Heil Hoffenheim!

[Guest FlapjackJoe]

I can remember on the opening day of the Bundesliga this season - Hoffenheim's first ever game in the top tier - they were playing away (Energie Cottbus or something, too lazy to check).  They got sent 1,500 away tickets for the club to sell.

They sent 1,449 something back unsold, and claimed they were happy with 51 people, which was their highest ever away attendance...

I'm sure they have slightly more fans now. 

[Guest Jawesome]

[EthiGeordie]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

[Guest Heneage]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

I imagine there are people hanging themselves all over Hoffenheim at the thought of being "The New Newcastle"

[NE5]

Jealous? I most certainly am. It's fair to say in 1990 Hoffenheim were absolute no marks. They were nothing more than a local amateur side languishing in the Baden-Württemberg A-Liga, to you and me the eighth tier of German football.

 

Things began to turn when former player Dietmar Hopp, formally a player of the club, returned as a financial backer. He began to pour his new found wealth into the club and by 2001 Hoffenheim had already jumped to the Regionalliga Süd, German football's third division. Despite their remarkable progress the football club still went about its business relatively unnoticed and the magic seemed to have disappeared with the club spending several seasons rooted in mid-table of the division.

 

However in 2006, with Hopp as the club's owner, the club were on the march again. Ralf Rangnick former Stuttgart and Schalke manager was employed and with Hopp's financial backing the club were promoted yet again to the originally named 2. Bundesliga. Still not content with their rapid change in fortune, the following season Hoffenheim went and got themselves promoted again, this time to the top division in German football, the Bundesliga. And here they are now 16 games in sitting at the top of the pile.

 

So apart factor of wealth what else has prompted the unlikely growth of this football club? Well despite having control first team, the reserve team and the youth academy, Rangnick has worked under and director of football, Jan Schindelmeier, since he took charge since 2006. Now interestingly they have a good working relationship and Schindelmeier continues to find fantastic players from quite frankly no where.

 

Hoffenheim's scouting system is brilliant. Over the last two years they have managed to set up the best youth facilities in Germany. Rangnick and Schindelmeir are both strong believers in youth development, so it's no coincidence the average age of the side is around 22. These young players are plucked from the academies of leading German sides: take the likes of Andreas Beck, Tobias Weis and Salihovic for example. But if you still want evidence look no further than Ibisevic. Last year he was playing his trade for Aachen in Germany's second division, now he's competing for the golden boot scoring an impressive 18 goals in 16 games in the top tier.

 

These signings along with the likes of Carlos Eduardo, Demba Ba and Luiz Gustavo have led the club to play a mouth watering brand of football. It's the stuff of dreams isn't it? And the thought that has contributed to the club's massive growth sounds very familiar doesn't it? Our very own Mike Ashley tried to form a set-up which would bare similar results that of Hoffenheims. For example he, like Hopp tends to stay out of the day to day business of the club, the chairman Peter Hofmann runs the German outfit. Ashley also wanted to buy players who would grow in stature and value something Hoffenheim have also done successfully. So to me it's obvious that it all lies in the execution. With money and the right people in the right positions all sharing a single goal anything can be achieved. With a new 30,000 seat stadium on the horizon Hoffenheim are living the dream. We can only hope that one day our own fortunes will change for the better, but for the time being doesn't it feel good to watch a club, that not so long ago in 1990, achieve what must have seemed like an impossible dream?

 

 

Gretna mark 2

 

I only hope you aren;t hoping to influence the deluded Ashley fans that this is the way forward for NUFC

[NE5]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

 

If you mean that we were at the absolute rock bottom shite that is possible.......then I wouldn't disagree. I'll let you work the rest out yourself.

 

 

[The Prophet]

Impressive NE5, when did you take up fishing?

 

 

Didn't Gretna collapse due to exceptional circumstances? Think the then owner is on his death bed or something along those lines. I think part of Hoffenheim's impressive success is how they're making themselves sustainable via their youth policy, Hopp really knows his onions.

