Football Season Guide

Hertha Berlin's campaign faded dramatically in the second half of last season so their task this year will be to maintain form over the entire 34 games. The side from the capital were the surprise package for parts of the season but they will hope that,with the signings they've brought in this year, they can establish themselves in the Bundesliga for the times to come. Previously Hertha have been known as something of a yo-yo club but they have bought some proven quality in the off season to add to the core of the team from last term. Tolga Cigerci has extended his stay with the club, joining on a permanent basis from Wolfsburg and he will hope to be more available this year after missing parts of last season. Jens Hegeler has joined from Leverkusen to add more top level experience to the club while Valentin Stocker adds quality on the wing having joined from Basel, Genki Haraguchi arrives from Japan but may have to take his chances from the bench. The defence has also been strengthened with Hertha making use of Fulham's relegation from the English Premier League by bringing in former Dutch international Johnny Heitinga while Marvin Plattenhardt is another option on the left after he left relegated Bundesliga Nürnberg. But the most significant area of change is in attack where Adrian Ramos has left to join Borussia Dortmund and Pierre-Michel Lasogga has joined HSV. In their places come Roy Beerens from AZ Alkmaar who will probably be their first choice striker if they play one in attack while Julian Scheiber arrives from Dortmund after a couple of seasons as a bit part player behind Robert Lewandowski. Both have a point to prove at this level but the risk for coach Jos Luhukay is that neither starts well and can replace the source of goals that Ramos was to the club. Luhukay will also have a job on his hands to try and bind the new players with the established group and to find a formation which works in the long term. Last season he tried multiple different ones when the form dipped, some with catastrophic effects for the result. Sebastian Langkamp was their best player, holding the defence together for the whole campaign and it will be interesting to see how he links up with Heitinga. Much will be expected from captain Fabian Lustenberger who should get more time in midfield thanks to the defensive re-enforcements.