[Colonel.]

[Da_hopeful_1]

Sport1 reports Dzeko has agreed terms with Bayern Munich, just the fee to be agreed. Dzeko and Gomez hmm... they'll have to change system

[IWantSomeMushu]

Was actually wondering who would get Dzeko.

Probably a good price as well.

[Laertes]

20million Euros is the fee being bandied around.

[Strangeclouds]

They'll probably rotate the two. Starting the two of them would be a bit weird, only way to do it would be a 4-2-2-2, and that would mean benching two of Gustavo, Kroos, and Muller.

[CB91]

(Original post by Strangeclouds)
They'll probably rotate the two. Starting the two of them would be a bit weird, only way to do it would be a 4-2-2-2, and that would mean benching two of Gustavo, Kroos, and Muller.

Don't forget Shaqiri too.

If Bayern get Dzeko, they'll actually actually have decent amount of depth in midfield and attack.

[IWantSomeMushu]

Hopefully Dortmund spend the Kagawa money well to replace him, seeing as Bayern are really strengthening.

[Malevolent]

(Original post by CB91)
Don't forget Shaqiri too.

If Bayern get Dzeko, they'll actually actually have decent amount of depth in midfield and attack.

Need to fix that defense though. Might just be me but i dont rate Boating or Badstuber that highly.

[Louis.]

(Original post by IWantSomeMushu)
Hopefully Dortmund spend the Kagawa money well to replace him, seeing as Bayern are really strengthening.

They've already got Marco Reus coming in. If Kagawa leaves that's the direct replacement, he'll probably play in the role just off Lewandowski.

Should be able to spend on top of that too...maybe in central midfield? Thing with them though is that they've got so many young players they don't necessarily need to spend to improve, Gotze, Hummels, Subotic etc will just get better and better for a couple of seasons at least.

[CB91]

(Original post by Louis.)
They've already got Marco Reus coming in. If Kagawa leaves that's the direct replacement, he'll probably play in the role just off Lewandowski.

Should be able to spend on top of that too...maybe in central midfield? Thing with them though is that they've got so many young players they don't necessarily need to spend to improve, Gotze, Hummels, Subotic etc will just get better and better for a couple of seasons at least.

Schmelzer, Subotic, Hummels, Piszczek, Gundogan, Bender, Gotze, Reus, Błaszczykowski, Lewandowski. Such a good, young team.

(Should mention Leitner and Grosskreutz too).

[I Kant Spall]

Is it just me, or does anyone else think there's a huge lack of world-class CBs playing in Europe right now? Most of the former world's best are close to hitting their mid-30s, if they're not already there. It seems like young strikers and midfielders are in huge supply. They're rising through the ranks and joining big clubs almost daily. However, CBs with a lot of potential are a hot commodity. These same big clubs are looking for CBs to play alongside/learn amongst their grizzled veterans.

Has the game in general gotten more attacking-minded, or am I missing something?

[jam277]

(Original post by I Kant Spall)
Is it just me, or does anyone else think there's a huge lack of world-class CBs playing in Europe right now? Most of the former world's best are close to hitting their mid-30s, if they're not already there. It seems like young strikers and midfielders are in huge supply. They're rising through the ranks and joining big clubs almost daily. However, CBs with a lot of potential are a hot commodity. These same big clubs are looking for CBs to play alongside/learn amongst their grizzled veterans.

Has the game in general gotten more attacking-minded, or am I missing something?

Na, there's quite a lot of quality CB's.
Hummels, subotic, thiago silva, chiellini, barzagli, kompany, pique, pepe and ramos for starters.
Not to mention very good potentials like jones, smalling and as much as you guys want to hate, david luiz and laurent koscielny could easily become world class if they replicate their form this season. Mbiwa is a potential player too.

[mau5]

You could probably add fullbacks to that as well, can't remember there ever being so few top class defenders around.

[Stu Laverty]

(Original post by I Kant Spall)
Is it just me, or does anyone else think there's a huge lack of world-class CBs playing in Europe right now? Most of the former world's best are close to hitting their mid-30s, if they're not already there. It seems like young strikers and midfielders are in huge supply. They're rising through the ranks and joining big clubs almost daily. However, CBs with a lot of potential are a hot commodity. These same big clubs are looking for CBs to play alongside/learn amongst their grizzled veterans.

Has the game in general gotten more attacking-minded, or am I missing something?