[OzzieMandias]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

 

Except Hoffenheim is a tiny one-horse town and we've got the largest pool of unshared support in England.

[Neil]

Or maybe, we can appreciate Hoffenheim for what they are, instead of trying to lure another thread into a sensationally boring Ashley-related snorefest?

[Segun Oluwaniyi]

Jealous? I most certainly am. It's fair to say in 1990 Hoffenheim were absolute no marks. They were nothing more than a local amateur side languishing in the Baden-Württemberg A-Liga, to you and me the eighth tier of German football.

 

Things began to turn when former player Dietmar Hopp, formally a player of the club, returned as a financial backer. He began to pour his new found wealth into the club and by 2001 Hoffenheim had already jumped to the Regionalliga Süd, German football's third division. Despite their remarkable progress the football club still went about its business relatively unnoticed and the magic seemed to have disappeared with the club spending several seasons rooted in mid-table of the division.

 

However in 2006, with Hopp as the club's owner, the club were on the march again. Ralf Rangnick former Stuttgart and Schalke manager was employed and with Hopp's financial backing the club were promoted yet again to the originally named 2. Bundesliga. Still not content with their rapid change in fortune, the following season Hoffenheim went and got themselves promoted again, this time to the top division in German football, the Bundesliga. And here they are now 16 games in sitting at the top of the pile.

 

So apart factor of wealth what else has prompted the unlikely growth of this football club? Well despite having control first team, the reserve team and the youth academy, Rangnick has worked under and director of football, Jan Schindelmeier, since he took charge since 2006. Now interestingly they have a good working relationship and Schindelmeier continues to find fantastic players from quite frankly no where.

 

Hoffenheim's scouting system is brilliant. Over the last two years they have managed to set up the best youth facilities in Germany. Rangnick and Schindelmeir are both strong believers in youth development, so it's no coincidence the average age of the side is around 22. These young players are plucked from the academies of leading German sides: take the likes of Andreas Beck, Tobias Weis and Salihovic for example. But if you still want evidence look no further than Ibisevic. Last year he was playing his trade for Aachen in Germany's second division, now he's competing for the golden boot scoring an impressive 18 goals in 16 games in the top tier.

 

These signings along with the likes of Carlos Eduardo, Demba Ba and Luiz Gustavo have led the club to play a mouth watering brand of football. It's the stuff of dreams isn't it? And the thought that has contributed to the club's massive growth sounds very familiar doesn't it? Our very own Mike Ashley tried to form a set-up which would bare similar results that of Hoffenheims. For example he, like Hopp tends to stay out of the day to day business of the club, the chairman Peter Hofmann runs the German outfit. Ashley also wanted to buy players who would grow in stature and value something Hoffenheim have also done successfully. So to me it's obvious that it all lies in the execution. With money and the right people in the right positions all sharing a single goal anything can be achieved. With a new 30,000 seat stadium on the horizon Hoffenheim are living the dream. We can only hope that one day our own fortunes will change for the better, but for the time being doesn't it feel good to watch a club, that not so long ago in 1990, achieve what must have seemed like an impossible dream?

 

 

Gretna mark 2

 

I only hope you aren;t hoping to influence the deluded Ashley fans that this is the way forward for NUFC

Of course. Signing fantastic young, enthusiastic talent is definitely not the way forward for this club. Anyone who thinks this would work is a f**** crazy Ashley supporter.

[Isegrim]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

Nonsense. The vast majority of football fans hates them for being a plastic club.

[SirLes9]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/ticker/hub/football/?item=1779693

 

Hoffenheim sign Timo Hildebrand who was released by Valencia last week.

Bet 12 months ago he wouldn't have even talked to them.

[juniatmoko]

Ashley never ever have thought to build Newcastle United... FACTAMUNDO!

