Pre-season 2024/25 - Borussia Dortmund

[Bent Neilsens Screamer]

Martinez, Watkins, Konsa, Duran.

People can argue about Duran, but along with Watkins that's both our strikers from last season missing.

I thought Durán would have been the fourth but although you’re right about being backup what’s happened over the summer makes me think he not key. Certainly will be if he stays though.

[OCD]

Given the likes of McGinn and Tielemans, who actually played at the Euros, are back, Duran should be too. I don't think he played a single minute for Colombia. I think that probably says something in itself.

Colombia made it to the final of the Copa America. All 4 players that made it to their respective finals have been given extra time. I don't see what's wrong with that.

[paul_e]

He was a defensive midfielder before he arrived. He was bought as a defensive midfielder, and was played as a defensive midfielder. He might have grown into a more attacking player, but he should have been better than he was for the second half of the season, when he was mostly disappointing.

He wasn't a DM before he arrived, he played mostly as an 8 for both his Brazilian club and on loan at Girona. What he was signed as is guesswork at best but under Smith we often played more as 3 8s rather than anyone in particular being set as a 6 and in that same window we did sign a genuine DM in Nakamba.

[AV84]

Given the likes of McGinn and Tielemans, who actually played at the Euros, are back, Duran should be too. I don't think he played a single minute for Colombia. I think that probably says something in itself.

Colombia made it to the final of the Copa America. All 4 players that made it to their respective finals have been given extra time. I don't see what's wrong with that.

My point was simply that Duran didn't play in the Copa America, while players who did play a lot for their countries are already back with us, and playing. Maatsen is almost a direct comparison, he didn't play or didn't play much, his team made it to the SFs, and he's been back with us before we left for the US tour.

Other posters have pointed out that he still would have been training and "on duty" so he's likely entitled to a set amount of time off. It's just interesting that some players seem to have opted to come back earlier, but as I said elsewhere, the likes of Maatsen, having joined a new club, may have been thinking he'd take the opportunity to get settled and into the swing of things.

[Somniloquism]

Maatsen is also a new player so more reason to be with the players/manager early.

(edit, should have read to the bottom).

[Dogtanian]

Yep, fair play to Maatsen. I think the US tour would have been a factor too, as it was a great opportunity to get to know everyone.

I do think there is a difference when you come from a different continent though. I mean Maatsen can nip back to see family and friends if he gets a couple of days off in the season, whereas that's much harder for the likes of Duran.

[FatSam]

He was a defensive midfielder before he arrived. He was bought as a defensive midfielder, and was played as a defensive midfielder. He might have grown into a more attacking player, but he should have been better than he was for the second half of the season, when he was mostly disappointing.

So for the second half of the season he was mostly disappointing at doing the thing he isn't as good at doing, whereas for the first half of the season he mostly he did very well at the thing he is better at doing? I'm not overly familiar with his role in a Girona team relegated from La Liga, but I'm not sure how relevant it is anyway. I also think that whether or not he was bought as a defensive midfielder is speculation, especially as Nakamba came in during the same window.

[Risso]

He was a defensive midfielder before he arrived. He was bought as a defensive midfielder, and was played as a defensive midfielder. He might have grown into a more attacking player, but he should have been better than he was for the second half of the season, when he was mostly disappointing.

So for the second half of the season he was mostly disappointing at doing the thing he isn't as good at doing, whereas for the first half of the season he mostly he did very well at the thing he is better at doing? I'm not overly familiar with his role in a Girona team relegated from La Liga, but I'm not sure how relevant it is anyway. I also think that whether or not he was bought as a defensive midfielder is speculation, especially as Nakamba came in during the same window.

He wasn't being asked to play up front or in goal, he was still in a midfield two being asked to play a role that he'd played dozens of times before. I just expected him to be better at it than he was.

[Brend'Watkins]

I watched the highlights of the Chicago game a little earlier. Had VAR been in play their goal would not have stood. Even so, and I know it's only preseason but at our level we should be putting teams like Chicage to the sword even without recognised strikers. I guess it's all about players getting minutes and time to gel. 

[Somniloquism]

What about Club America?

[eamonn]

Club Tropicana is preferable.

[Dogtanian]

As long as it's not Sunny D.

[paul_e]

He was a defensive midfielder before he arrived. He was bought as a defensive midfielder, and was played as a defensive midfielder. He might have grown into a more attacking player, but he should have been better than he was for the second half of the season, when he was mostly disappointing.

So for the second half of the season he was mostly disappointing at doing the thing he isn't as good at doing, whereas for the first half of the season he mostly he did very well at the thing he is better at doing? I'm not overly familiar with his role in a Girona team relegated from La Liga, but I'm not sure how relevant it is anyway. I also think that whether or not he was bought as a defensive midfielder is speculation, especially as Nakamba came in during the same window.

He wasn't being asked to play up front or in goal, he was still in a midfield two being asked to play a role that he'd played dozens of times before. I just expected him to be better at it than he was.

To be clear, are you honestly suggesting there's no difference between:

"This guy will cover the defence, I want you to go and dictate the flow of play and the tempo of the game"
And
"I need you to be the disciplined player holding his position and covering the defence if we get counter-attacked"

Can you honestly not see how the priorities for those 2 roles are different and how one of them is far more suited to the skillset of Luiz?

[VillaTim]

Another useful workout ahead and i expext the team to be stronger and the tempo raised slightly .

[Dogtanian]

Who’s staying up for this one?