Bayern Munich 2012 Report Card: Top Marks for Ribery, but Robben Earns an F

The 2012 calendar year was turbulent for Bayern Munich, who saw a midseason lead in the Bundesliga evaporate before being humiliated in the DFB-Pokal final and failing to win the Champions League final on their home soil. They went so far and came so close to glory on three fronts, but in the end they came up empty-handed.

After a successful summer transfer window, the Bavarians look a stronger side on paper. Despite injuries to several key players, they dominated the competition in the Bundesliga, which is all but won. And they still are alive and well in the Pokal and Champions League. Few clubs can claim to be on their level as die Roten prepare for the second half of the season.

With the winter break underway, we can reflect on the players' individual performances over the course of the calendar year. Read on for a rundown of every Bayern player who appeared in a minimum of 20 games in 2012.

Manuel Neuer

Overall, Manuel Neuer was arguably Bayern's best player of 2012. He wasn't always flashy, but his position doesn't call for flair; it calls for consistency. And Neuer was, indeed, consistent.

The Germany international commanded one of Europe's most successful defenses throughout the year, and played at a high level whenever needed. He was downright heroic in the Champions League in the spring, especially in the semifinals against Real Madrid. Given the talent in los Blancos' squad, it's incredible that Neuer let just one out of four spot-kicks find the net.

Final Grade: A

Dante

Any player who only joins a top club late in his career prompts a raised eyebrow, but Dante has silenced his critics since signing with Bayern in the summer. The 29-year-old has been magnificent in the Bundesliga as the German giants have conceded just seven goals. All that, and he's an enormous aerial threat from set pieces. On merit this season, there is no better centre-back in Germany.

The only mark on Dante's record is his rather high propensity to be booked. In the Champions League he's just one yellow card from suspension.

Final Grade: A-

Jerome Boateng

Throughout 2012, Jerome Boateng was a regular fixture in one of Europe's most successful defenses. Like Neuer, the statistics speak well of the defender's performance. However, Boateng had, on the whole, a very disappointing year.

In the big games, Boateng's performance left plenty to be desired. He was run ragged in the DFB-Pokal final. Days later, his performance in the Champions League final was dire: He let the slow and aging Didier Drogba get away from him time and time again, and left the Ivorian with a free header to equalize. Boateng's performances in Europe have hardly changed in the current season. He was awful against BATE in Minsk and got himself sent off with a mindless challenge in Bayern's group stage finale.

Final Grade: C

Holger Badstuber

He's not particularly large, quick or strong, but Holger Badstuber is a deceptively skilled defender. He played consistently well in the Bundesliga throughout 2012 and, unlike Boateng, cannot entirely be faulted for Bayern's loss in the Champions League final given that he missed the match through suspension.

Badstuber loses credit for his bookings against Real Madrid, which saw him miss Bayern's most important game of the calendar year, as well as his disappointment in the DFB-Pokal final.

Final Grade: B

David Alaba

The 2012 calendar year was a marvelous one for David Alaba, who became Jupp Heynckes' first-choice left-back in the spring and is quickly developing a reputation as one of the best full-backs in Europe.

Alaba proved to be a Champions League natural, unfazed even by the pressure of facing Real Madrid. That he kept his composure and played a brilliant game at the Bernabeu despite being criminally booked for a handball that saw him miss the final speaks volumes of his maturity. The only factor marking him down from a solid A is that there is nothing to say for his performance in the early stages of the 2012-13 campaign, which he missed due to injury.

Final Grade: A-

Philipp Lahm

The 2012 calendar year was a tumultuous one for many Bayern fans and Germany internationals, but none could feel more dejected than Philipp Lahm. As captain of club and country, the full-back took extra responsibility for his side's failing to win any silverware despite being favored to do so.

In his defense, Lahm was individually brilliant in the Champions League, both in the spring and fall. And in the Bundesliga, he's at least back on level terms with Lukasz Piszczek, if not ahead of the BVB man, for the honor of best full-back. He may not have won any titles in 2012, but Lahm suffered more from a lack of luck than anything else.

