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Hamburger SV - Meine Perle

An adventure with one of the Bundesliga's biggest clubs!
Started on 28 December 2014 by Louis O.
Latest Reply on 15 January 2015 by Louis O.
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Tuchel not joining HSV




Tied down: Tuchel is still officially under contract at Mainz

Hamburger SV's lookout for a new manager will continue after first choice Thomas Tuchel was not given permission to speak to the club. The hugely popular head coach resigned at the end of the season allegedly tired of the job, but the club, unwilling to let a divisional rival take hold of him, have retained his contract until the end of the season.

HSV were looking for a new boss after the departure of Mirko Slomka at the tail end of the 2013/14 season, but they have failed to secure Tuchel's signature. Hamburg II manager Josef Zinnbauer has been placed in temporary charge, and is one of the favourites to get the job, behind Tuchel, who has remained many people's tip for the hotseat despite recent developments.

Tuchel's contract at Mainz runs until July 2015, and despite his resignation, Mainz will not let him go until then unless faced with a situation in which Tuchel wished to join a club, and that club was willing to pay Mainz a compensation deal. Kicker understands that Hamburg did not wish to pay compensation.

This news has angered many fans of HSV, who feel that Mainz's former coach would be the ideal man to take Hamburg back up to the top half. Tuchel's side, with a mostly inferior squad to Die Rothosen's, managed a 7th place finish in the Bundesliga last year, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. Tuchel's departure has also convinced key player and German international Nicolai Müller to leave the club where he made his name, co-incidentally, he has signed for Hamburg.

Hamburg chairman Carl-Edgar Jarchow, a politician by trade, reportedly told a friend that Zinnbauer would remain in his job for now.

The frantic scramble for a big name appointment by the HSV board has led to some criticism from the media, as many reporters feel that younger managers who have impressed at lower levels should be given the chance to prove themselves.

Not Tuchel nor Hamburg have announced that they have officially held talks, leaving fans to speculate whether Tuchel had asked Mainz for the permission to join HSV. However, HSV have posted an official statement, saying that Thomas Tuchel will not be taking the vacant post.

"Hamburger SV can confirm that Josef Zinnbauer will continue to fill the manager's job on a temporary basis as the club is still without a permanent manager. The club can also confirm that Thomas Tuchel will not be taking the club's managerial position in the near future."

Mainz have already moved to replace Tuchel, with Danish coach Kasper Hjulmand set to join from FC Nordsjӕlland, despite a 6th placed finish in the Danish league last year for his side. Mainz officials reportedly feel that his style of play would be the right fit for the club to follow on from Tuchel and Jürgen Klopp before him.

Elsewhere in the Bundesliga, Werder Bremen are looking for a new coach after Robin Dutt left via mutual consent after the final matchday of last season.
Second page and HSV still don't have a manager! I like German soccer so hopefully you do well.
Wonder who the new gaffer will be, good update keep it up :D
Tallery
OK.

Feliks
Not likely to be me, sadly.

Pompeyblue
I tried to put more detail, there's just little to write about!

Shylax
They won't have one for a while...

wellsy1498
It can't be too hard to guess ;)
Louis O.'s avatar Group Louis O.
10 yearsEdited


Bild's Bundesliga Preview


The 2014/15 Bundesliga season is soon to be underway, and at Bild, we just can't wait. It will surely be an interesting season, as we wait to see how the top international stars will cope with the pressure of being World Champions, whether Dortmund will bounce back from their disappointing last two campaigns, how Paderborn will fare in their first ever top flight year, and of course, if FC Bayern München will be able to retain their title.


FC Bayern München

Bayern will be looking for their 3rd successive title this year, and with their domination in the last two seasons, it will be difficult to top them. With their first loss last year coming once the title was already secured, Pep Guardiola will know his team can do a job, but they certainly lost focus towards the end of the year. However, the sheer numbers of World Cup winners and the additions of Robert Lewandowski, Xabi Alonso and Mehdi Benatia mean Die Bayern are, as usual, title favourites. But how does famous München and Germany keeper Oliver Kahn think the club will do?


"I played with FC Bayern for many years and led Germany to the 2002 World Cup final during my career. Despite my decades of experience I don't think I ever played in any team as Bayern now have. It is a side that has only been getting better for the last few years and I think the introduction of new youngsters such as Gianluca Gaudino and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg can only help the team on its way to more success."


