I know nothing about Lewandowski commitment to the club, but seeing how important Lewandowski has been and carried Dortmund in attack like in last match (as good as Sahin last time, Lewandowski was by far their best player followed by Sahin and Kuba) dropping Lewandowski would be quite a massive loss for Dortmund, I think that would hurt them.

Lewandowski looked great because he was their focal point in attack. They've repeatedly played without him, and looked just as good when they used Götze or Reus as a false 9, if not better, since those two both need less chances to actually score than Lewa does.

A 4-3-3 really isn't a bad idea.

Plus with Dortmunds high pressing style a 4-3-3 would suit then better. Theyre reallt the only high pressing top team that plays with only a 2-man midfield. I guess were not really in a position to criticize though since theyre doing so well in the CL. I know the rule of "dont fix it if its not broken" appkies here but it is an idea worth thinking about.

Well, the forwards in Dortmunds system help more with pressing than pretty much any team, maybe bar Barca. So they don't necessarily need a 3 man midfield with their forwards.

This disrespect to Lewandowski has got to stop now. 26 goals all season yet its nothing "because Dortmund create so many chances". Same logic can be applied to Van Persie of Man Utd, Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Cavani of Napoli, Falcao of Atletico, Aduriz of Athletic and the forwards of Milan, all teams who create ridiculous amounts of chances that aren't finished.

Lewandowski is the only player capable in their team of holding the ball to bring player into play, movement that opens up space, link-up play build around his focal reference point and some very vital big game goals.

A vital player for Dortmund. I wonder if he was German

Arquitecto wrote:This disrespect to Lewandowski has got to stop now. 26 goals all season yet its nothing "because Dortmund create so many chances". Same logic can be applied to Van Persie of Man Utd, Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Cavani of Napoli, Falcao of Atletico, Aduriz of Athletic and the forwards of Milan, all teams who create ridiculous amounts of chances that aren't finished.

Lewandowski is the only player capable in their team of holding the ball to bring player into play, movement that opens up space, link-up play build around his focal reference point and some very vital big game goals.

A vital player for Dortmund. I wonder if he was German

i agree, lewandowski is massive for dortmund. a lot can be said about his wastefulness at times, but most of the time he will score a goal or even two - and that's what matters in the end. he often ties up games on his own also by, as mentioned, effectively (!) holding the ball and giving out a decent amount of assists.

we don't know how good he would be at ManU or something but he works very, very well for Dortmund and a strikerless formation hasn't proven itself for them in the long term so far. thus, lewa is boss.

It's possible to press with a 2 man midfield.

Toffer Harley wrote:

Arquitecto wrote:This disrespect to Lewandowski has got to stop now. 26 goals all season yet its nothing "because Dortmund create so many chances". Same logic can be applied to Van Persie of Man Utd, Ronaldo of Real Madrid, Cavani of Napoli, Falcao of Atletico, Aduriz of Athletic and the forwards of Milan, all teams who create ridiculous amounts of chances that aren't finished.

Lewandowski is the only player capable in their team of holding the ball to bring player into play, movement that opens up space, link-up play build around his focal reference point and some very vital big game goals.

A vital player for Dortmund. I wonder if he was German

i agree, lewandowski is massive for dortmund. a lot can be said about his wastefulness at times, but most of the time he will score a goal or even two - and that's what matters in the end. he often ties up games on his own also by, as mentioned, effectively (!) holding the ball and giving out a decent amount of assists.

we don't know how good he would be at ManU or something but he works very, very well for Dortmund and a strikerless formation hasn't proven itself for them in the long term so far. thus, lewa is boss.

Well said Toffer.

The wastefulness is overstated as it mostly was in Europe and not in the league. Not enough is spoken about how Goetze's finishing is dross while Reus relies on same channels of play to acquire his goals.

I've seen strikerless formations of Dortmund and its a replica of Prandelli's Italia in which hoards of chances are created but little finishing touch to accrue the vital goals. His general play is underestimated and the referential play of his adds a whole new dimension to Dortmund's play which gives them direction and guile. He knows how to lead a line so so well. Bundesliga will miss him.

