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Bayern Munich don’t have enough depth to win the treble, but Jupp Heynckes was wise not to request any January transfers
The Bavarians' squad is not complete and will not be before summer, but the coach's decision not to pursue additions last month was financially prudent & essential to team harmony
04-Feb-2012 1:09:25 PM
Bongarts
COMMENT
By Clark Whitney | German Football Editor
January was a relatively quiet month in the transfer market, and there was no team more silent than Bayern Munich, who opted neither to sign nor offload a single player.
Much to the dismay of many fans, die Roten never had interest in bringing in reinforcements. And on Thursday, Franck Ribery voiced his concerns that the club lack depth to cope with a spate of injuries or suspensions.
Ribery does have a point: if he and Arjen Robben or Thomas Muller are sidelined, the Bavarians lack a touch of class in attack. And if even only Mario Gomez is missing, scoring goals becomes much, much more difficult.
Paulo Sergio also weighed in on the issue of Bayern’s depth on Thursday, asserting that the main difference between the team that won the 2001 Champions League final and the current side is the difference in options available.
In all likelihood, Bayern do not have the depth needed to win the Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB Pokal. Anything is possible, of course, but it is a stretch to assume that a club will manage half a season without a few injuries and suspensions. And in the case of a small squad, one or two absences can make all the difference.
But the question has to be asked: were Bayern wrong not to spend in the winter? The overwhelming evidence is that Jupp Heynckes was wise not to make any additions.
The key detail to remember is that the market in January is far different from that in the summer. Teams are always more reluctant to sell stars in mid-season and transfer fees are always inflated. Recruits have just days to integrate in their new team, a process that is even more difficult for purchases from overseas, which is why Hoeness has a heavy preference for Bundesliga and German-speaking players. In short, buying in January is a huge gamble, and a buying team rarely gets the desired outcome from a winter transfer.
Consider Bayern’s decision to sign Luiz Gustavo 12 months ago. The Brazilian, who, at the time was far from being the best holding midfielder in Germany, cost a whopping €17 million. He was shuffled between central defence and midfield, but in neither position was particularly an improvement. Within six months, the former Hoffenheim man was a surplus to requirements, as Bayern made a serious move for Arturo Vidal, a better player who also would have cost significantly less. The Chilean ended up moving to Juventus for €10.5m, but even if he had transferred to the Allianz Arena, Bayern would have effectively spent nearly €30m on one position.
The fact is, in the positions in which Hoeness has vowed to improve, there were no available long-term options. In the Bundesliga, the top three central defenders outside Bayern - Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes and Dante - were never going to be allowed to leave at the halfway mark, especially with their respective teams still alive in the title race. And the only classy strikers of note were Patrick Helmes and Papiss Demba Cisse, although neither is proven in the Champions League.
Perhaps one or two January signings might have helped in the immediate future, but overpaying for a six-month solution would only deplete funds ahead of the summer transfer window, and create future disharmony in the squad upon the long-term signing’s arrival.
Bayern are yet to peak. They are now a far more balanced team than that which reached the 2010 Champions League final and are missing just a couple pieces in the puzzle. With confidence in his coaching at a high, Hoeness is planning to make a splash in the transfer market, with Howedes and Xherdan Shaqiri headlining his wish-list.
It is unfortunate that Bayern will not have their ideal squad in the same year that they host the Champions League final. But great teams are made piece-by-piece, over the course of several years, not with a series of rash and unnecessary transfers. On paper, Bayern will be a better team in 2012-13. Until then, fans can hope the spectre of injury keeps at bay.
Follow Clark Whitney on
By Clark Whitney | German Football Editor
January was a relatively quiet month in the transfer market, and there was no team more silent than Bayern Munich, who opted neither to sign nor offload a single player.
Much to the dismay of many fans, die Roten never had interest in bringing in reinforcements. And on Thursday, Franck Ribery voiced his concerns that the club lack depth to cope with a spate of injuries or suspensions.
Ribery does have a point: if he and Arjen Robben or Thomas Muller are sidelined, the Bavarians lack a touch of class in attack. And if even only Mario Gomez is missing, scoring goals becomes much, much more difficult.
I think it is a big problem for us if two or three players are injured. We do not have a really good bench and really haven’t a good second team - Franck Ribery, to Sport1
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Paulo Sergio also weighed in on the issue of Bayern’s depth on Thursday, asserting that the main difference between the team that won the 2001 Champions League final and the current side is the difference in options available.
In all likelihood, Bayern do not have the depth needed to win the Champions League, Bundesliga, and DFB Pokal. Anything is possible, of course, but it is a stretch to assume that a club will manage half a season without a few injuries and suspensions. And in the case of a small squad, one or two absences can make all the difference.
[In 2001] they had 16 players on a high level. That was key for the Champions League title ... If two of Franck Ribery, Arjen Robben, Thomas Muller and Mario Gomez are out, the attack no longer works - Paulo Sergio, to Spox
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But the question has to be asked: were Bayern wrong not to spend in the winter? The overwhelming evidence is that Jupp Heynckes was wise not to make any additions.
The key detail to remember is that the market in January is far different from that in the summer. Teams are always more reluctant to sell stars in mid-season and transfer fees are always inflated. Recruits have just days to integrate in their new team, a process that is even more difficult for purchases from overseas, which is why Hoeness has a heavy preference for Bundesliga and German-speaking players. In short, buying in January is a huge gamble, and a buying team rarely gets the desired outcome from a winter transfer.
| LIMITED OPTIONS | Available this January... |
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| Cisse | Wolf | Obasi |
Consider Bayern’s decision to sign Luiz Gustavo 12 months ago. The Brazilian, who, at the time was far from being the best holding midfielder in Germany, cost a whopping €17 million. He was shuffled between central defence and midfield, but in neither position was particularly an improvement. Within six months, the former Hoffenheim man was a surplus to requirements, as Bayern made a serious move for Arturo Vidal, a better player who also would have cost significantly less. The Chilean ended up moving to Juventus for €10.5m, but even if he had transferred to the Allianz Arena, Bayern would have effectively spent nearly €30m on one position.
The fact is, in the positions in which Hoeness has vowed to improve, there were no available long-term options. In the Bundesliga, the top three central defenders outside Bayern - Mats Hummels, Benedikt Howedes and Dante - were never going to be allowed to leave at the halfway mark, especially with their respective teams still alive in the title race. And the only classy strikers of note were Patrick Helmes and Papiss Demba Cisse, although neither is proven in the Champions League.
| CORNUCOPIA OF QUALITY | Available in July? |
||
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| Berbatov | Howedes | Shaqiri |
Perhaps one or two January signings might have helped in the immediate future, but overpaying for a six-month solution would only deplete funds ahead of the summer transfer window, and create future disharmony in the squad upon the long-term signing’s arrival.
Bayern are yet to peak. They are now a far more balanced team than that which reached the 2010 Champions League final and are missing just a couple pieces in the puzzle. With confidence in his coaching at a high, Hoeness is planning to make a splash in the transfer market, with Howedes and Xherdan Shaqiri headlining his wish-list.
It is unfortunate that Bayern will not have their ideal squad in the same year that they host the Champions League final. But great teams are made piece-by-piece, over the course of several years, not with a series of rash and unnecessary transfers. On paper, Bayern will be a better team in 2012-13. Until then, fans can hope the spectre of injury keeps at bay.
Follow Clark Whitney on
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