But generally, since his move in 2013, things haven't really panned out well for him at Bayern (as well as they should have), right?
5 positions and the realistic 5 players to fill them ?
- Thread starter davidmichael
- Start date
True. He hasn't lived up to the hype, but he's still decent enough, imo. Last season he had to play a lot of games out of position due to injuries, which didn't help him at all. In the months before his injury in October he did pretty well.
Götze might want to give Ancelotti a go first before he decides to leave. I'm also not really sure about his attitude, he seems to be one of those players who needs to get pampered a lot by his manager in order to play at his best and you can't always guarantee that you will have a manager that does that.
He could always give papa Klopp a call. They might have a room since their target moved to China.
Isnt his contract up next year? Id have thought both the club and player would want to know fairly soon whether he was in Ancelottis plans. Club doesnt want to lose the fee and play doesnt want to waste anymore of his career.
How does he compare to Mata? I dont see room for two of them in the squad.
Is Gundogan back to his best then after the long lay off?
I think Gotze excels in a more direct system (something which we don't really play under LvG), but maybe with a new manager next season, who knows?
5 postions: CB, CM, RW, No.10 and ST.
But realistically, I think the quality of the players will depend on finishing in the top 4 or not. However, if we don't have champions league football next season, we could still sign Stones, Renato Sanches, Mane and Mahrez.
But realistically, I think the quality of the players will depend on finishing in the top 4 or not. However, if we don't have champions league football next season, we could still sign Stones, Renato Sanches, Mane and Mahrez.
CB Laporte £35m
Cm Gundogan £30m
Am Grizmann £65m
RW Mahrez? £35m
ST ibrahimovic £0
£165m total.
------------------------De Gea--------------
Darmian----Smalling----Laporte-----Shaw
----------Schneiderlin------Gundogan------
Mahrez-----------Griezmann----------Martial
-----------------------Ibrahimovic----------------
Cm Gundogan £30m
Am Grizmann £65m
RW Mahrez? £35m
ST ibrahimovic £0
£165m total.
------------------------De Gea--------------
Darmian----Smalling----Laporte-----Shaw
----------Schneiderlin------Gundogan------
Mahrez-----------Griezmann----------Martial
-----------------------Ibrahimovic----------------
Really good team, I like it. However, I can't see Rooney being dropped to the bench. Who would you sell?
Sell Mata, Fellaini and I wouldn't cry to see Jones and Depay leave too. Last 2 probably won't be going though as the squad is thin
Ibrahimovic is 35 and Rooney takes 4 months to warm up so I was thinking that they both would rotate up front. If Rooney didn't like it then he can go too
Griezmann is not your traditional 10, and Ibra is as fast as molasses.
We don't need five players. We need two or three. We could probably fit five in if this was Football Manager.
Here is our full-fitness first-choice XI, approximately:
1. A quality, all-round CF to back-up and eventually replace Rooney. I can't think of a perfect fit, but there are options available. Let's say Kane, for argument. This is where you spend big.
2. A creative attacking player, preferably someone who scores goals and can play from the right or in the hole. Mahrez is the obvious template.
3. A physical, box-to-box, 'engine room' central midfielder so Fellaini can be sold. Radja Nainggolan springs to mind.
Then you get into positions that are good enough as it stands that we should be looking to promote from the youth teams, certainly if we have any ambition to continue to be a team that contains academy graduates. So:
4. Yes, you could look to buy a back-up full-back, but Darmian and Shaw are very strong first-choice players, and Varela and CBJ have both shone as back-ups, so why not allow them to continue to do so.
5. Yes, Schweinsteiger and Carrick haven't got many seasons left. But between them and Schneiderlin, we are surely secure enough in that position to look to bring a youngster through as a replacement. In Pearson, Goss and Fosu-Mensah we have a rich seam of talent with a variety of playing styles. There's really no excuse not to give at least one of them a go.
Make those additions and promotions and you leave yourself with an improved first XI and a second XI that is strong enough that a number of positions are debatable (Kane/Rooney, Carrick/Schweinsteiger, Nainggolan/Schneiderlin, Herrera/Mata). And on top of that you have a bench full of gifted youngsters pressing for a place.
Here is our full-fitness first-choice XI, approximately:
DDG
Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw
Carrick Schweinsteiger
Lingard Mata Martial
Rooney
Here are the back-ups, not accounting for the flexibility of players like Blind, Lingard, Herrera and Martial who can slot into a number of positions:Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw
Carrick Schweinsteiger
Lingard Mata Martial
Rooney
Romero/Johnstone
Varela Jones Rojo CBJ
Schneiderlin
Young Herrera Fellaini Depay
Keane
Looking at that, and in order of importance, we need:Varela Jones Rojo CBJ
Schneiderlin
Young Herrera Fellaini Depay
Keane
1. A quality, all-round CF to back-up and eventually replace Rooney. I can't think of a perfect fit, but there are options available. Let's say Kane, for argument. This is where you spend big.
2. A creative attacking player, preferably someone who scores goals and can play from the right or in the hole. Mahrez is the obvious template.
