What else was he going to say? First, Neuer is out for 6 months, he may not come back to the level where he is automatically no.1 any more. So why needlessly burn any bridges? Wait and see what happens. Flick may pull a Klinnsmann and decide they need an outfield player as captain. Again no need to create conterversy when there is no need. Maybe it will be a Ballack/Lahm situation like in 2010. Injured captain replaced by Lahm, who wouldn't give it back if Ballack was called up again (which he wasn't). Again, no need to ruffle any feathers when it's not necessary.
The modern idea of onfield leaders is about showing for the ball, being demonstrative, finding solutions etc - the team needs multiple. For all the criticisms, Kroos was one of those guys - took a huge amount of responsibility. Mueller has always been an onfield organiser and yapper - but his performances aren't good enough anymore. I feel like Neuer used to be someone you could really depend on at the back and kept things organised but his whole behaviour in the last 6 months is odd. It's a bit of a truism that Flick will need to stamp his mark on the team and that means cleaning out Neuer and Mueller IMO. He needs to make space for the younger guys to take over. Keeping Gundo you can make a case for as he was the best performed midfielder in Qatar, and it didn't really look like Kimmich has the game to take command in the same way Kroos can.
I'd make Gundogan captain till the Euros. He's the captain at Man city and his performances alone demand Hugh respect.
I can't really disagree with your comments, except for the part about Neuer could keep things at the back organized. For the last year (and more) Bayern and the NT have been a defensive shambles and really having a hard time keeping clean sheets and drawing really tight games. This isn't Neuers fault, as I would expect his defensive organization to be limited to within the box and free kicks and crosses, but he should have indicated his dissatisfaction at the overall defensive play of the teams. (and maybe he did and it fell on deaf ears).
It will be interesting to see what changes Flick makes in March. Obviously Wirtz will be back, hope to see Berisha & Samardzic too, also hopefully recall Baku. Beyond that would be good to see Janelt get a chance, maybe Wolf from Dortmund as well as Union duo Knoche & Khedira.
ROBERT ANDRICH WITH A SCORCHER!!!Florian Wirtz credited with the assist.https://t.co/mAcCxigaU0— Football Report (@FootballReprt) February 11, 2023 1624430664203345927 is not a valid tweet id
Muller and Gnabry goals and Musiala assist for Bayern 3-0 W. N.Schlotterbeck and Brandt continue to be involved in goals as Dortmund won 2-0. For a CB, Schlotterbeck is a good source for goals and getting more stable.
-Frenchie WC Winner Matuidi on Musiala Matuidi on Musiala: "He's a young player but he has the quality to become one of the best in the world. He personally played an outstanding World Cup. He's someone who can make the difference in the big games"[@kessler_philipp, @tzmuenchen]— Bayern & Germany (@iMiaSanMia) February 12, 2023 -on Brandt, back to back XI in Kicker Julian Brandt's contract could be extended in the summer:"I'm fine, I've always felt good at the club. I was also fine when I had a shitty season because many people here stand behind me and help me. I'm not a fan of solving that during the season."🗞 @kicker #BVB pic.twitter.com/KAj5bw9P9E— BVB Newsblog (@bvbnewsblog) February 12, 2023 -on importance of Wirtz for Bayer's whole game. Leverkusen's 3-1 win at TSG Hoffenheim demonstrates the factory club's offensive potential. Two factors are essential to fully bring this to bear: Florian Wirtz, who provided the idea, and early leadership. Both were given in Sinsheim. But in the long run, Bayer 04 need more to be successful. His influence on the game and his importance for this is undisputed. Florian Wirtz is the decisive factor in whether Leverkusen's attacking game really gets rolling or not. This was also demonstrated by the 90 minutes in the overall convincing 3-1 win at TSG Hoffenheim. Wirtz put Robert Andrich's 1-0 up straight away and brilliantly initiated the two following goals with through passes to the outstanding set-up player Jeremie Frimpong. Evidence of the top class of the 19-year-old, which of course is extremely good for him after an almost ten-month injury break. https://www.kicker.de/wirtz-und-die-macht-der-fruehen-fuehrung-937183/artikel
Germany U21 Malick Thiaw looking to have full breakthrough in Milan in Serie A. likely future call up, if not March then Fall 2023.
Draxler is such a flop can't even be XI in Portugal. no matter how much dfb tried to push for him it never amounted to anything.
TBH, I thought he was a flop after his first few games at Dortmund, but he seems to have really adapted (an understatement) quite well. Yeah, I know I have no patience. Really love the back flip - is he a Klose fan by chance?
you have to remember that this season is his 1st season in top 4 league so adjustments was required. even if his 1st half of season wasn't amazing we still saw glimpses of his potential and he played a big game vs Bayern in that crazy comeback D. now in 2023 he's finally showing his potential with goals and also broke the record for fastest ever 1BL player. He's even admitted that he can go as far as 37 km/h. still hasn't shown his full potential too, loads of room to grow. I hope he resists any La Liga (always linked there) and EPL interest and stays for some years at Dortmund to dev his full game. as for flip, I believe that he's an Aubamayeng fan who also used to flip.
French Legend Thierry Henry was super impressed with Adeyemi's goal. That he started to run just outside of his own box, followed by fantastic 1st touch, that he knew where to go/run and the composure to go around the GK and finish. he also said that Adeyemi's goal was looked to be made very easy but really isn't at all, even more so given the speed he was going at. And that he was impressed that Adeyemi made all the right decisions that most players would have overplayed it and wasted it. then at end, that all that energy to run and he still has energy to back flip, LMAO.
WIRTZ SOLO, 2-1 COMEBACK LEAD!!! https://streamin.me/v/a7dd545c Wirtz solo goal vs 4-5 Monaco players, LMAO. We seriously missed his qualities for WC. its very good to see Adeyemi, Thiaw, Wirtz all making Europe impressions. Then add likes of N.Schlotterbeck, Moukoko and Musiala also getting a lot of CL experience too. I really want to see Wirtz play CL next season.....
Wirtz also heavily involved in the tying goal too. https://streamin.me/v/ac82d3b0 the reality is that Bayer really is Wirtz or bust type club. Continues to show that he carries the club alone. I sadly think he'll end up in La Liga next. Only Bayern could afford him and even then it seems doubtful they pay that much for him in future.
Samardzic is one of leading U21 Serie A scorers too. and he also brings in loads of quality with his dribbling, technique, passing, long balls, throughballs, Corner kicks, Free Kicks etc. Improved defensively too. his quality Corners+FKs are things current Senior NT are severly lacking too. seems all but likely that Samardzic gonna be in CL club come Summer too. A player who it would be stupid for us to lose, no good reason to lose him.