Of Frings, Kids and Primates

By: Brian | May 22nd, 2008

frings and animals

Frings + Two Good Knees = POTM

I have yet to find anyone who dislikes Torsten Frings. He’s played for some polarizing clubs, put in his share of hard tackles and sported a variety of questionable hairstyles, but seems to have almost universal respect throughout the league – players, coaches, referees, and fans alike. Think of him as the anti-Van Bommel.

The holy triumvirate of Kicker/DSF/DFL awarded Herr Frings the Player of the Month award for the final 30 days of the season. In the humble, and obviously unbiased, view of the Werder Offside it’s well deserved. It feels a bit more like a sorry-you-were-crippled-by-injuries-this-season- but-great-job-coming-back award, but he really was magnificent down the stretch. We have nothing but love for Frank Baumann, Daniel Jensen, Jurica Vranjes and others who filled his role for 23 Bundesliga matches, but the drop off was significant.

The work that Frings puts in every match simply allows Diego to operate. And when defenses put the cuffs on Die Zaubermaus, Frings has the ability to put someone in with a brilliant pass of his own. He also occasionally does neat things like this.

He spent the majority of the season working with the Werder training staff and rehabbing his knee after the intial injury and the subsequent set back that shelved him for another few months. If he doesn’t work as hard as he does, he doesn’t come back when he does. Werder doesn’t take 22 points from their final 8 matches and finishes third (or worse). They’re forced to play CL qualifiers (or even in the “Loser’s Cup”) missing out on millions of Euros. Player of the Month seems like a start.

ozil dfb

U21 Friendly News (aka Slow News Day)

Looks like Werder attacking midfielders are in big demand to play for their respective countries. Whereas Diego was politely asked not to turn out for the Samba Boys, Mesut Özil and Aaron Hunt will indeed be suiting up for the U21s in a couple of upcoming friendlies. The difference? The U21s are playing a few days apart (5/23 vs the Ukraine and 5/28 vs Denmark) and have to go all the way across Germany, as opposed to the world. The Denmark match is in Dresden (while we have never been, we hear it’s lovely), while the Ukraine is in Wilhemshaven (where we have been and can confirm that it is indeed lovely).

In fact, Werder currently supplies more regulars to the U21s than any other club. In addition to Ozil and Hunt, Bremen youngsters Boenisch and Schindler have been called in during the qualifying campaign. And of course the squad are lead by Werder legend Dieter Eilts.

Something You Won’t See Very Often

Although we don’t want to make a habit out it, the Werder Offside would like to send a golf clap in the direction of a long time nemesis and simian-like adversary. Despite the histrionics, the brooding, and the barking, Oliver Kahn was a heckuva keeper. He will be missed. He’s impossible to replace, but the list of rumored replacements is severely lacking.