HarryfromBath assesses the mood in the opposition camp and looks at the background and recent history of our German sister club by delving into their forums.

“Finally, a great game which we can all look forward to as a season opener”, “We can call it ‘The Hildener Challenge Cup’”, “Fantastic. It is things like this that make me think now and then that we are still the slightly different football club”, “It’s a game I am really looking forward to.”

“Welcome to the Capricious Diva living on the Rhine!” News that Town will be kicking off Fortuna’s new season has been enthusiastically received. “This is top news. I’m looking forward now more than ever to the new season”, “Best wishes to all fans — a really great friendly match.”

“The game against Ipswich will top everything that happened last season.” News of this pre-season friendly has been a hugely welcomed bright light after what has been a difficult second season for F95 in the German second division after their relegation in 2013.

A Season To Forget

“Amen — this scary season has finally come to an end”, “The season’s ending is a blessing”, “This season has sat like a stone in the stomach and has to be digested before we can move on”, “Everybody in the club must stand together again. This is what has characterised us for years.”

A cursory glance at the final German second division table for the season shows Fortuna finishing in a solidly mid-table 10th position, but this conceals the story of F95’s dramatic collapse in the second half of the season, having been in the automatic promotion places in November.

Three wins in the last 15 games and one in the last eight saw F95 bottom of the return fixtures table for the second half of the season. Notable low points were a 0-2 defeat to relegated vfr Aalen in their penultimate home game and a 0-4 loss in April at FC St Pauli which sparked protests from fans.

This run has led to the recent departure of sporting director Helmut Schulte with coach Oliver Reck having already left the club in February. As CEO Dirk Kall recently put it, “We have to regain trust. Our overall mood has to improve, but that will mostly stem from playing successful football.”

So Much China Broken On and Off the Field

“The main point of criticism is the lack of transfer action during the winter break, as Helmut Schulte saw that it was not necessary to bolster the defence”, “He is accused of a lack of vigilance and it was not good that he was on holiday when the crisis escalated in the 4-0 defeat at St Pauli.”

Despite being the third highest scorers in the division over the campaign, F95 also conceded the third highest number of goals. This poor defending set alarm bells ringing amongst their faithful. “What is happening at Fortuna fatally recalls our total crash in the Nineties.”

Fortuna endured a drop to the fourth tier in the late Nineties and supporters still bear the scars of this experience. “One can only hope we are spared a similar decline to 20 years ago”, “A false start to the new season could see our patchwork team fall apart and it will be ‘Hello league three’.”

Helmut Schulte

“Fortuna should have listened to the fans of Rapid Vienna who were glad that Schulte was going”, “He never successfully ‘arrived’ at Fortuna”, “Letting centre-backs go and not replacing them in winter when money was available. Everyone could see we had defensive problems.”

Although a minority of F95 fans supported Schulte, some of the criticism of the 57-year-old stemmed from his perceived lack of understanding of the club’s culture. “For followers of this special and sometimes crazy team two things are important — to be genuine and to be special.”

“Fortuna — that means tradition, emotion, populism, charm, sometimes irrationality and topped off with a dash of Rhenish exuberance. This defines the character of the club and Schulte’s attempt to change this character has failed”, “This is the end of a misunderstanding.”

All Change

“We are facing a landmark season. We need a team that pushes itself to its limits. Signals must come from the club, for example, that mistakes have been made. We have recognised and are correcting this”, “We need the fans more than ever.”

Chairman Marcel Kronenberg’s recent comments [above] have heralded a change in direction and a wholesale rebuilding of the team with nine arrivals in the first-team squad. F95 fans have been encouraged by this recognition. “We need fresh blood urgently in all areas after a horror season.”

“There is hope. Everyone has grasped the need to change so the next squad will be more emotional, resistant, recognisable, stronger and maybe even better. The wisdom of the Nineties states that you have to pay for a lovely Fortuna experience with two bad ones.”

“If this rule applies, it is time for a great 2015/16 season.” The arrival of new coach Frank Kramer, a “workaholic” and “football nerd” has further bolstered confidence for the new season. “Welcome to our land of sarcasm and dark beer, strong mood-swings but also eternal loyalty to our club.”

“The new coaching team of Frank Kramer and Peter Hermann is a strip of light on the horizon, even if it is the only one”, “Fortuna needs leadership that pulls together and desperately needs positive messages from top people to improve the heated atmosphere over the summer break.”

Modest Expectations for 2015/16

“One can safely assume that Fortuna Dusseldorf will not rise in 2016, especially given the prominent teams relegated from the first division, but we can be happy if we can see the team some days going to work with diligence, passion and a fighting spirit.”

