BFW postseason breakdown: The Player We Are Most Excited to Watch Next Season

With the 2018-2019 season in the rear view mirror, it is time to look ahead. There will be change with the Bayern Munich roster, but we won’t know the full extent for quite some time.

With Lucas Hernandez, VfB Stuttgart’s Benjamin Pavard, and Hamburger SV’s Jann-Fiete Arp already confirmed, the transfer market could bring in even flashier names, but as of now we’ve got those three players and the current roster to work with.

Below, we asked our writers to think about which player they are most excited to watch next season. Most of the staff focused on young players who are looking to break through, while other writers took a look at veterans who should be line for big seasons.

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Chuck Smith: Leon Goretzka

I like a lot of things that Leon Goretzka brought to the field this past season. I loved his aggression in driving to the box and how he used his athleticism to create mismatches for Bayern offense. I thought he worked incredibly well as the “offensive” piece of the double pivot and how he gelled with Thomas Müller and Robert Lewandowski. Does the 24-year-old have some areas for improvement within his game? Sure, but he’s got great tools and a fearless offensive attitude. I am really looking forward to seeing him compliment the front four of Lewandowski, Muller, Serge Gnabry, and Kingsley Coman next season.

Ineednoname: Thomas Müller

I want to see what Thomas Müller can do when he’s played in his preferred position for an entire season. For the last two years, he’s always been either out of the lineup or moved onto the right for one reason or another, destroying his rhythm. Just play him behind the striker, get a proper set of wingers to support him, and watch the carnage happen.

John N. Dillon: Corentin Tolisso

It was a lost year for Coco. An ACL tear minutes after scoring a goal derailed a very promising start to Bayern’s erstwhile Most Expensive Transfer™ (for all of a season). Tolisso shows immense promise, and I’d love to see whether he can fill the shoes of Arturo Vidal, as a hard-working, two-way midfielder with a knack for scoring. It was great to see him return in time to make a difference in Bayern’s final game. I think he has a big season ahead of him.

Berni15: Kingsley Coman

If the young Frenchman can stay healthy I think he’s primed for a real breakout campaign as one of the focal points of the Bavarian attack. He has the potential to be a truly world class winger and I’m really hoping he can finally put it all together.

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Marcus Iredahl: Niklas Süle

That is a hard one. I have, unfortunately, always thought that Alphonso Davies was a marketing signing and that his playing time in Munich will be very limited, just like Takashi Usami and Landon Donovan. It will be interesting, though, to see how he does next season and hopefully he can prove me wrong. The new signings will, of course, also be interesting to watch.

Therefore my answer to this question is Niklas Sule. I think he has been excellent this season. One of the few Bayern players that have been consistent throughout the whole season and I believe he is Germany’s next star center-back.

LKChuggz: Lucas Hernandez

I am excited to see how the young Frenchman adapts to the Bundesliga and to FC Bayern. Hernandez will be coming into the new Bayern that includes a core of young French players. With Benjamin Pavard coming into the club at the same time, and Kingsley Coman already being a starter, the chemistry will hopefully be there right away. I am hoping that he can bring his experience to help Bayern be successful next season.

Brian Burton: Alphonso Davies

Alphonso Davies, hands down. He didn’t get much opportunity this year, but with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery departing there’s a role opening up for him. As of now, Kingsley Coman and Serge Gnabry are the starting wingers, and Davies is backing them up. While playing in the MLS, he showed his explosiveness off the dribble and down the flank. If he can bring that energy when called upon for Bayern, he can become an X-Factor while still only a teenager.

Tom Adams: Benjamin Pavard

I know Pavard might not walk right into Bayern’s starting eleven, but that’s part of what makes me so excited to see him for us next season. If Kimmich keeps being deputized as a right back and doesn’t get moved up to a defensive midfielder. Pavard will really have to work his way into the team assuming Kovac’s preferred starting back four is (left to right) Alaba-Hernandez-Sule-Kimmich. I really think that Pavard has the ability to play either as a left or right back, so I’m curious to see both when and how often Kovac will utilize him. He’s got an attacking presence, just like both Alaba and Kimmich, but he’s also got good discipline, so it makes him a useful, versatile defender.

We’ve laid out our picks, tell us yours in the poll and in the comments?