Inconsistency, thy name is Jerome Boateng

Jerome Boateng has the unenviable reputation of being the most maddening player on Bayern Munich. At moments seemingly brilliant: the next struggling so hard with the most basic tasks in defending. He was the enigma on this Bayern Munich side in seasons past.

This season, Boateng seemed to take a big step forward. After early season woes in defensive structure from both him and Dante were an issue, Boateng really settled into his role with massive help from Pep Guardiola and in many ways seemed to eliminate a lot of the mental errors that have plagued his game in the past. Under Guardiola's tutelage the largest evolution in Boateng's game came in the offensive sphere. Never known previously for his passing acumen or his ability to get forward, Boateng displayed a more offensive bent to his game this season and was a great partner to both Dante and the rotating cast of deep lying playmakers.

Logging nearly 3100 minutes over 43 appearances, he was the defensive rock for Bayern Munich this season in the Hinrunde before his form faded in the second half of the season. It was that second half fade that is most worrying going forward into next season. Most Bayern Munich fans would love for him to replicate that early season form for an entire year and become the top level center back that we see poking through the weeds so sporadically.

However, in that same respect Jerome Boateng is still only 25 years of age and nowhere near his prime as a center back. Juxtaposed to Dante and the departing Daniel Van Buyten, Jerome Boateng has almost his whole career in front of him. With Holger Badstuber's future a murky quagmire following two ACL surgeries, Boateng represents both the present and the future of Bayern Munich's central defense. It all comes down to whether he has the discipline to become what Bayern Munich needs.

Grade 2013-2014: B