German NT - World Cup 2014 - Pre tournament and squad selection

Kiessling is an above average striker, let's not bullshit around here. But yea, I also don't think he's necessarily NT material.

 

The cruel fact is that I think ALL German strikers will be extinct in CL in the near future

Bayern n Dortmund will start with foreign strikers like Lewandowski/Mandzukic/Ramos; n none of our strikers starts for other CL team

Kiessling is already in a better situation than Gomez/Klose/Lasogga for example. The younger generation of strikers may even be playing in 2BL in the next 1-2 years

 

I don't necessarily think Schuerrle, Podolski, Gomez, Kruse, Klose(at 36), Lars Bender, Schmelzer, Durm, Grosskreutz, Howedes, Adler, Zieler are better players than Kiessling too, but they all fit a need at a certain position

Schmelzer n Grosskreutz at fullbacks is for example more concerning than Kiessling starting up top.

I think it is all about the attributes a player brings n team's need

It's obvious that we have everything in attack. Just lack physicality, aerial ability(Mandzukic's headers assist?) n some reliable/clincial finishing n killer instinct in front of goal.

Again, I don't think Kiessling is a perfect fit but he brings some lacked attributes of this team. Grosskreutz is a sub-par footballer n he barely plays at fullback lately, but he is brough to the NT because he fits our need at Fullback(a position where we are extremely short-handed)

Kiessling is a better player than Durm, Schmelzer, Grosskreutz and co. n fits a certain need obviously. But he was silly enough to criticize Loew in public in a rather high profile way. Not a wise thing to do for a borderline Nt nominee.

I've made some observation of Mueller playing as a false 9 for Bayern Munich VS Man Utd in first leg. I don't think he is the ideal candidate there. N looks like the system was a lot more allrounded with some aerial threats (Mandzukic n that header assist) coming in. Barcelona's Tikki Takka has exposed some weaknesses as well after so many years.

I don't think False 9 is the way for future. As Birrhoff said, it is always preferred to have a "dangerman" inside the penalty box. He may not be world class CF like Mandzukic/Lewandowski. But the "dangerman" has to bring in some lacked attributes, just like we brought in Grosskreutz n Mustafi to fill the fullback holes.

For the WC, I want Kiessling, Lasogga n Gomez/Volland(if Gomez or Lasogga can't gain form in time)

After the WC, I hope Lasogga, Volland, Werner(a Michael Owen type pure poacher) n Ducksch(need a move away from Dortmund) will be the future CF options.

 

So, who is better and can play for Germany at the world cup? Gomez has been injured all season. Klose is not as good as Kießling anymore (just check his scorer stats). He is also constantly injured and will be 36 at a tournament in tropical heat. Kruse only scores from the penalty spot. Lasogga is injured. Maybe Volland but he hasn't been invited either. You complain about Kießling's CL stats. Kruse, Lasogga and Volland haven't even played CL or EL yet.

Kießling plays for Leverkusen where no one looks good in the CL. Löw invites his team mates Bender and Sam anyway. If Kießling were on a better team he would have more international goals. Mandzukic who you probably believe to be a good striker hasn't done much in the CL either. Only 3 goals in 10 games last season and that with the most dominant team that won the competition. This season is not much better with only 3 goals in 8 games. But he is a useful player for Bayern anyway as he occupies defenders to open space for the dangeous wingers and midfielders, wins the ball in the air for knock downs and does a lot of defensive work. Plus the occasional goal. Kießling could do the same for Germany. There is no reason for Löw not to at least try it.

And why should Kießling be considered just average when he managed to score more BL goals last season than Lewandowski? Other recent top scorers have been Gomez and Huntelaar. You wouldn't call them average either. Löw calls up an inferior player like Hahn who has only played well for a few months and plays a position where Germany has more than enough top players already. Kießling plays a position of need where Germany is out of alteratives. Why is he not invited for a friendly to test his supposed incompatibility with the national team? Löw was willing to test Kruse and Lasogga who don't have anywhere near the track record that Kießling has. It's obvious that Kießling is ignored for other reasons than his quality as a striker.

 

Schurrle has been in great form for Chelsea lately. I think Mourinho got his team selection totally wrong last night. He didn't need to play 5 defensive midfielders in that match. I would have started with the same middle 3 but drop Ramires for Schurrle so that he could use the pace of Willian, Schurrle and Torres to counter attack. Instead he plays a defender in RW and Torres is left alone up top.

 

Let's see if a Lahm-Schweini-Kroos midfield works.

 

I think midfield would look well if Kroos and Piggy were in shape. On the other hand Rafinha+Boateng and the goal showed it doesnt help if you run out of fullbacks when you face decent opposition. So I say veto.

And can please someone else than Fipsi be the captain this summer? Very good at sugarcoating any piece of bullshit.

 

Boateng is in poor form

 

SZ speculates that Löw cannot afford having two injured and out of shape strikers in the WC roster that's why we are going to see either Klose or Gomez staying at home. Tendency: Gomez. Only 1 game in 7 months.

Khedira will make it for sure.

Poldi is a controversial topic among the coaching stuff but probably is going to make it due to his loyalty.

Some tough decisions about defense since Lahm is going to play DM alongside Schweini or Khedira: Höwedes, Jansen, Durm?

 

Lahm doesn't play DM, he plays holding midfield

Anyway, agree on Klose going over Gomez and unfortunately Podolski as well.

Hope Grosskreutz comes at least and I can't believe Jansen will go to his third World Cup. Madness.

 

please post a link

 

I dont care about the nomination as long as Kevin "Döner" Großkreutz makes it to Brazil.