Borussia Dortmund

How will Borussia Dortmund cope with Bayern's second successive triumph? Another year in the runners up spot is all Dortmund will be hoping for after a disastrously unlucky season saw most of their squad ruled out with injuries. Despite the loss of Robert Lewandowski to Bayern, they have bought well, and are giving young players a chance, so perhaps Klopp's men will be able to top the table once again. We asked the man who won the club's only Champions League trophy back in 1997 with a delightful goal against Juventus - Lars Ricken.


"In the years since their two title wins Dortmund have suffered setback after setback. They've had a catalogue of injuries, lost two key players to Bayern München, lost the Champions League final in the last minute and had to fight to even gain a place in the competition last year. They've got some great new signings but it can only help so much and another fight for second is all they can hope for."


Schalke 04

Last year was another decent outing from Die Königsblauen but ultimately not enough to displace rivals Dortmund as the kings of the Ruhr. With a decent squad at their disposal and Roberto Di Matteo coming in to replace Jens Keller, there are no obvious weaknesses in the squad and they will expect another year of Champions League football next season. How does Schalke midfielder for 16 years Olaf Thon rate their chances?


"I'm going to stick my neck out on the line and say that this year might be the one where Schalke reclaim the title. Of course, Bayern will be difficult to defeat, but Dortmund have suffered from many problems and this is why Schalke can catch them this year."


Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen just about managed to secure Champions League football on the final day, one point ahead of VfL Wolfsburg, but it was not deemed good enough for Die Werkself, who fired boss Sami Hyypiä in favour of former Salzburg man Roger Schmidt. There is also two new signings in Josip Drmic, who came close to the Golden Boot last year, and Hakan Çalhanoğlu of Hamburg. Ulf Kirsten, the former Leverkusen striker, thinks that this might be their year...


"Leverkusen clearly have high hopes for the new season, as 4th place was not deemed good enough for Sami Hyypiä. Roger Schmidt is an interesting choice for the new boss, but he is somewhat of an unknown quantity for the majority of fans, which means no one can tell whether it was the right choice or not quite yet."


VfL Wolfsburg

They may have been just a point away from their goal but the season will be considered a failure for VfL Wolfsburg as they failed to secure a Champions League place, but manager Dieter Hecking will be looking to take his side that one step further this season. Roy Präger, with 154 Wolfsburg appearances, gives his thoughts.


"Wolfsburg last year would have been very disappointed to have missed out on the Champions League, and by just one point too. I think that it may hurt them more than they anticipated, and I doubt that their new signings, Nicklas Bendtner, Aaron Hunt and Sebastian Jung are going to take them into Europe's elite. It will be a difficult year."


Borussia Mönchengladbach

Borussia Mönchengladbach's glory days may be a long time ago now but their recent performances under Lucien Favre have been slightly reminiscent of the good old days for the club. Gladbach finished 6th last year, meaning they will be in this years Europa League competition. Berti Vogts was asked his opinion on the challenge ahead.


"Gladbach have been steadily improving down the last few years, which is something the club can be proud of, and the results are here now, and 6th is by no means a bad finish. The departures of ter Stegen and Arango have been remedied by the signings of Hazard, Johnson, Hahn and Sommer, so the future is once again bright for Die Föhlenelf."


FSV Mainz 05

Mainz made it all the way into 7th place last year, a fantastic finish for Die Nullfunfers who were another relegation side not so long ago. This term will be a lot harder at the Coface Arena though, as Nicolai Müller and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting have departed. Some solid loan deals though may restrict the damage for this season, though the most difficult thing to cope with will be the resignation of miracle worker Thomas Tuchel. Former Mainz and Ukraine striker Andriy Voronin gave his opinion to Bild.


"Mainz has undergone a complete revolution under Thomas Tuchel and his resignation means the end of an era for the club. The new man in will be Kasper Hjulmand, formerly of FC Nordsjӕlland in Denmark. He's never managed in Germany before and this will be a difficult challenge for him in one of the World's best leagues."


FC Augsburg
An overachieving season for FC Augsburg, who came close to European football for the first time, has had its disadvantages, as key men André Hahn, Kevin Vogt and Matthias Ostrzolek have all been lured elsewhere. However, Markus Weinzierl has stayed put, and optimism is high at the SGL Arena. Michael Thurk, who helped Augsburg reach the Bundesliga, told Bild what to expect next year.


"Augsburg will now have to suffer from the problems of such a good season last year and the narrow margins between 7th and 8th place. Paul Verhaegh and Marwin Hitz mean that the goal will still be adequately protected, whilst new boys Nikola Durdic, Tim Matavz and Caiuby are likely to hit the net a few times themselves, which overall means that Der FCA don't have a lot to worry about."


