Mario Gotze

[cream]

Why would two players going to Dortmund instead of us be brilliant news?

I read that as coming to us before realising it was Dortmund.

[Fosterbloke]

Don't care, I think we need more strength and pace in midfield and Gotze won't give us this. My money is on Xhaka or someone else like him.

[Robbie-9-Fowler]

Don't care, I think we need more strength and pace in midfield and Gotze won't give us this. My money is on Xhaka or someone else like him.

Looks like Arsenal are ahead of us on that one.

Dembele is rated very highly, be interesting to see how he gets on in a very attacking Dortmund side.

[Irishnev]

Don't care, I think we need more strength and pace in midfield and Gotze won't give us this. My money is on Xhaka or someone else like him.

I'd happily welcome Goetze here but like you I think he isn't quick enough and if Coutinho keeps progressing we have a potential 15 goal/15 assist player per year so we might not "need" him. Assuming that Phil & Bobby occupy 2 of the 3 players behind the striker then Goetze (good as he is) is very similar to them in terms of what he brings to the team.

We need a right sided forward with pace and goals and I thought that Dembele might have been that guy. We have been linked to Rafa from Braga who fits the mould. We also need more strength in midfield as you have said, a partner for Can so maybe Xhaka, Dahoud, Zelinski, Camacho or someone else might be that guy.

[Fredo]

I don't understand why we'd sign Gotze anyway as he plays in the same position as Coutinho and Firminho. Doesn't make sense when we need pace out wide.

[Phoenix07]

I actually think if we get Gotze, Firmino may be dropped, regardless of his stats, and we'll still bring in a proper winger. I think Coutinho and Firmino are still both inconsistent, but Firmino moreso, and Gotze is a major upgrade on the No.10 position, which is Firmino's main role.

[Irishnev]

I actually think if we get Gotze, Firmino may be dropped, regardless of his stats, and we'll still bring in a proper winger. I think Coutinho and Firmino are still both inconsistent, but Firmino moreso, and Gotze is a major upgrade on the No.10 position, which is Firmino's main role.

I agree that Goetze would be a better 10 than Firmino but Bobby has got 10 goals + 8 assists in his first year with us so he will only get better. If signing Goetze meant we couldn't get another top quality wide player/midfielder then I think we can do without him BUT if we could have them all and he wanted to come to us then absolutely you sign him.

[Buzzo]

I've not felt the same about signing him since the pics of him with a poolside lazy lob on were included in this thread.

[Fosterbloke]

I think Firmino will get even better next season. We should prioritise a stronger midfield and buy a better goalkeeper. Oh and another Origi like striker.

[Exiled_red]

I think Firmino will get even better next season. We should prioritise a stronger midfield and buy a better goalkeeper. Oh and another Origi like striker.

As much as I'd like to see us sign Gotze, I agree we need to sort out the positions we are weakest in first, our midfield is overrun too often, we need players in there who can dominate games, goalkeeper who is more consistent than Mignolet and has better distribution. Presumably will be looking for another forward to replace Benteke, whether this will be an out-and-out striker or there will be a reshuffle about peoples positions I don't know but I would like to see us bring someone in with pace, as one or two players aside our attacking play seems very one paced.

[redmike65]

Don't forget Danny Ings - he has tenacious pace.

[RedSince1964]

Don't forget Danny Ings - he has tenacious pace.

Agreed Theirs a lot more to come from this lad

[Norbs]

I actually think if we get Gotze, Firmino may be dropped, regardless of his stats, and we'll still bring in a proper winger. I think Coutinho and Firmino are still both inconsistent, but Firmino moreso, and Gotze is a major upgrade on the No.10 position, which is Firmino's main role.

Markovic

[Bender]

don't forget danny ings - he has tenacious pace.

had

[Phoenix07]

Markovic

I actually think he could be back-up alongside Firmino and Lallana as the reserve three attacking midfielders.