Wembley Toni
John Barbuti wrote an interesting piece on Austrian footballer Toni Fritsch in BBC Football Extra. Ahead of this weekend‘s Super Bowl and on the day when Austrian football finished its winter break, we remember a player who scored historic goals for the Austrian national team at the home of football, even earning him the nickname “Wembley Toni”, before switching to American Football, setting records and winning the Super Bowl. Toni is unique in having been an international footballer who went on to have a successful NFL career.
Aged 20, he was a promising striker for Rapid Vienna but would have been almost completely unknown to English football fans until he scored twice in five minutes as Austria beat England, twice coming from behind, 3-2 (0-1) on 20 October 1965 at Wembley, highlights available thanks to British Pathé.
This was an England side just months away from becoming World Champions, an England side that had only ever lost twice at home to sides outside the UK and an England side expected to thrash Austria.
Toni had other ideas, almost single-handidly silencing 65,000 fans when he scored in the 73rd and 80th minute but, alas, this was not to be the start of a very glorious football career. Toni three times won the Austrian Nationalliga and twice the ÖFB Cup with Rapid Vienna, but no further international goals would follow in nine matches, and also for Rapid the striker didn’t hit the back of the net regularly in his 123 league games for the green-whites.
Therefore aged 26, Toni thought that a change was needed, and it came when NFL side Dallas Cowboys set up their “Kicking Karavan” in Vienna and Toni had a trial with them. His first attempts at scoring field goals with the egg-shaped football were pretty successful. The scouts put a deal to Toni, the new recruit putting pen to paper on a contract he probably understood little of not knowing a word of English.
As if written by Hollywood, Fritsch’s kicking success helped the Cowboys to the Super Bowl in his first season (1971), but injury ruled him out of the game itself. He had earned his Super Bowl Ring though and next season his influence only grew, setting a franchise record for field goals. He also, as you can watch here, introduced the Rabona to the NFL, using it at a crucial moment in a playoff game.
Fritsch’s NFL career lasted from 1971 to 1982 and was very successful. He had seasons leading the league for kicking points scored and three where he was top for field goal kicking percentage. He received Pro Bowl and All Bowl honours and 20 years after winning the Austrian title in football, was coming out of retirement to play for the Houston Gamblers where he would have an 84% field goal success rate.
He was to settle in Houston, but regularly returned to his birth city of Vienna. Tragically, on one such visit, he died aged 60, suffering a heart attack on 13 September 2005. Tickets were found in his jacket for the following night’s Champions League clash between Rapid Vienna and Bayern Munich. The crowd observed a minute of silence in his honour. In 2011, the “Toni-Fritsch-Weg” in Vienna-Floridsdorf (21st district) was named after him.
What an extraordinary story written by the ex-Rapid Vienna player Toni Fritsch!
Three In in the Window
New West Ham manager Graham Potter who replaced Julen Lopetegui by the beginning of January oversaw a quiet transfer window. West Ham had to wait until Deadline Day to recruit a much-needed forward following the injuries to Michail Antonio, Jarrod Bowen and Niclas Füllkrug. The new signing is someone Graham Potter knows very well in Evan Ferguson, who has joined on loan until the end of the season from Brighton. In his first interview after signing for the Hammers Evan explained that he considers himself an “old school number nine” who just wants to score goals.
Potter gave the 20 year old Irish international his Premier League debut at Brighton. Let’s hope Evan will do well at London Stadium and score the goals which help West Ham move up the table and bring some delight to their suffering fans. Unfortunately West Ham have not included an option to buy in their loan deal with the Seagulls which means that Evan might have to return to Brighton in the summer.
An other Deadline Day signing is James Ward Prowse who was recalled from his loan to Nottingham Forest. JWP has only made three late substitute appearances in the Premier League since Christmas, and his comeback at West Ham should be a fresh start and a new opportunity for the player who did very well under David Moyes before he left for Nottingham in the summer.
West Ham’s first signing of the window was young striker Josh Landers (17) who joined from Hibernians Edinburgh and will play for the Hammers’ development squad.