Final Grade: A-

Rafinha

The 2011-12 season started well for Rafinha, who started regularly for Bayern. By the spring of 2012, however, he had lost his role as Philipp Lahm moved into his position, with Alaba filling in at left back. Since then, Lahm has been a permanent fixture on the right of defense, leaving Rafinha with few options.

Rafinha is now nothing more than a utility man, used from time to time in midfield with the possibility of replacing Lahm should the captain need a rest or otherwise be unavailable. Rafinha has traditionally been a fierce competitor, but he'll have to raise his game to another level if he ever wants to play regularly.

Final Grade: D

Javi Martinez

Many had doubts over the real worth of €40 million man Javi Martinez when he signed for Bayern in the summer. And in September and October, the Spaniard did little to impress. In the final month of the fall, however, his level of play rose drastically. Regardless of form, however, he can only be graded based on his aggregate performances.

The prognosis for Martinez is looking good. Every player needs time to adjust to a new culture and a new club, and having a second preseason in January will help him further. Is he worth €40 million? That is yet to be determined. But more can be expected from Martinez in the coming months.

Final Grade: B-

Luiz Gustavo

On the regular, Luiz Gustavo is a modest defensive midfielder and anchor who tackles hard and tries to do no more than he can. In 2012, he proved his class with some outstanding performances in the Champions League. He was very unlucky to miss the final, and had he not been suspended, perhaps the Bavarians might have won the tournament.

Since the summer, Gustavo has raised his level. With Martinez chomping at the bit, prepared to take his role, he's become more ambitious and matched that ambition with results. The only downside is that he was injured, forcing him to miss the end of the first round. Come springtime, though, there is no guarantee Martinez and Schweinsteiger will be Bayern's starting central midfield combination.

Final Grade: B+

Bastian Schweinsteiger

As it was for Lahm, the 2012 calendar year was a very frustrating one for Bayern and Germany vice-captain Bastian Schweinsteiger. Even more so, perhaps, for Schweinsteiger given that he played through injury for several months and missed the last penalty in the Champions League final.

Schweinsteiger did not exactly impress in December, but he has otherwise been excellent in all competitions this season. Better than in the spring, but even then he wasn't exactly bad. The winter break has come at a good time for Schweinsteiger, who clearly needed some time to rest. The next few months may be the most telling of his career as he pursues a treble with Bayern.

Final Grade: B+

Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

With Luiz Gustavo and Bastian Schweinsteiger decidedly ahead of him in the pecking order in the spring, 2012 was never going to be Anatoliy Tymoshchuk's year. When Javi Martinez was signed in the summer, the Ukraine international's chances diminished towards 0.

Tymoshchuk's performance in limited appearances was mixed, although he rarely played in a game of much significance. He did, however, play in the Champions League final and was much more composed than Boateng in the center of defense. However, a good performance went to nought in the penalty shootout, when he refused to take a spot-kick. Even when Thomas Mueller approached him three times to shoot, the immensely experienced 33-year-old refused. After a lengthy delay, Manuel Neuer stepped up and buried the first penalty of his professional career.

Final Grade: D

Toni Kroos

Behind Franck Ribery and Marco Reus, Toni Kroos was the Bundesliga's third-best attacking player of 2012.

His distribution from deep areas and in the final third, his delivery from free kicks, and his ability to shoot from distance make the 22-year-old a versatile player of rare quality. And he only seems to get better and better.

Kroos does, however, lose credit for lacking any guile in the latter stages of the Champions League. He missed his penalty kick against Real Madrid, and refused to try his luck against Chelsea. As he did with Tymoshchuk, Mueller urged Kroos, the most technically gifted player on the pitch, to show some nerve and shoot. Like Tymoshchuk, Kroos refused. No matter how the 22-year-old plays in the Bundesliga, this will be a mark on his record until he makes his mark in a good way in a major final.

Final Grade: A-

Franck Ribery

To say that Ribery is currently "in the form of his life" is rapidly becoming cliche; one could have said the same for the majority of the last 18 months. At this point, it's not form but class that the Frenchman is showing. And that class is in abundance.

