Patrick Helmes: Germany’s Next Big Thing Is Now

By: chris | September 22nd, 2008


If you follow German football a bit more than casually, you almost certainly know the name Patrick Helmes. If you’ve paid attention to Die Mannschaft callup sheets even sporadically, you’ve probably seen his name. But Patrick hasn’t become a household name quite yet. Having spent the last two years in the Bundesliga.2 with Koln, and only making 13 top level appearances in the top division with his hometown club in 2005-06, he’s quietly become a world class phenom, ready to take the Bundesliga by storm. This summer he signed for Bayer Leverkusen, and the boy has the rest of the league feeling his wrath.

Helmes is a goal poacher, so to gauge his qualities one must only look at his totals over the last 2+ years:

06/07 - 19 games, 14 goals
07/08 - 33 games, 17 goals
08/09 - 5 games, 6 goals

I’ve heard of much worse debuts than a goal per game total over the first month and a half of the season, meaning a tip of the hat is needed for Vedad Ibisevic of Hoffenheim as well.

At 24, he’s a bit older than Bundesliga old hand Mario Gomez - who is limping in at 3 goals in 5 games right now, though can take a slice of solace in the 2007 German Player of the Year trophy sitting on his mantle - and has yet to establish himself in the senior German side, having made 7 appearances without notching his first goal, but that seems to be a mere formality. He was, after all, in the initial 26 callups for the Euros last summer.

But even better than the entire start of his season is what has transpired over the past few days. Against Hannover, manic depressives of the Bundesliga lately, Patrick scored a hat trick en route to Bayer’s 4-0 thumping - video of what could’ve been a 24-0 victory below. Within 24 hours he had a fresh contract extension until 2013 and a bit more spending money in the pocket. (I’d like to think upon watching the game Rudi Voller got on the horn with a fresh deal at halftime, but will begrudgingly admit the framework was likely in place beforehand.)

If this wasn’t expected, it’d be just another hot start, but Helmes is a premier talent and this looks to be the standard. Or perhaps just the tip of the iceberg. Can already hear the Bundesliga’s knees quaking.



The Offside Soccer ForumsTeam/International ResultsBet on Soccer games Buy Soccer TicketsTravel to soccer games


Subscribe
 

rss_icon The Offside RSS Feeds

Print
Print article
Share
del.icio.us:Patrick Helmes: Germany's Next Big Thing Is Now digg:Patrick Helmes: Germany's Next Big Thing Is Now reddit:Patrick Helmes: Germany's Next Big Thing Is Now fark:Patrick Helmes: Germany's Next Big Thing Is Now Y!:Patrick Helmes: Germany's Next Big Thing Is Now stumbleupon:Patrick Helmes: Germany's Next Big Thing Is Now

Comments   |  Add your comment

  • Andrew |  September 22nd, 2008 at 6:51 pm

    cornercorner

    Helmes is definitely a great player. i think he and Kiessling could have a very strong partnership up top. He should have some more caps for Germany in Qualifying considering everyone else is in poor form.

    Posted from United States United States

    cornercorner
  • Kovosoccer |  September 22nd, 2008 at 8:44 pm

    cornercorner

    From what I have seen Kelmes is an up and coming star…and creating much value for himself…

    Posted from United States

    cornercorner

Leave a Reply

If you have not commented here before, please take a moment to peruse our
Commenting Guidelines.


World Cup 2010 News

Offside RSS Feeds

Search The Offside


 

rounded_corners







Categories


rounded_corners

Send Your Tips!

Found a great story, photo or video that's perfect for The Offside?
Email tips[at]theoffside[dot]com

Related Links


Write for The Offside

LATEST COMMENTS

  • VOTW: The Olden Days
    Lorenzo: Well, a modern androberto guaracciolo is ciroberto guapano
  • VOTW: The Olden Days
    Gigipalermo: If he loved palermo he would earn us some money and f*** off lol. On FM09 all the shitty epl teams l ... [read more]
  • VotD: Ermes Collection.
    Lupa: Vucinic is in doubt for tomorrow's game. :( http://www.corrieredellosport.it/Notizie/Calcio/5130 ... [read more]
  • Optimism In the Face of Defeat
    Tri: and how come romans are rude? i havent encountered such.. and how do romans treat napoliteans? do ... [read more]
  • VotD: Ermes Collection.
    zack della: He just needs a goal to shut up the critics because he has looked fine when played. Most of the time ... [read more]
  • UEFA Cup vs. Club Brugges
    s21roufs: Pff Alexis doesn't play for 2months, what a shame!!! our best defender.. What will be the defence ag ... [read more]
  • Post Match Wrap
    Samuel: what milan need right now is a top striker like fernando torres who is a monster in front of goal lo ... [read more]
  • STEROIDS
    Adam Bader of RealmadridTalk: Hi Anthony, My name is Adam Bader and I run a blog called RealmadridTalk. Ahead of the next game wi ... [read more]
  • Weekly Poll
    ramu: shag with the players i mean sack the players
  • VOTW: The Olden Days
    alessandro d'agostino: hes the worst mascot you could ever wish for! everytime he starts a game we lose and hes ugly

Archives