FC Bayern Forum

nonstoprammstein wrote:In all fairness, the players haven't been together in a long time. The Paraguayans looked more cohesive in the first half so I assume they have been practicing more. The sheer athleticism of the Germans held them at bay in the second half. Therefore, I am not worried, just as Löwe said after the US beat them. Sometimes it is better to not show all your cards leading up to a big event like the World Cup. Just my thoughts, I am open to critique!

I just want to highlight that this is the most mediocre Paraguayan side in recent history sitting on the bottom of the CONMEBOL qualification with just 8 points from 11 matches (33 possible points) and most of the players called for this game are new additions to the NT looking at rebuilding for the next cycle (2018).

I wish I could be as optimistic as you are, Löwe has proven that he is not the man who will give Germany its 4th World Crown. It is not a secret for anyone that the Germans have right now the most talented, fun-to-watch and deep brand of Football in the world but they look shaky and vulnerable on the pitch with tactical approaches that remind us the Klinsmann's Bayern, that team that could win a game 6:0 and lose the next 0:6, add the poor player selection that Lowe is famous for and you can have the complete picture.

Germany had real chances gainst Spain in 2010 and Italy in 2012 and it was basically the coach who lost those games more than the players, specially versus Italy Germany had the player material to be 3 times better but looked flat, weak and unmotivated. As right now Lowe failed to deliver in big games and he will need to win 2 or 3 of those in Brazil which I do not see clearly based on how the team plays.

Borusse wrote:Best line-up for Germany is this one in my opinion:

Best lineup? Khedira for Gundogan?

FCBayernMunchen wrote:I didn't watch the game yesterday but Hummels not playing well is starting to become more and more common. I'm not saying he's bad, but since EURO 2012 he hasn't been at his best in my opinion. Even last season he was a bit inconsistent.

Hummels; I believe has like a NT phobia... Yest I was discussing football with a friend of mine who happens to be a BVB fan (Maltese) and he agreed with me. It is like he fails to live up to his standard. However I still have faith in him. Certainly not Mertesacker of course.
Low shall try out this. p.s Gundogan in my humble opinion can displace either one from Schweinsteiger or Khedira any day... he is a superb player whom I think will be replacing Xavi at Barca very soon (another matter discussed with my friend)


Schurrle ready to step in as on of those 4 up front. Kroos & Gundogan & Bendner the others that have to be ready to step in...

My preferred lineup:


I'd stick with Hummels, at least for now, but Howedes is waiting in the wings. Sven Bender and Basti seem like the perfect pair in CDM. Like Borusse said Bender, or Javi lite, protecting the back four and being a destroyer and Basti doing what he can do better than anybody would be ideal. And if Basti were to get injured, which is plausible, the drop-off would be microscopic with Gundogan. I like Goetze in the #10 cuz he can keep the ball well enough and isn't so reliant on one foot. Either Gomez or Klose at the #9 like them both and they are still effective if given good service which they'll get.

However, at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter because Low seems hell-bent on using Mertesacker, Khedeira, Podolski, and Ozil. I like Ozil and think he's a great player but don't think he necessarily fits in exactly to what this team needs. Perhaps he and Lars Bender could be the super subs. Khedeira is a good player but think he's better suited as a sub. The other two don't do much for me. Guess that's why they playing for Arsenal. Ohhh, a lot of work to be done before Brazil, at least there is time.

Hummels is a great defender but he does need a pacy partner & one who knows how to play an offside line.. Per is just too slow & rather terrible of a defender so he's the worst possible partner for Hummels. Hummels & boateng together could end up being as effective as Hummels-Subotic/Dante-Boateng because they do complement each other very well. Mertesacker is a broken toy, a great coach would never pick him for a NT when there's so many other great choices.

So I agree in that aspect with our buddy the BVB fan here but I gotta say that I disagree very much with having Khedira ahead of Sven beside Schweinsteiger and for me, As good as he may be, Özil is not the best match for the players on te field & I would much rather have Götze or Kroos up there. Basically for me, any players that play outside of the Bundesliga are just a detriment to the German NT since I think that other players could be a much better fit, chemistry & system wise. The big problem with Germany right now is the fact that there is just too many choices of players where there can only fit 11 & sadly right now, the one picking the 11 is a 12 year old arrogant kid that thinks that he can field whomever he wants and it'll work when it's more than obvious that it just doesn't work.

I honestly think that Germany would be better off right now with no coach whatsoever & letting the captain and co-captain coach themselves & the rest of the players, they'd probable make a much different choice of line up.

Borusse wrote:Ozil is better than him

LOL

Like how great Ozil played against Paraguay. IMO Gotze is much more of a dynamic player than Ozil. Ozil has a great vision and is great in passing but he is a very static player and isn't very involved in it whereas Gotze is much more involved in the game in the midfield and in the attack. You can find him everywhere in the midfield. So that's why Gotze is a better player in my opinion.

In the past I always wanted Khedira and Özil to play in the first XI, just because they were playing in Madrid. Now I'd want Kroos/Götze to replace Özil and Khedira -> Gündogan/Bender.

------------------------Neuer--------------------------
Lahm---------Boateng----Hummels------Schmelzer
------------Schweinsteiger---Khedira----------------


I think that should be the defensive part of the NT in the next few official games. Why Löw keeps playing MERTESACKER like against Paraguay or the USA is beyond me. Germany's defense always have this catastrophical performances when he is there

And the reason why I have Khedira instead Gündogan is basically because Sami is a great player with the NT while Gündogan lacks a little bit of physique in the final stages of the game and that's very important for a player in his position

-------------

And then we have 4 attacking places for a lot of players. My ideal choice at the moment would be

Müller-------------Özil--------------Götze
-------------------Reus--------------------