Karimi should be playing offensive midfield

[Karimi_Is_God]

I think that Magath is making a big mistake by putting KArimi in defensive midfield. KArimi's best position is offensive midfield and if he plays in that position then he can play to his full potential. Karimi plays well in defensive midfield too as we all saw in his first game against gladbach but he should definately be switched to offensive midfielder since he plays much better in that position.

[NiMjAY]

Yeah, i have never seen him play in a defensive poition before. Karimi worked really hard that game trying to defend all the time and he didnt look comfortable. But im glad Karimi could make it, it could have ended real bad.
He is a playmaker and he shouldent be a defensive midfielder.

There was also a german football expert that was saying that "the Karimi move was genial, cause he is a good help for the defense: something like that.
I just hope that Magath dont use him i htat position in next game too.

[BayernWake]

Everyone calm down, there are 33 more games.

[Karimi_Is_God]

Everyone calm down, there are 33 more games.

haha. i am calm man but i just hope that magath moves him up to offensive midfield.

[Dead Fingers]

haha. i am calm man but i just hope that magath moves him up to offensive midfield.

He is not going to displace Ballack in the AM role(top of the diamond)...Just not going to happen...unless of injury or a switch in formation.

Having said that....Demichelis may go to the back line this week. Hargreaves may stay on the back left thus putting Ballack in the DM role....which he was not really good at.

I can see him playing on the left and would not be surprised if he plays on the right as well. That is what this year is about for him anyway...getting used to a variety of positions.

Also...the next few games is about getting certain players up to par: Deisler, Piggy and Ballack. It is also about getting a variety of players on the field. So Karimi might not even play or he may start and then be subbed. To quote BayernWake... Relax!!! :p

[kotto_bass]

What's all this shouting about Karimi? The guy's just another player, and would have to earn his place, don't u think? We're talking about Bayern here! Leave it to the coach. That was just our first game!

[SoftTackle]

The situation dictated where he played. You don't add attackers when you are a man down, even if Persian pride is at stake. Karimi showed his value by demonstrating his versatility, which should mean more playing time than if he was just an attacker.

[Karimi8Rulz]

let's calm down. The reason he played as def.-mid is cuz Bayern was playing w/ 10 men when he was subbed in, and then later on when Jeremie came in, Karimi moved up.

[Kamran]

actually in one of his best games in WCQ02 when Iran faced UAE in UAE we had one of our players sent off very early in the game.... then Karimi suddenly went defensive and started plating DMF, LB, CB, etc.... and he had a great game he even return a ball right before it crosses the goal line.... funny enough that wasn't coach's decision but because it went so well the coach never protested it......

so this is not the first time we see him defensive BUT his natural position AMF and is already taken by Ballack.... although Ballack wasn't in his top form (no where near actually) but still with one man down that's the best we could expect... so as Dead Finger said Karimi only has 3 ways to get the AMF title:

1. Ballack goes to bench or leaves the team by any reason like injury or Karimi surpassing him (I think I’ll get jumped for saying that but anyways!)) or getting a deal from another club! …
2. change in formation resulting Ballack to go back one line….

p.s. ffs ppl like it or not Karimi is a Bayern player and will be discussed as if he was Ze, SC, Ballack or any other player.... I bet you would discuss it if Magath suddenly started playing SC as a midfielder!!... I just don't see what is it that takes away the right from Karimi fans to discuss the position he plays!

[Dead Fingers]

Almost all Bayern players play can play in a variety of positions and I would not be surprised if Ali plays on the left or the right as opposed to his "natural" position. I think that will be good for him.

[aluba2004]

Ballack said after last season,he wishes the club will sign a "real number 10" and he also said last week Karimi can play this Position.So i dont think Karimi has to surpass Ballack to play there,because Ballack dont really want to play there.I think he wants to play in the DM like he did with Leverkusen, when he played his best soccer,but never really got the chance to do so at Bayern.

[Dead Fingers]

Karimi should (and I'm sure he is) be learning to play a variety of positions like his Bayern teammates do. :)

[Matschr]

Ballack said after last season,he wishes the club will sign a "real number 10" and he also said last week Karimi can play this Position.So i dont think Karimi has to surpass Ballack to play there,because Ballack dont really want to play there.I think he wants to play in the DM like he did with Leverkusen, when he played his best soccer,but never really got the chance to do so at Bayern.

Ballack doesn't want to play in the DM. Under Hitzfeld he played there and he was unhappy. At the beginning of the last season he also played there until he moved to his favorite position: OM

[Roffadam]

Karimi should play where ever Magath tells him to play.

Karimi is being played as "assisting" midfielder (comparable to Seedorf's role at Milan)..the reason he had to do more defensive duties against B'Mbach was because they were with 10 men

But you could have thought of that yourself dont you think, Karimifan??

I think Karimi can be very useful to the Bayern squad as mf..he can hold possession of the ball..make a dribble and assists the likes of Ballack and Makaay

[Kamran]

But you could have thought of that yourself dont you think, Karimifan??


hey genius, this is not the first time Karimi was played in a defensive position so plz keep your crap in the rivalries.... the last thing Karimi fans need is a virtual stalker!

[Roffadam]

hey genius, this is not the first time Karimi was played in a defensive position so plz keep your crap in the rivalries.... the last thing Karimi fans need is a virtual stalker!

yeah i know it can be hard to swallow criticism..get used to it

he doesnt play at El Ahli anymore..this is the real deal

[Dead Fingers]

easy guys...this could be a good discussion here

[BMike86]

easy guys...this could be a good discussion here

Hmm... yet again another Karimi discussion begins to fall apart. See the thing is I can most definately understand this discussion. I just wish it would have been a bit more general of a thread topic, BUT what the heck, it happens.

Karimi is a great player and i am a fan, not because he joined bayern, but because of the great clips that some of the peaceful karimi fans had sent me. and i thank them. the problem i have is the ones that jump all over my balls every time i try and gently criticize him. i feel karimi had played more of a defensive role because we were outnumbered and the entire team goes on more of a defense especially the midfield. and last time i checked karimi is still a midfielder. i feel it is nothing to be worried about, and even if magath was working on shifting him to a defensive mid, it would be awesome because it first off gets him into the starting lineup, and secondly makes are starting team that much better. he can still attack, dont forget you guys are doubting your own guys skills. as long as he is not on the bench the guy will always just about attack.

Ballack as well played dm which has already been stated. the person that i really wanted to talk about as well as karimi was Hargreaves. He is one of my favorites on the club. You see me post about him all the time if any of you are regular posters. Hargreaves is an awesome midfielder, and Magath has been trying him out at defense. The funny thing is because i had mentioned a few weeks ago that magath was looking at him at defense a good amount of you guys had jumped all over me for giving insider information. but then again i do not mind you guys jumping on me, because i too will at times make mistakes. but the thing is that even though i love hargreaves as a midfielder, i do not mind him starting lwb because he is starting and that is all that really matters to me. :D

Great thread though, this is the kind of stuff i like talking about.

[Kamran]

yeah i know it can be hard to swallow criticism..get used to it

he doesnt play at El Ahli anymore..this is the real deal
exactly this is a criticism to Magath about where Karimi plays.... this has nothing to do with the 10 men match as he played this role before even with 11 men... so yeah sorry that we can't swallow like you do but this is the topic and has nothing to do with Kairimi fans!

[Dead Fingers]

ok..everybody has said their peace...now back to thread topic.