From Phantom-Tors, to club mascot Hoffi the Moose losing his head, to an unconscious cameraman, Hoffenheim's 2013/14 Bundesliga campaign had the makings of an Oscar-nominated drama. Yet the stars of the show now want to be taken more seriously as they look to pursue a place in Europe. Will their goal-giving defence sharpen up? Can their goal-getting attack continue to shine?

Summer Dealings

IN

- Janik Haberer (from SpVgg Unterhaching)
- Pirmin Schwegler (from Frankfurt)
- Oliver Baumann (from Freiburg)
- Ermin Bicakcic (from Braunschweig)
- Kim Jin-Su (from Albirex Niigata)
- Tobias Weis (returning from loan spell at Frankfurt)
- Adam Szalai (from Schalke)

OUT

- Stefan Thesker (to Hannover)
- Fabian Johnson (to Gladbach)
- Tim Paterok (to Wormatia Worms)
- Robin Szarka (to Cottbus)
- Kenan Karaman (to Hannover)
- Joseph-Claude Gyau (to Dortmund II)
- Eren Derdiyok (to Kasimpasa)
- Michael Gregoritsch (loan to Bochum)
- Sandro Wieser (loan to Aarau)
- Joselu (to Hannover)
- Vincenzo Grifo (loan to FSV Frankfurt)
- Andreas Ludwig (to Aalen)

Goalkeepers

Oliver Baumann arrived from Freiburg on a 4-year contract having spent 12 years at the club from youth career to first team. He is expected to come straight in as Hoffenheim's 1st choice goalkeeper, although Koen Casteels and Jens Grahl will provide competition. Casteels suffered a broken leg during the 1-1 draw - Hertha back in April and therefore missed out on the 3rd goalkeeper spot in the Belgium World Cup squad to Zulte Waregem's Sammy Bossut, and will likely to be on the bench to Baumann. Grahl has only made 11 appearances for Hoffenheim in the Bundesliga (all of which came last season) and he may be on the move with Baumann and Casteels in front of him in the goalkeeper pecking order.

Defence

Only Hamburg (75) conceded more goals than Hoffenheim (70) in the Bundesliga last season. With the joint-second worst defence (alongside relegated Nuremberg), the weak point of this squad needed to be ratified by manager Markus Gisdol. In have come Ermin Bicakcic from Braunschweig and Kim Jin-Su from Japanese side Albirex Niigata, who along with David Abraham and youngster Niklas Sule, should tighten up the back-line. The big blow however has come in the form of losing the fantastic Fabian Johnson to Gladbach, who starred for the United States in this summer's World Cup. Captain Andreas Beck, Bundesliga winner with Stuttgart in 2006/07, and 19-year old Jeremy Toljan are expected to be the regular full-backs.

Midfield

The big addition in the engine room of the Hoffenheim squad is in the shape of Pirmin Schwegler from Frankfurt, who with the likes of set-piece specialist Sejad Salihovic, Kai Herdling and Eugen Polanski, will provide plenty of experience for a side looking to challenge for a top-six finish. Sebastian Rudy should also be a regular starter, whilst Tobias Strobl, Tarik Elyounoussi and Jiloan Hamad give manager Gisdol a number of options at his disposal. Rotation in this area will be vital, especially to keep freshness and everybody on their toes.

Forwards

Hoffenheim's attack was lethal last season, the third best in the German top-flight, only behind champions Bayern and runners-up Dortmund. This eye for goal was epitomised by Roberto Firmino, who reached both double figures in terms of goals and assists. Firmino, was to regular Bundesliga viewers, a surprise exclusion from Luiz Felipe Scolari's Brazil World Cup squad, and should he reproduce this sort of form once again, the big European clubs will come calling. Another man who didn't make the World Cup was Kevin Volland, with the 21-year expected to be Germany's next big thing in the striker department. Like Firmino, he will be pivotal in Hoffenheim's charge. Anthony Modeste and new signing Adam Szalai (who arrives following a disappointing year at Schalke) provide something different, and should Szalai rediscover his form from his Mainz days, then Hoffenheim have four impressive attacking options. Sven Schipplock and Janik Haberer will also be useful assets for Gisdol.

Prediction

With the tightness and competitiveness of the Bundesliga, Hoffenheim, like a number of other clubs, could be battling to survive or be on the fringes of the European positions. I'm expecting the latter. For me, they are probably there with Mainz as having the best squad outside last season's top-six. However, with the 05ers having to juggle domestic and continental matters, this will be to the advantage of Gisdol and his players. 7th position is likely to be, on paper, the best Hoffenheim can achieve, especially as Bayern, Dortmund, Schalke, Leverkusen, Wolfsburg and Gladbach have all added strongly. Yet this position could become open for a European place in 2015/16 (should the two DFB-Pokal finalists both qualify for the Champions League). Hoffenheim's attack will surely once again be a force. The big question is the defence. If the Sinsheim outfit can stop leaking in unnecessary and needless goals, this could well be a season to remember, not just for the entertainment in which Hoffenheim provide, but also when it comes to results.

VAVEL Logo
About the author