Football Season Guide

Bundesliga

Germany

Bundesliga

2014/2015

Werder Bremen

In

Fin Bartels(mid) (St. Pauli), Alejandro Galvez(mid) (Rayo Vallecano), Raif Husic(gk) (Bayern Munchen), Izet Hajrovic(mid) (Galatasaray), Santiago Garcia(def) (Rangers)

Out

Aleksandar Ignjovski(sp)(mid) (Eintracht Frankfurt), Aaron Hunt(r)(mid) (Wolfsburg), Sebastian Mielitz(r)(gk) (SC Freiburg), Lukas Schmitz(r)(def) (Fortuna Dusseldorf), Cimo Rocker(sp)(def) (Hannover II), Niclas Fullkrug(sp)(att) (Nurnberg), Mateo Pavlovic(sp)(def) (Ferencvaros - Loan), Johannes Wurtz(sp)(att) (Greuther Furth), Joseph Akpala(sp)(att) (Karabukspor), Aleksandar Stevanovic(sp)(mid) (Released), Predrag Stevanovic(sp)(mid) (Released)

Werder Bremen will be looking to push into the top half of the Bundesliga table with coach Robin Dutt expecting an all-round improvement from his side in his second season in charge of the club. Dutt replaced Bremen's long serving coach Thomas Schaaf at the start of last season but inconsistent performances throughout the season meant that Bremen only marginally improved under Dutt, finishing in 12th place with safety from relegation assured only in the final weeks of the season. Bremen have had a quiet summer so far in terms of arrivals, with a far greater number of players leaving the club. Majority of the departures have been back up players with the club deciding not to renew contracts of Sebastian Mielitz, Predrag Stevanovic, Aleksandar Stevanovic, Lukas Schmitz, Aleksandar Ignjovski and Lukas Schmitz. Mateo Pavlovic has been sent on loan while Joseph Akpala, Johannes Wurtz and Niclas Fullkrug have also left the club. However a major blow for Bremen will be the departure of Aaron Hunt with the midfielder opting not to sign an extension and instead jumping ship to Wolfsburg. Hunt was the creative hub for Bremen last season and Dutt has attempted to address the lack of creativity up front by signing Galatasary winger Izet Hajrovic. Santiago García's loan from Rangers was converted into a permanent move while Bayern Munchen's Raif Husic to provide cover for Mielitz's departure. Dutt has also signed Rayo Vallecano's Alejandro Galvez who will provide additional protection to a defense that had the worst record amongst the sides that finished outside the relegation zone. Dutt though will be encouraged by Bremen's pre-season so far that has seen them secure convincing victories over Kickers Emden and Wacker Innsbruck while they have also pulled off a shock victory over Chelsea. Having struggled against relegation for much of the season last time around, Dutt will be optimistic that his side can continue their pre-season form when the season kicks off and secure a comfortable finish this time around.

Target

Will finish in the lower end of the table with a mid-table finish looking to be a realistic prospect