** - player that usually play and brings some quality to the team (important player)

*** - player that plays if he is available (key player)

Positions:

LW – Left wing                             RB – Right back                     

LB – Left back                              RW – Right wing

PM – Playmaker                            LP – Line player

GK - Goalkeeper

Transfers in:

• Tobias Reichman (SCM Youngsters, RW */**)
• Aron Palmarsson (HF Hafnarfjördur, LB/PM */**)
• Peter Gentzel (HSG Nordhorn, GK **)
• Christian Sprenger (SC Magdeburg, RW ***)
• Momir Ilic (VFL Gummersbach, LB ***)
• Daniel Narcisse (Chambery HB, LB/PM ***)

Transfers out:

• Stefan Lövgren (Retired, PM **)
• Vid Kavticnik (Montpellier HB, RW ***)
• Nikola Karabatic (Montpellier HB, LB/PM ***)
• Bruno Martini (Retired, GK *)

Analyse:  THW Kiel has 5 wins in a row in Bundesleague and they are on a good way for a new one. They lost Lövgren, who retired, Karabatic and Kavticnik, but replacements are equal. Many would say that Kiel is worse, but I believe they are even better than last season. Sprenger is equal replacement for Kavticnik. Karabatic was replaced with Ilic and Narcisse, who can easy replace Karabatic. Kiel will miss Lövgren, who was their main leader for many years, but young guns are experienced enough to take Lövgrens role. Palmarsson was brought as huge talent, we will see what he can show. 

Despite of big transfers in Kiel, they are even strongher than in last years. Their 6-0 defence is maybe even stronger than last season, attack at least the same powerful. Narcisse and Ilic already played under Gislasson, so they actually won`t need many time to adopt on teams style.

Transfers in:

• Marcel Schliedermann (TV Neuhausen/Erms, PM */**)
• Igor Vori (RK Zagreb, LP ***)
• Domagoj Duvnjak (RK Zagreb, PM **)

Transfers out: 

• Arne Niemeyer (TUS-N-Lübbecke, LB/PM */**) 
• Heiko Grimm (Grashoppers Zürich, LW/PM */**) 
• Dimitri Torgovanov (Newa St. Petersburg, LP **) 

Analyse:  HSV is trying to win something every season, but they simply can`t collect the team that can beat Kiel. This season they brought two very good players from Zagreb, Vori and Duvnjak. Vori will step into big shoes immediately since Bertran Gille is injured and will miss many months. On the other side Duvnjak will also get many chances, but he has much more comeptiton. Also big reinforcement is Veliky, who played only few last matches in last season, but now he should be ok. Schliedermann won`t get many chance to play, he should be investment for the for the future. HSV didn`t lose anything. Niemayer and Grimm was not players for such team and Torgovanov was a bit old for such level.

HSV is serious title contender, but they shouldn`t lose points on small matches like they usually do. They have great team, but they always miss something to win the title. They also have injury problems all the time, so maybe coaching staff should think about this problem. All their defence formations are stronger with Vori and their defence is their huge weapon. Still I think they are not strong enough for the title.

Transfers in:

• Alexandros Alvanos (VFL Gummersbach, RB **)
• Olafur Stefansson (Ciudad Real, RB **/***)
• Bjarte Myrhol (HSG Nordhorn, LP ***)
• Carlos Prieto (Valladolid, LP **/***)
• Michael Müller (TV Grosswallstadt, RB **/***)
• Gabor Ancsin (Dunaferr SE, RB */**)

Transfers out:

• Sergej Shelmenko (Medvedi Chechov, RB **/***)
• Mariusz Jurasik (Kielce, RB ***)
• Christian Schwarzer (Retired, LP ***)
• Jan Filip (Schaffhausen, RW ***)
• Jackson Richardson (Retired, PM */**)

 Analyse:  Rhein Neckar Löwen is just bringing new and new players that can win some title. This season they completely change their right side. They bought Alvanos, Stefansson and Müller for right back position as replacement for Jurasik and Shelmenko. This are defenitely good transfers, especially because both ex-RBs are too selfish players and were making only their own stats mostly. Legendary Schwarzer retired, but they brought very good replacement. Myrhol and Prieto are both world class players and RNL won`t miss Schwarzer. The best transfer is surely Ola Lindgren. Till now RNL obviously didn`t have such coach that can controll all stars, but I believe Lindgren is the man for this. Ex-world class player got many experience at Nordhorn and he is surely ready to make something big with RNL. 