With manager Graham Potter’s arrival West Ham have also appointed a new head of recruitment: Tim Steidten was replaced by Kyle Macaulay who already worked with Graham Potter at Chelsea and Brighton. It is understood Steidten did not lead West Ham’s recruitment in the January transfer window.
West Ham have loaned out Maxwel Cornet to Genoa and young defender Michael Forbes to Colchester Utd.
1 W – 1 D – 3 L
Graham Potter has managed the Hammers in five games so far, starting with a narrow 1-2 defeat to Aston Villa in the FA Cup third round. In his next game Fulham was beaten 3-2 at the London Stadium, followed by a 0-2 home defeat to Oliver Glasner’s Crystal Palace and a 1-1 draw with Aston Villa away. In this week’s Monday night game West Ham took the lead against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, but conceded two goals in the second half and condemned Graham Potter to his third defeat in five matches. West Ham skipper Jarrod Bowen had returned from injury in this game and scored the first goal (his sixth of the season) for the Irons.
The next game will not take place on the upcoming FA Cup weekend due to West Ham’s defeat in the third round in Graham Potter’s first game in charge. Therefore their next match will not be played before Saturday, 15 February, 3 p.m. at London Stadium against Brentford.
I am looking much forward to this game, having bought a ticket for it from the Ticket Exchange! Let’s hope that on this trip to London I will be able to witness a West Ham win!
Come on you Irons!
West Ham Women in League Cup semifinal
West Ham United women’s team are through to the semi-finals of the Subway Women’s League Cup!
First-half goals from Seraina Piubel and Kirsty Smith helped wipe out Martha Thomas’ tenth-minute opener away at Tottenham Hotspur, and following their 2-1 triumph, the Hammers will now travel to Chelsea in the final four on either 5 or 6 February.
New signing Verena Hanshaw did not play in the League Cup on Wednesday, but has already joined up with the squad.
West Ham United: M. Walsh ©, Smith, Cooke, Sáez, Mengwen (Denton 63), Siren (Gorry 63), Bergman Lundin, Piubel (Asseyi 63), Harries (Ueki 96), Paví (Tysiak 85), Martinez
Subs not used: Szemik (GK), Brynjarsdóttir, Zadorsky, Houssein
Goals: Piubel 39, Smith 44
Was wollte er damit sagen?
Wer auf einer politischen Bühne bei einer politischen Rede vor einem teils rechtsextremen Publikum den rechten Arm schwungvoll und mehrmals schräg in die Höhe reckt, macht den Hitlergruß. Es braucht da kein “vermeintlich” oder “ähnlich” oder “umstritten”. Die Geste spricht für sich, sie ist im Video dokumentiert. Wer sie dann uminterpretieren will, wer den Hitlergruß nicht sehen will, tut das auf eigene Rechnung. Wer beispielsweise gerade jetzt meint, den älteren “Römergruß” als vermeintliche Musk-Referenz entdecken zu müssen, beweist damit vor allem seinen Willen zur gefälligen Umdeutung.
Musk hat also den rechten Arm ausgestreckt und lässt alle drüber springen – das ultimative Stöckchen. So beginnt am Tag der Inauguration nicht nur formal die zweite Präsidentschaft Donald Trumps. Auch das damit verbundene Aufmerksamkeitsregime wird so gut sichtbar wie selten zuvor.
Denn darum geht es: Aufmerksamkeit. Sie ist das umkämpfteste Gut in einer Welt, in der prinzipiell in jeder Sekunde jeder Schnipsel, jedes Bild, Video und Zitat um Aufmerksamkeit buhlt. Trump und Musk sind Meister in diesem Wettbewerb. Vor allem, weil es ihnen gelingt, selbst negative Aufmerksamkeit für sich zu nutzen. Siehe Hitlergruß.
