Akanji is an option, but he is very young. Being captain can be a burden on some players. Schmelzer really struggled with the extra responsibility. It's great he is getting the rest, but it's not great he needs it in my opinion. This could be a golden chance to retake the title and Reus must be fit. Changing the topic, I compared Dahoud to Barkley, but on Sunday I saw Barkley play a mature game. I really hope Favre and Witsel can be influential on Dahoud/Weigl. Dahoud needs to learn to take care over his passing and not give it away stupidly like Witsel. Weigl needs to learn to become more physical. If we can tie the two to long term contracts then I think they can flourish.
So we’re at the second international break of the season and so far the team is top of the BL and has 6 points from 6 in the CL. The team looks better balanced, has a striker that looks capable of hitting big numbers and has a coach who is tactically flexible and ready to accept and learn from mistakes. And there is still a lot more room for improvement. Early days but so far it actually looks pretty encouraging.
Certainly agree, however we are so thin at Striker that if anything happens to him we are in big trouble. We really need Paco to stay healthy all season and not pick up any knocks. (thats a lot to ask sometimes).
Not in the CL, at this point the team had 0/6 points and was already looking on the way out. Plus the team had an unhappy striker and a stubborn and pretty useless coach.
Yeah, I think we are better off, but the chance to fall dramatically is still there. We are two super-hero performances from Alcacer away from 5th place. Our group is much more manageable this year in CL, but the difference is that we have Reus, Alcacer, Sancho, Akanji, and Diallo. That is a lot of added quality. Honestly this team is pretty bad without that group. Even just missing Alcacer the team becomes toothless. Good thing Alcacer only needs 13.5 minutes per goal, so he isn't in danger of getting worn out. The guy has been beyond lights out. He is already "6 points over an average replacement".
I checked and remember last season. I personally was annoyed with Bosz picking the same average to poor players and annoyed with him trying to force his Dutch ways. As I said many other members had worked Bosz out and wanted him gone. By Novemeber 1st and the 3rd CL group game I wanted Bosz out immediately. I was sure he was a mistake and most on this board agreed. So I don't think things are comparable at all. Even when we were losing against Leverkusen and Augsburg I wasn't angry. I was still optimistic and pleased with Favre's decisions. If we are challenging for the title come January then Favre must be backed. There are still areas in the squad, which lack quality and we are too reliant on certain players. My gut tells me, to win the league, we need Gotze and Schmelzer to regain form and my head tells me that won't happen.
I'de like to see Patiek from Georgia and Max Phillip from Augsburg brought in ... I can see Dortmund selling Pulisic if he doesn't sign a contract some time soon
I don't know anything about Patiek. I couldn't even find him after a google search. What position does he play, how old is he and who would you compare him to as a player. We are playing Diallo as a second choice left back and I think that shows we need to improve at the very least the depth there. If Raphael doesn't show anything then I would advocate selling him and bringing a suitable replacement.
Piatek is a Polish CF playing for Italian side Genoa and is in a good run-of-form at the moment having scored 8 goals in 6 Serie A matches and 4 goals in 1 cup match. Not sure what to think of him at the moment as he is really nothing special when you watch him but scores goals so not sure if it's only a hot start or truly a breakout season for him.
I wasn't sure if he meant Piatek, because he said Georgian. Yes I have heard and see Piatek's goals, only goals. I am watching the Poland vs Portugal game and he has scored a header from a corner. If the Alcacer deal is like everyone says, then we may not need to look for a new striker. He has scored another 2 goals against Wales.
Um, but we confirmed something. Just like BVB he scored a goal every 15 minutes... for the first two goals. But BVB is onto something: leaving him in for more then 30 minutes is no use, it just waters down his goals/90. Alcacer for super sub for life! (totally joking)
I dont care if we continue to bring him as a super sub so long as our defense can keep the match close until he gets in. He just changes the match as soon as he gets in. I would love to see him getting more minutes but if it isnt broke...... Just win and who cares if it looks pretty or not
Favre said that one of the reasons for Alcacer's reduced playing time is that he didn't play full games regularly for quite some time while he was at Barca. Makes sense to get him used to the stress in increments. He already had a minor muscle injury I think, so I'm all for it.
Alcacer scores in his first minute again. Apparently on his flight from Barcelona to Dortmund he shared a row with Faust. I wonder what he paid?
But you heard it here first: https://deadspin.com/maybe-paco-alcacer-sold-his-soul-to-the-devil-for-the-p-1829768492
Akanji out for at least 3 weeks due to some groin issues. He may come back inn time for the Bayern game but will miss both CL matches against Atletico.
well this sucks.. Is pulisic still unhealthy too??? seems our depth is taking a hit. Though out wide seems to be the one place we can stand to have issues.. Striker and Defense are a bit more of a problem to fill spots I think.
This is quite a big blow. He was one of the three most important players in the squad for me alongside Reus and Alcacer. Zagadou and Diallo are both most comfortable as LCB whilst Toprak has not played a game. Schmelzer has been out injured for a while too. The Atletico game is going to be a perfect test and probably where we can really asses this team and how well we are doing.
Although Favre has done great so far I won't be content until I see Reus with the Meisterschale in his hands.
Happy for my team which I started to support and sympathise in 2013. Its been all up and down from CL final to being dead last after one half season and finishing in mid table in the end. Its been good and bad coaches with a lot of good games bu also bad ones. I appreciate this moment of being one of the best teams which everybody talks about in positive manner. It was worth waiting for 5 years. Hope it lasts at least for Bundesliga title if not for CL.
#footballleaks holy shit.... surprising yet so not!!!!! In 2016, FC Bayern spent months forging its plan for a Super League with the most powerful and the richest football clubs in Europe. They managed to keep under wraps just how meticulously they were pursuing an elite league for quite some time, but now the secret's out. Confidential documents show that many top clubs are still pursuing plans for a Super League.