Löwen surely has the best team since they had arrived from second league. With Lindgren on the bench and with many really good players, they can compete with Kiel and HSV for the title. If Lindgren brings fighting spirit from Nordhorn, then RNL won`t lose important points on small matches like they did in last seasons.

Transfers in:

• Ferenc Ilyés (MKB Veszprém, LB **/***)
• Jesper Larsson (IFK Kristianstad, GK **)

Transfers out:

• Lars Kaufmann (FA Göppingen, LB **)
• Jörg Zereicke (Retired, GK */**)
• Malte Schröder (Ahlener SG, RB *)

Analyse:  After few seasons Lemgo didn`t trade a lot. Obviously they collected team which is ready to make big things. They only replaced Lars Kaufmann, who went to Göppingen, with Ferenc Ilyés. They also brought GK Larsson, because Galia was positive on doping test. 

TBV practically didn`t change anything. They will count on their defence, which is among best three in the league and counter attacks. Lemgo also has many good options in attack, so they can be dangerous for all top teams. I believe Lemgo is one of the teams that will decide German champion this season. And remember, that Lemgo was the only team in Germany last season, who beated Kiel.

Transfers in:

• Johan Sjöstrand (Skövde, GK **)
• Patrik Fahlgren (Sävehof, PM **)
• Anders Eggert (Skjern, LW */**)
• Tobias Karlsson (HSG Nordhorn, LB **)

 Transfers out:

• Jendrik Meyer (Hannover-Burgdorf, GK */**)
• Ljubomir Vranjes (Retired, PM */**)
• Erlend Mamelund (FC Kopenhagen, LB **)
• Jakob Thoustrup (Aarhus GF, LB **)
• Sebastian Schneider (Füchse Berlin, LB *)

 Analyse:  Flensburg has tough season behind. After they released Lackovic and Lijewski they didn`t have shooter from back position. They brought Muratovic (who was injured most of the season) and Carlen, but none of these two couldn`t replace Lackovic or Lijewski. This season transfers don`t look like to be shooters from back position. Fahlgren is not that type of player and Karlsson is more or less defensive player and far from big shooter. Good transfer is Sjöstrand as a back up for Beutler, who can save everything or even can`t save single ball. They didn`t lose anything, since all important players stayed.

Flensburg is far from old fame. Their transfers in last seasons were totally wrong and they will need some time to recover. I think their main power will be strong defence and fast counter attacks. Looks like they will have another season with many problems in attack on settled defence, since their back players prefer breakthrow over shooting from 9m and opponent defence just wait them on the line.

Transfers in:

• Herdeiro Lucau (Guif, GK **)
• Markus Hammerschmidt (youth, GK *)
• Steffen Fäth (Rhein Neckar Löwen – loan, LB **)
• Zarko Markovic (MKB Veszprem, RB **)
• Allahkaram Esteki (Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan, PM *)

 Transfers out:

• Alexandros Alvanos (Rhein-Neckar-Löwen, RB ***)
• Nandor Fazekas (MKB Vesprem, GK **)
• Momir Ilic (THW Kiel, LB/PM ***)
• Stanislaw Gorobtschuk (Eisenach, GK *)

 Analyse:  EHF Cup winner from past season start new season without their main star Momir Ilic. They will also miss their first RB Alvanos and also importnat GK Fazekas. VfL didn`t bring replacement for Ilic, but Vukovic will take his role for sure. Fäth looks promising, we will see if he can step into big shoes. Markovic came as solid replacement for Alvanos. Lucau is good enough to take back up role as GK. 

Gummersbach has a bit lower budget this season, but they got a lot of money for Ilic, so they could bring replacement. Still VfL has good fighting team that can make problems to favourites and they will fight for European cups next season.

Transfers in:

• Silvio Heinevetter (SC Magdeburg, GK ***)
• Torsten Laen (Ciudad Real, LP ***)
• Stian Vatne (BM Aragón, LW **)
• Runar Karason (Fram Reykjavik, RW **)
• Sebastian Schneider (SG Flensburg-Handewitt, LB */**)

 Transfers out:

• Christian Caillat (HSC Coburg, LB **)
• Hany el Fakharany (ziel unbekannt)
• Jens Vortmann (TSV Dormagen, GK *)
• Rene Boese (1. SV Concordia Delitzsch, LW **)
• Sascha Detlof (Füchse Berlin 2, LB *)
• Michal Bruna (Stralsunder HV, PM **)

 Analyse: Berlin is building team for the top of Bundesleague, but they will need few seasons to achieve this goal. Heinevetter and Laen are surely good transfers, Vatne and Karason very solid. Important is that they didn`t lose any important players, despite el Fakharany played many minutes last season.

