We know Austrian football

There is only one round left in the Austrian Bundesliga for this year. Before the beginning of the season Infobettor gave prediction how the teams are supposed to perform. Let's see if have guess something :)

1.RB SALZBURG
Players in : Simon Cziommer (FC Utrecht), Dusan Svento (Slavia Prague), Christian Schwegler (Young Boys), Thomas Augustinussen (Aalborg BK), Schiemer (Austria Wien), Sasa Ilic (Larisa), Traoui (Al Wehda)
Players out : Bodnar, Gercaliu , Öbste, Meyer, Janocko, Ochs
Coach: Huub Stevens

After the summer transfer market the club’s management declared “Now we are ready to defend the title ! ” .And if we take a close look at the new signings  we will see that they will definitely bring more class in to the middle of the field  and confidence in to defense line, where Salzburg experienced a lot of trouble  last season with 50 goals conceded. As to their international concerns, the group stage will be a success, no matter whether it is Champions league or UEFA Cup. A lot of Austrian football specialists  and even coaches from other clubs pointed out Salzburg as their favourite for winning the championship, so Infobettor will join in  their opinion especially that as we have full confidence in their new manager – Huub Stevens.

2. RAPID WIEN

Players in: Konigshofer (Kärnten), Milan Jovanovic (Spartak Nalchik), Konrad (Altach), Christoph Schoßwendter (Vöcklabruck), Thomas Schrammel ( Innsbruck)

Players out : Hiden, Fröschl, Lukse, Frank, Harding
Coach : Peter Pacult

The situation before the season for Rapid doesn`t seem very stable. Fans are really upset by the coach Peter Pacult and want him to leave. “Disgrace” and “not worthy” are the most common words addressed to the 50 year-old- specialist. Pacult is  not very popular eiter amongst some of the Rapid football players, especially those who have been accused of underperforming like the central defenders Hannes Eder and Jürgen Patocka.The manager`s appeal for fresh blood was not so strictly followed as to the  Hanappi Stadium have been brought players with questionable potential. That’s why may be the “Green-Whites” will stay out of top three places.

3. AUSTRIA WIEN:

Players in: Jun (FK Teplice), Petr Vorisek (Sparta Prague), Julian Baumgartlinger (1860 München), Liendl (Kapfenberg), Ortlechner (Kärnten), Klein (LASK), Junuzovic (Kärnten)
Players out: Sun, Netzer, Mössner, Majstorovic, Bazina, Blanchard, Troyansky, Metz , Schiemer
Coach: Karl Daxbacher

Austria Wien will be the second contestant for the title this year. They made (a) really good transfers to improve their attacking line and with their new captain Milenko Acimovic, Champions’ title is expected from the club. If the new players manage to fit in the new squad for the little time they have, we will  witness a very interesting race between Austria and Salzburg.

4. SK STURM GRAZ:

Players in: Weber, Bukva (Austria Kärnten), Lukse (Rapid), Ehrenreich (Gratkorn), Kreimer (Gratkorn)
Players out: Scherrer, Prutsch ,Kobras, Suppan, Sereinig, Kaufmann, Shashiashvili (Ergotelis), Baotic (Ziel unbekannt), Kröpfl (RB Juniors)
Coach: Franco Foda

“We want to come back in (to) the top four, but that will not be  easy” admitted Sturm Graz coach Franco Foda .Sturm will once again depend on the performance of its young players. The team didn’t make any big transfers despite the fact that a lot of players left.That’s why four position will be a really good achievement for them.

5. SV RIED:

Players in: Mihael Rajic (Vöcklabruck),Jonathan Carril-Regueiro (Santa Eulalia), Florian Sturm
Players out: Bammer, Kujabi, Brenner, Berger, Kovacevic, Yeray
Coach: Paul Gludovatz
This summer Ried lost a lot of important players. Berger and Kujabi put a big hole in the Paul Gludovatz’s team. The club’s finance situation does not seem also very stable as in the Austrian newspapers spred out a scandal between the board and one of the sponsors. But we all well remember how in the beginning of the last season again the situation was not perfect and even at one moment they didn’t have a coach. Then Gludovatz was appointed and with his revolutionary scheme 3-3-3-1 made Ried unbeaten at home for the whole 36 yards and only 2 goals separated them for the Europe Place. And if they improve their away performance,surely they will reach that place this year.