TSG Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim have a reputation that is certainly deserved of being one of the most attacking teams outside of South America. Markus Gisdol likes his team to score, and the average Hoffenheim game last year produced 4 goals. But this does place a question mark over their defending, and there was no one better than Ralf Rangnick, who brought zonal marking to Germany and took Hoffenheim into the top flight for the first time, to talk to about that.

"The story of Hoffenheim is certainly an interesting one and their style of play under Gisdol adds a beautiful new chapter to it. Roberto Firmino, Kevin Volland, Sebastian Rudy, Sejad Salihovic, Tarik Elyounoussi and others offer creative attacking outlets, but this year the focus is firmly on defence which has been shored up by the arrival of Oliver Baumann from Freiburg and Ermin Bicakcic, who impressed for Braunschweig last year. This doesn't mean they want to halt the attack though, as they have signed Ádám Szalai and Pirmin Schwegler to add an extra spark to the front line too."


Hannover 96

When Mirko Slomka left Hannover to join Hamburger SV in December, few could have foreseen quite how things would pan out. Hannover eventually finished in 10th, a respectable finish for a side not exactly packed with talent. Joselu and Hiroshi Kiyotake are the big names brought in by Tayfun Korkut, but they have lost Mame Diouf, Didier Ya Konan, Artjoms Rudnevs, Szabolcs Huszti, Sebastian Pocognoli and club legend Steven Cherundolo. Our man was ex Hannover 96 man Arnold Bruggink.


"This year will be hard for Korkut because the fans and the board expect 10th again. With the changes to the squad over the summer this simply doesn't seem possible and unless the fans face the truth Korkut may be out of a job come November if the club gets off the line slowly. Kiyotake and Joselu should help fight the tide a little, though."



Hertha BSC

Newly promoted Hertha managed 11th place last year under Dutch boss Jos Luhukay. It seemed for much of the season that they would place a lot higher, but they dropped to the bottom half and have lost centre forward Ádrian Ramos to Dortmund. They have at least replaced him adequately with Salomon Kalou and Julian Schieber amongst the new arrivals. Former Berlin and Croatia defender Josip Simunic has high hopes for the new season.


"Hertha had a very solid run last year that took them up to the top half for a while, and while they finished 11th it was still a great year. I think the new signings will help improve the side dramatically - there is a Champions League winner in Salomon Kalou, an ex Dortmund forward in Julian Schieber, Jens Hegeler, Johnny Heitinga, Marvin Plattenhardt, Roy Beerens and Valentin Stocker. If those players can't take Hertha into Europe then I don't know who will. "


SV Werder Bremen

In recent years under Thomas Schaaf, Werder Bremen have been one of the major challengers to Bayern München. However, since 3rd place in 2010/11, Bremen have managed only one top half finish. New boss Viktor Skrypnyk will be looking to stay away from relegation trouble. Otto Rehhagel, who managed Bremen back in the 1980's and 1990's, tells us how he feels about Die Werderaner's chances in the upcoming season.


"Bremen need to get back on the right track and fast. They have clearly lost their way recently, and it is no surprise the manager Robin Dutt has been forced out. There is a disappointing lack of any real transfer activity, with Izet Hajrovic , Álex Gálvez and Fin Bartels the only new men in so far."



Eintracht Frankfurt

Eintracht Frankfurt will be enjoying another year in the Bundesliga despite losing Armin Veh to his former club VfB Stuttgart. They have been busy over the summer too - Lucas Piazon on loan, Timo Hildebrand for free, Makoto Hasebe and Timothy Chandler from 1.FC Nürnberg, Aleksandr Ignjovski, Nelson Haedo Valdez and Haris Seferovic the new faces. Here's the opinion of Bernd Hölzenbein.


"Frankfurt look like they have a good side lined up for next season. Thomas Schaaf will be the manager, and with him he has brought in some stellar signings. Schaaf may be able to take Eintracht to the next level."


SC Freiburg

SC Freiburg spent much of last season sitting just outside the relegation zone, so it was a pleasant surprise for the fans when they eventually ended up 10 points ahead of 17th place. They finished merely a goal behind Eintracht Frankfurt, but according to record Freiburg goalscorer and current Bundestrainer Joachim Löw, this season they'll do even better.


