IN
Miiko Albornoz (Malmo FF)
Ceyhun Gulselam (Galatasaray)
Joselu (1899 Hoffenheim)
Stefan Thesker (1899 Hoffenheim)
Kenan Karaman (1899 Hoffenheim)
Vladimir Rankovic (Bayern Munich II)
Hiroshi Kiyotake (1. FC Nurnburg)
Robert Almer (Energie Cottbus)
OUT
Szabolcs Huszti (Changchun Yatai FC)
Didier Ya Konan (Ittihad FC)
Mame Biram Diouf (Stoke City)
Sebastien Pocognoli (West Bromwich Albion)
Christopher Avevor (Fortuna Dusseldorf)
Ali Gokdemir (Simurq PIK)
Last season started with huge promise, early wins over Schalke, Wolfsburg, and Mainz at home ensured the Die Roten faithful kept dreams of Europe at the forefront of their mind. They managed to get away games versus Munich, Dortmund, Leverkusen, and Gladbach out of the way early, and despite picking up no points, it was expected to pick up from there. But it never did. Uninspiring draws at home to Braunschweig, Nurnburg and Hertha, as well as a 4-1 thumping by Hoffenheim left fans losing belief in Slomka, and it was no surprise he was shown the door in December with the side picking up six points from 11 games after the good start.
Tayfun Korkut was the man to rescue that, he managed to gain three wins from the final five away games, and also 13 points from their final five games, a run that the fans will be praying rolls over into the 2014/15 season. Should they manage that, they could well be in a cluster of teams to challenge for the Europa League. It wasn’t all good for Korkut though, a derby day loss to relegated Braunschweig was painful, while a lack of consistency saw them pick up five points in 10 games in February and March, before that run over the final straight. It has been a summer of huge change at the HDI Arena though, with eight men coming in, and 10 either leaving or not returning, including three important first-teamers.
One position that fortunately hasn’t changed is the man between the sticks, Ron Robert Zieler remains a Red despite a lot of interest, and with his contract running out in 2015, they will need a big season to persuade him to stay beyond that. The addition of Robert Almer – Austrian No.1 – provides stellar back-up for him. He will no doubt help blood in the Austrian U21 stopper, Samuel Radlinger, who is a great prospect for the future.
In defence they have added well; two 23 year olds have joined an already impressive mix. Centre-back Stefan Thesker from Hoffenheim, who at 6ft 5 is certainly a presence, if lacking in first-team experience. Miiko Albornoz has also joined from Malmo, who adds depth at full-back, and has recently broken into the Chile first-team.
They have lost Sebastian Pocognoli to English side West Brom, though have sufficient cover for him now with Christian Pander likely to play a more important role this season. The likes of Salif Sane, Marcelo, and Christian Schulz will have a big part to play this year, as they will surely have to tighten up the back if they do want to progress, improving on the 59 goals they shipped last season.
Down-field, losing Szabolcs Huszti was a bitter blow, the Hungarian became a large part of the club in his two spells in Germany, and managed 10 goals and seven assists last season. The replacement is an impressive one though, the highly-rated Hiroshi Kiyotake from Nurnburg, who is also seven years his junior. The Japanese playmaker played a huge part in Josip Drmic’s 17 goal season, and fans of Hannover will be hoping they can see similar next season.
The addition of Ceyhun Gulselam adds Champions League experience to the squad with his move from Galatasaray, and at 26 is another signing that has his best years to come. He joins a centre midfield inhabited with the likes of Leo Bittencourt, who has a decent season under his belt at the club, while the influential Lars Stindl add a spark, and will no doubt increase his rapport with Die Roten fans should he stay.
Jan Schlaudraff will play a huge part with his experience of over 100 games for Korkut’s men, and it looks a very competent midfield if not lacking in a little depth. With still two weeks before the season starts, we may well see another signing in the wide areas, especially with target Nicolai Muller joining Mainz despite being targeted by Hannover.
The huge changes have come in attack, Mame-Briam Diouf, who had 26 goals in 57 games for Die Roten has left, as has Didier Ya Konan. Those two were huge players for 96 last season, and only time will tell if they have been replaced sufficiently.
Coming through the door, two men have joined from Hoffenheim, the Spaniard, Joselu, and youngster Kenan Karaman. The former should go some way to replacing the void left by Diouf, and Korkut will be hoping that he can return to form shown at Real Madrid B in his late teens, where he racked up 40 goals in 72 games.
This year will be one for Artur Sobiech to prove himself, with just 54 appearances in his three years so far, he is bound to experience more game time this season, and has impressed in a pre-season that included a hat-trick when his side were down to 10 men.
Exciting prospect Vladimir Rankovic has also made the move from Bayern’s youth development, making it clear that the plans at the AWD Arena are based around the future, which looks a promising one, with seven of their eight signings 26 and under.
Pre-season has been no huge indicator on how they will get on, though an early couple of 5-1 wins versus lower league opposition, and a 6-2 victory over Al-Ahli show the emphasis is very much on confidence in front of goal. Worryingly they have not kept a clear sheet in any of the 10 friendlies so far, despite some against poor opponents. Games against Werder Bremen and Lazio over the next week will be better indicators into how they will start.
The turnaround of players will leave many Reds fans in limbo whether they will push that top six once more, or scrape relegation, though will be more than impressed with Korkut’s work so far from last season.
It is certainly a rebuild period for 96, though it's possible they will again break into the top half and finish a sold ninth place.