Defensive Midfield Targets/Options

[I'm With Stupid]

Rumours that Bayern have agreed Goretzka's free transfer in 2018. Rummenigge talking about 'respect':

Do they ever pay for a player? How do they constantly get away with basically telling players to run down their contracts so they can get them for free?

 

[rollingnakedinmoney]

We should go after Leon Goretzka... Screw Bayern who want him for free in 2018.

We should do it just for the principle. They tried to pull this crap with KDB and Sane too before we swooped in.

 

[Andrew___K]

Do they ever pay for a player? How do they constantly get away with basically telling players to run down their contracts so they can get them for free?

Wondering the same thing. All German clubs including BvB seem to be obliged to be their feeder teams. It's an odd thing, and it hurts the league (and eventually Bayern themselves) greatly. I don't know how it works, but it definitely should be fixed for the benefit of Bundesliga.

 

[asahartford1]

What is it with this word "pivot". Is it a dm who doesn't run much?. Is it just a fashion word like " philosophy " or "project". Does every team now need a "pivot" or are we unusual in that respect.
If you have a midfielder who can defend well, cover fullbacks, track runs into the box , make challenges and pass well, like say kante, is that a "pivot"
Will the "pivot" be around in a year or so?

 

[cityzennn93:20]

So with Fabinho gone who do you guys want us to buy in this position

 

[Armaan]

So with Fabinho gone who do you guys want us to buy in this position

messi

 

[teddykgb]

What is it with this word "pivot". Is it a dm who doesn't run much?. Is it just a fashion word like " philosophy " or "project". Does every team now need a "pivot" or are we unusual in that respect.
If you have a midfielder who can defend well, cover fullbacks, track runs into the box , make challenges and pass well, like say kante, is that a "pivot"
Will the "pivot" be around in a year or so?

Kante isn't a pivot because Kante treats the ball like a hot potato. A Pivot is the player who makes himself available deep to progress the team forward. Yes, because of his position, he has to tackle well and screen the defense. But the difference you're not acknowledging is the two way nature of this player/role. Not every team needs a pivot as not every team wants to commit as many forward to attack. We frequently played with more of a DM and have David, Yaya, later KDB coming deep to pick up the ball, so it is obviously viable. But when a team trying to play possession lacks the deep lying distributor you end up having to make too many passes to get forward and as a result you attack too many setup defenses, pushing the ball side to side trying to find openings. When a pivot is playing well, the passes move forward and through the lines, playing creative players into space and creating numerical and/or positional advantages.

We could sign probably dozens of players to try to break up play and slide between the CBs when necessary. Unfortunately very few of those types of players can also gather the ball, turn, and locate an incisive pass forward. Or show in the space when the CBs split, receive the pass, and get the team moving forward quickly enough that the defenders who went to press the spread CBs are now out of position, etc.

 

[aguero93:20]

Rumours that Bayern have agreed Goretzka's free transfer in 2018. Rummenigge talking about 'respect':

"Leon Goretska has a contract with Schalke until 2018 and we will "respect" that by tapping him up now and negotiating a contract in violation of FIFA rules" was the full quote I believe :)

 

[BlueCityfan]

Sounds like it isn't a priority. Or we might not sign one at all. Which would leave us with Gundogan, Fern and Yaya for the pivot. That would be risky with Gundogans injury record.

 

[TRUE BLUE NO1]

Sounds like it isn't a priority. Or we might not sign one at all. Which would leave us with Gundogan, Fern and Yaya for the pivot. That would be risky with Gundogans injury record.

Thats my concern...fullbacks and DM would seem the most pressing needs. Love the idea of having Silva,Sanchez etc all playing together, we'll be unstoppable upfront but feel we'll continue to struggle until we sort out these other areas. Surprised that the only DM player currently linked is Carvalho