Werder Almanac 2011 – A to C: Boo, the relegation ghost

Disappointed, stunned, puzzled: Werder players Marko Marin, Clemens Fritz, Petri Pasanen and Per Mertesacker (from left) after the second half match against Cologne.
First Team
Monday, 19.12.2011 / 20:26

Twelve months have flown by - filled with highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments, departures and returns. 2011 - a year with wonderful moments but also some difficult...

Twelve months have flown by - filled with highs and lows, celebrations and disappointments, departures and returns. 2011 - a year with wonderful moments but also some difficult times between relegation angst and dreams of fall championships. It's not easy to retain an overview of it all. That's why WERDER.DE once again is offering its Green-Whites almanac at year's end. Werder 2011 from A to Z, to remember and smile. Today: Part 1 - A to C:

A - Angst of relegation

Every year a Bundesliga team has it even though they never expected it to come up - the angst of relegation. And in the 2010-11 season, the unexpected guest knocked on the Green-Whites' door. After a disastrous performance against table neighbours Cologne on the 19th game day - Werder lost 3-0 and dropped to 14th place - manager Klaus Allofs noted: "We are not ready to sacrifice for the group and fight. No fight, no will, no belief."

Werder barely turned their season around without any changes in the coaching staff but with a series of unusual measures. The final salvage came on the 33rd game day and Werder ended their disastrous season with 41 points in 13th place. And relegation angst now is banned from the stadium in the future.

B - Bound to captaincy

Mirko Votava, Dieter Eilts, Frank Baumann - in the past there have been Werder Bremen team captains who not only characterize the face of the club but also wear the leader's armband for many years. In the past year, the Green-Whites sent three captains onto the pitch within a few weeks. Torsten Frings was named the successor to Baumi in 2009 until his transfer in the summer. He was followed by Per Mertesacker, who himself transferred away to Arsenal just a month later. Taking over the honour was the deputy for "Merte", Clemens Fritz, who has led the team for about four months and received praise from all sides.

C - Comeback

For the first half of the 2011-12 season, the bookmakers must be pulling their hair out trying to figure out what odds to lay for SV Werder Bremen matches. The games appear predictable as the Green-Whites always seem to trail by one or two goals. They fell behind 1-0 against Freiburg, Hoffenheim, Hertha Berlin, Augsburg and Mainz. Werder even trailed 2-0 against Cologne. But the scoreboard at the end looked entirely different - in favour of Bremen with final results like a 5-3 win over Freiburg, a 2-1 victory against Hoffenheim, a 2-1 decision over Hertha Berlin, a 1-1 draw with Augsburg, a 3-1 win versus Mainz and a 3-2 victory against Cologne! The first half of the 2011-12 season was a series of majestic comebacks. Head coach Thomas Schaaf however wouldn't have anything against a simple 1-0 victory. "We are definitely at the top in regards to entertainment value. But I don't have to have that as coach," said Schaaf.

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