Expectations of a return to the top flight in their third season in the second division since being relegated are not high despite the major squad overhaul. A longer-term project is under way. “The only certainty from last season was that the team was effectively disbanded during the winter.”

“Our baseless performances were impertinent. We became a total joke, but it seemed no-one wanted to laugh”, “No guts, no art, no stamina, no nothing — everything is fit for the rubbish bin”, “It’s a real shame for a team that has babbled on so much about ambition.”

A lack of leadership on the pitch was a fundamental problem. “There have been insufficient leaders to turn around a rudderless team in the mist”, “This team lacked players to rouse the rest and take responsibility at critical moments. Once something went wrong, we were resigned to our fate.”

“Give the new team a chance. Let them rebuild and don’t grumble when the runs and passes aren’t perfect in the early games. We can only go up again if the fans stand together and get behind the team. I want us to be proud of my club, my manager and my fellow supporters again.”

Formation

Fortuna used a back four and two holding midfielders through the second half of last season. They alternated between playing one and two up front trying to find the correct balance in the team. Five of the starting XI [marked *] from their final game [below] against FSV Frankfurt have since left.

New coach Frank Kramer has played a similar formation at previous clubs, with four at the back and two holding midfielders. The rebuilt side [below] will have at least five new arrivals [marked*] with a completely new central defence and greater protection in front of the centre-backs.

While the central defence has been crying out for an overhaul, the departures of Charlison Benschop [to Hannover 96] and Erwin Hoffer [to Karlsruher SC] this summer have simultaneously heralded a complete rebuild of F95’s strike force.

While 25-year-old top scorer Benschop has been the most notable player to leave, the departure of club stalwart and holding midfielder Andreas ‘Lumpi’ Lambertz to Dynamo Dresden has marked the end of an era for many F95 supporters.

‘Lumpi’

“A legend goes”, “Fortuna have advertised for years with the slogan ‘Our home, Our love’ in the red and white sleeves and Lumpi gave everything”, “Lumpi is already one of the Fortuna legends and I hope that the club will be an option for him as a youth trainer after his playing career.”

“He was not the best technician, but he had a true heart and is effective in battle. Thank you for getting us into the Bundesliga”, “He was an absolute fighter for the team”, “I would rather see players like Lumpi, Fink and Weber on the pitch than some of our recent mercenaries.”

“Take care Lumpi, you legend”, “I wish nothing but the best for Lumpi and hopefully more fun with his new club”, “I cannot really imagine Fortuna without him. I had to wipe away a few tears. The idea of seeing Lumpi in our stadium in another shirt soon is creepy.”

Defence

“That defence has been simply embarrassing. Thank goodness they will completely go and do some damage somewhere else”, “It is a first rate disaster, with so many incredible examples of misplaced passes to the midfield which no professional team should make”, “Crass errors cost us goals.”

“My only consolation is that this defence will be history in the coming season”, “The performance in our last Frankfurt game was not bad overall. We combined well, had a number of chances and had the game under control, but then came the catastrophic mistakes again and everything was gone.”

Michael Rensing

“Rensing? I’m so glad we have him”, “He has consistently shown his class and shown his team-mates how much they can rely on him”, “At least there is one player who is working in defence”, “He is an all-round good goalkeeper and I could see him in the Bundesliga.”

Some fans have reservations about the 31-year-old ex-Bayern keeper’s stature, but he is very highly regarded. “I would like Rensing to practice high balls and take more control of his area”, “To be able to pinch the ball in the air you need a few more centimetres, but he plays like an extra sweeper.”

“The goalkeeping is our least concern.” Former Schalke keeper Lars Unnerstall is seen as a more than useful understudy to Rensing. “I wish we had comparable strength in other positions.” The 24-year-old “pushes Rensing to perform consistently as he is constantly in danger of being dropped.”

“The problem with Julian Schauerte has been the lack of an alternative”, “His confidence is low and he struggles with his nerves.” The 27-year-old ex-Sandhausen right-back “is a lightweight who has consistently blundered this season. His play is not forward looking and somehow slow and timid.”

Schauerte’s decline in form mirrored that of the team’s. “He defensively wasn’t perfect in the first half of the season but he wasn’t the risk factor he currently is”, “To let the possible back-ups go was an unbelievable faux pas”, “If he is in front of the ball he will struggle when a counter-attack begins.”

“Kevin Akpoguma is a good all-round defender, a centre-back who can play as a right-back. He will give Schauerte competition and put him under pressure” “A tall, elegant, athletic footballer”, the 20-year-old captain of the national U20 side has arrived a two-year loan deal from Hoffenheim.