"Freiburg's transfers over the summer show their intent to finish higher next year, and they will, I'm sure. They will have Roman Bürki, an excellent goalkeeper, Sascha Riether, Dani Schahin, and Marc Oliver Kempf, alongside some others. They have lost some bright young talents but already they have moved well to replace them."


VfB Stuttgart

Another disappointing season for VfB Stuttgart began with the sacking of Bruno Labbadia who had led the side since 2010. His replacement, Thomas Schneider, did little to turn round the sides fortunes, as they conceded late goals in almost every game and finished narrowly outside the drop zone. Former coach Armin Veh has returned for another spell at the club, and former Stuttgart midfielder Krasimir Balakov tells us what to expect of the side next year.


"Stuttgart have had a very tough time in recent years and there is no hiding that. Armin Veh is back for another go at the manager's job, but otherwise there isn't really a whole lot of change, and I can only see another relegation battle."


Hamburger SV

Hamburg is a club in crisis. The 2013/14 season brought the club its lowest ever finish in the entire history of Hamburger SV, and two managers, Thorsten Fink and Mirko Slomka, were laid off. Currently without a manager, Josef Zinnbauer has been appointed on an interim basis. Kevin Keegan, who played at the Volksparkstadion for 3 years, got in touch with Bild.


"Hamburg have some top quality players in the squad, so 16th place was a dreadful result. Zinnbauer is the interim boss, but they need someone fast if they are to have a good season; they need to be well prepared. I can't stress enough how important it is that they get someone, so Zinnbauer is likely to be promoted to the full time job."


1.FC Köln

Köln are back in the big time, where they belong, with coach Peter Stöger to thank. They topped the second tier, with 19 wins, and shipping only 20 goals in the process. Defence will be the focus again this year as they'll look to keep tight to stay in the division. The first ever 1 million DM player, Roger van Gool, tells us all about his former club.


"Köln are back! It is a nice achievement for the club who should always be in the first division. They've made a few signings, in Kevin Vogt, Tomas Kalas, Mërgim Mavraj, Yuya Osako and some others, but they should settle soon. Comfortably avoiding relegation, I think."


SC Paderborn

Last but not least, Bundesliga new boys Paderborn. They'll be hard to beat, with determined supporters and a hungry squad, but André Breitenreiter's side plays good football and will attack with venom. Re-signed after a loan deal is Elias Kachunga, as is Marvin Bakalorz. Other signings include Moritz Stoppelkamp and Stefan Kutschke. What did Paderborn legend Markus Krösche, who retired at the end of the season, think of their success?


"Last season was a great one for me and the club. SCP are hitting new heights that have never been seen before, and for me, I retired with an amazing season behind me. I think SCP can stay up this year. Kachunga was superb last year and he will fortunately be back, and I think Moritz Stoppelkamp is a fantastic signing. So yes, it will be hard, but Paderborn certainly can stay up."
Keegan is the manager.

SPOILER ALERT
Very good and detailed update!
Who could be the Manager? At least he can't do worser than HSV does in real life!


"Appoint a manager now" says Hrubesch




Decision: Hrubesch told reporters that Hamburg have to make their minds up

Former German international Horst Hrubesch told Bundesliga.com reporters about the Hamburger SV situation in an exclusive interview. The 63 year old, known as the monster for his sheer power during his playing days, said he felt an appointment now would give the club stability. Hrubesch played over 150 matches for Hamburg during his career, becoming a cult hero for his trademark bullet headers, that saw some HSV fans nickname him Das Kopfball-Ungeheuer, The Header Beast. Hrubesch is currently the manager of the German U-21 national team. He was appointed in 2013, having managed the side previously from 2008 to 2009.

Hrubesch told Bundesliga.com not to expect his advice to be taken, however.

"Personally I can't see why Hamburg have not got a new boss in already. It cannot do them any good to have a temporary manager unless he becomes the permanent manager, because he is going to do things his way and they need to work on that during the pre season, that's what it is for. They need to get a manager in for the pre season, because pre season is one of the most important things for a manager."

Hrubesch also said that he wanted the manager to be given a lot of time to adjust to his role.

"Hamburg need stability, because lack of stability was one of the key factors in their failures last year. They need to get a manager in and stick by him, because it is no good to be constantly under pressure, knowing that bad results will get you sacked. If the club does end up making a bad choice and even being relegated, they should not sack the manager, because stability is always the most important thing. A manager needs to know he is trusted to do the job. So when they make their decision I hope they understand what the manager needs, what he wants to do, and how long it may take for them to get it right."

