Central Midfield Options

[The Old Lady Hertha]

Of these 6, who are the best 2 options (if there's another, please state).

[squidward123]

i assume this is in the case of ballack, frings, schneider and schweinsteiger all being unavailable?

borowski and hitzelsperger in that case.

or hitzelsperger and khedira

or borowski and lahm

or just call up toni kroos already if they are not available.

[ForeverRed]

i assume this is in the case of ballack, frings, schneider and schweinsteiger all being unavailable?

borowski and hitzelsperger in that case.

or hitzelsperger and khedira

or borowski and lahm

or just call up toni kroos already if they are not available.

All roads lead to Kroos :D

I'd personally prefer Borowski and Hitzlsperger.

[The Old Lady Hertha]

I think of the two, Jermaine Jones and Hitz.

[Hendrik]

Jones and Hitz. Borowski has been either injured or playing crap since the World Cup.

Schweinsteiger would be an option if we had a decent player for LM.

[Dagegen]

Borowski and Jones in my opinion.

Borowski is injuried a lot and hasn't played too well after the WC, that's true.

But I think he is just class, when fit, better than Hitz or Schweinsteiger or these other guys.

But I also miss Khedira in this poll.

[IlTedesco]

I'd be going for Jones, Borowski and (if the latter doesn't get back into shape soon) Khedira.

[fanOfBayern]

I would like Borowski to take Ballack's place when Ballack is not available.
The other CM position in Fring's absense should go to Sebastian Kehl....

[squidward123]

No way man.

Kehl cannot be compared to frings because frings and ballack are two very similarly skilled players.

Kehl, although in his freiburg days showed the ability to bring the ball out on his own and distribute as well, hasn't shown it for a long time.

Borowski and hitzlsperger, or borowski and lahm are my picks if all four starters are out.

Or really, borowski and kroos.

[nekkibasara]

I would like to see Jones and Kehdira.

[KumarsS]

The consensus seems to be Borowski and Hitzlsperger, and I'd have to agree. We need Lahm on the flanks.

[Cirdan]

i assume this is in the case of ballack, frings, schneider and schweinsteiger all being unavailable?

Schneider and Schweinsteiger are best on the wings, not in the center.

Hitzlsperger & Boro, though Boro would indeed have to get into shape before... Jones might be another option if Boro stays in his bad post-WC shape.

[Equilibrium]

Schneider and Schweinsteiger are best on the wings, not in the center.

Hitzlsperger & Boro, though Boro would indeed have to get into shape before... Jones might be another option if Boro stays in his bad post-WC shape.
Schweinsteiger is slow... Based on this seasons improvements, he's a much better player in CM IMO. Great vision, good defending, understanding of the game as well clinical passes = great CM position. Kroos would great. Jones has been in amazing form this season, great DM! :cool: Hitz is also damn good at defending midfield I think, but Lahm would probably be our best DM if we had to choose someone. Lahm can play at RB since we need his crosses, so he's out of there. Kroos would be perfect, Kheidra would also be a pretty good option.

DM - Lahm, Jones, Schweini, Kheidra
CM - Schweini, Borowski, Hitz, Kroos
AM - Schweini or Kroos :cool:

Trust me, we seriously have absolutely nothing to worry about this if any of our players get hurt unless we play France, Italy, Portugal or Netherlands. We simply have the best damn depth as far as I can see in Europe. Haven't we won half of our qualifiers with half starters, half bench? :D

[squidward123]

Cirdan, are you kidding me. Schneider is the best playmaker we have who'd be most useful in the middle. Which is what he does during games anyway. He plays in the middle ahead of ballack and frings.

[Dagegen]

Usually he is starting on the right and is cutting inside frequently.

I agree with Cirdan,(I think, that was what he meant) that this is his best role, because it allows Schneider to get away from the opponents defensive midfielders.
This is good for him, because while he really is a great playmaking midfielder, he isn't the best when under tight marking and pressure of opponents, he is not the strongest, fastest or best in challenges.

He is best when cutting in from the right midfield position, like he plays for the NT usually.

He is NOT really playing in the middle ahead of Frings and Ballack, he is often moving there(and wherever he wants basically) but he starts on the right site, not as a classical winger, that's obvious, but still not at all in the middle.

But, well, Schneider is versatile, really.
Remember the Confedcup, in the game against Brasil he started as Leftback and was basically the playmaker of the german team and he was fantastic.

[squidward123]

yeah, you're right

but how can you say he isn't good under tight marking and challenges? he uses his skill and clever movement to lose markers and avoid challenges

that is a key part of a playmaking midfielder

[Psychosis hsv]

Borowski and Hitz

[Dagegen]

but how can you say he isn't good under tight marking and challenges? he uses his skill and clever movement to lose markers and avoid challenges

that is a key part of a playmaking midfielder

Ok, that's right, I agree.
He is still good when under tight marking, because he can use his skill and intelligence, but he is even more effective when he can avoid being tightly marked, that was what I meant.

Ok, probably everyone is better when he isn't tightly pressured, but I think players like Borowski or Hitzlsperger don't have as much problems when under direct pressure, because they are stronger/better in challenges.

(Schneider is of course, still the better player/playmaker!)

That's all I meant, the rather free position on the right, that Schneider plays, is good for him to have a bit more freedom and not so many opponents marking him all the time, what makes him even more effective, imo.

[squidward123]

yup, true!

[fanOfBayern]

Schneider is immense in helping out the right back...He is very good in defence..

I still remember the world cup finals in 2002, in which he was Germany's best performer and looked deadly...