this isn't necessarily a realistic squad.
let me explain my ideas by each position.

Goalkeeper is relatively obvious, I don't have to say anything about Kobel I feel. As for why Ostrzinski and Kirsch are on the bench, Kirsch is the third keeper and it barely matters who that is. Ostrzinski is a young Goalkeeper from our own youth in whom I see good potential. I would say great but I have not in the past been exceptionally great at identifying good goalkeepers, so I won't lean out of the window too much. from what I've seen of him, he is a vocal keeper, great on the line, with weaknesses when it comes to playing the ball with his feet. in his last U19 year, he benched Kirsch who was considered a great talent at the time, himself not having such a reputation, and performed well both in the league and especially in the UEFA youth league. Perhaps I err, but when I see players whom are not great talents, make these kinds of jumps I tend to attribute that to good mentality, hard work, training, a growth mindset basically. Much more promising in my eyes than players who have always been considered talents (I feel that often the praise seems to end with them being lazy about their developement causing them to miss the final jump to professional level). so yea, I value that more than having the experience of Meyer on the bench. I feel he might be up to the task. why not Lotka? honestly, just because he's older, having the same strength weakness profile and not one of our youth. I'm surprised he stuck around considering he was a starting keeper for Hertha before joining us, I can't see him settling for the bench. he clearly has the quality for more than that, but I don't see the potential of ever being a starting keeper for us.

despite that being the position which should need the least explanation I wrote so much, if you still stuck around get ready for more of the same.

in the leftback position I went with Rothe. now before you accuse me of simply wanting to slot in our own youth for sentimental reasons or the like, know that I too don't really see in Rothe an optimal leftback. He's a very strange fullback in fact.
Tall, slow and yet his strengths clearly lie in the offense, his defense needing some work. You would be hardpressed to find another like him across europe, nay, across footbal in it's entirety. Truely anyone who'd see him would assume that he is a centreback being played at leftback in an asymmetric formation, yet he's being employed as a wingback at Kiel, with great success I should mention.
However, despite being a unicorn of sorts, a type of player so rare you might find only one or two of them, we have 2 of them under contract.
Despite what people said about Bensebaini, what they thought when we replaced Guerreiro with him, that he would stabilize our defence, a look at statistics, and indeed his games will tell you, he is an offensive fullback. some differences from Rothe, but as close as you can get to such an odd specimen. He's not someone to hold the line, prefers underlapping.
When we got Bensebaini, though I was against his transfer, I interpreted it as a commital to Rothe, because of their similarity. To have two of the same type of player for the same position. Clearly Erronous, considering how the decision makers at the club keep pointing out that they like having different player types, so they can adapt to opponents or whatever.
An Idea I vehemently oppose. I say, the consistency of being able to replace a player, tired or injured, with the same type of player is preferable, so you do not need to change the entire system, bring disorder into a game as the team needs to adapt to the change. some may say, well what if they (Rothe or Bensebaini) are getting smoked on the lefthand side, destroyed one might say? Indeed, switching the same player type wouldn't fix the issue, but what fundamentally is the issue? Of course they have weaknesses, they are slow for fullbacks. But the problem at it's core is a system in which the weakness is not mitigated, it is players who cannot support them as their weaknesses overlap and amplify each other. Think back to Guerreiro and Hummels next to each other, a left side defence of nightmares with a combined speed too slow to drive on the Autobahn (the minimum is 60km/h).
I know a lot of you think, oh, we need a leftback who is defensively solid, for a long time I thought so too. I looked and longed for it. But the reality is, there is no such thing as a fullback who is defensively solid, without also bringing a drawback in another area, usually offensive contribution or a weakness in build up play. When you look at the best teams in europe, you see that often, their fullbacks are no different, with clear strength and weakness profiles. You see teams running centre mids, centre backs, wingers at this position. Each have their qualities, their benefits, but need support from their teammates to mitigate the weaknesses.
We will not find the magical leftback, or right back, who is fast, press resistant, runs up and down the line knocking accurate crosses onto our players, or underlapping and creating/scoring like Guerreiro all at the same time. If such an optimal fullback existed, he'd be playing in central midfield.
We have no choice but to accept that our fullbacks will have weaknesses that need compensating. I'd chose someone who can tick the build up and the attacking support boxes over someone who defends well. Build up play is massively important not only in offense, but also defense, it is the most vital aspect that any fullback at a top club needs to possess. Beyond that, it is a choice. You can run centre backs, like Man City did last season. Watching us play currently, I feel that the offensive contribution is of more import to us. Rothe in particular is a boon here, because he can offer the width that our left side sorely lacks.
Still, I must say that Rothe isn't neccessarily what I'd wish to see in a fullback, but he's here, Bensebaini is here. We are unlikely to get rid of Bensebaini and we won't have much cash to spare. So for me, I'd focus on other positions, trying to reinforce them with players that can support them and stop their flaws from being consistently exploited. Take for instance the Frankfurt game. A game that Bensebaini was ripped apart for. Well I say, though there were certainly individual mistakes there, it was first and foremost a mistake by Edin Terzic, to put on the left side Reyna, who is neither known for defensive contribution nor for blazing speed, it was easy to exploit that side with the speed that Frankfurt has on the wings. When he swapped in Adeyemi, it got a lot better, not because Adeyemi is a great defender, he's in terrible form too, but simply because he has speed and can as such adequately support Bensebaini. If Push comes to shove, and I was completely wrong to think this could somehow work, Hail Mary and try it with Kabar (U19 player, if you are unfamiliar, can't add him for that reason).

