Football Season Guide

Austria Klagenfurt

In


Simon Spari (gk), transfer from Floridsdorfer AC. Lee Min-yung (mid), transfer from Yonsei University FC. Jonas Kühn (def), transfer from Viktoria Berlin. Tobias Koch (mid), transfer from Blau-Weiss Linz. Laurenz Dehl (att), loan expired. David Toshevski (att), loan expired. Ben Bobzien (mid), loan from Mainz 05. Niklas Szerencsi (def), transfer from SV Kapfenberg. Philipp Wydra (mid), loan from Rapid Vienna. Naldo Rodrigues (att), transfer from Werder Bremen.

Out


Phillip Menzel (r) (gk), transfer to Saarbrucken. Til Schumacher (r) (def), contract expired. Sinan Karweina (k) (att), contract expired. Rico Benatelli (r) (mid), contract expired. Anton Maglica (sp) (att), contract expired. Max Besuschkow (sp) (mid), loan expired. Nikola Djoric (sp) (def), contract expired. Andy Irving (k) (mid), loan expired. Jonas Arweiler (r) (att), contract expired. Fabio Markelic (mid), contract expired. Til Schumacher (r) (def), transfer to Saarbrucken. Nicolas Wimmer (k) (def), contract expired. Aaron-Sky Schwarz (sp) (att), loan expired. Ali Loune (sp) (mid), loan expired. Andrew Irving (k) (mid), transfer to West Ham United. Anton Maglica (sp) (att), contract expired. David Puntigam (gk), transfer to SV Kapfenberg.

Punched well above their weight last season, finishing 4th. A marvellous achievement thanks to experienced boss Pacult and a very capable group. They went on to finish 6th in the Championship Group so will not play in Europe but considering some tipped them to be relegated last season, they were superb. This season will be very different as the foundations of last season's team are almost entirely gone now. Star striker Karweina and Arweiler (their main starting duo in the 3-5-2) both left, most of their back three + GK left (despite their best efforts to keep Wimmer - couldn't afford his salary), and most of their midfield have moved on too. It's going to be a complete rebuild job. Pacult can do it, but it's likely to take time. Due to financial constraints, they've not been able to bring many players in either. Koch will strengthen their central midfield, and Bobzien will keep some dynamism in their attack. The rest are wild punts more than anything, though. Pacult has unquestionably done his homework because that's his style but expecting this group to galvanise quickly is unrealistic. They want to play in Europe, and their fans want them same too, but it's very unlikely unless some of their unknowns turn out to be the next Wimmer, Irving, or Karweina. RWB, CB, and CM look the least damaged areas (a.k.a should be ok in those areas) but the rest have question marks over them. They'd not announce it, but they'd be content to avoid relegation this season. Likely to struggle to score goals.

Target


Club aim - 5-7 Realistic aim - 6-10