome injuries but were able to collect points were needed and never be truly threatened with relegation. Next year will be very different as 96 will climb to the top!

New blogger needed: If you’re interested in taking over Hannover Offside, give the application guidelines a read and then send an email to daryl[at]theoffside[dot]com

By: Helmut | Add Comments

96’s final home appearance of the season, the Niedersachsenderby against Wolfsburg, ended in a 5-0 defeat.

Despite the sunny afternoon and the capacity crowd in full voice, Wolfsburg’s striking tandem of Edin Džeko and Grafite cut through weaknesses in 96’s defending problems that have been compromised by injuries. Dieter Hecking adjusted last weeks starting eleven to include Michael Tarnat and Frank Fahrenhorst, with the latter making his final home appearance before joining MSV Duisburg this summer. After a fine opening ten minutes by 96, the day turned bleak as Wolfsburg began to dominate. Unable to control Džeko, the Bosnian opened the scoring near the quarter-hour as he chested down Makoto Hasebe’s chip pass and sent the ball in from near the edge of the area. At the thirty-third minute Grafite out maneuvered Mario Eggimann to receive the ball from Džeko before firing in from the six yard box. That approach was duplicated a few minutes later as Grafite beat Vinícius before firing in Christian Gentner’s cross. Mikael Forssell had a perfect chance to draw a goal back for 96 before the break as he broke free in on Diego Benaglio but the Wolfsburg goalkeeper could not be fooled. Knowing the Bundesliga title could be decided on goal differential Wolfsburg added two more goals after the break, each by Džeko.

96’s season comes to a close as they travel to Bielefeld next week with great promise for next year when health issues are eliminated.

At this time I wish thank those who have visited the blog. It has been a pleasure telling you of Hannover and I hope each of you will become a fan and follow the club regularly. After the final match review and summary I will be parting with the blog and along with readers, wish to thank The Offside for their support.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

With concerns of relegation eliminated, 96 played Frankfurt to a 1-1 draw at the Niedersachsenstadion ..

Used to juggling his lineup due to injuries, Dieter Hecking was force to bring-in Bastian Schulz, Jan Schlaudraff and Mikael Forssell for Leon Andreasen, Jiří Štajner and Mike Hanke. After Polish international Jacek Krzynówek came close early with a one-man effort die Roten took the lead at the ninth minute as Jan Schlaudraff received a quick touch pass from Mikael Forssell before crossing Arnold Bruggink to drive into the netting. After the goal 96 were having problems going forward and after considerable pressure, Frankfurt leveling the match just before the break as Martin Fenin’s cross from the bye-line was headed in by Austria’s Ümit Korkmaz. Returning from the break, 96’s problems were accentuated as Frankfurt sliced through the flanks to create chances but with each opportunity finishing was incomplete. With the final whistle 96 was pleased to take the draw and can now enter the final three match-days secure of staying in the Bundesliga and make plans for next year.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

96 defeated Bochum 2-0 for their third victory in four matches, continuing to lay a strong foundation for next year. With Polish international Jacek Krzynówek the only addition to Dieter Hecking’s starting eleven, 96 established the run of play early on. Only twelve minutes into the match Mike Hanke won a loose ball before laying it off to Krzynówek who then crossed from the left into the edge of the six-yard box for Arnold Bruggink to head in. 96 made it 2-0 two minutes past the half-hour as Arnold Bruggink’s corner from the left was nodded into the near post by Hanno Balitsch. Although controlling the match early, after the break Bochum unloaded a constant barrage of attacks on Robert Enke but each time the captain denied their efforts.

The three points all but guarantees Hannover’s continuance in the Bundesliga as they welcome Frankfurt to Niedersachsenstadion next Saturday.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

Die Roten provided itself important space away from relegation with a 2-1 defeat over Köln at the Niedersachsenstadion.

Once again Dieter Hecking was without the services of Polish international Jacek Krzynówek, Michael Tarnat, Frank Fahrenhorst, Vinícius, Steven Cherundolo, Valérien Ismaël and Chavdar Yankov for the day. After a few close chances in both ends camp up short, Leon Andreasen opened the scoring at the nineteenth minute, Leon Andreasen scored the first of his two goals as he volleyed in Christian Schulz’s long cross from eleven metres out. At the thirty-second minute Andreasen had his second as he got behind Petit to accept Arnold Bruggink’s through ball and went in to score past Faryd Mondragón. At the half, Köln brought-in Nemanja Vučićević and with two minutes in his cross from the left corner was headed in by Milivoje Novakovič. Vučićević continued to threaten with a variety of chances but each missed and for the balance of the match Robert Enke couldn’t be beat again as 96 won 2-1.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

96 continued to be on the wrong side of the score when away from the Niedersachsenstadion as they lost 2-1 to Hamburg. With only two draws to show for twelve away matches, besides the significant injuries, the road problems are at the root of the 96’s proximity to the relegation zone.

Without Polish international Jacek Krzynówek and Jan Rosenthal, Dieter Hecking lineup was hampered and he was forced to use both Konstantin Rausch and Leon Andreasen who were well below optimal fitness. Right from the start 96 were on their heel and a minute after the start Mladen Petrić volleyed Jerome Boateng’s cross in. HSV would have doubled the margin eleven minutes later but Enke proved why he is Joachim Löw’s choice as he robbed Piotr Trochowski from in close. 96’s best chances came just before the half as Arnold Bruggink supplied Gaëtan Krebs a quality chance but his attempt was over the bar. At the fifty-second minute the Petrić had his second of the day via a rebound of Paolo Guerrero’s effort. Mikael Forssell was sent-in for Leon Andreasen immediately and after roughly ten minutes the momentum slowly shifted in 96’s advantage. With twenty-minutes left HSV’s Guy Demel was adjudged a penalty in the area and the spot was pointed to. Mikael Forssell converted, setting up an exciting final twenty minutes with the match now 2-1. However despite significant efforts, the needed goal didn’t materialize and the match ended with a 2-1 loss.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

96 continued its impressive run of performances a the Niedersachsenstadion with a remarkable 2-0 victory over the Berliners. After last weeks weeks difficult 4-1 loss to Bremen this was the perfect antidote and provides further cushion on the relegation concerns.

