OK. A player maker. Meant offensive weapon in terms of generating offense. At any rate, when you don't score and can't shoot, don't have enough stamina, and can't last 90 minutes, and everyone knows you are going to pass, that will limit your playmaking abilities.
Why shouldn't it be questioned? Just because you say so? Real Madrid questioned his importance and didn't seem too wrong with that and at Arsenal a player like Ramsay has become more important than Özil. Also where do you get the idea that Özil alone has been the creative hub for the side? Özil is certainly ONE of our creative attacking players but just take a look at some of the recent friendlies with Kroos as AM who did at least as good a job as Özil. We aren't dependend on Özil and never were. His best tournament was the WC 2010 and it's no coincidence that even in that tournament it was Müller who made the difference and that Klose and Podolski weren't less of a factor than Özil (and just as easily disappeared against Spain). Where was Özil for example at the EC 2010? He had at best an average tournament and didn't offer the creativity we needed and on top made our central midfield just more vulnerable. That's definitely not being our best player. Bias to what exactly? I'm not a fan of Podolski and might not even have had him nominated and certainly I wouldn't let him start but the reality is still that Podolski's contribution between 2006 and 2010 was at least as big as Özil's so far. That doesn't mean Özil can't change this or doesn't have A LOT more talent but he needs to show it and saying he is our most important player is just so far from reality that it's kinda shocking to me especially in a team with players like Lahm and Schweinsteiger who have much more influence on the team than Özil ever had, not to mention Müller who is the very definition of "big game player" and thus the oppossite to Özil. Sorry but Özil still needs to earn such a title and has simply not shown enough yet to deserve it. Friendlies, some great qualification matches and a few good games from him when the whole team is playing great is just not enough. That's why I compared him to Podolski because just like Podolski he has so far been a "specialist" who shines when things go smooth but struggles as soon as it's a difficult game. Not that I'm too upset about it because I simply don't expect more from him (anymore) but it annoys me if people then dare to call him our most important player. It would worry me if we had to play without Lahm. It would worry me if we had to play without Schweinsteiger. It would worry me if we had to play without Müller (and maybe Reus in his current form). It wouldn't worry me a single bit to play without Özil and have instead one of Götze/Kroos/Schürrle etc. playing for him. I'd even go so far and say that if Özil doesn't show some improvement in the next test games it might actually improve us if he doesn't play and we might for once have an AM who will support the CM.
I'll give it a shot as a sort-of devil's-advocate perspective. I think we've established that he's not a particularly strong goalscorer, but that he is a fine creator. But when we look at someone like Götze or Kroos, moreso the former, he arguably offers a good creative instinct combined with a more direct ability to score; in Kroos' case long range efforts, and in Götze's an ability to ghost into the box. So then we look at what Özil offers defensively, and its on-par at best with Götze/Kroos, possibly worse. So at this point people are wondering why should we take a player who's offensive game is less complete than alternatives, and more fragile defensively. I think its a valid question.
I don't think he is poor defensively. It's proven that he runs more than most players on the pitch, consistently. Maybe he isn't a great tackler but should we expect that of him? Maybe. Maybe not. Quite simply he is the most creative player even with everyone else fit. His vision is unmatched and when we have so many attacking outlets it's imperative to play someone next to them to get them those passes. The question shouldn't just be about him. The question can be whether he can be a player in a different system than our current 4-2-3-1. At Arsenal we've seen he can function in a 4-3-3 but that remains untested for Germany. We know he excels at the center of our current 4-2-3-1 and he's given no reason why he should be removed as he's consistently been great for Germany. (a few bad matches when everyone else has been poor is no good indicator)
So why was Low appointed in the manager position? Is he even a real coach? This idiot just copies what other managers are doing with Bayern throughout the season.
I'll agree with everything, but one caveat; is it a possible that his running has primarily been on offence and so in spite of his stats, he may well be disruptive to good team defence? When a variety of individuals see very similar tendencies with their own eyes, such as Özil perhaps not contributing much on defence, is it possible that the proposition may have merit?