now for the left centre back. Schlotterbeck, relatively obvious. Everything you'd want from a modern Centre Back, besides perhaps the occasional blunder, and his not so stellar defending when he has to step in for the fullback (though he has what it needs to do so, so I think it's just something that needs to be adressed in training, particularly in light of the Leftbacks I've put down here).
Blank, similar to Ostrzinski was never considered a great talent. He wasn't even on my radar until he scored against Hibernian in the youth league, and that I just chalked up as being in the right place at the right time, not really expecting more to come. But he's a starter for the second team now, in the third tier. Many players who came with much more praise failed to do so. From what I've heard, as I don't watch the second team regularly, he shines primarily in defense, tackles, positioning and such. As such, I do not expect him to be exceptionally good in build up play, though I've not heard this counted among his weaknesses either. What I envision is an all around solid Centre Back, reliable without particularly shining. Is more needed for a Backup? Perhaps, if he cannot translate his performance to the 1st tier. So I must admit, this is a bit of wishful thinking, as I see the possibility of us getting a backup left footed centre back who guarantees quality for a reasonable price relatively low. One might say, Bella-Kotchap, currently a bench warmer in the Eredivise. I admit I personally was for this transfer myself before it fell through, but even then I'd want to have two back up CBs for each side, and the left one ought to be left footed. If we have a youth player, who is a starter in the third division, why not take a little risk and save the money for someplace else? We won't have much of it to go around, since there's not many players we can expect to sell for a good price. If we go into the season and see this doesn't work, similar to the leftback situation, try Mane, our U19 CB and captain, who is currently injured (nasty one, I hear).


For the right centreback, I went with Süle, who might at this point be controversial to some, but regardless of his fitness issues, he's a good centre back, and pretty reliable. One might say, not worth his wages, and I'd agree, but you'd have to sell him and get an adequate replacement, which is a difficult task. I mentioned Bella-Kotchap earlier, since he's benchwarming currently, and I do not know the reason, I'll just assume I misjudged him. I would've liked in the summer to sign either him or Mavropanos (my prefered option), but since we didn't I don't see much of a way around Süle, even if some might not be quite happy with him. For now, he's the best we got, I say.
Let me talk instead about my chosen backup, Kleine-Bekel, whom I'll shorten to KB because it's a pain to type his full name and I keep writing it as Beckel on instinct.
If any of you have watched games of Rothe in Kiel, you might've spotted him, because he's there too, Starting CB, 20 years old, right footed. To my knowledge, only game he missed was the 5-1 blowout they got handed by St.Pauli.
For those of you who keep tabs on the youth, you might remember his name, as up 'til summer 22 he was one of our own, after which he went to Kiel's second team, to now being a starter in their 1st team, as well as U21 national team player. In the U17, he was considered a good talent, then stagnated for quite a while, and fell off the radar of most somewhat, until his last U19 year, where he showed mature performances and looked great, exacerbated by the shaky Collins next to him. I've been keeping an eye on him since, I had a good feeling about him, and so far it hasn't been disproven. Can I say for certain he can make it? No, this is a bet on the future, with one eye cast on his homegrown status. There's certainly safer bets out there, but I try to be economical as CB is not our most pressing issue, with the starters being satisfactory as is. Finally, you might ask, Hummels? probably retired. I'd guess.

Right back. Ryerson is a pretty good allrounder with particular strengths in defence, but his build up play is lacking for our needs. I debated selling him, but he's the best of our current fullbacks, and we'd need to somehow pull two good ones out of a hat if we were to do so. Not very realistic considering our track record. I also just like the guy, even if he isn't quite the optimum.
Pedro Malheiro. I admit I don't watch the Portuguese league often, and highlights aren't a great way to judge a player, but he seems like just about the best you could hope for in a fullback. offensive contribution, build up play, defence, all seem to check out and statistics corroborate this. Some would likely suggest Dedic instead, since I've been saving up so much money. I just prefer the profile that Malheiro promises, though that promise might be broken. Also, with Dedic, given the other interested parties, we'd have a difficult time going for him. Whereas with Malheiro, we'd have to beat Porto and Benfica for the signature. And yes he's also cheaper. You can already see which players are in the squad so do you really need to ask what I'm saving that for?

