Football Season Guide

Were supposed to start the season on -2 points due to unsportsmanlike behaviour during the derby against Austria Vienna but it was overturned following an appeal during the summer. Therefore, their bid to improve upon their 4th placed finish last season should be able to get off to at least a relatively smooth start. They lost some big players pre-season but they knew that would happen in advance. CB Querfeld, for example, was always going to move on to bigger and better things - and keeping the likes of Kongolo was always going to be an uphill struggle. Subsequently, they signed Yao and Scholler very early on, which was shrewd. They also lost Grull and Schick, which they also knew about for a long time, as well as Fayulu. They've brought prodigal son Schaub home to replace Grull, Bolla to replace Schick, and Beljo to replace Fayulu - and the latter duo look like improvements on the players that have left. Desperately wanting to be a team that competes for the title again too, they were compelled to sign impressive ex-Red Bull Salzburg midfielder Sangare, Bockle, and to make Jansson's loan move permanent. Subsequently, they've assembled a good squad with good balance, and should be able to impress this season. There's been a change of Captain - Burgstaller voluntarily gave it up pre-season, wanting a younger player to take responsibility instead; Seidl is his replacement. It should be a seamless transition. As long as they're not crippled by injuries, this team should do well. Their over-reliance on Burgstaller for goals should lessen, and their defensive setup should remain strong although a slow start to the season is possible too, given their numerous incomings. Overall, a good pre-season for Rapid.