The pre season will soon begin, with a number of friendlies lined up for Hamburg. It remains unclear who will be taking charge of these friendlies, with Josef Zinnbauer, the temporary coach, still in charge for now. Zinnbauer is considered one of the favourites to get the job, as a cheap option, with Hamburg praised for giving the young boss an opportunity to prove himself. However, other tips for the post are Heiko Westermann in a player manager role, with Zinnbauer the assistant, former boss Huub Stevens, and Ricardo Moniz, who took up the caretaker role back in 2010, yet Thomas Tuchel still heads the list despite a statement from Hamburg that he will not be filling the position.

Most fans have responded well to Hrubesch's demands, the majority of Hamburg fans agreeing with the former striker. Here is the response from HSV fans on Twitter to the news:



The reaction is indeed mostly positive, but there was some negative comments about Hrubesch from fans too.


Some fans feel that Hrubesch has no concern over the appointment of a manager at HSV, but is alerting the board members to his availability and trying to persuade the club to appoint him as their new manager. Interestingly, Hrubesch was added to the list of favourites for the job from many bookmakers after his comments, prompting a number of fans to put money on his appointment. Whatever the eventual decision is, however, Zinnbauer remains in control for now.
Very nice story so far, I really love the presentation. I also love the idea of having a season preview with former star players for a team predicting how they will do, will be interesting to see who will become manager in the end, maybe Magath?


Van der Vaart on the way out



Van der Vaart may leave at the end of the season

Hamburger SV midfielder Rafael van der Vaart has hinted at a possible exit from the club in an interview with sport1.de. The Dutchman has only one year remaining on his current HSV contract and explained to our reporters that he may decide against renewing his deal.

Die Rothosen finished in a disappointing 16th position last year with van der Vaart seemingly unhappy that the club had to scrape past SpVgg Greuther Fürth on the away goals rule to secure their Bundesliga status for the upcoming year. However, he admits that if he were to leave the Imtech Arena it would be with a heavy heart, having played for Hamburg for 5 years since he first joined back in 2005 under Thomas Doll. He made 74 appearances for Hamburg during his first spell at the club and scored 30 goals, making him a firm favourite amongst Hamburg's fans.

Van der Vaart seems aware of the possibility of playing Bundesliga 2 football soon if he renews his contract, wishing to give himself some more time to think over his decision. The midfielder is currently on a contract of £105,000 per week, a whopping 13% of the clubs overall wage expenditure. 30% of the wages, however, are paid by the club's sponsors and should Hamburg have gone down then his wage would have been reduced to £78,750 for the last remaining year. Hamburg are reportedly unable to offer any more than £49,000 to keep him at the club any longer.

Presently in charge of HSV is interim boss Josef Zinnbauer, formerly the club's youth coach. He replaced former boss Mirko Slomka after the relegation play off against Greuther Fürth, when the former Hannover 96 boss was sacked having only won two games during his short time in charge of der Dinosaurier. With Zinnbauer's only previous managerial experience for a senior squad was with VfL Oldenburg in the Niedersachsenliga between 2005 and 2010, coming under heavy criticism from some fans despite topping the table in 2006. The young boss from Schwandorf never played higher than the Bundesliga 2 during his playing career, though made a name for himself with a company named the Zinnbauer Group which provides insurance services and has transformed him into a millionaire.

Van der Vaart, on the other hand, has received his money from football, whilst playing for some of the world's greatest clubs. He started out at Ajax Amsterdam at the age of 10, picking up his first cap for the Netherlands aged just 18, before joining Hamburg for the first time in 2005. He left HSV for Real Madrid in 2008, for whom he played 58 times in two seasons. He then left for Tottenham Hotspur, but captained the Netherlands in 2009 and enjoyed a strong World Cup as his country reached the final. He made his return to Hamburg in 2012, and his current contract will run out and the end of the year.
Louis O.'s avatar Group Louis O.
10 yearsEdited


Transfer Rumours: Diekmeier & Jansen out?



Diekmeier and Jansen are rumoured to be heading out

The latest news from Bild sources suggests that Hamburger SV players Marcell Jansen and Dennis Diekmeier may be on their way out. The pair, pictured above during cult physiotherapist Hermann Rieger's funeral, are under close scrutiny from top clubs after their strong performances last year despite the club's worst ever Bundesliga finish. Both full backs, the two are considered amongst the club's best players and it comes as no surprise that there is interest.

