Problem is none of the other options are ready. Gotze just came out of nowhere just now, it will take time to call him up and give him chances let alone start him (I'd say next season is when he'll start getting called); Marin has flopped whenever it matters which saddens me as he's one of my favorite players outside of Bayern in the league; Holtby is like Gotze, he just started to show consistent good form now and we need see some serious consistency from both (as in this season and then the next) before we discuss if they have what it takes to replace Podolski. Fact is no one can yet claim that spot and Poldi's spot is safe but for 2014 in particular, he will have to work hard. I really don't get the minnow argument, all strikers score against minnows. Klose before Euro 08 (29-30 then) was the biggest flop when it mattered to German football. I think he had 0 goals in the knock-out stages of a World Cup/ Euro until that tourney yet no one seems to talk about Klose who plays a more advanced striker role than Poldi. For me Euro is really whether Germany can beat Spain, I see them far superior to every single team and I think the only way Germany can loose to others is injuries or luck as arrogant as this may sound. They really have the perfect blend of players in their prime and youngsters playing outstanding football, Loew has gotten a good mix though I hope he doesn't ruin the defense that was so good in 2010 for the next tournament.
Same thing with Muller though right? The thing is, these upstarts need to be given the opportunity to perform for the NT in order to foster their talent. Even if just to sub in for the last few minutes of a game. Better yet, sacrifice a struggling "veteran." It doesn't matter who it is (Kroos, Holtby, Gotze, Marin). I think that if the opportunity is there, any of these kids are better options than a Podolski who isn't contributing. Giving these younger players the experience to play an international match is going to pay off in the long run. I don't see how encouraging Podolski to not step it up is going to benefit anyone.
Well, he did play amazingly the next game after being replaced by Kroos at halftime (I believe) in one of the qualifiers...can't remember against whom. Belgium?. I doubt that he feels that sure about his starting spot, with all the talented players in his position. Probably, as has been said here, a reason for his improvement this year.
Ok guys, podolski is not THAT good at full potential. You all are acting like he'd be the second coming of ronaldo....
The goal against Argentina in the QF in 2006, 10 minutes before the end???. How could you forget? I do agree with you about the rest .
Nothing to write home about from the Bayern/Leverkusen performances. Some noteworthy things though. Young players like Reus, Schuerrle and Mlapa continue to do well while established players like Mertesacker continue their abysmal decline.
Looks like MOTM call against Sweden did wonders for Beck, great job against Frankfurf today. 1 asist and as usual hard work rate defending.
I wish Loew could find a way to integrate him into the starting eleven, hell even into the permanent rotation of the first team. I've always wondered what he could be like on the left. He is such a great attacking player who isn't afraid to shoot. Defensively he's improved a lot.
I concurr, Reus was on fire against Mainz and scored 2 beautiful goals and I was wrong about Sidney Sam calling him a Podolski clone. He is very good technically especially dribbling and getting out of tight spaces and seems to have good off the ball movement, definetly a player to keep an eye on. Either of these two should be nominated instead of Grosskreutz.
Reus scored a super goal yesterday. I feel a bit sorry for him, that he is still in Gladbach. He has scored so often against Bayern, he is made for bigger things. Didn't Low mention a striker problem (for the future) lately? Mlapa is such a beast already. Super fast, great physis and very skilled for his age and height, I'd say a perfect winger in the making. Rudy and even Vukcevic had also a great match day yesterday. Especially Rudy has become an untouchable player. Keep in mind that he arrived with very low self confidence when Stuttgart sold him because he wasn't good enough. Leverkusen vs Hoffenheim next week, many German prospects will meet there.
Gündogan, Reus, Sidney Sam, Holtby, Schürrle, Goetze...........etc I really can't imagine how competitive the attacking midfield can be in the future. Even Mlapa is played as a winger now. Imagine when Podolski, Oezil, Thomas Müller, Trochowski, Kroos, Marko Marin, Grosskreutz, Aaron Hunt are all available. This team just need to find more balance in other areas I actually do not think LB is too much of a problem, as Loew has suggested. Schmelzer is rock solid and Lukas Schmitz isn't bad either(great set-pieces ability), but i think Rausch is better at LM than at LB. Oczipka and Bastians are also not bad but i doubt they have the quality for NT; Mlapa and Schieber are doing fine. Its difficult for young strikers to establish themselves in the league especially when teams tend to play with only one targetman up top. Nils Petersen from Cottbus n Lasogga from Hertha Berlin in the 2BL is also developing pretty well too. We needa show more support and encouragement towards these young strikers because they've put in a lot of effort for the starting places they currently have. Mlapa and Schieber needa score more but they both have shown a lot of hustle, work-rate, maturity and good fundamentals in their games. Some of the emerging young talents: GK) Sippel, Baumann RB) Beck, Schwaab, Diekmeier(inj), Jung, Koch CB) Hummels, Howedes, Badstuber, Jerome Boateng, Reinartz, Bell LB) Schmelzer, Lukas Schmitz, Bastians, Oczipka DM/CM) S.Bender, L.Bender, Rudy, Träsch, Polanski, Khedira, Bargfrede AM) Gündogan, Holtby, Kroos, Oezil RW/LW) Schürrle, Marco Reus, Sidney Sam, Marko Marin, Grosskreutz, Goetze, Vukcevic, Gebhart, Herrmann, Rausch CF) Schieber, Mlapa, Nils Petersen, Thomas Müller, Lasogga, Sukuta-Pasu(inj)
This thread is not for possible NT players or youth NT players. There are other threads for that. Why post the same stuff in EVERY thread???
I thought we were done with the Hunt and Trochowski and the NT conversation. Please, let's look forward, not backwards.
What do u guys think of Schalke's Lukas Schmitz? Decent LB? n i am also impressed with Freiburg's Felix Bastians. Any comments on him?
So any updates on this round and German player performances? Schweinsteiger and Mueller had great games. Kroos did ok while Reus and Goetze stood out again.