2023/2024 SEASON PREVIEW
OVERVIEW
Doing this a little later than usual but with the Super Cup coming up this weekend I guess this is the official start to the season? The pre-season for Leipzig was fairly successful; in terms of the training camp and new player integration anywa; but still teething issues when it came to the results. A money-making trip to the USA was canned in favour of South Tyrol (apparently the best camp they'd ever been to) but still not facing opposition you'd really wish to test yourself against. Two amateur teams I can't name, Ipswich Town, Werder Bremen and Las Palmas aren't exactly high profile opposition to expand the clubs' brand. Nevertheless the boys seemed to have a lot of fun and that was a good sign after a very chaotic Summer for the club. Some big winners over pre-season have been David Raum (finally), Openda and Sesko slotting goals and Haidara* stamping his authority in the middle.
Due to the fact there have been 8 new signings (likely to end up as 10) and 9 outs I am expecting quite a rocky start to the season but I hope this obvious bedding in period is taking into account and they don't just can the manager - who just signed a new deal - after a set of poor results. No normal club switches this many key players around every off-season and starts off flying! Top 4 and a Cup win are the aim again I feel. If Bayern get Kane it'll be over by Christmas.
*They also only lost two (2!!!) players to injuries which for this team is incredible - they honestly have worse luck than Everton in the medical department. Sadly Haidara will be out for a few weeks after a stellar pre-season but a longer absentee is new signing Bitshiabu who sadly did his MCL and will be out till near Christmas it's feared.
TRANSFERS
Due to me doing this post later than normal I actually have a lot of transfers to discuss and I must say the club have done some impressive work in terms of getting players in as early as possible to bed in. Sadly, inevitably a key negative of success, their best players were all pillaged and Nkunku, Laimer, Gvardiol and Szoboszlai all have left leaving gaping holes all over the pitch. It was the first window as well for newly appointed DoF Max Eberl and many had doubts he could arrest these sorts of departures but I'd say he's done pretty well so far. In come Openda and Sesko up front, Xavi, Baumgartner and Carvalho in attacking mid, Seiwald in central midfield and Bitshiabu in defence. They are still desperately short on a left-sided Gvardiol replacement (should be Castello Lukeba any day now) and also require cover at LB (no names yet but hopefully a Maxim De Cuyper type) - this all being spurred on further with the injury to Bitshiabu. Sadly the club aren't quite as rich as people think under moder day rules so can no longer pursue utility man Geertruida (Feyenoord). Overall, if these last two players come in I am very pleased!
If the final two deals pull through the squad is going to look like the below (outside of a few current injuries/niggles) but it looks well stocked throughout! Nice to finally have some cover in all areas as well as some speed in the squad. Biggest issue though, weirdly, is height - this team is very short. Outside of Sesko and Poulsen none of the outfielders are above 6ft including the central defenders and I think they could get bullied a bit by bigger teams.