Berlin has solid team, but still not for top. They will fight for European cups places. With two very good transfers they made their team stronger, but still far away from top places. Anyway, they shouldn`t have problems with bottom table teams, like they did have last season.

Transfers in:

• Lars Kaufmann (TBV Lemgo, LB **/***)
• Michael Haaß (GWD Minden, PM **/***)
• Kristijan Ljubanovic (RK Koper, LP **)

 Transfers out:

• Dalibor Anusic (unknown, LP **)
• Jaliesky García (Retrired, LB **)
• Nikola Manojlovic (HCM Constanta, LB/PM **/***)

 Analyse: Göppingen is strong team and they are stronger than last season. With Haaß they got very good playmaker. Ljubanovic is solid LP, while Kaufmann solid LB with very good defensive skills. They will miss only Manojlovic, but Haaß is good replacement, especially in attack.

FAG is another team which will fight for Eurocups places. They are really strong on home court and I am almost sure they will make problems to any top team. With Kaufmann they got player that can play strong defence and I am sure Petkovic will use him all the time in defence.

Transfers in:

• Gerrie Eijlers (HBW Balingen/Weilstetten, GK ***)
• Robert Weber (HBW Balingen/Weilstetten, RW **/***)

Transfers out: 

• Silvio Heinevetter (Füchse Berlin, GK ***)
• Christian Sprenger (THW Kiel, RW ***)
• Alexandros Vasilakis (MT Melsungen, RB ***)
• Steffen Stiebler (Retired, LP */**)

 Analyse:  Magdeburg is going down every season, although they have players with very good fighting spirit. It is a big shame that they lost their main power Heinevetter, who was huge motivation for them and he always covered defences back. Eijlers is solid GK, but Magdeburg almost can`t replace Heinevetter. Weber is solid replacement for Sprenger. Another big problem is departure of Vasilakis, because they have only one left handed player left on right back and Rojewski isn`t the best player here. Defensive specialist Stiebler retired, but Krause showed some promising plays last season.

Magdeburg will end in mid-table. They can make problems to any top team, but they don`t have enough quality to beat any. Their biggest advantage are home grown players and fighting spirit and this should be enough for paceful season in the middle of the table.

 Transfers in:

• Alexandros Vasilakis (SC Magdeburg, RB ***)
• Robert Lechte (Aarhus GF, GK **/***)

Transfers out:

• Daniel Valo (HSG Wetzlar, RB ***)

Analyse: After few seasons Melsungen lost their coach Hedin, who was well know for fast tempo handball. New coach Ryan Zinglersen is not so offensive minded, as Hedin was, so they did many things to strenghten defence. Also transfer of GK Lechte can be important, so he can be good replacement for Kelentric. They also changed their RB, Valo left and Vasilakis came. Valo is better player, but Vasilakis can give a lot to the team.

Melsungen has around the same quality like in last season. Zinglersen will try to improve defence of Melsungen. They can make problems to any team, but on the other hand they can have problems against any team in the league. In pre-season they have a lot of injury problems and start of the season might be tough for them.

Transfers in: 

• Steffen Weinhold (HSG Nordhorn, RB ***)
• Csaba Szücs (HSG Nordhorn, LB ***)
• Sverre Jakobsson (HK Kopavogur, LP ***)

Transfers out:

• Anders Oechsler (KIF Kolding, LB **)
• Michael Müller (Rhein Neckar Löwen, RB ***)
• Ondrej Zdrahala (unknown, PM **)

Analyse: Grosswallstadt lost their biggest weapon Michael Müller and also coach Roth. Other transfers are looking good. Weinhold came as Müller replacement, which is solid. Szücs is better than Oechsler, who also had many injury problems. They probably won`tl miss Zdrahala too much, since he never showed all the potential he has. TVG also brought Jakobsson, who is defensive specialist. 

All in all TVG looks around the same as last season. They will miss Müller on the right side, although Holmgeirsson is great RB, but left side looks stronger than last season. Transfer of Jakobsson probably means they will work much more on defence this season, because Sverre is totally useless in attack.

Transfers in:

• Daniel Valo (MT Melsungen, RB **/***)

 Transfers out:

• Volker Michel (Retired, RB **)
• Zoran Djordjic (Retired, GK **)
• Chen Pomeranz (unknown, PM */**)

Analyse: Wetzlar didn`t trade a lot. Their only transfer is Daniel Valo, who came as a replacement for Michel. Very experienced player and very useful on both sides. As I wrote, Michel left, he retired same as legendary GK Djordjic. Wetzlar didn`t offer new contract to Pomeranz, so he left. The best thing was that they brough Michael Roth as a coach.

