31 Mar 2015 08:32:23
With all the talk about Hummels being a target this summer (which I am 50/50 on as he is a great player but his injury record worries me) when was the last time we signed a German?
I can remember the young lad Zieler as a reserve keeper but other than that I am stumped. Does anyone know if there is a reason for this as traditionally Germans seem to do well in England? And also they have never had a lack of talented players.
31 Mar 2015 10:10:04
Ballack is the only one that springs to mind. However, the best German players always want to go to Bayern Mumich, and that's why there has been a lack of top class players, same with Spanish players wanting to go to Madrid/Barca and English players wanting the top English clubs.
{Ed002's Note - When did Manchester United sign Ballack?}
31 Mar 2015 10:28:23
I don't think it is a United against Germans thing, I think a lot like English players Germans have always been more likely to stay in Germany for a lot of their career rather than move abroad. This has changed a bit over recent years with a few more German players in England but there are still only 7 playing in the premier league and not sure that traditionally they do well in England, who were you thinking that fits that description?
Of the 7 German players in the Premier League 4 play for Arsenal, one of which is out on loan (Podolski) and one hasn't played a game all season (Gnabry). Robert Huth has been ok but not lived up to the expectations of when he signed for Chelsea, Gerhard Tremmel is ok and the jury is still out on Emre Can.
You are correct that Zieler is the only German player ever to sign for the club but none have ever played for the first team, maybe Hummels will be the first.
31 Mar 2015 10:44:23
GDS - I think Ozil has done okay, Ballack was solid at Chelsea, Hamann was fantastic at Liverpool as was Babbel before his injury. Jens Lehmann was also a top keeper for Arsenal and of course Klinnsman was and still is a Spurs all time hero.
I think the Germans have the mentality to play PL football well.
31 Mar 2015 10:56:01
I certainly agree with that, there is no reason why they wouldn't fit in well here and the mentality suits the premier league, the style of play is much more suited than to the Spanish league for example, but it has been a bit hit and miss with German players coming over here.
I think as I said a lot of the top German players have often just played in Germany for most of their careers, even Ballack didn't leave Germany until he was around 30, it seems to have changed a little in recent years though.
31 Mar 2015 12:07:58
Traditionally the best German players have all played for Bayern Munich, which means that if we were to sign any German players they would have likely came from the second tier of quality German players, i.e. the ones Bayern don't want as they don't feel they are good enough or they have better players already in their positions.
With us being Manchester United we tend to try and only sign the best, Ballack fell into that category and we tried to sign him. But beyond him not many of the best German players leave Germany during their peak years. This is why I feel we haven't signed any German players up until now.
{Ed001's Note - that's not always true mate, some players, such as Can who turned down Bayern to move to Liverpool in the summer, will look to move abroad to continue their development. This is a good time to look to Germany, they have some great keepers (such as a former United one in Zieler) coming through and they are not going to compete with Neuer. With Bayern being so strong a side, there are a lot of top German players available, such as the Bender brothers, who should play in England just so people can get their names on the back of their shirts...}
31 Mar 2015 12:16:55
Just wanna mention some German names that haven't been touched on above; Helmer for Sunderland, Ziege had spells at liverpool and Boro but had a good couple of years with spurs, Fulham had a world cup winner in Riedle and they had Volz from Arsenal as well, Marin didn't live up to his "German Messi" expectations, who remembers the controversial keeper Lars Leese and I hate to say is but Rosler in the early EPL years wasn't bad. Other names that come to mind are Sean Dundee and Schurle.
31 Mar 2015 12:27:27
MBD Andre Schurrle is a player I would have took off Chelsea's hands!
31 Mar 2015 12:55:40
I remember most of the 1990 world cup winning squad played in Italy so they do move abroad. Most either sign for Bayern or go to the sun. It was Italy back when serie a was dominent, now there's a few going to Spain mainly madrid.
31 Mar 2015 13:08:08
Once upon a time in a Fifa Career Mode, 002. how don't you remember ;)
31 Mar 2015 14:06:52
Ed001, I did say traditionally. But players such as Can, Schurrle and players moved abroad at a young age rather than in their peak. It makes more sense to leave moving to a team such as Bayern until you reach your peak as you may struggle to get games as a youngster in the Bayern side unless you really are one of the best young talents in the world. Neither Can or Schurrle would have got many games at Bayern when you look at the competition for their starting places.
I'd certainly consider moving for a German keeper if DDG was to leave, Zieler, Leno, Trapp, Karius and Horn are great prospects. If we were to lose DDG then I'd love to see us bring in one of Leno, Karius or Horn to challenge Valdes for the No.1 shirt.
{Ed001's Note - sorry but I disagree, Klinsmann is just one example that stands out. Bayern try and cherry pick the best, but usually the very top ones have ended up going abroad for the money.}
31 Mar 2015 22:04:45
If De Gea leaves then Leno should be the no. 1 target