For the central defensive midfield, Arthur Vermeeren is gonna cost 40 mil according to rumors, but he's worth that. If you at all keep up with talents in football you have heard his name, you probably saw him on the start page at some point. As comments on his page put it, a blend between a 6, 8 and 10. I don't even need the 10 to be sold, personally, as with Abdoulaye Kamara, we have a player who similarly, is a 6/8 mixture. Now if he can stay without injury, this to me is the optimal personnel for the 6 in our double pivot. Not a defensive liability AND can participate in build up? perhaps even offer creative moments? What more could I possibly ask. If we have the slightest chance with him, we must go for it. Only worry, neither of them are speedsters so they might find the job of covering for Rothe somewhat difficult. Like I said, I'd hope this can be mitigated through the system, tactics and such, but if the Leftback personnel cannot be covered by the centre back, 6 or winger, even in conjunction then it is ultimately the Leftbacks that must change.

though I prefer not having Box to Box midfielders in a double pivot, experience telling me that they tend to leave gaps when they go forward, we just bought Nmecha, for 30 milion to boot, and no one is gonna pay that much with his current performances. And he does have potential, so we might as well try. As an addition, Bergvall. I'm kind of losing my energy writing all this text at this point, good creative centre mid, big talent. I don't know how much he'd cost though. Also Kjell Wätjen from our U19, whom I cannot add.

You might wonder why I left out Can, Özcan and Sabitzer. I consider none of them crucial and if it were feasible I'd sell them all as I'm not a particular fan of any of their playstyles. That is one thing which makes this not very realistic, I left out players that I don't see any particular reason for keeping. They offer nothing that is needed, or their weaknesses are such that I would not bother to mitigate them, too much work for what they offer. I say they, but this is about Can specifically. Oh and I guess I should also mention Wolf because he's technically a right back now and I forgot that earlier. His contract is valid 'til 2024, let it run out. He's too weak in every single area to be a boon in any case to Dortmund. If you ever catch yourself thinking "he did well there" remind yourself that there's many more players who can offer the same and more, more often.

when looking at the left wing, one might think, Bynoe-Gittens, who has yet to show consistency? Duranville, who has only seen a single match, injured during every other? Well, as far as these two go, it's really their potential that made me choose them, it's obvious with both. they are at present also the only actual wingers in the squad. If you say, no, this needs another option, with more experience and less injuries, I wouldn't disagree with you, but I don't have anything in mind. I'd also include Charles Hermann here, U19. He'd likely go into the second team first, though.

CAM, Brandt is the obvious choice and the reason this is a 4-2-3-1. I'm too tired to say this requires no explanation, so I'll just leave it at no explanation. Reyna is also obvious as the backup. some people want to move him to CM, but I see his speed and general lack of disinterest in defensive work as an issue there. Even though that got better, I don't see why we would do that when he's only got Brandt in front of him. On the off chance that we sell Reyna, due to the contract situation or his personal desires, Can Uzun, perhaps Noah Darvich would be my ideas for replacement. Reus is retired.

Right wing, Sancho. Controversial, if any of the reports are true, this is a realistic and doable transfer. Some worry whether he'd reach his old level. Unlike Sahin and Götze, he wasn't permanently injured. Unlike Kagawa he wasn't the victim of changing times, he just went to the wrong club with players he doesn't mesh with and a bald fraud for a coach. So long as he has players to combine with, players who occupy the spaces he likes to deliver balls into, he will work. The reason I put him on the right side instead of the left, where many believe he is better, is that he'd mesh better with Malheiro, and Nmecha or Bergvall could probably offer the runs he likes to serve.
Hettwer isn't just a placeholder, but just kind of someone I put there on a whim. the top scorer for our 2nd team, has some interesting attributes. Bundesliga quality? Don't know? BVB quality? Slim chance. I don't really have great ideas for wingers to target, I admit. I hadn't thought about it much 'til this point.

if you are wondering, where is Malen. he's not a winger. I could've put him at striker, but with rumors that we have some willing buyers I wouldn't mind selling him. The cash might even be neccessary in order to make any purchase at all. He's a good player, don't hate him or anything, but crucial? If anything I'd put him at striker but Moukoko can do that.

So yea, Striker. Moukoko. you might think, well he's small, so can't target him with crosses. Can't target our big men currently with crosses because we got nobody who actually crosses the ball. And yea, uhh, in pretty much every other regard he's superior to the Bulls that Terzic has such a hardon for. I don't think he's even meaningfully worse in holdup play since he can dribble and has better technique than those two. The only thing we'd lose is the ability to hoof it up field because he's never gonna outjump a centre back. What a shame, truly, to lose such an integral part of our identity. If you are wondering why Adeyemi is listed here, he's not a winger either. I wouldn't really use him as a striker either, just generally his technical deficits make me not see him as a starter anywhere, but if it comes down to it maybe we can use him as BTEC Aubameyang for counters. He can also jump really high. And if push comes to shove, I guess we can use him on the wing. Would I sell him? I'd consider it, yeah. But who knows, maybe he does whatever he did last spring, and maybe this time he doesn't regress. Then it'd be all Gucci. But just to be totally honest, I cannot stand players who have trouble receiving passes, who aren't good passers themselves, and are one-footed. He is all of those. I don't hate him personally, just don't like him as a player.
Lastly, I would add Paris Brunner in this section, if I could.