HSG has well balanced team that can show a lot this season. Roth is very good coach and very good motivator. He did a lot with Grosswallstad and in Wetzlar is expekted a lot from him. On home court they are tough to beat, their position on the table will be decided on away matches. I expekt them safe in the middle of the table.

Transfers in:

• Damian Wleklak (HC Hard, PM ***)
• Rene Bach Madsen (Torrevieja, LB/PM ***)
• Nikolaos Katsigiannis (HSG Nordhorn, GK ***)
• Evars Klensiks (Tusem Essen, RB ***)

Transfers out:

• Michael Haaß (FA Göppingen, PM ***)
• Michael Hegemann (HSG Düsseldorf, LB/PM ***)
• Jan-Fiete Buschmann (Hannover-Burgdorf, RB ***)
• Andreas Simon (ASV Hamm, LW **)
• Malik Besirevic (Portland San Antonio, GK ***)

 Analyse: Minden changed team a lot before this season. Five important players left, but they got solid replacements. Minden will probably need some time to compose their new players into the team, since I believe Wleklak and Klesniks will play a lot, probably also Madsen. Katsigiannis is good catch and he can bring a lot to the team.

I expekted more from Minden last season, but their quality was for 13th place and they achieve it. This season they will probably be at around the same position, their biggest power is home court and fighting spirit. Probably they can`t make any serious problems to any top team, but they should easily beat bottom table teams.

Transfers in:

• Nikola Marinovic (A1 Bregenz, GK ***)
• Sandro Catak (HR Ortenau, PM **)
• Vladimir Temelkov (HR Ortenau, RW **)
• Mare Hojc (A1 Bregenz, PM **/***)
• Milos Slaby (retired, GK ***)

Transfers out:

• Gerrie Eijlers (SC Magdeburg, GK **/***)
• Spyros Balomenos (Dormagen, LB **)
• Christian Ramota (Retired, GK *)
• Daniel Brack (Hannover-Burgdorf, PM ***)
• Alexander Trost (Neuhausen, RW *)
• Chi-Hyo Cho (unknown, RB **/***)
• Robert Weber (SC Magdeburg, RW **/***)

Analyse: Balingen lost some quality before this season. Eijlers, Balomenos, Brack, Slaby and Weber were all important for them. Also Cho was important for them, especially because of all experience and quality. Replacements Marinovic, Hojc and Temelkow looks good replacements, but all in all they are weaker.

Balingen will probably stick with their agressive 3-2-1 defence, which is very solid, but they might have some problems in attack. They lost best three scorers, so some player will get new roles. They should stay in the league, but they will have to work a lot for peaceful season.

Transfers in:

• Jens Vortmann (Füchse Berlin, GK **)
• Kristian Nippes (Bergischer HC, RB **)
• Bobby Schagen (HV KRAS Volendam, RW **)
• Spyros Balomenos (HBW Balingen. LB/RB ***)

 Transfers out:

• Tim Henkel (Bergischer HC, RW *)
• Denis Zakharov (unknown, RB *)
• Szabolcs Laurencz (TSG Groß-Bieberau, RB ***)
• Matthias Reckzeh (unknown, GK *)
• Ingo Meckes (TSB Horkheim, LP *)
• Peter Sieberger (Retired, LP *)
• Joey Duin (Bergischer HC, LB *)
• Máté Józsa (Csurgói KK, LP *)
• Joachim Kurth (Retired, GK **/***)

 Analyse: Dormagen is the team that is really tough to understand. Last season they played some crazy deep defence and they were making many problems to big teams (got point in Kiel, beat HSV and so on), but they mostly lose with higher difference with equal teams. Vortmann and Balomenos arrival seems good for the team. They traded a lot of players, but only real loss is Laurencz.

I don`t have any idea about Dormagen. Since big teams will fight for every single point, I don`t expekt something similar like last season and some stealings of Dormagen. They should be around the same strenght like last season and with experiences from last season they might stay in the league. They must have some more scorers, because last season too much depended on Lochtenbergh, Schindler and Wisotzki, who were mostly only scorers.

