- I am a but surprised you mention Wolf for the RB position without mentioning Guerreiro as a LB. It makes sense of course to position the latter as an attacking option but unlike Wolf he was actually used in defense in this preseason by Favre.
- I am fairly sure Osterhage is not part of the first team squad, he is neither in the team picture nor listed as part of the squad on the website. He will be a member of the U23 team.
- Jacob Bruun-Larsen can play as a striker too and was mentioned as a possible back-up for Alcacer.
- I don't think Guerreiro will ever play a Wingback under Favre if not literally every defensive player in the squad is injured. He already has shown that last year using Diallo over Guerreiro. For once Guerreiro isn't strong enough defensively and we don't have the offensive power to make-up for it through attacking being the best defense. Secondly he isn't the kind of wingback Favre wants. Favre wants the Wingbacks to be line-players that create width more than anything. Even a Hazard (who already played a similar position in Belgiums 3-5-2) would be better suited for that than Guerreiro. If anything, Guerreiro is a lot more like Kimmich and Alaba instead of Piczcek or Schulz.
- So will Unbehaun and Raschl. They still train with the first team to get experience with them as far as I know. Admittedly I am not 100% sure about that one.
- Yes, he can. But I see Götze and Hazard before him in that regard so I left him out there.
I am not so sure Götze's contract will actually be extended. I don't think it is too unlikely for him to be leaving the club yet. I am a bit torn about him. On the one hand I like him as a player and secretely still wish he was the player he was in his youth again. But on the other hand I know that is not going to happen and see him for the player he is: a good offensive player that earns way too much money for his role in the squad. Let's see what happens but I see it far from certain that he will extend his contract, especially for less money.
- I would give it a 50:50. I said two posts ago that I don't particular care either way. It's ok if he stays and it's ok if he leaves. He is a good squad player for us. That's it. All of his potential positions there is at least 1 player better suited for it. Reus, Paco, Brandt, Hazard, Delaney, etc. He pretty much is the "neither fish nor meat"-kinda guy. Not fast and athletic enough for the attacking positions. Not good enough defensively for the double-6.
I am not convinced by Dahoud either and even worse, I don't see Gomez as a suitable replacement either. Favre seems to agree with me, Gomez was not used as a CM at all if I recall correctly, he is more of an OM. He certainly has the capabilites to play as a CM as well but I think he is too offensive/not defensively sound enough for Favre's liking. That's why I see very slim chances for Gomez to get playing time this season (OM being the most crowded position with Reus, Brandt, Götze and several others that can play there) and would like to see him loaned out in the Bundesliga.
That leaves the CM position as arguably our weakest at the peak (depthwise it would be RW with basically only Wolf as a backup for Sancho, Favre seems to be considering Hakimi there now as well). We either have Dahoud who is inconsistent at best or Witsel/Delaney, neither of whom are very dynamic. A Gündogan type player is very much needed but I don't expect anyone coming in here, at least not this summer.
I would assume Dahoud stays because a) we couldn't get a replacement for his player-style or b) the risk would've been too big to get said replacement early and eventually failing to thin out the squad. Also he does have the potential to also play the double-10 in a 4-1-4-1 which may happen a few times throughout the season.
Gomez obviously isn't good enough defensively to play a double-6 as of now. Which is why I said he isn't mature enough. But I don't see him getting any playtime on the 10, either so I expected him to be much rather a back-up for the double-6 as I see more chances for him to get playtime there as well as it suited his playstyle quite a bit. But I don't know about Favres plans with him. Either way, it doesn't seem like he is going to go out with a loan.
Edit: And then he gets loaned without any prior rumours. Quality timing by me.
And yes, Gündogan would've been the wet dream. Literally would give us an incredibly versatile double-6.
I hope that doesn't happen. Really not sure how the asking price for Schick can beas high as it is and I am personally quite happy with our attacking options. If Götze leaves we might yet buy one more player though.
I like Schick as a playertype as well as thinking he would suit Favres playstyle and gives an alternative playertype over Paco for certain opponents.
