Trying Times for Bremen

This summer German soccer fans once again voted Bremen their favorite team -- a reward for a team from a small city that makes the most of its resources and usually plays an attacking, exciting style of soccer.

Since 2000, the worst Werder have finished is seventh, and they've qualified for the Champions League four times on the trot. But while their position in the standings isn't bad, this could be the season that Bremen comes up short.

And what's perhaps more dismaying to Werder's legions of fans -- the team has shown little of the flowing, effortless flair it's displayed in years past. Bremen have still managed to get results, but most of those successes have not come easily.

One-man attack

Bremen's scoring is down this year by around a goal per game -- not surprisingly since the team is noticeably weaker at the forward position than at any time in recent memory.

The transfer of Miroslav Klose to rivals Bayern Munich temporarily filled Bremen's coffers, but it's left a big hole up front. New signing Boubacar Sanogo has played decently, but there's no way he'll be able to pick right up where the league's most consistent goal-getter left off.

And he's not getting much help from any of his partners. The great Werder teams of the past always featured lethal duos -- from Ailton and Claudio Pizarro to Klose and Ivan Klasnic.

But Klasnic, who returned to training in a protective belt made of fiberglass belt on Thursday, Sept. 27, is still a question mark in the Bremen roster after two kidney transplant surgeries earlier this year, and Werder have yet to settle the issue of who else gets to play up front.

Wobbly knees and sleepless nights

And Klasnic is just one of many on Bremen's long list of walking wounded. Perhaps the most solely missed convalescent is Torsten Frings, who served as Bremen's enforcer, defensive midfielder and former initiator of Werder's deadly fast-break attacks.

Frings tore knee ligaments in the preseason and has yet to play a match this season. He hopes to come back in October, and Werder's fortunes could hinge of a speedy return to his old form.

Also missing is German international midfielder Tim Borowski. He, too, is currently trying to overcome a knee injury.

But the strangest case is Brazilian midfielder Carlos Alberto. The most expense transfer -- 7.8 million euros ($11 million) -- in club history has come up a bust.

Alberto has all but disappeared off Bremen's radar screen this season, not even taking part in most practices after developing what the team claims is a severe case of insomnia.

Uncharacteristically Bremen, who have a history of getting great value for money, seemed to have wasted a huge pile of cash on a man who can't get a good night's rest.

The Diego dilemma

On the brighter side, Bremen playmaker Diego has continued to excel. And in even better news, the one true star Bremen has left on the pitch decided this week to extend his contract with the club to 2011.

But the diminutive Brazilian's run of good form -- including a fine performance in Werder's recent 2-1 Champions League loss to Real Madrid -- also brings risks.

Rumors are swirling that Real want Diego and would be willing to cough up between 20 million and 25 million euro to bring him to Bernabeu.

Bremen would find an offer like that almost impossible to refuse. But selling off their one remaining superstar would likely doom the Werder's effort to get through their current rough patch and return to the style of play that has made them perennial fan favorites.