Teams in Transition

Hertha Berlin's desultory 1-0 loss to lowly Frankfurt on the opening weekend of the new Bundesliga season confirmed what many observers suspected -- that the 2007-08 squad for the former Champions League participants is very much a work in progress.

Normally, teams like to have their line-up more-or-less in place for their first game. But Hertha spent their summer first finding a new coach, Lucien Favre of Switzerland, then negotiating the sale and departures of no less than 11 players.

Thus far, Hertha has only succeeded in landing four new signings of any import. Commercial manager Dieter Hoeneß has promised a handful of further acquisitions, including much-needed help up front and in midfield.

The dilemma is that, while hastily agreed transfers waste money, waiting too long can leave clubs trolling for talent in already over-fished waters. And this season many Bundesliga teams -- including title contenders Schalke and Bremen -- may have erred on the side of caution and failed to find adequate replacements for key positions.

Bremen would love to sign a striker of the calibre of the departed Miro Klose, while Schalke could use a replacement playmaker for long-gone Lincoln. The question is: where are they going to find players of those descriptions at this late date?

Woeful Wolves' spree continues

One team that can't be faulted for hesitancy is Wolfsburg. The Wolves were more active on the transfer market than any German club north of Bayern Munich.

Wolfsburg brought in 11 new players in the summer, while unloading almost an equal number. Unfortunately, all the wheeling and dealing didn't make the Wolves any less toothless than they were last year -- Wolfsburg dropped their opener 3-1 at home to minnows Bielefeld.

The club has apparently decided that more shopping is the best form of therapy, adding defender Jan Simunek from Sparta Prague and Brazilian midfield international Josue during the week.

But more bodies to an already crowded roster may not make it easier for coach Felix Magath to put together a regular -- and effective -- starting eleven.

Hamburg horror scenario

And some clubs that thought they had their squads sorted out may find themselves suddenly scratching their heads. No sooner had Hamburg won their opener, than a fax arrived from Spanish club Valencia offering 14 million euros ($19 million) for their best player, midfielder Rafael van der Vaart.

What's worse, van der Vaart -- whose mother is Spanish -- apparently told a local newspaper that he was ready and more than willing to pack his bags.

"It has always been my dream to play for one of the bigger Spanish clubs," the Dutch playmaker was quoted as saying in the daily Hamburger Abendblatt.

A freak back strain while lifting his 1-year-old son followed his announcement and led the Dutch De Telegraaf newspaper to suggest the injury may not be genuine and linked it with van der Vaart's desire to leave the northern German port city for sunny Spain.

"The question is whether van der Vaart faked the injury," said the report. "It is known that he wants to go to Valencia and that he considers it absurd that Hamburg didn't want to talk about their offer of 14 million euros."

Playing Thursday could undermine his eligibility for European action at Valencia.

Hamburg has said it has no intentions at all of selling van der Vaart. His departure, should it come to pass, would temporarily debilitate a side that seemed on its way to recovering from a disappointing and nearly disastrous last season.

And it would force Hamburg to join the other Bundesliga clubs frantically combing the market for the final piece in the puzzle or, in some cases, for significant portions of their squads.