He can be question. Just not by the likes of you who are out to make him look like a failure. yea, Madrid wanted to switch to a different formation and play a different style. So he became surplus. Not because he sucked. Your argument is based on the idea that he sucks or somehow is a lesser player. That's not the case. The problem with your assessment is that you're reaching conclusions without any context. First of all, it's ridiculous that we have to have this conversation. Özil was made the center of a formation that thrives on his position. Since then he has repeatedly been involved in most creative chances and been the most prolific generator in chances/goals. That's the creative hub. There's really not a question about this. WTF are you talking about? You couldn't be further from the truth. Without Özil, Germany's counter attacking plan would have been non-existent. Talk about trying to revise history. Huh? Where was most of the team? Again, an invalid claim without context. The rest of the team can suck but he isn't allowed to have poor moments? He still managed to be top provider in chances and racked up three assists. I guess that is terrible considering the mediocrity of the team's overall performances. Stop already. It's a false equivalency for so many reasons. Among them; Podolski notorious for not contributing in big matches (You simply can't prove same of Özil as much as you try), Podolski was never the primary outlet for anything, width, scoring, etc. Ever. Özil has far more responsibility and they played for the most part in different systems and approaches. Again, what's even the point? Oh yea, to demean Özil by comparing him to someone who we are all in agreement is a subpar player who benefited from talent drought. You're ridiculous. I'm not even exempting him but this is outrageous for you to say that he hasn't shown his importance. When I say important, I always make sure to (wait for it) CONTEXTUALIZE my comments so I say things like creative outlet, chance generator. For you, it's an attack on Lahm and Schweinsteiger. Incredible. And that's where you show your hand.
Oezil got booed, very harsh treatment towards him I think class is permanent n form is temporary but his form is really piss poor all season Lahm said Oezil needs a good striker to perform at his best. Goetze's false 9 experiment should be over after failing to impress so many times If Oezil cannot play up to his old standard and still in such a bad run of form, he has to be benched. World Cup is not a league, it's a knockout tournament so if Oezil is in a bad form, u gotta bench him We can't afford to play everyone in poor form just because he has class. N I suspect Oezil is affected by his off-the-court issues. Personal life? That hurts some players' career all of a sudden. Maybe we can never see an old Oezil in the next month. He has been playing terribly all year and u suddenly want a miracle happen? I want him start, but if he isn't showing anything in the near future. Loew should consider benching him for someone like Goetze at AM. Just pick the most in form player
It may very well be. That's possibly a by product of how important he became to the team. Remove him and we see how out of ideas Germany can be because nobody will play through the middle like he does. Not Kroos whose instincts lie deeper. Not Götze who's never been a #10 is instincts are inside the box more or less. This could easily be seen as Mesut's issue as in he is so good that you need to allow him into the team despite some disturbance or the manager for not managing the situation. If it's a matter of Mesut evolving his game, he needs to be nurtured to do so. At Madrid he was moved towards being that outlet ONLY. That's how he was affected. He can't suddenly decide to be a different type of player when most of his minutes are spent being one type. Then with Germany there is so little playing time to develop anything under Löw (if he can even do that, I don't think so). Moreover Löw has done much of same. Since 2010 he hasn't encouraged Mesut to be anything other than the outlet in a 4-2-3-1. Now at Arsenal Wenger actually has and we saw some disruption. Some inconsistency which is normal when a transition like that happens. Moreover, he came into a new league and needs time to adjust to even that. Then you take the instability of the team, etc. So every criticism is so premature and out of context, it's unfair to lay all this down on him. Players definitely have a responsibility to change if the context changes and they want to keep staying at that level. With Mesut that transition has just started. And he wasn't helped by the circumstances at Arsenal nor by the incompetence and uncertainty of Löw and the National Team. So this just never is as simple as it looks. Certainly not with a player as complex a case as Özil. I think the future can certainly be in a 4-3-3. Until then we will see much of the same.
Yea but if Özil is supposed to be benched for poor form, then more than half the team should be as well.