Denn was jetzt passiert, ist absehbar: Neonazis und Rechtsradikale dürfen den gestreckten rechten Arm als Verbrüderungs- und Bestärkungsgeste deuten. Gemäßigte, wohlwollende Anhänger als eskalierte Jubelgeste. Und alle anderen stehen vor einer unmöglichen Wahl: entweder den Tabubruch ignorieren und so zu dessen Enttabuisierung beitragen. Oder ihn als Tabubruch markieren und so die Empörung produzieren, an der sich dann wiederum die Gegenseite ergötzt und hochzieht. Man kann das beklagen, aber man muss wohl damit rechnen, dass es einem relevanten Teil der Menschheit mittlerweile nur noch als virtue signaling gilt, den Hitlergruß zu skandalisieren.
Die politische Rendite ihrer Aufmerksamkeitssiege besteht für Trump und Musk nicht nur in der Gewöhnung des Publikums an ihre konkreten Positionen und ihren Stil. Sondern generell darin, dass sie es sind, die darüber bestimmen, woran man sich gewöhnt. Dass sie die größte Macht haben über das Fenster des Sagbaren.
Vor 30 Jahren hat der Politikwissenschaftler Joseph Overton das Konzept vom “Overton-Fenster” erfunden. Es teilt die politischen Ansichten ein in die populären, sinnvollen und die gerade noch akzeptablen Positionen, die innerhalb des Fensters liegen. Und in die radikalen und undenkbaren Positionen außerhalb. Politik gemacht werde letztlich nur innerhalb dieses Fensters, meinte Overton, und wer wirkliche Veränderungen wolle, müsse deshalb das ganze Fenster verschieben. Das ist es, was seit Jahren geschieht. Bis schließlich, im Januar 2025, ganz am rechten Rand im Fenster des politisch Akzeptablen, der Hitlergruß sichtbar wird.
Ehrenwert, aber hilflos
Lenz Jacobsen meint in seinem Kommentar auch, die Aufrufe, man dürfe sich an politische Ungeheuerlichkeiten “nicht gewöhnen”, seien zwar ehrenwert, aber hilflos, weil Menschen Anpassungswesen seien, Gewöhnung sei eine der wenigen Konstanten der menschlichen Existenz.
Kann man also gar nichts dagegen tun, dass das „Politikfenster“ sich immer weiter und weiter nach rechts verschiebt? AfD-Chefin Alice Weidel sagt mittlerweile öffentlich, dass Hitler ein Linker war.
Es bedarf Standhaftigkeit und Mut, um sich dem stetigen Weiterrücken der Politik in eine Richtung, die Menschenverachtung, Rassismus und Unbarmherzigkeit salonfähig macht, zu widersetzen und zu verhindern, dass man vielleicht sogar selbst ein Stückchen „mitrutscht“ in diese Richtung.
Mut, wie ihn die amerikanische Bischöfin Mariann Edgar Budde bei einem Gottesdienst in Anwesenheit von Donald Trump am Tag nach dessen Angelobung bewiesen hat, als sie sagte, der neue US-Präsident möge sich barmherzig zeigen. Sie sprach dabei unter anderem von Menschen ohne gesicherten Aufenthaltsstatus, denen unter dem neuen Präsidenten „Massenabschiebungen“ drohen. Auch wenn ich nicht in allem, was sie sonst sagte, mit der Meinung der Bischöfin übereinstimme, das war mutig!
Trump meinte dazu zunächst nur, der Gottesdienst sei nicht gut und sehr langweilig gewesen. Bald darauf aber schrieb er auf social media, Budde und ihre Kirche schuldeten ihm eine Entschuldigung.
Zurück zu Elon Musk: Ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß. Was soll das, Herr Musk????
Dafür bedürfte es einer Entschuldigung des künftigen Co-Leiters des Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) und größten Wahlkampfhelfers von Donald Trump! Die tapfere Bischöfin Mariann Edgar Budde muss sich für gar nichts entschuldigen!
Auch Papst Franziskus hat Trump vor der Amtseinführung aufgefordert, von „Hass, Diskriminierung und Ausgrenzung“ Abstand zu nehmen, und hat die geplanten Massenabschiebungen als „Schande“ bezeichnet.