Ribery couldn't make the difference in the Champions League final, nor did he particularly impress in two of Bayern's three matches against Dortmund. But on a week in, week out basis he was called upon to deliver the goods, and only on rare occasion did he fail to do so. He plays for Bayern as though he grew up in the Suedkurve, with uncompromising drive. And 2012 was his best year yet.

Final Grade: A

Arjen Robben

While 2012 will be remembered as the year Alaba and Kroos affirmed their talent, it also marked the downfall of Arjen Robben. Statisticians will note that he scored 16 goals and gave 11 assists, but those numbers were padded by penalties and routs of Basel and Hoffenheim. 

Slower and less confident than in previous years, the Dutch winger was anonymous in the only matches that truly mattered. He missed two key penalties, one of which cost Bayern the Champions League final: These mistakes, given his immense talent, account for his grade.

This fall he was only used a few times. Injuries have played a role in the infrequence of his use, but even if he were fit, Thomas Mueller would be head and shoulders ahead of him in the pecking order. And at present, Xherdan Shaqiri is well on his way to surpassing the jaded Dutchman.

Final Grade: F

Thomas Mueller

The 2012 calendar year was a volatile one for Thomas Mueller, who started poorly but ended very well. In the spring Bundesliga campaign, he was stunningly ordinary. In the fall, he was the league's best player.

While he did suffer a drought of form throughout the 2011-12, season, Mueller picked all the right moments to make his mark. While Ribery, Robben, Kroos and Mario Gomez were visibly flustered in the Champions League final, it was Mueller who broke the deadlock against Chelsea with a goal more valuable than 20 against the likes of Augsburg and Furth. It was criminal for him to be substituted shortly thereafter, but Jupp Heynckes will never again make that mistake. Now Bayern's first-choice penalty taker, Mueller has confidence and composure that should be an example for any aspiring footballer.

Final Grade: A

Xherdan Shaqiri

Six months into his career in Munich, Xherdan Shaqiri has settled in quite well. The 21-year-old has only been used sparingly thus far, but when he's played, he has generally impressed.

Deployed primarily as a substitute, Shaqiri has four goals to his name—including a critical equalizer against Gladbach—and has given seven assists. His explosiveness in the dribble has drawn comparisons to Ribery, and his cannon of a left foot is reminiscent of a younger Robben. He's taken all his chances thus far and is quite clearly a fierce competitor. All he needs now is some regular playing time: When he gets it, it may not be long before he becomes a world superstar.

Final Grade: B+

Mario Gomez

Far and away the world's most prolific No. 9 over the last six years, Mario Gomez needs no introduction: he's a goal machine. The critics may have a point in calling him a big-game choke, but their words oftentimes are harsher than warranted. Earlier this season he scored a key goal at home against Real Madrid, and won a critical penalty at the Bernabeu.

Gomez struggled in the Champions League final against Chelsea and missed most of the first half of the 2012-13 campaign. He was, however, instrumental in securing Bayern's first-place finish in Group F; in just 101 minutes he contributed to three goals.

Hate him or love him, he's the best striker Bayern have. And while many strikers have faded in and out in recent years, he's been the most consistent.

Final Grade: B+

Mario Mandzukic

With Mario Gomez sidelined with a long-term injury at season's start, Mario Mandzukic had his chance to make an appeal for regular playing time even when the Germany international returned to action.

To his credit, the Croatian striker was excellent in the Bundesliga for the first 12 rounds, scoring nine goals. His hold-up play was excellent, and he had a knack for eventually finding the target in most every match.

Mandzukic has suffered a dismal drop in form since mid-November, however, and has since failed to score. And in the Champions League he's been utterly anonymous, failing to score even when given a clear chance from the penalty spot. It's no coincidence that Bayern nearly finished group runners-up for the first time in three years with Mandzukic (and Claudio Pizarro, at times) leading the line instead of Gomez.

Final Grade: B-

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