I've said it before but Coman simply cannot be relied on as a starting quality player, at least as it relates to squad planning.

It seems like for the past few years we have approached our transfers with the assumption that we will have a fit Coman on the wings....

Thread: 1/19 https://twitter.com/iMiaSanMia/status/1291322826981429248

....and we've seen time and time again now that that's an assumption we simply cannot make.

Of course every player deserves the chance to earn starting XI minutes. Coman is no exception there. But you cannot approach squad planning with one of your key roles...

2/19

...being given to a player who has simply not been reliable enough to be available when called upon. And that's to speak nothing of his sporting development (or lack thereof....), I'm talking purely about health and availability.

3/19

So it is simple: We have to approach the transfer window as though Coman is not a part of the squad. I know that sounds harsh. Of course he's part of the team, but I don't know how else to phrase it. Look at the roster and count one less winger than there is.

4/19

Rather than looking at how things stand and saying "We have Sane, Gnabry, Coman, and OBM (or whoever the '4th' is) and saying "We have four wingers", you need to look at that and say "We have three wingers and Coman". So another is needed, it's simple.

5/19

If we're looking at players to purchase - we should simply act as though Coman is not an option on the wings - because if we're being brutally honest: that's often the case. He simply is often not an option.

6/19

Look back over the big matches he has been unavailable for over the past few seasons:

Dortmund (Nov '16)
Leipzig (Dec '16)
Atletico (Dec '16)
Leipzig (May '17)
Leipzig (Oct '17)
Leipzig (March '18)
Dortmund (March '18)
Gladbach (April '18)
Sevilla x2 (April '18)
...

7/19

Madrid x2 (April/May '18)
Leverkusen (April '18)
Benfica (Sept '18)
Ajax (Oct '18)
Gladbach (Oct '18)
Dortmund (Nov '18)
Benfica (Oct '18)
Gladbach (March '19)
Freiburg (Dec '19)
Hoffenheim (Feb '20)
Schalke (March '20)

8/19

Now it looks like Chelsea will be added to that list. We already dealt with this for years with Robbery, but frankly (and I'm trying not to get too much into the "sport" side of it, but can't help it here) they were SO much better than Coman that you just put up with it.

9/19

So in short: we need to add another winger, we can't keep counting as Coman as an option and Sane+Gnabry+(OBM, Jeong, whoever) is obviously not enough. Like I said, every player has the right to earn a starting spot. If Coman stays fit and gets his form and is able...

10/19

...to make a push for a starting spot, that's great. Fantastic, bonus for us. But until that is the case - until he is able to consistently stay fit AND not take a dozen matches to re-find form after every injury, no matter how slight - he can't be relied on.

11/19

I know some will say things like "But what if he does stay healthy, then you will have too many and the wingers will get unhappy - not enough spots or minutes to go around".

I guess that's a fair concern, if you're willing to assume Coman will finally turn the corner....

12/19

...but personally I'm not willing to make that assumption. Either way, let's say that is the case. I think that's a pretty good problem to have, to be perfectly honest. I'd always rather have too many quality players than too few...
But I digress. Let me pose a question...

13/19

Which would you rather have?

A. Five fit and in-form wingers who are unhappy that they all can't start

Or...

B. Three wingers available at best because your fourth winger is perpetually hurt whenever he's needed

14/19

I don't know about you guys, but I'd chose "A" every. single. time. and it's no debate for me whatsoever.

Similarly, there are many who will ask "but who can we get who is better than Coman" or point out his age or his potential still. All fair points.

15/19

Coman does still have potential, and when he is ON he is a great player. But it seems like every injury requires more and more time to get back "on form" and every injury pushes the odds of reaching that potential farther and farther away.

16/19

In whatever case, as they say: The best ability is availability.

To be totally honest: I would rather have a winger who's marginally "worse" than Coman who manages to stay fit down the stretch over what we've got in our current situation.

17/19

Again, ask yourself which you'd rather have:

A. A player who has a ton of potential and ability but who will probably be unavailable in big matches

or

B. A player with less potential and/or skill but who stays fit and can be counted on to put in a decent shift

18/19

So, it's nothing personal, but IMO if we want to be able to consistently mount a serious challenge for the UCL year-in, year-out, we need a better - or at bare minimum "more reliable" option than Coman as a winger. Fool me once, shame on you; Fool me twice, shame on me.

19/19