It's really hard to predict when age will come for a player. From the top Madrid midfield, Casemiro was obviously busted at 30, whereas Kroos is still a top player at 34. We know Kimmich already shows signs of physical decline at 29 - but he can of course adapt his game. For me one of the weaknesses of this team compared to '14 is they have a poor age curve. Generally you want most players in the sweet spot of 24-28, with some young talent and older header. This team has a bunch of young guys, and then some very old guys. Putting aside whether he plays or not - Havertz, Tah, Mittelstadt and Sane were the 4 big players in the sweet spot (you have a others on the periphery) So we don't know who will age well and of course Wirtz and Musiala will be 2 years older for the worldcup - but it might really be 2028 before Germany has a sensible age curve Compare to the 2014 side when the likes of Kroos, Khedira, Mueller and Ozil were at peak, with one older guy in Schweini
NL introduction was solely to make it worth wile when compared to meaningless friendlies. I Gave you the Spanish example of winning it and kicking on to more Glory in the Euros. It could also apply to the French to a lesser extent, who won the Nations league and then went on to lose on penalties in the world cup final. Surely success breeds, confidence, a aura of invincibility and team bonding, which otherwise in meaningless friendless was non existent.
Looks like CF L.Nmecha is on track for comeback from injury after mostly 2 years injured towards end of 2024 and looks on track for extension at 1BL Wolfsburg. https://www.waz-online.de/sport/reg...-lukas-nmecha-RLSNTCZZEJFSRAWGDBQEP37YPM.html our CF pool would have looked much different if Burkardt, Nmecha, Berisha didn't waste all season or more then half of it injured in 2023-2024 season. What a shame. Burkardt came back in 2024 and made all difference in world to save Mainz from relegation but at that point was too late for NT call up which would have been his 1st ever one.
So much will depend on club football this year! e.g we are all high on Pavlovic - but he'll need to deliver!
Agreed, that was the concern I had and tried to post. It is highly likely, that some of our players in the current team will age out, either through injuries, exhaustion or retirement. However the future is unknown and we will just have to wait to see what happens.
why would he downgrade for such a minnow club, LOL. 🚨Juni Calafat and his team like Nico Schlotterbeck. They are monitoring him. @Rodra10_97, @inakiangulo pic.twitter.com/Ff9tbsUr0k— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) July 18, 2024 but would be funny BVB CB Pair Anton+N.Schlotterbeck vs Real Madrid CB Pair Rudiger+N.Schlotterbeck
To be fair, Pavlovic was excellent majority of the games he played last season. Hence, such high regard in a very short time frame.
LOL, he's in good company with Lukaku. Most big chances missed at EURO 2024:◎ 7 - Kai Havertz 🇩🇪◎ 6 - Romelu Lukaku 🇧🇪◎ 5 - Cristiano Ronaldo 🇵🇹 pic.twitter.com/2APuyt3d1k— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) July 16, 2024 pic.twitter.com/VF1cqlSH1O— Austin (@CFCAustin_) July 16, 2024 man I really hope that someone anyone can bench his ass. I agree with @BVBFNM we aren't gonna win anything with him upfront. would be funny if Kleindienst emerges next season as NT option with Gladbach and we get our 2nd late bloomer CF after Fullkrug. Kleindienst was excellent last season and played major role in historic Euro qualifying for Heidenheim. I believe I recall seeing that Kleindienst's stats were very high not only in scoring/assisting but many other facets as well in 1BL. Plus he always scores vs the top 1BL clubs too. I always liked Kleindienst since his Freiburg days although always doubted he'd ever get SNT call up. But these days its all open anyways. I'm all for the late bloomer 3 amigos of Fullkrug-Ducksch-Kleindienst Late Bloomers for the win!!!
I think it's pretty unanimous on this forum that everyone is frustrated with Havertz' performance. However I am a bit surprised that you didn't mention any youth players, like Beier. Or were you just having some fun here?
