Football Season Guide

After missing out on top three in the most dramatic of fashions for two consecutive seasons Kaiserslautern collapsed last year and they never got higher than 6th place during the campaign. The turmoil at the club was constant from November onwards but the summer months brought calmness and new hope. The Lauterns appointed Tayfun Korkut as their new manager and the goals in front of him are very high. That said the new gaffer already saw five regulars leaving this summer and outside two of the new names the incoming transfers so far haven’t been impressive. The Red Devils will need to sign new players in the coming weeks if they are to challenge for promotion, but Korkut also hinted in the friendlies that he will be relying a lot on the prospects that are coming through the junior ranks. 4-4-2 is the most likely formation with which Kaiserslautern will start the season, although Przybylko’s three consecutive years of poor form might quickly see this changing to 4-2-3-1. The one certain starter up front is the Icelandic number nine Bodvarsson, who will be full of confidence after the Euros. Gaus and Halfar are expected to operate down the wings, although the former can be used also as left-back if this is needed. Moritz is probably the most important new arrival so far and together with Ring he is expected to organise the midfield, but the likes of Pich, Piossek, Ziegler and Klich will also be hoping to earn more playing time. Vucur and Heubach look certain to be the centre-backs, but with Ziegler and Mockenhaupt there some rotation might be possible. Newcomer Aliji should be the new left-back after the departure of captain Lowe, while Schulze established on the other flank and he will continue to be the preferred choice. It is yet to be seen who will be the new number one and both Weis and Alomerovic are hoping to be picked. Kaiserslautern still lack star players and only if they manage to sign one or two quality names before the end of August their promotion hopes will look realistic. That said the club has the history, the fan base and the amazing ground, all factors that can lead to success if the start is good. Improving vastly the home record comparing to last season will be task number one for Korkut and in the early weeks Kaiserlsautern are expected to be extra aggressive on home turf.