3. A physical, box-to-box, 'engine room' central midfielder so Fellaini can be sold. Radja Nainggolan springs to mind.
Then you get into positions that are good enough as it stands that we should be looking to promote from the youth teams, certainly if we have any ambition to continue to be a team that contains academy graduates. So:
4. Yes, you could look to buy a back-up full-back, but Darmian and Shaw are very strong first-choice players, and Varela and CBJ have both shone as back-ups, so why not allow them to continue to do so.
5. Yes, Schweinsteiger and Carrick haven't got many seasons left. But between them and Schneiderlin, we are surely secure enough in that position to look to bring a youngster through as a replacement. In Pearson, Goss and Fosu-Mensah we have a rich seam of talent with a variety of playing styles. There's really no excuse not to give at least one of them a go.
Make those additions and promotions and you leave yourself with an improved first XI and a second XI that is strong enough that a number of positions are debatable (Kane/Rooney, Carrick/Schweinsteiger, Nainggolan/Schneiderlin, Herrera/Mata). And on top of that you have a bench full of gifted youngsters pressing for a place.
DDG
Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw
Carrick Nainggolan
Mahrez Mata Martial
Rooney
Romero/Johnstone
Varela Jones Rojo CBJ
Schneiderlin Schweinsteiger
Lingard Herrera Depay
Kane
Bench: Januzaj, Pereira, Wilson, Keane, Goss/Pearson/TFM
Potential sales: Young, Valencia, Fellaini
Darmian Smalling Blind Shaw
Carrick Nainggolan
Mahrez Mata Martial
Rooney
Romero/Johnstone
Varela Jones Rojo CBJ
Schneiderlin Schweinsteiger
Lingard Herrera Depay
Kane
Bench: Januzaj, Pereira, Wilson, Keane, Goss/Pearson/TFM
Potential sales: Young, Valencia, Fellaini
Put Martial up top with Memphis on the left. Rooney or Mata at #10. Sign Griezmann for RWF. These lot can all play across the front four anyway so would be very fluid.
Sign Laporte for LCB.
Midfield is then the question, who can we get who will upgrade us? We need an all-rounder to play alongside Schneiderlin or Herrera.
Sign Laporte for LCB.
Midfield is then the question, who can we get who will upgrade us? We need an all-rounder to play alongside Schneiderlin or Herrera.
Didn't we sell Pearson?
I believe Gundogan is the man for the job.
We certainly did.
Hummels
Pogba (I feel dirty now)
Mane
Moura
Modric
Pogba (I feel dirty now)
Mane
Moura
Modric
We are covered at left back for feck sake! Shaw, CBJ, Blind, Darmain and Rojo!!
Really hope we can get Gündoğan, just hope Sahin hasn't given him too many bad words about the Prem but at least we have the captain of Germany to root for us. 
£30mish bid should do it.
£30mish bid should do it.
Carrick will be 35 and has been inured quite often over the last 2 seasons, the drop in our play without him is noticeable, so to me we need a deep lying playmaker nearly as much as we need a new forward. IF Jose Mourinho comes in as expected I can't see him keeping Blind as a CB, just too slow and weak for Mourinho's tastes, and while physically Jones is more his style his injury record would be to big a concern to go into the season with him as first choice.
My 5 players:
CB Laporte
CM Gundogan
CAM Griezmann
RW Mahrez
ST Ibrahimovic
CB Laporte
CM Gundogan
CAM Griezmann
RW Mahrez
ST Ibrahimovic
My team for next year
GK: DDG, Romero, random keeper
DR: Darmian, Valencia
DC: Laporte, Marquinhos, Smalling, Rojo
DL: Shaw, CBJ
DM: Schneiderlin, Blind
DPM: Bastian, Gundogan
AMC: Mata, Herrera
AML: Griezmann, Depay, Rashford
AMR: Mahrez, Januzaj, Young
STK: Rooney, Martial, Wilson
GK: DDG, Romero, random keeper
DR: Darmian, Valencia
DC: Laporte, Marquinhos, Smalling, Rojo
DL: Shaw, CBJ
DM: Schneiderlin, Blind
DPM: Bastian, Gundogan
AMC: Mata, Herrera
AML: Griezmann, Depay, Rashford
AMR: Mahrez, Januzaj, Young
STK: Rooney, Martial, Wilson
Is this ok?
CB - Stones & Tah
CM - Gundogan or Kryzowiak
AM - Griezmann
Striker - Auba & Ibra
CM - Gundogan or Kryzowiak
AM - Griezmann
Striker - Auba & Ibra
He's not my favourite player but Id still keep Valencia. First of all we'll probably get £4.50 for him and secondly he's quite decent as RB.
A CB - Schmalling needs a partner.
RB - Damian is good cover for the either side, but we need a top class RB who can add width.
CM - We are still dependent on Carrick, we need a replacement with his passing range, ideally who can defend as well if not 2 (especially if Fellaini and Mata leave)
RW - We do not have one. We are seriously missing someone who can play this position who has pace, and can score goals.