I don't see Nagelsmann going for a young CF tbh. Nagelsmann is 100% about image coach and he wants success. He's likely to bail from NT after WC26, given that he would want to go as far as possible at WC26 so he's NOT gonna trust someone like Beier who is still young and lacks international experience. I bet that Beier who almost scored 4 goals in 2 games for Germany will be seen as a sub option vs tired legs only. Due to his speed, pretty decent dribbling, direct style of play etc. we are either gonna be stuck with Havertz or return of Werner or a late bloomer CF. A Late Bloomer CF or Werner are the only hope to bench Havertz, LOL. also remember that there are other older options in 1BL next season, none are super old, all 97-00 Ages. Tietz (did well last season in his 1st ever 1BL season. Recall it was said that Nagelsmann scouted him out too), Pieringer (plays for Euro club Heidenheim, did decently in his 1st ever 1BL season last season), Breunig (transfer to Euro club Heidenheim. Looks to be doing well in preseason but we have to wait and how he does during his 1st ever 1BL season), Broschinski (going on his 3rd 1BL season, has been decent so far, more classical CF), Burkardt (back from injury in 2024 where he excelled), Arp (promoted with 2BL club), J.Eggestein (promoted with 2BL club), Nmecha (when back from injury), Berisha (when back from injury) etc if we get a new coach and Havertz flops at WC26 that could be when we finally stops seeing him in XI. And others might get real chances. so far the CF pool looking like *Havertz*, Fullkrug, Ducksch, Kleindienst, Werner (back from injury, remember he had his best season as a footy player under Nagelsmann), Tietz, Pieringer, Breunig, Broschinski, Burkardt, Arp, J.Eggestein, L.Nmecha, Berisha, Beier then players like Adeyemi, Schade, Njinmah, Dinkci can play all attacking positions too. Schade who spent almost entire last season injured, which sucks as he was starting to click just before he got injured. Made comeback towards end of season in EPL where he showed he can make a difference. And now preseason hahaha, Havertz wouldn't have finished that. "A fine individual finish!"Kevin Schade 👏✨ pic.twitter.com/TZ9RhQrtDl— Brentford FC (@BrentfordFC) July 20, 2024
funny thing is that Havertz SHOULD have won the Golden Boot, given how many sitters he missed, its crazy, LOL. Fullkrug got robbed a goal vs Scotland and hit post vs Spain, he himself could have won Golden Boot too. but back to Havertz this is why for me he's NOT a CF. The chances Havertz had are chances that REAL CFs would have put in no problem, he even missed 1 open net, LULZ. people shit on Werner but he likely would have scored a few MIN with the chances Havertz had. the CF needs to have killer instinct, something Havertz has never shown. I called it pre-tourney that everything I saw of Havertz at CF that he's NOT the type that will decide close matches and you want someone who can decide close matches. In tourneys like Euro+WC, sometimes all you get is 1-2 chances to score per match, so the CF needs to have finishing abilities. And those 1-2 chances tend to make difference as Germany, when we lose we usually lose with a very close result.
Unfortunately we're stuck with Havertz upfront because he's doing what is asked of him, whatever that means according to Nagelsmann.
Agree. Havertz is not clinical enough for the CF position. Best option are Fullkrug or Beier for me. Hoping for both to have Good seasons ahead.