“Akpoguma is a dynamic player with the ball at his feet and he tries to play out from the back. His speed set him apart from other defenders”, “He can become the first cornerstone of a stable defence”, “Alert to attacks, he looks to close gaps and is not afraid to complain to his team-mates.”

“Whenever we win the ball in midfield, it ends up with Lukas Schmitz and he slams it completely haphazardly forward. Is he afraid he will be hurt by an opponent or is there another reason for his hasty play? He is a good full-back but it hurts me to see him play like that.”

The 26-year-old former Schalke and Werder Bremen left-back covered in the holding midfield role. “A good back-up but not up to standard”, “Schmitz is the best example of how Fortuna managed to make a player with Champions League experience into a desolate second division footballer.”

“Fabian Holthaus is a class transfer — a 20-year-old left-back and a three-year contract sounds like music to my ears”, “Realistically he will be behind Schmitz in the pecking order but he is a good transfer”, “Welcome to the world’s longest bar — give everything for Fortuna!”

F95 fans warmed to the new arrival from Bochum after his initial interview: “No ‘beautiful city, great fans and stadium’ nonsense. He said, ‘Fortuna is a warm club where you can get very far with simple and honest work’”, “A player who will probably help us immediately but will need time to settle.”

Karim Haggui

“An experienced solution that could work”, the recent arrival of the 31-year-old Tunisia international from VfB Stuttgart has been welcomed. “He’s a strong man and a good header who scores an above average number of goals for a centre-half and can help us with our weaknesses at set-pieces.”

“Haggui’s experience is good and he has come with no fee but I remember him as being a bit slow and stiff. He is down-to-earth and was very professional as a reserve at Stuttgart. He recently said that the club is more important and 172 Bundesliga games are hardly the worst recommendation.”

Christian Strohdiek

“Finally, a signing that fits like an Arsch on a bucket”, “He will finally give our central defence back its stability”, “Compared to our recent defenders, he is a reinforcement with security”, “An experienced defender who knows the league but who is also far from reaching the autumn of his career.”

“Fifteen years at Paderborn speak for themselves.” The 27-year-old’s arrival this summer has been hugely welcomed. “The best thing you can say about a centre-back is that he is not noticed for the whole game and he is exactly what we need”, “Welcome to the city of madness.”

Central Midfield

“We must recruit in midfield going into next season otherwise we will be staffed with a cane. Fortuna and its hospital — this is no longer bearable.” Fortuna’s loss of form coincided with the loss through injury of two of their strongest holding midfielders in Christopher Avevor and Sergio Pinto.

“If Avevor and Pinto are still injured we will start next season with the same weak midfield as in the later stages of last season.” Avevor is still suffering the effects of a knee injury while 35-year-old Pinto’s career may be under threat after he has failed to fully recover from a fractured jaw.

“I am not a big fan of Oliver Fink. He hides too often and doesn’t lead his players.” The 32-year-old holding player has been with F95 since 2009. Many fans now see him as the player who identifies most with the club’s values. “He’s an important role model to keep in the expected squad upheaval.”

“Fink is a good man to have with his determination to fight for every inch of ground, his running strength and destructive power”, “Not a leader, but an honest down-to-earth person, definitely a solid team player suitable for the second division”. “Forward Finki — good luck in your seventh year.”

“Kaan Akca has a lot to learn but you can see that he has good technique and is comfortable on the ball. He can recognise situations quickly and can read the game” The 21-year-old “won’t break up play but is technically good”, “He will come good when he gains experience and matures physically.”

“Michael Liendl is being driven through the village on the next sow”, “He hasn’t convinced me at all as a Number 10.” The 29-year-old Austrian playmaker “is not bad, but is not the Alpine Maradona no matter who you put him beside. He’s an above-average but over-estimated second division player.”

“In all my 52 years with F95 I have never experienced such a loud mouth with such frequent inane talk”, “If Liendl offers half the performances on the pitch as he chatters he could be quite useful”, “He is too often submerged and has rarely left his mark”, “Not the fastest but he can play football.”

Julian Koch

“Koch is an absolutely class reinforcement who can deal with the ball and play good passes, unlike our current defensive midfielders”, “He did not get regular match practice in Mainz which he will here. He should be really good with us”, “He certainly has the athleticism needed for this level.”

The 24-year-old former Borussia Dortmund man has just arrived from Mainz and has been greatly welcomed. “Without his [career-threatening] knee injury he would certainly play internationally with Dortmund”, “I would not say he is not injury-prone but he has had just the one serious injury.”

