Das Reboot and the Road to UEFA Nations League & EC2020

Serge Gnabry: "The national team is a big dream of mine. I want to use the big stage at Bayern, and through my performances, come back to representing my country" pic.twitter.com/94CF25QqLl

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) July 2, 2018

 

lol, at Wenger for Germany suggestion when he basically misused Gnabry and then let him go. Saw so many Arsenal fans not happy about that. Next thing you know, 2 consecutive double digits season in 1BL.

yeah I do hope Kovac at least does something with his players. Fitness is key for sure, given we always have injury issues. Wasn't his Frankfurt team extremely aggressive from time to time?

 

what's interesting is that his Frankfurt was one of the oldest 1BL teams last season.

 

I'm not too worried for now. As Bayern have 3 competitions and rotations will happen.

Kovac also said this today, that Bayern needs more than one system of play as you can't play the same way vs every opponent.

 

exactly what our team was missing save Brandt/Werner.

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Lothar Matthäus: "A retirement of Toni Kroos would hurt me very much. He can keep his top level for 4 more years and let players around him benefit. It would be a bitter loss, for me he is one of the leaders of the future" pic.twitter.com/yfuzGBAlUP

— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) July 2, 2018

 

a part of me wants to keeps some of the old guard while another is like eh what the heck, let's axe all of them and rebuild from scratch with a new generation.

all the vets will be 30+ by EC2020, just feels like it might time to move on from the lot. Majority of them have won everything there is to win and they seem less into it.

How do you expect to perform well at WC2022 when you waste spots to the old guard in EC2020? The old guard will all be 32 (Kroos) and above in WC2022.

there is a reason as to why Lahm retired early from the NT, he knew that as he got older he wouldn't be able to perform as he did in his prime. Pretty much the same with Basti, Podolski, Merte all retired early to focus on extending as much as possible their club careers.

seems more fitting to use EC2020 for experience going into WC2022.

 

to be honest, I don't consider Reus an old guard, because he's barely played for Germany.

when I think old guard these are the guys who come to mind.
Neuer, Hummels, Boa, Howedes (although hes likely already done with the NT), Khedira, Kroos, Muller, Ozil, Gomez

Keeping Reus or Gundo around is fine.

although guys like Plattenhardt and Draxler need to go. Hector playing in 2BL next season does nothing for the NT, it's a big negative. Our NT should never have 2nd division players on the squad. Which means we need a new LB post WC.

 

one tournament before WC18 which was cut short, that's still barely in my eyes. There is a reason as to why he was desperate to make the WC as he kept missing tournaments. Same with Gundo who also only played in 2012 before 2018.

old guard to me is more about longevity with the NT over age.

 

no one ever made Plattenhardt the scapegoat. Let's not get into this debate all over again, just because you rate him highly doesn't mean others have to as well.

to me anyway, I know I know you won't agree.
But he's not the answer to our LB issues, never was. And a new season with players getting fit again and others breaking through could be a chance for someone else. We need better players in all the position and the best ones as possible. Not decent at best players.

but there is no point in debating Plattenhardt since we will never agree about the guy.
.
I don't think the older players who are almost 30+ will acquire new skill. I do like Muller, but we need fast players who can dribble on the wings and that's not him. Same issue with Draxler.

Khedira and Gomez need to retire just based on their ages, as well as Khedira's terrible performance, will also be 33 at EC2020. We don't need a slow 33 year old in midfield. They are both done.

Kroos is considering retirement, that says a lot about how he currently feels about the NT. While Boa and Hummels want to continue he's considering quitting.

feels like we need to be that Germany 2010 again, a team more fresh and full of energy and ambition. Instead of being an aging team.

 

issue with Low is favoritism and he's a very predictable coach.

integration failed because Low only saw the CC squad as being extra players to make up the squad numbers but his interest was always towards the old guard+ a few new players.

He should have done like you said the CC is the core+ old guard being there to make the XI stronger. And Draxler has no business any XI. Ridiculous as to how he drops Mustafi, Gotze, Schurrle but not Draxler.

a CC at the core, would likely have made the R16. Not sure why Grindel was like we were always going to rebuild post WC. Why not start the rebuild with the CC?

he also did not learn from France, Italy and Spain about how depending too much on the old guard is a disaster.

 

tons of 1BL managers are supporting him to stay. Saw a report that said a close friend of his thinks he's likely to resign. Although no clue if it's true. Another who said that the odds on favorite for replacements is Kuntz.

but we all know the dfb wants him to continue. The only obstacle is Low's desire. Will he quit after the bomb/disgrace or will he get a desire for redemption and to try to rebuild? He did say that Germany needs Big changes like the ones from over a decade ago.