RB - Damian is good cover for the either side, but we need a top class RB who can add width.
CM - We are still dependent on Carrick, we need a replacement with his passing range, ideally who can defend as well if not 2 (especially if Fellaini and Mata leave)
RW - We do not have one. We are seriously missing someone who can play this position who has pace, and can score goals.
Yeh this for me
Edit:If we get these players I'm certain we will win the league
Keep the young theme running through the team and add laporte and leroy sane if we can.
in darmian smalling laporte jones rojo shaw cameron varela blind we should have enough defenders to ride out a season really.
Rotating up top with januzaj memphis martial sane wilson lingard and mata we should be okay. Always a pacey line up.
CM is a bit tougher b/c I think schwein and carrick can still offer something. But should consider moving rooney and felli on and trying to schneids and herrera a run at cm. Nobody seems to be coming through bar maybe fosu mensah who could play there. Still think it's a bit early to be looking at signing another top cm
in darmian smalling laporte jones rojo shaw cameron varela blind we should have enough defenders to ride out a season really.
Rotating up top with januzaj memphis martial sane wilson lingard and mata we should be okay. Always a pacey line up.
CM is a bit tougher b/c I think schwein and carrick can still offer something. But should consider moving rooney and felli on and trying to schneids and herrera a run at cm. Nobody seems to be coming through bar maybe fosu mensah who could play there. Still think it's a bit early to be looking at signing another top cm
sorry to distort your dreams..but i doubt ilkay will go to united.
it is just not his class.
he will go to the likes of barcelona, or stay.
it is just not his class.
he will go to the likes of barcelona, or stay.
Not every classy player can play for Barcelona.
He might find the rebuilding job at United exciting, and no doubt a nice salary package will make him at least consider moving from Dortmund.
------------De Gea
Darmian-Smalling--Blind/newCB-Shaw
------Herrera-Schneiderlin--------
Mahrez-----Januzaj-----Memphis
------------Martial
Darmian, Januzaj, Herrera, Schneiderlin, and Memphis would have to step up, but I think once this team matures it'd be amazing.
Darmian-Smalling--Blind/newCB-Shaw
------Herrera-Schneiderlin--------
Mahrez-----Januzaj-----Memphis
------------Martial
Darmian, Januzaj, Herrera, Schneiderlin, and Memphis would have to step up, but I think once this team matures it'd be amazing.
I'm not particularly bothered whether we go for him or another midfielder in the summer but the strong rumours from last summer would suggest interest from both sides. I think it's a distinct possibility.
ehm..ikay is worldclass. what let you think that he wants to play in an average team, which is weaker than his club he leaves?
a player of his class got better things to do than a rebuilding job at a club who doesnt know where its way is going? what is the playing-philosophy? who is (or will be) the coach? united is a big questionmark, which only can offer money.
the same things i wrote the times when everyone in here said: "of course we get reus, we are united, he will love to play at us, and we offer a lot of money"
btw: you can switch "reus" with "klopp", "hummels" ..the end of all this "stories" is well known. ;-)
Verrati would be amazing. But unrealistic unfortunately.
RB- Aurier = training with the reserves after ill advised comments/psg would replace a right back with the right offer due to undermining the squad/manager.
CB- Stones/marquinhos = Everton with 35/40m extra to spend are better than everton with john stones, thats just a fact based on everything weve seen this year. Lukaku is the one they will miss.
Marquinhos= Playing time has been a worry for him, Silva and Luiz hold those cb spots. Would be a difficult transfer but we were interested in the past.
CM- Gundogan = last year of contract/fans think he will go/other top clubs are stacked in midfield
RW- Mahrez = huge Step up from Leicester in terms of club stature, would likely double his wages, i dont think Leicester will hold onto all of their key assets this year
ST- Greizman = Release clause around 40m, Atletico obviously wouldnt like it, but the attraction of an extra 100k a week is enough for most footballers to take notice, also manchester united blah blah.
Looking at 150m + minimum spent there.
CB- Stones/marquinhos = Everton with 35/40m extra to spend are better than everton with john stones, thats just a fact based on everything weve seen this year. Lukaku is the one they will miss.
Marquinhos= Playing time has been a worry for him, Silva and Luiz hold those cb spots. Would be a difficult transfer but we were interested in the past.
CM- Gundogan = last year of contract/fans think he will go/other top clubs are stacked in midfield
RW- Mahrez = huge Step up from Leicester in terms of club stature, would likely double his wages, i dont think Leicester will hold onto all of their key assets this year
ST- Greizman = Release clause around 40m, Atletico obviously wouldnt like it, but the attraction of an extra 100k a week is enough for most footballers to take notice, also manchester united blah blah.
Looking at 150m + minimum spent there.
If he thought so highly of Dortmund, why did he only sign a one year extension to his contract? It seems to me as though he's considering his options.
Whilst Dortmund are a good team, they play second fiddle to Bayern so he might want to play in a more competitive league. Money isn't the only factor at play and much stranger things have happened.
He might find joining United very exciting if we manage to sign one or two world class players this summer.