Henrikh Mkhitaryan - Now at Roma

Very nice. I think the reports of Dortmund's demise after Götze's leaving were somewhat exaggerated ^^

Will he be given the #10 btw ?

Aubameyang - Mkhitaryan - Blaszczykowski

the midfield of death
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to the commentators

So how does the attack look then?

Bender-Gündogan
Reus-Mkhitaryan-Kuba
Lewandowski

@ioilersrock448 wrote:So how does the attack look then?

Bender-Gündogan
Reus-Mkhitaryan-Kuba
Lewandowski

Probably, yes. Götze out, Mkhitaryan in. Plus, there's a very good additional option available with Aubameyang, who can be used for rotation purposes on both the flank and the CF position. Also, after participating in the full pre-season training, Sahin will likely be closer to his best again and play a bigger role than he did during the last 6 months. This would introduce the option of occasionally playing Gündogan in a more attacking role, which used to be his natural position until Klopp transformed him.

The squad's looking good so far. However, personally, I'm still hoping for 1 solid defensive back up in the region of 5m € and one good/promising attacking allrounder, ideally Kevin Volland.

I'm not sure how realistic this still is though.

Watzke said they'd spend 50m, and after the purchases of Sokratis (9m), Aubameyang (13m) and Mkhitaryan (rumoured to be 25m), that's already 47m. Also, Volland - who's one of the biggest prospects in his age group and very flexible, as he can play on both wings and as a CF - most likely won't be available, seeing as his club (Hoffenheim) didn't get relegated after all. Maybe Dortmund can still look into another player that is young, versatile and cheap.

I don't think you really need another attacking signing considering how versatile most of them are.

I would definitely look at a LB and DM though.

Yeh LB is the big weak spot imo and filling that up would probably automatically improve Dortmund from last season

Am I the only one that see's Weidenfeller as a weak link?

ynwa wrote:Am I the only one that see's Weidenfeller as a weak link?

Yes you are, he is a fantastic goalkeeper.

He's definitely not fantastic.

He's solid, but I can see you guys doing better than him.

@Great Leader Sprucenuce wrote:I don't think you really need another attacking signing considering how versatile most of them are.

Not necessarily, but Watzke has been talking about increasing Dortmund's squad depth and, so far - especially after selling/loaning out both Leitner and Bittencourt - there's not really a sign of that. If Großkreutz switches to being a fullback option constantly and Gündogan largely remains in the deep CM role, there's currently 5 players for the 3 attacking midfield positions (Reus, Blaszczykowski, Mkhitaryan, Aubameyang and the largely unproven talent Hofmann).

That's decent depth, however, adding one more versatile player like Volland would change it from being decent to becoming excellent; especially considering the fact that Volland can also play the lone striker role. The squad was and still is rather thin on that position, since Schieber has pretty much been a non-factor so far. With Marvin Ducksch, there's a promising young CF prospect coming up, but he still needs to prove his worth at this level obviously.

I definitely agree with signing a LB. Or at least any fullback at all. I think Großkreutz can play there well enough, however, with Piszczek out for almost the entire first half of the season, problems could soon arise.
They're apparently thinking of playing Sokratis in Piszczek's place for a while. But seeing as Sokratis is first and foremost a CB, that's a bit of a gamble. Plus, it results in a shortage of CBs, too, since the only replacements for Hummels and Subotic would be unproven youth players. Therefore it would be better to get 1 more defender (FB preferably) to lower the risk of ending up with a shortage of reliable players in that area.

Agree Percival Faust.

Also Weidenfeller was fantastic last season, making many brilliant saves that allowed them to progress through the CL.

Without him they don't make the final IMO.

@urbaNRoots wrote:

ynwa wrote:He's definitely not fantastic.

He's solid, but I can see you guys doing better than him.

lol who do you suggest then? A realistic target... I can understand saying Mitch is not good enough to replace him in 2-3 seasons, so there's a need for a very good young goalkeeper but not this.

Weidenfeller has been the best GK in the league for two seasons now (last season Adler was very good aswell) yet Dortmund should do better than him.

They can pretty much get anyone they want.

Buying a keeper to replace him in 2-3 years would be stupid. It only slows down the process of the younger goalkeeper developing. Unless you do a Chelsea and loan them out...

He hasn't been the best GK in the league for two seasons. Stop overrating him. He does his job, but I still find him the biggest weak link in the starting XI.

ynwa wrote:

@urbaNRoots wrote:

ynwa wrote:He's definitely not fantastic.

He's solid, but I can see you guys doing better than him.

lol who do you suggest then? A realistic target... I can understand saying Mitch is not good enough to replace him in 2-3 seasons, so there's a need for a very good young goalkeeper but not this.

Weidenfeller has been the best GK in the league for two seasons now (last season Adler was very good aswell) yet Dortmund should do better than him.

They can pretty much get anyone they want.

Buying a keeper to replace him in 2-3 years would be stupid. It only slows down the process of the younger goalkeeper developing. Unless you do a Chelsea and loan them out...

He hasn't been the best GK in the league for two seasons. Stop overrating him. He does his job, but I still find him the biggest weak link in the starting XI.

Schmelzer and Bender are IMO

Marvin Ducksch   looking forward to him, will be interesting how he performs when he takes that step to the first team.
I think this season they can continue with Weidenfeller, because they have already invested in other positions.

lol, I can't even imagine how any BVB fan can doubt Weidenfeller. He was HANDS DOWN a better goal keeper than Neur last season.

In fact, a huge part of me always wanted to eventually replace him with Ter Stegen but now I wouldn't replace the guy for anyone (except maybe Ter Stegen.. someday  )



Either way, Mkhitaryan is a great signing but I was really looking forward to seeing Sahin becoming a first team player against and Gundogan moving up as a central attacking midfielder. Unfortunately, that won't happen anymore  

My ideal formation:

----------------Weiden-------------

Piszczek---Subotic---Hummels----Schmelzer

----------Bender------Sahin-------------

--Kuba---------Gundogan--------Auba----

------------------Reus--------------



OR


----------------Weiden-------------

Piszczek---Subotic---Hummels----Schmelzer

--------------Bender-------------
------------------------Sahin----
--------Gundogan----------------
--------------------------Mkhitaryan
-----Kuba-------------------------
-------------------Reus--------

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:Marvin Ducksch   looking forward to him, will be interesting how he performs when he takes that step to the first team.
I think this season they can continue with Weidenfeller, because they have already invested in other positions.

Lol Weidenfeller is awesome.Whoever says he is Dortmund's weak link are being ignorant literally.

Surag wrote:

HEIL MEIN REDS wrote:Marvin Ducksch   looking forward to him, will be interesting how he performs when he takes that step to the first team.
I think this season they can continue with Weidenfeller, because they have already invested in other positions.

Lol Weidenfeller is awesome.Whoever says he is Dortmund's weak link are being ignorant literally.

who said weidenfeller is anything less than awesome  , sorry for my lazy english, I am just thinking that they should continue this season with him and then buy a strong back up GK in the the next window.