United? Can't judge him there by how SAF treats his strikers.

Where is he going btw? didnt sound so obvious that he would go to Bayern since Dortmund dont want to deal with them. Fergie would add yet another CF?

Lewandowski himself said he'd prefer to go abroad. Manchester United, Juventus whatever. Don't think he has many options tbh.

Lewa > Gomez

Another MOTM performance by Sahin, goal + assist and what a goal:

Goal:


Assist:

Nice goal.

Will Sahin be staying at Dortmund or will he want regular football? I guess if Gundogan leaves he'll be staying. However I think he deserves to be starting regularly at a top club.

I will laugh so hard if he wins the Champions League now, knocking Madrid off on his way. You just know Klopp will rub it in and sub him on in the Bernabeu at some point.

futbol wrote:I will laugh so hard if he wins the Champions League now, knocking Madrid off on his way. You just know Klopp will rub it in and sub him on in the Bernabeu at some point.

That indeed would be funny, another Morientes case. But currently I'm laughing more at our management how they let Sahin go and bought inferior player for 40mil to replace him....

futbol wrote:I will laugh so hard if he wins the Champions League now, knocking Madrid off on his way. You just know Klopp will rub it in and sub him on in the Bernabeu at some point.

As it is a loan, He can't play I believe.

Glad he is getting back to his best.

He can play against Real Madrid, he was on the bench in the first leg!

interesting, Real must have not inserted that clause then, most clubs do.

Kick wrote:interesting, Real must have not inserted that clause then, most clubs do.

Possibly thought it wouldn't matter.

iftikhar wrote:

Kick wrote:interesting, Real must have not inserted that clause then, most clubs do.

Possibly thought it wouldn't matter.

Yeah, I guess.

Error wrote:That indeed would be funny, another Morientes case. But currently I'm laughing more at our management how they let Sahin go and bought inferior player for 40mil to replace him....

I don't think Şahin is a superior player on a technical or physical level, not to mention the Croat is more versatile. But when you look at who's been making a difference, I completely agree that Şahin's awareness and pacing is far ahead of what Modrić has ever been despite being younger. Not to mention Flopdrić consistently chokes in big matches and is more inert than Helium.

I would disagree that Modric is the "inferior" player. From what I've seen (which is admittedly not RM's week-in week-out performances), Modric has been asked to play a very different role to Sahin's preferred deep-lying playmaker role. Most assumed Modric was going to replace Alonso, but that hasn't necessarily been the case. When he's played, he's been asked to be a slightly more advance and more creative midfielder. If Mourinho leaves next season, and Madrid shift away from a rigid 4-2-3-1, Modric could become a very useful player for them. On the other hand, I can also see him being sold in the summer for a new manager to bring in their own preferred targets.

As for Sahin, has there been any agreement for Dortmund to sign him at the end of the season? I honestly don't know. If not, he could be available to anyone, and I can think of a few teams that need him more than BVB... *cough* Chelsea.

donttreadonred wrote:As for Sahin, has there been any agreement for Dortmund to sign him at the end of the season? I honestly don't know. If not, he could be available to anyone, and I can think of a few teams that need him more than BVB... *cough* Chelsea.

From what I know, the loan runs 1.5 years and, thus, will continue until after next season (summer 2014). Afterwards Dortmund have the option to buy him for a fixed sum, which I believe is in the region of 6m. Not sure about the exact number.

lets waste another 40 mil on cm and forget about signing sahin back

I think Gundogan's a more versatile and nifty player than Sahin.

If we do get Sahin back, we'd need a DM, which would mean Sahin would be playing a more attacking role. Gundogan is better at that.

chad4401 wrote:lets waste another 40 mil on cm and forget about signing sahin back

signing sahin back is completely out of madrid's hands.

if dortmund want to buy him back they can and most likely will.