Right back Diekmeier has been allegedly been subjected of a transfer bid from Schalke 04, who would be paying approximately £4m for him signature. However, it is unknown whether the formal approach has actually been made for the 25 year old, who joined HSV from 1. FC Nürnberg back in 2010. Other sides rumoured to be interested are Valencia CF, from Spain's Liga BBVA, and Everton from the Premier League. However, die Königsblauen are Diekmeier's preferred destination, as the 3rd place finish from last season will place Jens Keller's side in the 2014/15 UEFA Champions League, as he told Bild during an informal interview during Hamburg training yesterday:

"Well yes, of course I am happy to be at this club, and I have been happy here for my entire time here, since 2010. If I am to leave, I hope I can play in the Champions League, because I think that I am up to the standard of the competition. But I don't really want to leave Germany either. It is my home and I would not fit in well in England or Italy, so I hope I can continue to play in the Bundesliga.

If Schalke do offer for me I will consider it. Any offers I will consider, and that includes offers from HSV. Schalke are a big club, and with a history to match that of Hamburg. So I would like to play for them and I think I can play for them, first team, week in week out, although if the coach does not think I can do a job, then he won't sign me. I hope I can persuade him that I am the man for the job."


Marcell Jansen is also being courted by some high profile clubs, among them Bayer Leverkusen, who placed in 4th last season, and Turkish side Galatasaray SK. Die Werkself too will have Champions League football next season, although they did come below the club from Gelsenkirchen. Unlike Diekmeier, Jansen has chosen to remain quiet on the transfer news, though the common consensus is that he will be happy to stay at Hamburger SV.

The managerial situation for die Rothosen is also insecure. Currently in charge is interim boss Josef Zinnbauer, who previously managed the under 23 team. The club is without a permanent manager due to the sacking of Mirko Slomka in the summer, with Slomka himself taking charge only late in the last season, replacing Thorsten Fink.

Both players contracts run until the end of the season.

You cannot let van der Vaart leave, he is your star player. Yes he is old and on high wages, but you need someone like him to stand a real good chance this season.
Louis O.'s avatar Group Louis O.
10 yearsEdited


Austrian forward joins Hamburg




Maierhofer will join on a free transfer

Austrian ex-international Stefan Maierhofer has joined Hamburger SV on a free transfer. Maierhofer, 32, most recently played for Millwall until the end of the 2013/14 season on a two month deal. He has already made two appearances for Hamburg in friendlies against Partizan Belgrade and Bologna.

This will not be Maierhofer's first stint in Germany, either. Nicknamed "The Master", he joined FC Bayern back in 2005, making two first team appearances the following year, before dropping to TuS Koblenz in the Bundesliga 2, then joining another second division team in Greuther Fürth. He then left for Rapid Wien, but returned to the Bundesliga 2 twice more - playing for MSV Duisburg in the 2010/11 season, and for 1. FC Köln towards the end of the 2012/13 season. Besides Germany, he has played in Austria for the aforementioned Rapid Wien where he spent 3 years and Red Bull Salzburg, where he stayed for two years, and played for 3 English clubs. He first joined Wolves for nearly £2m in 2009, and then played 3 games on loan for Bristol City. He more recently spent time at Millwall.

Maierhofer is expected to be backup for a strong Hamburg side, with Pierre-Michel Lasogga and Artjoms Rudnevs in the first team to provide competition; with Jacques Zoua on loan in Russia. The lack of other options could lead to youngsters such as ex-Dortmund man Said Benkarit getting a first team chance. First team wingers Maximilian Beister and Nicolai Müller could also be played up front in case of an emergency.

Despite this, Maierhofer remains upbeat about his chances of a first team spot. Many people feel that he may utilised in kamikaze attacking situations with the ball needing to be taken quickly to the box. Equally, his height could be used on the counter attack and his strength could help him hold up the ball. These characteristics mean that he has a similar playing style to other Hamburg striker Lasogga.

Despite a record of 1 goal in 19 for Austria, Maierhofer's presence at a top level side like Hamburg may allow him to regain his position in the Austrian national side. His only international goal so far came against the Faroe Islands, since making his debut in 2008 under Karel Brückner. His most recent appearance came in a 0-0 draw with Kazakhstan in which he played merely 7 minutes. That was in October 2011, but Maierhofer thinks he can convince Marcel Koller that he is suitable.

"I want to play for Austria again, because I have not played well for Austria and I don't want to remember scoring only one goal. It is sad, I deserve more, I demand more from myself too. I want to play again for Austria. That is my goal."
I would get rid of Van der Vaart. You can get so much more for the wages he's taking up, although things are the hardest when you first take over a new club and get your things set up.

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