Hansa Rostock: upward trend or sobering exploitation of opportunities?

Hansa Rostock: upward trend or sobering exploitation of opportunities?

In the third football league, F.C. Hansa Rostock is currently experiencing a positive trend. The team can look back on the last four games undefeated, but looking at the table standings, where Hansa is currently in 12th place, still doesn't satisfy those responsible. Promotion to the top half of the table remains a distant goal.

In the most recent home game against SC Verl, Christian Kinsombi secured a 2-2 draw with a late goal. However, coach Daniel Brinkmann was anything but satisfied with how the chances were exploited - despite seven big chances, only two goals were scored. In the league's current statistics, only three teams are worse than Hansa in terms of goals scored. With only 17 goals, the team urgently needs to work on its efficiency if it wants to continue to improve.

The recovery after the international break

Rostock's situation has improved significantly since the international break. Previously, the team had only managed one win from eight games. Coach Brinkmann was even on the verge of elimination, but the team then fought for seven points in the following three games. The turnaround is mainly due to a system change that led from a 4-4-2 with two sixes to a 4-3-1-2. This change not only brought more offensive players onto the field, but also a more aggressive style of play.

Particularly noticeable is the return of Ryan Naderi, who scored four goals in the last five games. Andreas Voglsammer and Jonas Dirkner also contributed to improving performance. Kinsombi, who came straight to the point after a long injury break, also distinguished himself as a noble joker. It seems like the team now has a broader player base, which creates a real “luxury problem” for Brinkmann.

Challenges and goals

Despite the upswing, dissatisfaction remains. Especially in the last season, when Hansa was in last place in the table for a long time and had problems converting chances, it is important to keep the performance curve going up. Brinkmann compares success to an onion - every victory adds another layer that his team needs to get to the top.

Hansa experienced its last blatant defeat on September 20th against Rot-Weiß Essen with a 3-0 defeat. Since then, the team has made progress and is usually on par or better than its opponents. Those responsible have decided to continue with Brinkmann, and that contributes to stability in a season marked by uncertainty.

The 3rd league at a glance

The third league was introduced in 2008/2009 to increase the level of performance in German football. Here the clubs fight to be promoted, with the first two places guaranteeing direct promotion to the 2nd Bundesliga, while the third-placed team has to go into relegation. The last four teams to leave the league will be relegated. The increasing number of spectators and revenues show that the 3rd league acts as a springboard for talent and that amateur teams from big clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and VfB Stuttgart should not be underestimated.

With an average attendance that has never been achieved before in the history of the league, the 3rd division is an exciting place for all football fans. The challenges for Hansa Rostock are clearly defined, but the hope of a successful return to the top half of the table is tangible. In the long term, the entire league is looking positively towards the 2025/2026 season and possible promoted teams.

There is only one thing left to hope for Hansa Rostock: that the positive trend continues and the team will soon work its way up the table. An exciting adventure still lies ahead of them.

Further information on the current situation at Hansa Rostock can be found here: NDR, League 3 Online, and you can get an overview of the 3rd league at Statista.