Verena Hanshaw joins WHU
Austrian defender Verena Hanshaw is the first Austrian to play for West Ham’s women’s team.
The Vienna-born defender started her career at USC Landhaus Wien in 2009, making 15 appearances and scoring her first professional goal in the process.
A year later, she made her first international appearance for Austria’s U17s and would then go on to represent their U19s before breaking into the first team.
She made her maiden appearance on the international stage in 2011 and has gone on to play a further 109 times to date.
She shone at UEFA Women’s Euro 2017 as Austria progressed all the way to the semi-finals of the competition. Hanshaw also started all four of Austria’s matches at UEFA Women’s Euro 2022, but they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage by Germany.
Verena Hanshaw is now the third Austrian player to have signed for West Ham in the Club’s 130-year history, joining Emanuel Pogatetz and Marko Arnautović.
Hanshaw enjoyed a very special first day at West Ham’s training ground Chadwell Heath, as she celebrated her birthday on 20 January, and was surprised with a birthday cake at the end of her first interview with the Club!
First win for Graham Potter
Despite having had to name a depleted squad without Antonio, Bowen, Summerville, Todibo and Füllkrug who are all out injured, West Ham‘s new manager could celebrate his first win with the Hammers
Lucas Paquetá scored West Ham‘s third goal
Tomas Soucek who captained West Ham in Jarrod Bowen’s absence scored the Hammers‘ second goal after Carlos Soler had put West Ham ahead.
New managers here & there
Graham Potter and…
David Moyes…
have been appointed as new managers at West Ham United and Everton respectively this week.
Graham Potter was announced as the Hammers’ new gaffer on Thursday. He said that he was very excited and very proud to be appointed as new manager of West Ham and compared the day to being like “Christmas for adults”.
Potter started into his new job with an FA Cup tie at Aston Villa on Friday after a 20-months-absence from football following his sacking by Chelsea in April 2023.
The 49 years old Englishman very successfully managed Brighton from 2019 – 2022. The “Seagulls” were fourth when Potter left for Chelsea, but he couldn’t succeed there as Thomas Tuchel’s successor and his tenure with the Blues ended after just seven months, when Potter was released from his duties following a 0-2 defeat by Aston Villa.
This time another loss to Villa, albeit in the FA Cup, did not provoke any danger for the manager’s job. Graham Potter said after the 1-2 at Villa Park that “our performance gave me a lot of encouragement, the way the players tried to do what we asked them to do. We’re just disappointed now because we’re out and wanted to go through.
“We just try to get the team into a good shape. The talent is there but it’s just about trying to get the team together as a collective. That’s what we’re trying to do.”
“Friday night, Villa Park, full house, 6,500 West Ham fans who were amazing,” the new manager said in his post-match news conference. After the final whistle, he walked over to salute the travelling fans who will be hoping Potter will deliver the style and substance they are demanding.
Something that Julen Lopetegui was unable to do in his six months in charge, and following the Spaniard’s sacking after only six wins in twenty league games, Potter becomes the club’s fifth manager in nine and a half years, counting David Moyes’ two spells.
The latter though is also back into managing, as Everton confirmed on Saturday that David Moyes (61) had been appointed as Sean Dyche’s successor. Moyes managed Everton from 2002 to 2013 and led Everton to the Champions League qualifiers in 2005 and the FA Cup final in 2009. His first silverware though the Scot won with West Ham when the Hammers beat Fiorentina 2-1 in the Conference League final in the Fortuna Arena in Prague in 2023.
Graham Potter will be joined at West Ham by former Brighton captain Bruno Saltor – who coached alongside him at both the Seagulls and then Chelsea – as his assistant and Billy Reid and Narcis Pelach as first team coaches.
West Ham’s supporters feel that the new manager has the knowledge to stabilise the squad and bring back the team spirit that’s been missing for a while, but they also know that they need to be patient and give Graham time. Let’s see how he gets on at the end of the season.
Come on you Irons!
Come alive in ‘25
He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8
EXTRA TIME 
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