Dieter Hecking made two changes from last weeks starting eleven, bringing in Mike Hanke and Polish international Jacek Krzynówek in place of Mikael Forssell and Jan Rosenthal. Hertha showed the early attacking initiative with Robert Enke being called into action to save Raffael’s effort via the supply of Patrick Ebert. Despite Hertha’s early dominance, 96 took the lead a minute before the half-hour when Konstantin Rausch sent a perfect left-footed cross to the back post that ex Schalke-man Mike Hanke headed-in after escaping the Rodnei’s marking. 96 doubled the lead at the sixty-second minute via a fast-paced counter-attack. With Hanke attacking on the right flank, his cross to Sergio Pinto into the box was laid off to Arnold Bruggink, who then drove the ball through Marc Stein’s legs and into the net to make it 2-0. Lucien Favre then doubled substituted, bringing Valeri Domovchiyski and Gojko Kačar for Patrick Ebert and Maximilian Nicu looking for a way back in but there was no way through Hannover’s defenders. A minute before the end Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin was shown a straight red as “die alte Dame” went home in tears with a 2-0 loss.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

As the Berliners visit AWD-Arena, the dark shadow of relegation looms over 96. Out-of-the question at the start of the year, after a myriad of injuries has crippled Hecking’s-team they are now only three points above Mönchengladbach. Following last weeks demoralizing 4-1 loss in Bremen with the hosts scoring three times in the final thirteen minutes, 96 needs to find the winning form or the situation could go from bad to worse in a hurry. Whether 96 must begin the long process of rebuilding or simply accept the losses are purely due to injury is point for another time because the threat of relegation has crept too close and the alarms have now sounded. Since 96 has lost every match away from home this year, the route to safety starts with maximal points in their remaining home matches.

Standing in-line to ruin Easter dinner is Hertha Berlin who after consecutive losses to Dortmund and Stuttgart are in no mood to be nice guests. There own championship visions are slipping away as have stumbled out of first and channeled Hoffenheim’s fall from grace the last two weeks. The opening match at Olympiastadion this year saw the Berliners pound 96 into submission with late goals similar the recent Bremen encounter. 96 will once again be weighed down with the loss of Jan Schlaudraff, Chavdar Yankov, Frank Fahrenhorst, Steven Cherundolo, Vinícius and Valérien Ismaël and needs to find a combative spirit immediately.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

The Nordderby ended in defeat for 96 as they lost 4-1 to Bremen at Weserstadion. The loss pulls Dieter Hecking’s side too close for comfort in the relegation fight as they are now only three points above ‘Gladbach with Hertha BSC and HSV over the next two weeks.

While the score-line was deceiving that is little consolation as the club backs into the relegation fight. As Dieter Hecking suggested in his pre-match press conference on 96 TV Christian Schulz took his position in the interior defense and through the opening stages of the match ;96 kept Bremen under control. However with four minutes remaining in the half Bremen broke the deadlock as Diego found Claudio Pizarro, who then sent the ball from outside the box but took a high deflection off Christian Schulz and beyond Robert Enke’s reach. The situation looked dire on the hour as Mesut Özil was awarded a penalty from a non-foul by Sergio Pinto. However Diego’s attempt was saved by the captain and Pizarro’s effort from the rebound danced wide. Pizzaro had a number of chances to score after but each time Robert Enke was up to the challenge. Finally nine minutes past the hour the match was even as a href=”http://poland.worldcupblog.org”>Polish international Jacek Krzynówek sent a curling shot in from twenty metres. With only thirteen minutes remaining the quality defending unwound for Hannover with a difficult run of allowing three goals in the next seven minutes. Starting with a odd chip into the box that was headed back to Diego, who after being challenged managed to get enough contact before nearly colliding with Enke. In rapid fire fashion Diego’s corner was headed on to Pizarro at the back post and into the net only three minutes later. With 96 pouring forward they were open to the counter and four minutes later Mesut Özil’s cross was sent in by Pizzaro from six metres for his third of the day with the match ending 4-1.

By: Helmut | Add Comments

Dieter Hecking and all of 96 welcome back Robert Enke from his superb international play for Germany. Now the club must focus on efforts on old foe Bremen and the threat of relegation. Still looking for the first win of the year away from Niedersachsenstadion, the Nordderby has not been kind to Hannover. The goal differential in the previous four matches has represented a complete dominance by Bremen and therefore defending is key.

Dieter Hecking made no doubt of this in his pre-match press conference on 96 TV ensuring that Christian Schulz will be in the interior defense. Albanian international Altin Lala will be given the huge responsibility to keep Bremen play-maker Diego under control.

Bremen season has been inexplicably poor this year but Thomas Schaaf is anxious to salvage the year with a good wrap-up in the Bundesliga and in the UEFA Cup. He has a full squad available, excluding Daniel Jensen. Dieter Hecking once again has a long list of absentees as Jan Schlaudraff, Michael Tarnat, Frank Fahrenhorst, Vinícius, Steven Cherundolo, Valérien Ismaël are all out along with Chavdar Yankov who is doubtful.

Injuries aside, there is nothing like a Nordderby to bring out the best.