Fullkrug to Atletico Madrid??? Spanish media Because according to 'as', the Rojiblancos are very interested in signing the DFB striker. From the Madrilenians' point of view, Füllkrug combines the skills that coach Diego Simeone values in his offensive players: strength in aerial duels, good play at the back, physicality and a good work rate. Atlético also has fond memories of Füllkrug from the direct duels in the last Champions League season. https://www.fussballtransfers.com/a...-milan-atletico-steigt-in-fuellkrug-poker-ein from Bild After AC Milan has already approached the Dortmund striker specifically, and even contacted his consulting agency Roof, another top European club is now keen on our European Championship favorite. And according to information from BILD and SPORT BILD, he is even prepared to pay an insane transfer fee that is quite something! Spanish club wants to pay 30 million for Füllkrug! It's about Atlético Madrid. The top club has already been keeping a close eye on Füllkrug and now wants to get serious. Exciting: The management has already decided internally that they want to raise the mega transfer fee of up to 30 million euros. One thought experiment is that part of the sum could be paid in the form of performance-related bonuses. The Madrilenians are urgently looking for a successor to Spain's European champion captain Álvaro Morata (31), who just moved to Milan for 13 million euros. The background: Atlético coach Diego Simeone (54) is particularly keen on Füllkrug. The Argentinian likes to rely on more experienced players in his squad (average age 26.3 years). His key players include stars such as Antoine Griezmann (33), Marcos Llorente (29) and Rodrigo de Paul (30). And now Füllkrug? Simeone is said to be particularly convinced by his finishing qualities. He was impressed by Füllkrug's performances with two substitute goals at the European Championships and in the Champions League. There, Fülle played a decisive role in BVB reaching the final, scoring in the highly important knockout matches in the semi-final against Paris (1-0) and even in the direct duel against Atlético in the 4-2 second leg in the quarter-final. Atlético's original plan was to buy Ukraine striker Artem Dovbyk (27). However, the transfer fee of around 40 million demanded by his club FC Girona is said to be too expensive for the club. That's why Füllkrug is now suddenly at the top of the wish list. https://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/...uer-fuellkrug-zahlen-669cabf39adad5697317ff28
not a fan of La Liga and its a risky move and prefer he stays at BVB but at same time it feels like this is type of transfer that could potentially bench Havertz. I tend to think German coaches rate La Liga-EPL more than 1BL so this is main reason why Havertz gets edge, nevermind that CL is better indicator and Havertz was rubbish last season while Fullkrug impressed in rare BVB making CL final. this might be the only shot.
I am truly curious why Nagelsmann never try Havertz and Fullkrug upfront like 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 with Havertz playing number 10 role. I believe Havertz today is a monster, if play him with or behind actual target man. I mean he is more threat than Gundogan these days. Too bad for Fullkrug BVB keep buying a new striker, I am wonder if Fullkrug have played as much as Harry Kane. How many goals would he scores in the BL?
Elite strikers have chance conversion of around 20%. IIRC Messi was an outlier at 20%. However much I love the anti-hero Füllkrug, he isn't going to continue to score for Germany at such crazy rates. His club career (where sample size if bigger) is his real level.
In what way is the CL a better indicator? What i don't really understand is you seem to be arguing Fülle is more of a clutch player, but then you ignore he bottled the CL final and missed his chances vs Spain. I don't think badly of him for that - but it does show he isn't actually such a clinical player as you claim.
We did see that a few times in the last 30 mins when Gundo went off? I suspect when he has younger players at 6 & 8 we'll see more of a AM (e.g. Wirtz) and less of a CM He made 29 appearances. The reality is he just wasn't good enough last season. Maybe if BVB get their act together he can have a better season but it sounds like he isn't a good fit for how they want to play
what do you mean? -CL is a higher level than any league -CL is closer in format to a Euro or WC, with GS and Knockout Stages vs the 34-38 matches of league -in CL you play the best clubs in Europe, you don't play the rubbish mid-table to bottom clubs. -you play vs the best players in Europe in CL as well. -in CL you get to play vs the different styles around Europe -BVB for example might be one of the best teams in 1BL but when it comes to CL they drift towards underdogs so yeah reaching a CL final is always a HUGE deal. I'm sure even you yourself rate numerous clubs more than BVB so because he hits post vs Real and Spain="bottled", LOL.Who actually thought BVB was gonna win vs Real???? And this is Fullkrug's 1st EVER Euro season in his career too, has never played CL or EL in his career. yet I see you go gaga for Hawwy Kane at every chance, LOL. Kane was rubbish in 2/2 matches vs Real in SF and nowhere near scoring and mediocre vs Spain in final. why is it that when Kane does WORST vs 2/2 of the same opposition aka Real Madrid+Spain you go crickets???? also find it ironic that you were putting down Fullkrug for Morata as superior and yet tons of reports from Spain and Germany that Simeone is a fan of Fullkrug and was impressed with his CL+Euro showings and that he likes his style of play. Its ironic since Morata was Atletico Madrid's player before this Summer's transfer to Milan. what I see you claim you don't think badly of him but put him down at every chance. your postings for MONTHS even pre-tourney was always pro-Havertz at every chance. Even when he's Germany's worst ever CF in a tourney you still want to see more of him too. And Havertz is a clinical finisher??? Its fact that he's Euro 2024 #1 bottler.