Only because the AM is the only position where we have a logjam/oversupply. Oezil can be benched if he remains poor in form. No reason to gamble on him if he's in poor form and we have players like Kroos, Goetze who can fill the spot Other positions, like Klose or Lahm, we have no alternatives. So they are more valuable than Oezil in our setup
You might want to reconsider that since the problem is that things are obviously not as black and white in Özil's case.
But we don't. None of Reus, Götze, or Kroos are like Özil or can offer what he can in that role. Yea they could line up there on paper but would they really be better options? And why play someone like Götze there who has been in worse form than Mesut this year. Or Kroos who will just play deeper and isn't as creative in and around box as he is from deeper position. Or Reus which could mean Podolski starting on left. If Özil is awful in tournament start, then he can be benched but tournaments are not as simple as benching one of your most important players because he happens to have somewhat lower confidence. Based on that logic, again, most of the current team would.
Maybe Goetze or Kroos can offer something different and the team can benefit further more. We have plenty of creativity. Not like Goetze n Kroos are not creative anyway. The fact is, u never know who is the better option unless it is tried. What makes Oezil our most important player anyway? Defensively he is below par and not much to offer other than creativity. Kroos and Goetze can be better on the defensive end and flexible enough to play more direct if needed Goetze is not in worse form than Oezil. Don't make things up. He isn't starting regularly because of Pep's rotational system but when he plays he offers. Some very good games this season While Oezil? Hasn't played a good game after a month in Arsenal Heard there has to be something to do with his personal life in London, women issue. His form has been tier le. We have alternative there, and if he is still the worst player on the pitch, I can't see why he is considered important after a whole season of disappointment Oezil is no longer important. We don't need an exact duplicate as alternative. Result can be a surprise Oezil is experiencing a regression in his career and maybe he has already peaked in his Real Madrid days.
I was trying to get back to you for what you wrote. I was not really serious. At the end of the day, we all want the NT to succeed and I would love nothing more than for you to be right about Ozil. We just see things differently and I, right or wrong, have different expectations of that I want from Ozil.
Let's be realistic here. No way Loew is benching Ozil no matter how poorly he plays in friendlys. Gomez lost his starting position in EC2012 because Ozil could not connect with him. Now, if he has multiple poor group stage games, then yes. I don't know where Klose is in terms of fitness or form but Klose is the type of player that is helped/and can help players like Mueller, Ozil and others lift their game. The combo play against Holland (pre EC 2012) was amazing.
ok but we are still talking about the 4-2-3-1 which is optimized most with a player like Özil. You can't just throw in any player who is "creative" and expect the same results. And harsh on Özil. 1 month of good football? not true. Are we also going to criticize him for Wenger playing him into injury? Probably, as far as this reactive forum is concerned. You're acting like he completely lost his ability. It's not that crazy and he deserves a chance to prove himself as a starter when tournament begins based on his performances with Germany in the past five years.
ok as long as you admit to irrationally imposing false expectations on athletes who you only have a virtual relationship with. With that logic I fully expect Putin to become less of a homophobe because he is a powerful world figure and it could bring about positive change. Won't happen but those are my expectations because I'm an entitled brat who has been brought up to demand what only benefits me, even through information distortion.
You clearly need help in coping when people don't agree with you. I think 99.99% of us don't have personal relationships with players. My expectations of Ozil are not irrational. They are expectations I have for every key player maker. I expect them to able to shoot, score, have stamina and not have spells in games where they appear absent.
Özil is still the top scorer of the qualifiers so I won't doubt his position before his Portugal match.
I dont know why but there must be a reason Özil has been voted nt player of the year for the last three years.
Kroos and Khedira's defensive positioning is amateur. Also the wide attacking players did a poor job of getting back to cover the fullbacks, and the fullbacks likewise did a poor job of getting forward to support the wide attacking players. Overall the attack, central midfield, and defense looked like 3 totally separate units and did not display any type of cohesiveness whatsoever. That's a coaching problem.