Official German NT Thread aka Sauerkraut Thread

[ShiftyPowers]

I get murdered on other forums for saying it.

 

[Mandieta6]

My friends always laugh whenever I talk about football because I says tuff like that. But the other day I realised that they don't really know anything. Anyway, right now I'm spending every friday checking which Prem and Bundesliga matches are on to watch, and there's generally at least 2-3 good ones. I personally rate the Bundesliga as the 2nd best league, and I think that if they can get more money from TV rights and the likes they could easily become the No. 1 force.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Germany just did get a boost in the TV money, but it's still no where even close to the other leagues. I think they're maybe on par with Italy, but trailing Spain and England by a huge amount.

 

[Mandieta6]

But Spain are misusing the money and 18/20 clubs are in debt. The Bundesliga is growing well as a unit. I wouldn't be surprised to see at least 2 German semifinalists this year. I can't see Spain producing a 3rd and the top English teams are currently in decline. Italy sucks. If this trend continues, I can see Germany becoming the top dog. I mean, there will always be the Spanish and English and even Italian giants, but the league as whole won't compete. Although the England midtable scene is getting pretty good.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Yes, but it's not sustainable without the money. They're in a good position because they are a football crazy nation with great youth scouting/coaching and a good economy (meaning possible footballing greats are malnourished). But the league money is the most important because while I think you can develop good pros, there are only a handful of players blessed with the ability to be stars, and the richer leagues will start poaching them. If you can't hold off Bayern for you best players, you sure as hell can't hold off Manchester City.

 

[Ylem]

Gündogan and Khedira are very different players, Khedira is one of best if not the best in his role.

WHICH role? The role he plays in Madrid or the role he plays in the german national team? In 2010 and 2011 it had been the same, but in 2012 Khedira plays way to offensive in german national team. As I said before, he dances somwehere in front leaving Schweinsteiger the only nr.6 to defend counter attacks. In addition to this, the defensive stands much to high, so we mostly get 1on1 situation which you often lose just because Löw wants to play nice offensive play. We don't have any balance in the team any more. That's why we got a 4:4 against Sweden. Löw can analyze a Team (Italy) and he and Flick can create a tactic for it. But as soon as the team does not play like they thought, Löw has absolutely no clue what to do. He cannot react. If we get in this situation, we could go home.

Of course, the time schedule for Bundesliga is great!^^ What could be better, to watch the friday evening game and go to a party after it? To watch a nice game in the afternoon? I am glad, the DFL does not set the schedule for countries like CHina, Japan or the USA.
But I am sure, in 10 years, Bundesliga will rule Europe.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

But I'm in the USA

You're right about Khedira with the National Team and Low though.

 

[Mus]

Nah, Khedira is a great player. He was incomplete when he joined Madrid, but Jose has turned him into a really top player. Gundogan has great potential, but he's not there yet. He probably needs a move like Khedira to fully realize his potential.

Which is funny becasue Jose ******* hated Khedira when he was first there

 

[Arnau]

Löw is a lie, with another coach Germany could have beaten Spain in 2008 and 2010. Discuss.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Well I don't know if they would have beaten Spain, but he has made some very critical mistakes and doesn't seem to learn anything from the past. He was the right guy for 2008 and 2010, but I think you have a much harder case for saying he's the right guy for 2014.

As far as I'm concerned, Badstuber should be on the bench for Hummels-Howedes. It seems obvious to me. It took him forever to bench Podolski when he was never convincing as a left wing. He's done some good though, he brought up a lot of great players before they were stars.

 

[kp41]

Low was good in letting young players into the first team and make a good generation.

That being said, I didn't see any improvement after world cup, and as Shifty*i pointed he made some crucial mistakes. I don't think he can guide German NT to glory in 2014.

 

[Mandieta6]

Goalkeepers: René Adler (Hamburger SV), Manuel Neuer (Bayern München), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hannover 96)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern München), Benedikt Höwedes (Schalke 04), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Philipp Lahm (Bayern München), Per Mertesacker (FC Arsenal), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund)

Midfielders: Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen), Sven Bender (Borussia Dortmund), Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Mario Götze (Bayern München), Sami Khedira (Real Madrid), Toni Kroos (Bayern München), Thomas Müller (Bayern München), Mesut Özil (Real Madrid), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Sidney Sam (Bayer Leverkusen), André Schürrle (FC Chelsea), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern München)

Strikers: Mario Gomez (AC Fiorentina), Miroslav Klose (Lazio Roma), Max Kruse (Borussia Mönchengladbach)

Kruse . Kiessling still doesn't get in the squad over Klose or Gomez, ridiculous. He is much better suited to a fluid system than Gomez and is better than Klose. I'd kick Gomez and Klose out, bring in Kiessling and get another defender or midfielder in there, and start giving a more serious use to a fluid attack. Kruse or using a false 9 would be a better use of resources, IMO.

 

[Mus]

Klose is awesome

 

[Arnau]

Klose is awesome

Mandieta6 only likes average young players

 

[Mandieta6]

Have you seen Kruse? At current he is a better option for the NT IMO. Espexially when you consider age and the fact that they should be using a fluid attack anyway. I prefer Klose to Gomez but both are behind Kiessling, who should be the starter.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Best option is Kiessling, then Reus/Gotze

 

[Deisler]

I can't effing believe they want to give Low an extension through the 2016 season.

 

[ShiftyPowers]

Yeah, it's time for a change (to Heynckes).

 

[Sir Didier Drogba]

The Boyband:

The Don:

The Trier:

The Terminator:

The Moron:

 

[kp41]

Best option is Kiessling, then Reus/Gotze

well said