Nuremberg report card

There have been very few positives surrounding Der Club's 2013/14 Bundesliga season, and the manner of their last-day defeat to Schalke (4-1) highlighted all of the reasons that the club now face life in the second division.

They may have been unfortunate at times (they hit the woodwork more than 20 times this season) and have been unlucky with injuries (Daniel Ginczek's knee injury came at a particularly unfortunate time for both player and club), but regularly poor defensive showings and a lack of consistency have ultimately cost them.

Key player

Swiss striker Josip Drmic has been a revelation, scoring 16 goals and virtually single-handedly guiding the club through their good patch of form after the winter break. When injured, the lack of directness - and goals, of course - was noticeable. He looks likely to be jumping ship to Leverkusen this summer, after his trip to the World Cup in Brazil.

Surprise player

Perhaps absent too often, Mike Frantz's resurrection from "just another winger" to a competent holding midfielder deserves acknowledgment. During the club's rare spell of good form after Christmas, Frantz really started to show off his newly-acquired combative nature.

Coach

Nuremberg's two managerial shuffles certainly didn't help their cause, but it was the late dismissal of Gertjan Verbeek that seemed most bizarre. It might have taken them some time to get going under the Dutchman, but once they did, they looked much improved.

The return of their poor form was worrying, but to put Roger Prinzen in charge for the final three games was an error in judgement.

Defining moment:

By no means am I suggesting Nuremberg would have survived had Verbeek stayed, but I think his superior experience would have helped. The injuries to Ginczek and Timothy Chandler were also turning points, as were any number of shots onto the woodwork.

What's next?

Nuremberg's squad were not good enough for the top flight and they will need some new faces and ideas if they are to return straight away. They seem set to contest, but perhaps not to return immediately.

Grade: D

Their misfortune aside, the club were largely to blame for their own downfall. In any case, a season that ends in relegation can never be regarded as a positive one, especially not for a storied side like Nuremberg.