[Optimistic Nut]

Impressive NE5, when did you take up fishing?

 

 

Didn't Gretna collapse due to exceptional circumstances? Think the then owner is on his death bed or something along those lines. I think part of Hoffenheim's impressive success is how they're making themselves sustainable via their youth policy, Hopp really knows his onions.

 

They've got no choice though have they. They're hardly going to be able to attract even half-decent international players, so they have to pay over the odds on young players looking to find their feet in Europe. As soon as the big European clubs come in for them they'll be off in a shot anyway. Haven't seen much of them, but there's something about them I don't like.

[Newcastle Fan]

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/ticker/hub/football/?item=1779693

 

Hoffenheim sign Timo Hildebrand who was released by Valencia last week.

Bet 12 months ago he wouldn't have even talked to them.

 

He's shit anyway.

[The Prophet]

Head into the winter break second after a 1-1 draw with Schalke today.

[Syrette]

Head into the winter break second after a 1-1 draw with Schalke today.

 

Pretty sure they're first.

[Fugazi]

They have a better GD than Bayern.

[Segun Oluwaniyi]

The thing is Bayern have really been sputtering this year. Unless Munchen get there act together, the likes of Hoffenheim will push it to the end.

[Guest Heneage]

Good though they play nice stuff they have bought young talent an taen other teams rejects.

[Mowen]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

 

Except Hoffenheim is a tiny one-horse town and we've got the largest pool of unshared support in England.

 

Honestly, is this true? Scumderland is only 12 miles away, so theoretically it should be split 2 ways at least, and apparently (according to taxi driver today...) Pompey has a population of 600k. Their crowd (and stadium) are disgraceful if true (NB haven't fact checked this)

[James]

Portsmouth share with Southampton, Bournemouth, Manchester United amongst others.

[leazes.ender]

Head into the winter break second after a 1-1 draw with Schalke today.

 

I've been in Germany for the weekend and saw Werder v Wolfsburg. Having seen the highlights of the Hoffenheim game last night they looked okay, although Schalke did have 2 men sent off. The first was quite funny as the guy went properly mental with the ref and almost decked him. Bayern were a bit unlucky to conceed in the 4th minute of injury time, especially as Jens Lehman went up for the corner and decked the keeper twice in the build up.

 

The reaction to their team seemed to be a bit like the one Gretna had which at the moment is the fairytale story, but i imagine that may turn if they become a regular fixture. There is already apparently some antogonism about playing in someone elses stadium.

[Disco]

Their story is very similar to us when we come to the premier league in the 90ties and this team is everybodys second team in Germany right now. I wish we get some clean break in the future to achive what they achive.

 

Except Hoffenheim is a tiny one-horse town and we've got the largest pool of unshared support in England.

 

Honestly, is this true? Scumderland is only 12 miles away, so theoretically it should be split 2 ways at least, and apparently (according to taxi driver today...) Pompey has a population of 600k. Their crowd (and stadium) are disgraceful if true (NB haven't fact checked this)

 

There is no way Pompey has a population of 600,000. Plus Pompey is right next to So'ton and nearish Brighton and to a lesser extent London

[Disco]

Head into the winter break second after a 1-1 draw with Schalke today.

 

I've been in Germany for the weekend and saw Werder v Wolfsburg. Having seen the highlights of the Hoffenheim game last night they looked okay, although Schalke did have 2 men sent off. The first was quite funny as the guy went properly mental with the ref and almost decked him. Bayern were a bit unlucky to conceed in the 4th minute of injury time, especially as Jens Lehman went up for the corner and decked the keeper twice in the build up.

 

The reaction to their team seemed to be a bit like the one Gretna had which at the moment is the fairytale story, but i imagine that may turn if they become a regular fixture. There is already apparently some antogonism about playing in someone elses stadium.

 

having theres built at the moment though so its not like they've just said fuck it we'll just rent someones and save money building.