Baphomet wrote:cgf wrote:Ultimately I don't trust Neuer anymore and we don't have the depth to withstand an injury to the free-thinker, LeGo, or the Dortmund CBs...yet^…so Qatar is likely a tournament too soon for us. But if things go our way, this team could be a lot of fun even without Wirtz.
Havertz*
Sane* - Musiala* - Gnabry*
Kimmich - Goretzka
Raum** - Schlotterbeck - Süle - Kehrer/Klostermann
*Adeyemi / Müller / Werner / Nmecha / Burkardt
** Hofmann / Baku / Gosens
Havertz*
Sane* - Gnabry*
Raum/Gosens - Kimmich - Goretzka - Hofmann/Baku
Schlotterbeck - Süle - Kehrer/Klostermann
*Musiala / Adeyemi / Müller / Werner / Nmecha / Burkardt
^In a cycle or two Bella Kotchap, Dardai, Thiaw, Arrey Mbi, Gechter, & Buchmann / Collins should address the CB depth.
It’ll be a bit more of a wait to get proper cover for Kimmich & Goretzka unless Stiller & Krauß / Becker / Martel take bigger steps than expected over the next two years…though I do like Stach as a backup…or Rhein / Raebiger / Bischof, develop faster than expected.
I can't comment on the state of the Germany rebuild, but I thought Musiala looked very bright when he played against England. I'm also glad that he's playing for Germany as the England NT would likely only waste his talent.
Good to see you, cgf.
Thanks man, life got absolutely CRAZY
As for our youth work:
There was a significant down period after the 95-96ers: Sane, Gnabry, Kimmich, Goretzka, Süle, Kehrer, Klostermann, Werner, Brandt, Tah, Dahoud. During which time we were only producing 1 or 2 kids per age group with the talent to compete for starting spots on the senior team: maybe Neuhaus from '97; Raum & Baku in '98; Havertz & Schlotterbeck in '99; just Burkardt in 2000. But starting with the 2001ers, that has been ticking back to 4-6 kids, or more, per age group.
Which lead to: our U21s winning the last euros and sending even more potential senior team talents to next summer's edition. Our U17s to choke after going up by 2 in the shootout against eventual champions France at this summer's euros. And the U19s to botch their elite round qualifying group after dropping leads late in games to Italy & Belgium...but that team didn't have many of its top talents due to promotions, without having gotten any of the top-ranked U17s to backfill.
Musiala's certainly a big-time talent for the attack/creative-band, who is an absolute delight to watch, but that is our strongest area even without counting Havertz or Sanabry. As Wirtz, Adeyemi, Moukoko, Wanner, Ibrahimovic, Raebiger, & Bischof, are in that same tier...though I expect the latter two will move deeper as they progress to the senior level, despite playing as 10s / wingers at the youth level.
I also really like Burkardt & Schade, but they're not quite on the same level as that first group and we have a lot more kids in the Burkardt / Schade tier, who I'm just not as confident in making good on their talent (atm) and didn't want to list through.
We're also looking good in defense once again; as our U21 CBs (Bella Kotchap, Dardai, & Thiaw) will be pushing for the spots behind Süle, Schlotterbeck, and Kehrer/Klostermann, as soon as next cycle...I'm really high on Bella Kotchap, his ceiling is just massive and he seems to be a quick learner; while Dardai's just a beauty with the ball. Arrey Mbi & Gechter from the younger generation, are both similarly-highly-rated talents, who started to make their own jumps to senior team football at the club level.
At FB/WB Luca Netz is one of the biggest talents in his age group and the 19yo had some very exciting performances for BMG this season; looking like an eventual rival to the still just 23yo Raum with his intelligence & skill...while Knauff just won the EL playing RWB for Frankfurt.
Where I'm still not loving things is behind Kimmich & Goretzka; at least in the short term...in the long run, Raebiger & Bischoff are two of our biggest talents regardless of age group, and I'm really high on Rhein, who looks just like Kimmich did at the youth level. I do like Stach as a backup, but he should never start for us in a big match...which we're one Kimmich injury away from having to do...while Gundogan's age is catching up to him & Neuhaus took a step back this season.
So unless one (or more) of Stiller / Krauß / Becker / Martel
really develops well, Stach shows a gear I didn't expect from him, or Neuhaus bounces back in a big way; it'll be a while before we have any genuine alternatives to the Bayern duo...as we could be waiting until one of Raebiger, Bischof, or Rhein, is ready to claim a spot on the senior NT.
I have had to accept that I don't know **** about assessing goalies and lucked into calling ter Stegen early. So I dunno what to think about our future there beyond MAtS / Trapp / Ortega...but we have a few kids who have looked good to me whenever I've seen them play for our youth NTs and have hype amongst german prospect folks.
Köln's Jonas Urbig has tremendous skill on the ball for a U19 keeper; he can look like a young Neuer or ter Stegen with the ball on his foot. While Noah Atubolu has been coming on strong for the U21 NT after backstopping freshly-promoted Freiburg II to a solidly midtable finish in the third division, despite just turning 20 a few weeks ago.