F95 fans are looking to Koch to provide some badly needed leadership. “A player with the mindset to manage frustrations and be motivated and willing to fight”, “Hopefully we will have a leader who will push the team when things are against us and bring us to the division here we belong.”

Wide Midfield

“Lumpi goes, but Axel Bellinghausen remains. Cold comfort”, “Sometimes his head is already two steps ahead of his legs”, “His running around has little to do with football.” Critics of the left-sided 32-year-old ex-Augsburg “discontinued model” feel he is too old but others think he is indispensable.

“Oh, if only everyone had his character”, “The boy lives week after week for this club. He is one of the few reasons we all watch the team”, “Axel has carried the whole team at times with his will and character”, “Axel — stay as you are and do not bend - always a role model on and off the pitch.”

“Tugrul Erat is agile and confident on the ball. He runs like a train to the platform”, “Large lanky players like him look awkward.” The 22-year-old right-sided youth product “is on the edge of the squad”, “His approach play was good some time ago but his form dived. He lacks consistency.”

New signing Sercan Sararer divides opinion. The 25-year-old Turkey international has arrived after struggling at Stuttgart, but is reunited with Frank Kramer who managed him at Greuther Furth. “He went from Furth to Stuttgart and thought he arrived in Olympus. The young boy lost his way.”

“Sararer is certainly a problem child. If Kramer gets him under control, he will be a huge gain for F95”, “We had problems with discipline and training diligence and Sararer is an undisciplined lazy trainer”, “Let’s wait and judge. No-one was at Stuttgart and knows exactly what went on there.”

Strikers

“When we get forward there are at most two or three players. When we counter-attack there is no swarming and no pressing taking place.” Goalscoring was not a problem for F95, but the departures of Erwin Hoffer to Karlsruhe and Charlison Benschop to Hannover have left a major attacking void.

“Mike Van Duinen is exactly the kind of striker we need, a young player who can progress next year while helping us with it.” The 23-year-old Dutchman is F95’s most recent signing, arriving from ADO Den Haag. “Fast and assertive, he likes to break quickly from deep to link up with attacking moves.”

“Van Duinen is a powerful player and an intelligent striker”, “I don’t see him exploding into the division but being coached and developed slowly as he adapts to the second division”, “Thrives on quick play after regaining possession. This quick shift must be our new established playing style.”

“Ihlas Bebou’s fluctuating performances are perfectly normal for a young player - he needs playing time.” The 21-year-old Togolese youth product “is a bright spot in a poor season”, “He can be imprecise and can struggle to impose himself on opponents”, “Only patience is needed with him.”

Joel Pohjanpalo

“Joel would struggle should he immediately go into a Bundesliga team.” The 20-year-old Finland international “brings his power onto the pitch. Eleven goals this season has been great even though he must be more consistent. He is one of the few in the team who can be called a winner.”

The Bayer Leverkusen loan player “does everything quite well close to goal with his fighting spirit and heading ability. He would benefit from a mobile striker to get around and play off him”, “He has good ideas and is very young. Another year in the second division would not be to his detriment.”

Didier Ya Konan

“A good transfer, at least on paper, but we will have to see how well he does.” The 31-year-old Ivorian striker has just arrived from Hannover 96. “We don’t need a stellar transfer at the moment, but we do need a balanced team at this level”, “If he scores 15 to 20 he will be a success.”

“Ya Konan is technically sure and experienced, but I wonder if his tempo is still at second division level”, “Losing five to 10kg will greatly improve his speed”, “He’s fast, tricky and has good shooting technique. He thrives on quick counter play and we hardly took advantage of that last year.”

Fortuna Fans’ Thoughts on ITFC and the Game

“I could imaging the Reds against the Blues as a season opener each year, a warm-up match with a feel-good character which takes place between friends”, “It’s just great”, “It’s a great idea, especially as there will be no tension”, “Super — a football festival with guaranteed goose-bumps.”

“Both teams had a successful period in the late seventies and early eighties. The path of the two traditional clubs almost crossed in the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1978/79. While Ipswich lost to Barcelona in the quarter-final, the Red and Whites were beaten by them in the final.”

“The cool thing is that they are excited on the Ipswich forum”, “The English reports are downright euphoric. My respect for the dedication which has underpinned the taking on of this extraordinary friendship”, “It is absolutely great.”

“The one thing I am looking forward to next season is this game”, “Hats off to the fact that this long-awaited match is finally taking place. Next year we will hopefully play a return leg on the Island.”