Transfers in:

• Nikola Kedzo (SD Teurco, RB **)
• Max Weiß (1. SV Concordia Delitzsch, LP **)
• Michael Hegemann (GWD Minden, LB/PM ***)
• Ivan Zoubkoff (Bergischer HC, GK **)

 Transfers out:

• Robert Heinrichs (TuS Niederwermeslskirchen, LP **)
• Philipp Pöter (Tusem Essen, PM */**)

Analyse: Dusseldorf is coming back after few seasons. They got good player Kedzo, Hagemann and Zoubkoff. They didn`t lose anything. They have solid squad and I think they can compete with other teams in Bundesleague. Dusseldorf has solid chances to stay in the league. Many things will decide if they stay or not, so it is hard to say about their finishing position. Their big strenght is that team is more or less the same for few years now, they only add quality player that they needed.

 Transfers in:

• Daniel Brack (HBW Balingen, PM ***)
• Jendrik Meyer (SG Flensburg, GK **/***)
• Jan Fiete Buschmann (GWD Minden, RB **/***)
• Aives Jurdzs (ASK Riga, LB */**)
• Gustav Rydergard (Alingsas HK, LP **/***)
• Piotr Przybecki (HSG Nordhorn, LB **/***)

 Transfers out:

• Heidmar Felixson (TUS N-Lübbecke)
• Tomek Tluczynski (TUS N-Lübbecke)
• Daniel Deutsch (Spfr. Springe)
• Maciej Steczniewski (unknown)
• Ruwen Thoke (SC Magdeburg II)
• Cristopher Nordmeyer (Retired)
• Fabian Hinz (Spfr. Springe)
• Arne Leunig (SV Alfeld)
• Stefan Schmid (SG Hohnhorst/Haste)

Analyse: TSV has really good team. They were very active on the market. They lost many players (sorry, can`t judge them, since they are mostly unknown for me, so wouldn`t be fair to evaluate them), but they brought many good players. Brack, Buschmann and Przybecki are all very experienced players that can bring a lot to the team. Meyer is good GK who didn`t get many chance in Flensburg, but he will be really important for TSV.

Like every team who come from second league has tough season to play. TSV might have a bit easier job, because they have really experienced and quality team. Without injuries and with some luck, they are surely candidates to stay in the league.

 Transfers in:

• Arne Niemeyer (Hamburg, LB/PM ***)
• Heidmar Felixsson (Hannover Burgdorf, RB **)
• Tomek Tluzynski (Hannover Burgdorf, LW **/***)
• Henrik Hansen (Torrevieja, PM **/***)
• Milos Putera (Schwerin, GK **/***)
• Alexander Tesch (Vfl Gladbeck, LP **)

 Transfers out:

• Björn Buhrmester (unknown)
• Thomas Schibschid (unknown)
• Michele Skatar (unknown)
• Sergio Ruiz Casanova (unknown)
• Luka Dobelsek (TV Emsdetten)
• Christian Hildebrand (unknown)
• Branko Kokir (Retired)

Analyse: Another newcomer with experience in Bundesleague. Lübbecke has more or less the same team for few years, despite quite a lot of changes. They did solid transfers and they are surely better team than last season. The real question is if they can stay in the league with this team. They have enough experience from Bundesleague, so it is useless to talk about inexperience. They will have really tough job to stay in the league.

 Final analyse: Something is sure. This season will be one of the most interesting in history. There are three top teams that can won the title. Kiel, HSV and Rhen Neckar Löwen are only candidates for the title. All three teams are stronger than last season and every lost point against smaller teams can cost them a lot, they can even say good bye to the title. My opinion is that Kiel is still the best team, despite they lost best player at the moment Karabatic.

After these three there are defenitely TBV Lemgo and Flensburg. Bundesleague can decide on matches with these two teams. Who will win in Flensburg or in Lemgo is on a good way to the title.

Then we have Gummersbach, Berlin, Göppingen who can`t compete for the title, but their matches will be really important for the top 3. Berlin looks like to be in best position, but these teams are really close.

Just behind these three teams we have Magdeburg, Melsungen, Wetzlar and Grosswallstadt. Best finisher will be probably the team with fewer injuries and with some luck. I think that Wetzlar can make really good result this season with new coach Roth who has really good players. Melsungen can make miracles with their players, but on the other side they can lose against every team. We will see if new coach can bring some quality so they won`t lose important points and energy against poor teams. Grosswallstadt always make some upsets, same I expekt this season, especially on home court.

Balingen, Minden, Düsseldorf, Dormagen, Burgdorf and Lübbecke looks like they are in worst position. These teams will decide who will relegate. Minden has experience with fighting against relegation. Burgdorf has solid team. Balingen, Dormagen, Düsseldorf and Lübbecke are teams that are closest to relegation this season.

Author Rok