Thomas Müller

I think Thomas Müller deserves his own thread as much as the "ex-wonderkids" such as Podolski, Mario Gomez, Marin, Oezil and Toni Kroos.

I think its an achievement that a youngster who joined BM at the age of 10, played for the D-Junior team can eventually establish himself as a starter in the first team n he outperform some of the bigger names and millions dollar purchase, given the high failing rate of most Bayern Munich's products.

The kid is currently used as a utility man in the squad. That's fine as long as he is given enough match practice. But in the long run, i think it is important for him to hav consistent playing time at his best position on the pitch. That will be better for his development. If he is played at RW, AM and SS at different times, it will be difficult for him to get into the rhythm, and this cna be a potnetial obstable of his development in posititoning and football IQ.

I personally think his best position is second forward/supporting striker, where legends such as Bergkamp, Roberto Baggio, Del Piero and Raul played. He has the clinical finishing, PERFECT off-the-ball movement, positioining and composure. It will be a waste to play him on the flanks.

I do not think he has the required pace n technique to be a top winger (though he isn't slow or technically weak at all). Not to mention we already have Ribery and Robben in the roster.

However, he is physcially not strong enough for the targetman spot. When u look at some of the top targetman in the world, like Drogba, Ibrahimovic and Torres, they aren't easy to fall down when the opponents bump them (diving is another issue). Thomas Müller needs to gain some lb anyway

Thats why i think at second forward, he'll be the most effective. BTW, his calmness, creativity and clinical finishing kind of remind me one of the best supporting forwards of all time, Dennis Bergkamp.

We'll see how the kid develops. But he is already a better player than Kroos imo

 

I think Mueller is more of a Dennis Bergkamp/Roberto Baggio type second forward. These players won't be the "record-breaking" goalscorer.

we currently have 5 quality forwards in the national pool, the rest are pretty average (e.g. Cacau, Kuranyi, Hunt, Schlaudraff, Asamoah and Hanke). The competition is moderate, it all depends on how many strikers Loew wants to take. if 4, I think they're gonna be Klose, Podolski, M.Gomez and Kiessling; if 5, and any of the mentioned strikers is injured, i think Thomas Mueller has a chance to be a "surprised call-up" like Odonkor was.

After Klose, Podolski, Gomez, Kiessling and Helmes, the rest are terrible options. Don't think Thomas Mueller can be worse at least he is the youngest and very versatile which may be important in a tournament.

Andre Schurrle is also playing at a very very high level. Not quite as high profile as BM's Mueller, but he is quietly doing his job and keep impressing. Won't be a Mainz player for too long

 

Re: Team News XI 09/10

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKLYFhIw2Go"]YouTube - Thomas Müller - FC Bayern München[/ame]

 

Re: Team News XI 09/10

I think his best position is at second forward/supporting forward. The position where Dennis Bergkamp, Roberto Baggio n Raul played.

on both flanks, his killer instinct, GREAT off-the-ball movement n positioing in front of goal will be wasted. His kid is really a calm yet clinical finisher. His technique n pace is ok, but not quite enough to be a top winger. Not to mention there're Ribery n Robben ahead of him

But as a targetman, he is physically too weak. When u look at some of the top targetmen in Europe, Drogba, Ibrahimovic, Fernando Torres n Benzema.......they won't fall down that easily when the opponent bump them. Mueller needs to gain some lb anyway.

at second striker, that won't demand too much pace. And he can utilize his great off-the-ball, positioning and finishing. That will be better.

 

Re: Team News XI 09/10

Pretty much most of his career..............

He is quite versatile, we've seen him at LM, AM, SS or CF. But his best position, just like Bergkamp n Baggio's, is at second forward.

Right now, he is used slightly behind Benzema in Real MAdrid. U need a targetman beside him like Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy, Huntelaar, Morientes........ because Raul isn't that much of an aerial threat. He is a good finisher but with all his skill set, he likes to do the set-up play for the targetman in front of him.

Bergkamp had similar experience when he played for Arsenal. Henry was the targetman and Dennis Bergkamp provided chances for Henry by using his technique n passes to create space

Bear in mind that playing at supporting/second forward doesn't mean he can't score. Bergkamp, Roberto Baggio or even Del Piero and Teddy Sheringham for example, were decent scorers anyway

Not sure if this "supporting forward" role is obselete though. And whether or not it can be applied in Germany n Bayern Munich's formation will be another question.

 

I thought Loew was quite interested in bringing in Jerome Boateng?

J.Boateng is better than Badstuber atm, and i think he is capable to be a starter for our NT at CB. A partnership of Mertesacker n Boateng should be pretty solid, at least better than Merte+Tasci or Merte+Westermann

Thomas Mueller's chance all depends on the form of the "top 5" (Klose, Kiessling, Helmes, Podolski and Gomez) Helmes is still injured, and other options such as Cacau(never think he's a good NT material), Kuranyi (Will Loew accept his apology?), A.Hunt(decent prospect but very poor finishing), Schlaudraff(good footballer but very injury prone), Asamoah(terrible choice) and Hanke(still injured but not good enough anyway) should be behind Thomas Mueller in the pecking order. The chance is there coz Loew will most likely have 5 strikers in his WC squad (but 3 from Bayern Munich?)/

U never know though, he praised Kiessling before the last WCQ match, but didn't nominate him at the end.