Websites

The busiest Fortuna Dusseldorf website is the friendly and well-informed 95er - Forum. Registration is required to read some sections. Their debates and discussions have a reassuring similarity to ours.

DerHildiner.com is the friendly and helpful website of the Fortuna Blues, and gives the background to the extraordinary friendship between our two clubs.

On final note is my huge gratitude to club historian Friedie Schacht for his help in supplying pictures for this preview.

Photo: Action Images

ITFC1983 added 10:04 - Jul 15 HARRY! Good to have you back! So excited about the season ahead and great to hear the mutual 'love-in' between us and Fortuna. Maybe next season they will come to us for the pre-season friendly?
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Smithy added 10:07 - Jul 15 Forget all the money, FIFA and greed, this is what football should be all about!
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carsey added 10:17 - Jul 15 My only regret is that I can't go across to Dusseldorf. Hopefully a return match at Portman Road next season.
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gazzmac4 added 10:26 - Jul 15 This is an absolute gem of a fixture in preseason and I am gutted I cannot make it! If the clubs have good sense it should become a regular fixture! As Smithy says; forget everything else about the football world on Friday. This is precisely what it is all about!
4

Friedie added 10:49 - Jul 15 Superb article, Harry! Of cause, I'm not our clubs historian, but it was my pleasure providing the pics. Cheers! Friedie
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HarryfromBath added 11:04 - Jul 15 Friedie - Thank you for your kind words and many thanks again for providing such a selection of great images. The club historian title came from Ulli in an e-mail, but he may have been referring to the Fortuna Blues!!! Researching the article was a labour of love. Fortuna fans inhabit the same emotional world of ups and downs as Ipswich fans in so many ways. It is so good and so fitting that the two clubs have formed this bond of friendship.

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hoppy added 11:23 - Jul 15 Cheers for that as usual Harry. Sie beschäftigt Fotze
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hoppy added 11:30 - Jul 15 (slightly let down by Google translate, but I'm sure you know what it meant!)
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Official_ITSC added 12:17 - Jul 15 um, what did you mean to say, hoppy? That's not a word you could use on here in English???!!!
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yorksblue added 12:31 - Jul 15 Shame we didn't have these games in Germany when I was stationed in Kaiserslautern. I remember the good Bundersliga matches in Dusseldorf, and certainly remember the name, Oliver Reck, being the GK for Werder Bremen, when they were good.
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carsey added 12:31 - Jul 15 hoppy - not sure what you meant to say but according to Google it makes no sense at all. Did make me laugh though :)
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Strikes added 12:39 - Jul 15 Language Hoppy! I think your Google translate needs to wash its mouth out. Unless you were genuinely trying to find work for your cat... :-) Gutted I can't go, hope this becomes a regular fixture and I can plan for two years time. Ich besonders gern Fussball.
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itfcserbia added 13:57 - Jul 15 Pride - Passion - Tradition Love it!
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hoppy added 15:08 - Jul 15 I got the original from Millwall Translate... It was something about being a busy something or other...
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BlueandTruesince82 added 15:32 - Jul 15 Cant wait for this, as above a friendly face to football. I have always admired Everton and Liverpool fans for their ability to stand side by side without malice towards each other even in the most heated of derby games (Yes I know it makes me a hypocrite RE; SCUM), football is supposed to be the peoples sport and we should all revel in its brilliance together, this sort of hands across the globe kind of vibe fills me with cheer.

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tractorgrl added 15:50 - Jul 15 Back in the saddle Harry! Very interesting to read and love the pictures. I would like to see our youngsters play theirs in friendlies perhaps in -season to give them a taste of 'european football' how many u21 players would relish that?
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horsehollerer added 17:10 - Jul 15 Harry, thank heavens you're back! Brilliant stuff. I had to look up "Arsch". Wish I could be there on Friday. There's suddenly such a feelgood factor to this preseason. The Murph contract, the signings so far, the promise of Henshall, this Fortuna game... like many on here I'm sure, I'm loving having our club back and I can't wait for the season to start. COYB!!!!

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ArnieM added 17:45 - Jul 15 How many Town fans are going now?
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blueblood_soldier added 18:41 - Jul 15 ArnieM, I believe we are taking 600, however I know of a few serving over here that they are getting tickets on the gate. I know of 8 just from my small camp! Can't wait! COYB'S
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Sporall added 19:47 - Jul 15 Top work Harry. Love this relationship with F95.
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Safetyfirstmrwarke added 00:13 - Jul 16 Excellent. The horrible if brief football-less part of the Summer is nearly over. Thank you Harry. And if you translated all that from the German, more respect to you.
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