Foye wrote:Here are a couple guys in no order who I think might have their breakout season:
Thorgan Hazard, Gladbach.
Gladbach are loaded with offensive players but I feel with the departure of Kruse Hazard will find a way to introduce himself to the starting XI despite Favre's love affair with Raffael. Plus Drmic will probably need some time to adapt to Favre's system which could force Favre to play Raffael up front.
I expect him to get playing time and improve as well, given what Gladbach paid.
Though, Raffael's still pretty good and Drmic scored nicely in those preseason games so far. Then there are also Hrgota and Andre Hahn, who was played at ST in preseason by Favre.
On the wings, Herrmann's starting right now and Traore's been playing fantastic in this preseason.
And you also have Fabian Johnson.
Foye wrote:Jairo Samperio, Mainz 05.
His technical ability is very good already. Here is to hoping that after his rookie season he is now physically ready and can showcase his abilities more consistently
Julian Brandt, Bayer Leverkusen.
He'll be Leverkusen's first winger off the bench and should get plenty of minutes despite Son and Bellarabi ahead of him in the rotation.
Leon Goretzka, Schalke 04.
The key for him is staying healthy. If he Geis, Meyer & Sane stay healthy Schalke will easily have the most promissing midfield in the league for years.
Levin Öztunali, Werder Bremen (belongs to Leverkusen).
HSV managed to lose him to Leverkusen before he actually played for their pro team. That means he must become a top player.
Jairo had some nice games at the end of the season and should see more playing time.
Brandt is absolutely on the brink of breaking out and Son + Bellarabi have to be really good to keep him on the bench.
Goretzka should already be an option for the national team, if it weren't for his injuries. Him and Geis should be a nice combo for Schalke at the CM spots.
And yeah, Öztunali(the grandson of Uwe Seeler) is yet another youngster that HSV sold, while buying the likes of Holtby, Behrami etc.
Foye wrote:Breakout team: 1. FC Köln.
Schmadtke did an amazing job on the transfer market.
Heintz and Sörensen should take over the starting CB positions relatively swift.
Bittencourt and Jojic are great reinforcements for their midfield. And Yannick Gerhardt might explode as well.
Could be and Schmadte is doing a great job there with transfers and keeping expectations on a solid level.
Still, that 2nd year is always tough and teams won't play them as offensively as they did last season.
Foye wrote:Felix Klaus, Hannover 96.
I'm a fan of him for a couple years now. Similar to Jairo, he does not have enough assertiveness yet.
Hannover will make or break him. He'll basically walk into the starting XI but it'll be tough to have any kind of success with that roster.
Filip Kostic, VFB Stuttgart.
He played a large role in Stuttgart not getting relegated. If he can somehow replicate that form he'll have a very good season.
Timo Werner, VFB Stuttgart.
I'm not that high on him and he had a very tough last season. However, going into his 3rd Bundesliga season at only 19 I kind of have to expect a higher efficiency in front of the goal. Plus Stuttgart's striking rotation is not exactly what I would call deep so a breakout seems forseeable.
Klaus I could see happening as well, given that Frontzeck also likes to play a more offensive style and that helps with stats for guys like him.
Kostic was great at the end of the season but is also the reason why I'm not sure about Werner breaking out. They both play on the left wing and they also have Ginczek at striker, which limits Werner's playing time.
No_20 wrote:Foye wrote:No_20 wrote:Kerem Demirbay.
No.
You dont get called the next Zidane for nothing. He will fulfil his potential soon.
Who the thell is calling Demirbay the next Zidane?
Hamburger Morgenpost?
The kid has talent but he's still hasn't been able to play a stable season at age 22 and he's also never played a full Bundesliga season.
Last year at Kaiserslautern he was riding the bench quite a bit and he's also more of a #8 then what Zidane used to play.
BTW: I guy I could see breaking out is Marc Stendera of Eintracht Frankfurt. Great technical abilities and shooting touch but he needs to decide on either gaining some weight and playing a CM role or losing some to be able to play at that #10 spot, if Veh is interested in a system featuring one.
Also, keep Andreas Christensen in mind, who's been really good during the preseason and could see time with Stranzl and even Dominguez(back) having some trouble.