6.SK AUSTRIA KÄRNTEN:

Players in: Gramann (Altach), Andre Schembri (Carl-Zeiss Jena), Blanchard, Troyansky ( Austria), Kaufmann (Sturm), Martin Zivny (FC Brno)
Players Out: Königshofer, M. Weber, Bukva, Bubenik, Ortlechner, Junuzovic
Coach: Frenkie Schinkels

Austria Karnten’s last season performance was on the two poles. After the autumn they were so close to the top table, but in the spring they just crashed. With only 15 goals scored they were the worst team in 2009 in the Austrian Bundesliga. The main reason was the contracts of 14 players, who were expiring at the end of the season. Frenkie Schinkels accused his players that they spend much more time with their personal managers than to train and to prepare for the upcoming games. And he was absolutely right.Now Schinkels have to build a wholly new team from young players. The only thing we know for sure is that if Karnten repeat their spring performance, they will be sure contestant for relegation.

7. LASK:

Players In: Vidas Alunderis (Tavria Simferopol), Paul Bichelhuber (Austria Amateure), Josip Coric (Seekirchen), Bubenik (Austria Kärnten), Metz (Austria), Christoph Kobleder (Anif), Georg Margreitter (SC Magna), Emanuel Schreiner (A. Lustenau), Petar Skuletic (FK Zemun)
Players out:Mijatovic (FC Lustenau), Wisio (Ergotelis), Vastic (Karriereende), Hoheneder (Sparta Prague), Klein (Austria), Baur (Karriereende)
Coach: Matthias Hamann

LASK finished 7th in one disastrous season, ruled by “only” three managers. However the rescuer Hans Krankl did not extend his contract as the board didn’t give him the green light for extensive investment in the squad. Now he is replaced by Matthias Hamann, brother of Dietmar Hamann. His coaching skills are questionable as German third-league club Hessen Kassel was his last point as a manager.Big advantage for him is that he is well respected by the fans as he was playing for LASK during his active career. LASK have the chance to correct some of the last year mistakes and to show better performance – 5th place really seems appealing to them.

8.SV KAPFENBERG:

Players in:Majstorovic (Austria Wien), Raphael Wolf, Manuel Schmid (Wacker Innsbruck)
Players out: Lienhart, Bernsteiner, Liendl, Stepanek , Zimmerman, Susko, Akoto, Wilson, Milosevic, Lucic, Reifeltshammer
Coach: Werner Gregoritsch

81 goals conceded don`t talk very good for the team`s defense. Gregoritsch undoubtedly have the
most difficult task as his team is the poorest in terms of quality and finance. They don`t have a typical goal scorer and depend on the team’s play. Kapfenberg don not play the most beautiful football, you can ever imagine, their solution is hard work and discipline. It will be tough season for Kapfenberg and staying out of relegation is their priority number one.


9. SV MATTERSBURG:

Players In: Robert Waltner (Zalaegerszeg), Tomas Sedlak (Ruzomberok), Josef Hamouz (FK Jablonec), Roland Spuller
Players out: Jancker, Lindström, Velicky, Ujcik
Coach: Franz Lederer

Mattersburg is the main contestant for relegation this year. Weak team ruled by Lederer, who  seems
to lack motivation after 5 years loyal service to Mattersburg. But the main reason for this disastrous performance stays the absence of willingness for quality transfers and green-white players, who have never found their form. May be is high time this to be the last season of the rough and inexplicable play of Mattersburg in the Austrian Bundesliga.

10. SC MAGNA:

Players in: Ronald Gercaliu (RB Salzburg), Christian Ramsebner, Diego Viana (Grödig), Patrick Niklas (Baumgarten), Thomas Kral (Wienerberg)
Players Out: Margreitter ( LASK)
Coach: Helmut Kraft

Magna have sealed promotion to Austria's Bundesliga although the bad start of the season. The businessman Frank Stronach bought 14 new players for his team,one of them is the skilful Diego Viana. It is very important the team to have fly start as that will give confidence to the players, and  also will put some pressure away from the trainer Helmus Kraft,whose position is not very sure. We think that Magna can be one of the black horses this season and place in the top 5 will not surprise us.