I think it's all relative. At the start of the 00's, we had an absurd amount of quality CBs: Nesta was near his prime and is probably the best CB I've ever seen; Cannavaro was getting great; Jaap Stam was phenomenal; then there's others like Campbell, Desailly, Ayala. I would probably rank all of them above any defender currently playing with the exception of maybe Thiago Silva, but even that I'd doubt.

There have been some wonderful defenders over the past few years. Vidic is one of the finest I've ever seen but has been hurt by injuries. Right now, the best defenders around haven't really shined on a big stage yet. If I were to compile a list of the top defenders in the 2011/2012 season, I'd probably go something like: Thiago Silva; Hummels; Chiellini and Kompany stand out. None of them have won a World Cup, none of them have won a Champions League, they have won relatively few league titles between them (only Hummels has won a league title in a major league more than once).

Compare this to players like Nesta, Cannavaro and Desailly who were all instrumental in their side winning World Cups. Jaap Stam was one of Man Utd's best players in their treble wining season. I think it's easy to feel that the current set of CBs in the world aren't as good when we were blessed with an abundance of great CBs back in the late 90's/early 00's.

[Strangeclouds]

(Original post by jam277)
Na, there's quite a lot of quality CB's.
Hummels, subotic, thiago silva, chiellini, barzagli, kompany, pique, pepe and ramos for starters.
Not to mention very good potentials like jones, smalling and as much as you guys want to hate, david luiz and laurent koscielny could easily become world class if they replicate their form this season. Mbiwa is a potential player too.

Theres world class, as most of these are, and then there's a level above. Aside from Kompany and Thiago, you could argue against all of them. Chiellini and Barzagli, one good season, Pique still has question marks. Pepe can be rash and Ramos is new to the role. Hummels is average, in fact, dire for Germany.

[CB91]

(Original post by Stu Laverty)
I think it's all relative. At the start of the 00's, we had an absurd amount of quality CBs: Nesta was near his prime and is probably the best CB I've ever seen; Cannavaro was getting great; Jaap Stam was phenomenal; then there's others like Campbell, Desailly, Ayala. I would probably rank all of them above any defender currently playing with the exception of maybe Thiago Silva, but even that I'd doubt.

There have been some wonderful defenders over the past few years. Vidic is one of the finest I've ever seen but has been hurt by injuries. Right now, the best defenders around haven't really shined on a big stage yet. If I were to compile a list of the top defenders in the 2011/2012 season, I'd probably go something like: Thiago Silva; Hummels; Chiellini and Kompany stand out. None of them have won a World Cup, none of them have won a Champions League, they have won relatively few league titles between them (only Hummels has won a league title in a major league more than once).

Compare this to players like Nesta, Cannavaro and Desailly who were all instrumental in their side winning World Cups. Jaap Stam was one of Man Utd's best players in their treble wining season. I think it's easy to feel that the current set of CBs in the world aren't as good when we were blessed with an abundance of great CBs back in the late 90's/early 00's.

Don't forget that all of these CB's are only young and not even in their peak playing years yet, they have plenty of time to win title after title and develop their game. When Nesta, Cannavaro and Desailly won the WC, there were all around 30, and out of the ones you mentioned only Vidic is 30+. I also believe you're putting too much emphasis on the World Cup. The CL is the bigger tournament with a better standard of football.

I'd also put Puyol up there with the greats tbh.

[jam277]

(Original post by CB91)
Don't forget that all of these CB's are only young and not even in their peak playing years yet, they have plenty of time to win title after title and develop their game. When Nesta, Cannavaro and Desailly won the WC, there were all around 30, and out of the ones you mentioned only Vidic is 30+. I also believe you're putting too much emphasis on the World Cup. The CL is the bigger tournament with a better standard of football.

I'd also put Puyol up there with the greats tbh.

He's talking about the younguns.
Also, ramos has been the best central defender in la liga this season along with pique, there are no question marks about their ability in all honesty.

Pepe might be rash and a straight up cock, but he's quality as well.
Also, I hate using national team form as a reason why they're not world class, I reckon most of the players care about their club team more than their country, plus the champions league is the stage you show your abilities usually.

[internetstephen]

(Original post by CB91)
Don't forget Shaqiri too.

If Bayern get Dzeko, they'll actually actually have decent amount of depth in midfield and attack.

And they've signed Pizarro again on a one-year deal.

[Jordan_1]

Thought this was quite funny. Imagine being born into that family, you would be constantly slated if you weren't an amazing footballer.

[Da_hopeful_1]

Bayern are going to have some squad if they do keep hold of what they currently have and get Dzeko and the rumoured Javi Martinez too