Alert: The NT Players Performance and Ratings Thread 2012/2013

New Season begins, please discuss

This season i'll be focusing on fullbacks n strikers.

From day 1, i m pleased that Polter is a starter and seems to play reasonably well; Volland also did well for Hoffenheim even he is no longer used as a striker as he was for 1860 Munchen, more like an attacking midfielder now.

Werder Bremen fans were crying for Fuellkrug to start and Arnatovic can always play on the right midfield (with De Bruyne and Elia in the middle n on the right)

Fullbacks, no one really surprises. But Pander's crosses are as good as ever, n he is still 28

Lewis Holtby played very well too. I'll be disappointed if he doesnt get called by Loew in the near future.

Oezil, Holtby, Goetze, Schuerrle, Reus, Thomas Mueller n Podolski.

Maybe Reus or Mueller should play up top and we better off send Draxler to the U21 for another year or two

Well.. Pander was responsible for that goal..

I am waiting for this day The day Lewis is integrated into the NT then we will win the WC/Euros!
Oezil, Holtby, Goetze, Schuerrle, Reus, Thomas Mueller n Podolski.

Holtby, at least at this stage, is clearly a class or two above Draxler.

Draxler may find it more helpful to play in the U21 in the near future. He is still 19, he can be an integral part there. I like Draxler as an 19 year old, but i dont think he is any better than Reus, Holtby, Oezil, Scuerrle and co.



Back to Pander. His set-pieces and long shots can really help this NT. Kroos, Reus, Schweinsteiger amd Podolski can all handle freekicks...........but Pander is so much better in that regard. Pander's powerful ong shots can always be a weapon.

He isnt much of a defensive fullback tho, unfortunately. But Pander is always an interesting player

Holtby is no wonder kid, not entire sure why everyone is trying to paint another Ozil/Gotze type picture. He's talented, but still has an incredible journey to make before being considered as a starter.

I think their situations are somewhat different. Kroos, like Xavi for example, is being used where his talents are suited. His versatility is a huge strength for him. I once read a post on BundesligaFanatic where one writer said that he will age like fine wine - I completely agree with that. Xavi or Iniesta were never like Ronaldinho or Messi in the sense that they bewildered people with their talent. However, there was little doubt that eventually they'd do very well (they've obviously exceeded those expectations ). I don't doubt Kroos will slowly but surely become a starter. He's 22 and is already a fixture for the biggest club in germany, just a matter of time before he does it for the national team.

Hahahaha at Oezil

Wow...

Anyone realizes Howedes was benched on matchday 1? Injury concern or what?

Goetze, Letiner, Bittencourt n Schieber are all gonna be benched till when? So there is no place for Goetze in Dortmund's starting lineup in the near future?

How do u guys rate Volland's first day of performance?

Schalke are interested in Mainz's defender Kirchhoff n sell that Greek defender elsewhere. I do like Kirchhoff's consistency and potential by the way

Nah, not like that. This is pure laziness, something of an attribute of his at times.

Leitner is in no way going to make the starting 11 anytime soon. He's a fighter, but not a brilliant passer like Gundogan or with a work ethic like kehl and bender. I would think he should be loaned, but you never know. He's 19, at this point he needs some game time.

Gotze is not fully fit, but he'll definitely get a lot of playing time. Schieber I know will start consistently from the bench, he's a backup striker with some talent, but you're not going to bench either Reus or Lewandowski except to get them some rest. Since Dortmund are trying to do well in 3 competitions, he might get some playing time in a month or two.

I thought his performance against Getafe was definitely below his standard. The whole team looked out of it. Against Valencia they worked hard, but he just couldn't find that ball. He did OK against Barcelona once they started attacking, and his movement is just pristine. However, last game - I've seen him do much better. He's the worlds best #10 for a reason.

http://bundesliga-fussball.blogspot.hk/2012/08/fc-augsburg-fortuna-dusseldorf.html

Schahin's goals remind me of some of Batistuta's goals in the 90s. Awesome!

Powerful, determined n aggressive. Well deserved player of the Week.

The Premiership is not exactly a great place for a skinny 19 year old IMO. I think he would struggle there.

In La Liga he'd get no playing time at Barca or Real Madrid. The only team where I could see him getting playing time and improving more than he could at Schalke is Valencia.

He might as well stay in Gelsenkirchen where he has already settled in his personal life.

Ozil and Gotze are not the same players.

Gotze is far more industrious than Ozil and, in my opinion, contributes more to the team.

Ozil is world class at setting up other players, but that's all he brings to the table.

Holtby has a similar robust playing style to Gotze, but Gotze is younger and better IMO.

I don't know, he was lacking that killer ball. Also I am hoping that Ozil can sometime take control of the game at some point. As you correctly pointed out, he depends too much on the players around him. Even Gotze has the ability to score or create something out of nothing, hoping Ozil would develop that character at some point.

I think in terms of creativity, Ozil is definitely the best out there. 25+ assists means something, but he would never do well if the strikers aren't running infront of him. While Gotze is a different #10, I like his impeccable technique and ability to take the game by the collar.

Just curious, as a midfielder, hows Holtby any worse than Thomas Mueller for instance???

Was very disappointed at Mueller during the Euro. Seems very lost on the right, doesnt have the penetration and explosiveness of winger. I think he is better as a supporting striker in a 2-strikers formation (4-4-2 or 3-5-2)

Putting him on the right, he cannot take advantage of his good positioning and scoring instinct inside the penalty box. Putting Muller on the right flank is a waste of his strengths in scoring and magnify his weaknesses in poor crossing n pace