German National Team News & Discussion Thread - EURO 2012 & Beyond [R] II

Seeing Magath on the opponents bench had for Schuerrle a similar effect like red cloth for bulls.

 

Aren't you the one here forcing a narrative? It was of course Schweinsteiger who was the holding midfielder against Schalke or at least just as much as Lahm was before him.
If you call it double pivot or not hardly matters but the positioning and movement between Thiago/Kroos/Lahm, Thiago/Kroos/Schweinsteiger or Kroos/Schweinsteiger/Lahm is pretty much always the same.

 

With Schweinsteiger. With Lahm.



And a comparison between both player's last outings and where each thrives, etc.

 

Sorry, second graphic was supposed to be.

 

But Spain won the World Cup and Euros with a double pivot. It makes them more solid defensively and defense wins championships.

 

When I read about Spain, it's often mentioned how Del Bosque loves the double pivot( busquets-alonso).

 

That's not a double pivot. It's Busquets as holder and two transitional players ahead. That's what Spain has always played.

Then again, Spain not a good comparison because overall strategically and individually better and players coming from clubs who have already known how to play in order to set up the way they did. The team as a whole is also more flexible with a better core and solid defense. Totally different from someone like Löw who hasn't even begun toying with an idea of a single holding player.

 

What do you guys think of using Goetze as a false nine?

 

It is both Busquets and Alonso as holders. It's a double pivot. Alonso plays deep next to Busquets not further in order to make them more solid defensively.

But there are a lot of Bayern players in the team who train together every day and obviously learn the Spanish style of play thanks to Pep. Maybe we could try to replicate Spain's starting eleven in the world cup final :
Lahm = Busquets. Schweinsteiger = Xabi Alonso. Kroos = Xavi. Goetze = Iniesta. Mueller= Pedro. Reus = Villa. 5 out of the 6 are Bayern players.
----------Lahm--Schweinsteiger------
Mueller-----Kroos--------------Goetze
--------------Reus----------------------

 

This upcoming friendly with Chile will be vital for Low to assess his players and tactics. It's the only game left against a genuinely top international level team, and there are only three more games after this (against Poland in May, Cameroon and Armenia in June) before the big deal. Would like to see this Wednesday:
(4-1-4-1)
Neuer
Grosskreutz Mertesacker Boateng Schmelzer
Lahm
Muller Ozil Kroos Gotze
Klose

Try out Lars at RB at some point in the game,and bring in Schurrle for Klose and have Gotze play up top too. Schweinsteiger should get some minutes as the holder, but not so confident he can do a job. Shame Reus couldn't make it, he needs to get back in after not being available since the summer.

Key questions/concerns:
-How will Ozil look in a 4-1-4-1
-How is Klose's fitness level
-Gotze as false 9
-RB personnel
-Schweini as holder?

I guess the biggest concern is whether Low will even try a new formation, but he needs to look into it considering the majority of his players have been playing it this year.

 

Oops. Muller isn't available, so Gotze should start on right then, with Schurrle left.

 

Can lasogga play RB? Lahm could then be the holder/retainer/goalkeeper

 

I still think this is our best lineup.. At least to me.

Neuer
Lahm Hummels boateng Pylon
Bastian
Muller Kroos ozil Reus
Gotze

Try and see what it brings. Then go from there

 

Role of Kroos is pretty much the same. The "formation" listed is all on paper. During the match, Kros had a similar role whether his partner is Lahm or Schweini. So both formation listed on the website is pretty pointless

And the stats for Schweini is inaccurate, too small of a sample size sin e he has only played two games since injury.

If Schweini can manage to play well with Kroos in the middle, we can afford to play Lahm at RB. Grosskreutz/Mustafi can't handle Cristiano Ronaldo, Ribery or Neymar. So an upgrade at RB won't hurt.

Schweini n Kroos partnership looked great

 

http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/joachim-loew/schlaegt-wm-alarm-34912966.bild.html

Lahm to start in the midfield, Großkreutz will be at RB.

 

Well Löw confirmed it's Lahm in midfield and Grosskreutz at RB.

Thank God. Now let's hope the lads will have enough practice to make it work.

 

I'm certain it will be Lahm as holder since the Bayern trio will start.

If Schweinsteiger can stay fit, wouldn't mind him starting alongside Kroos ahead of Lahm.

 

I agree with Dhajj.. Still think lahm at NT level is best suited at RB. Would still bring Grosskreuts , as I think he played well this season and his versatility. If we look at these players with bender and gundugan still getting fit , the NT would bring 7 Dortmund players and 7 Bayern players to the WC.

 

Also must say this year is way more open to who will start for the NT and what formation to be used., compared to the last 6 years ..
Biggest question is what to do with lahm??

 

So people still think we don't need to address tactical failure by playing proper holder or are people convinced Schweinsteiger can do it?

 

Depends what formation is best to play for NT with current players and form ..

 

Well, a 4-1-4-1 best suits this side and personnel.

We've outgrown the 4-2-3-1

 

If Bayern get eliminated in the CL by a counter attacking team like Pep's Barca should have been eliminated by Chelsea in 2009. Does it mean that we shouldn't play 4-1-4-1 ? Does it mean it is too vulnerable defensively at the highest level ?