Why Long-Term Squad Building Is the Biggest Issue Facing Bayern Munich Right Now

As Bayern Munich enter the 2015-16 season, they are in a peculiar state of transition. What in the spring of 2013 was a team in its prime, appearing destined to remain more or less the same for at least a few more years, has markedly changed since Pep Guardiola's arrival through means both controllable and out of the hands of management.

The trainer's arrival soon coincided with the dismissal of Mario Gomez and Luiz Gustavo, followed by Mario Mandzukic. Toni Kroos was allowed to leave, with Thiago Alcantara, Robert Lewandowski and Mario Gotze brought in.

Yet despite the addition of many stars, the integration of new players and internalization of Guardiola's ideals have seen the club fall from its very peak. And heading into Guardiola's final contract year, the trainer will have to solve problems of restructuring and face issues of long-term squad planning.

It's not as simple as a case of aiming to fine-tune a team that has made continuous progress over the last couple of years: There are many unresolved issues to sort out, and the decisions made will have a big effect on the club's direction.

Already this summer, Bayern have made moves with long-term effects. Douglas Costa was signed for a significant €30 million, with the viability of the 32-year-old, injury-prone Franck Ribery in doubt. Vice-captain and club icon Bastian Schweinsteiger, also injury-prone and the wrong side of 30, was also sold with Arturo Vidal apparently his replacement. And Joshua Kimmich has joined a contingent of young central midfield prospects at the club.

All these developments are related in one way or another, and perhaps the biggest issue ultimately stems from the midfield. Guardiola has experimented with many systems during his Bayern tenure, from 3-5-2 to 3-4-3 to 4-3-3 to 4-2-3-1.

A common factor among these formations is a three-man central midfield, the exception being 3-4-3 in which a center-back is formally aligned in defense but plays an active role in the build-up from a deep position.

Luis Hidalgo/Associated Press

Bayern have an abundance of options for these central roles, including the established Vidal, Thiago Alcantara, Xabi Alonso and Javi Martinez, converted full-backs Philipp Lahm and David Alaba, and youngsters and fringe players such as Kimmich, Sebastian Rode, Pierre Hojbjerg and Gianluca Gaudino.

It's hard to see Guardiola benching €40 million man Vidal or his golden boy, Thiago. The third position, however, is critical and up for grabs: Martinez would bring a much-needed aerial presence to the midfield and his defensive qualities would help free Thiago to work his magic in possession.

Martinez-Vidal-Thiago could be a dominant combination in the center of the pitch, but the control it would exert is somewhat atypical of Guardiola, in that it would surrender some amount of possession in exchange for better positioning and quicker transitions.

The more classic Guardiola mentality would use Alonso alongside Vidal and Thiago, with Martinez in defense. Alonso would bring a greater passing range and metronomic effect to the midfield but would be a defensive liability and have little long-term value as he approaches his 34th birthday.

Martinez would be a great ball-player in defense, at the expense of a better defender in either Mehdi Benatia or Jerome Boateng.

"

All eyes on Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg as this Arturo Vidal deal goes through. Danish press said Tottenham were interested last month.

— Stefan Bienkowski (@SBienkowski) July 16, 2015"

A tertiary option would be to use either Lahm or Alaba in midfield, the former as a screening type or the latter to inject energy and pace. Lahm's use may not be any more helpful than Martinez's in such a role but without the physicality the Spaniard brings. And Alaba in midfield would add something of a superfluous quality given that Vidal's greatest strength is the quickness and explosiveness he provides.

Yet, for all their pros and cons, all the aforementioned are possible options for Guardiola. How the trainer intends to proceed will have a big effect on the club's long-term squad planning, and he'll have his work cut out in trying to bring the best possible results while keeping a harmonious dressing room.

No matter the trainer's choice, he will have to bench at least a couple of players who have earned the right to play first-team football.

Vidal's transfer has also reopened the discussion of what will become of the Bayern youngsters. With Schweinsteiger in the squad, there were two spots in the central midfield that were open for competition, and the likes of Kimmich and especially Hojbjerg could expect to play rather often. The Chilean's addition has reduced those odds by half.

Hojbjerg complained of lack of playing time last fall and will not be keen to spend half the season benched before leaving once more on loan. A repeat of last year's events could force his exit, much like Emre Can's in 2013.

On the other hand, Thiago and Vidal both have weak knees, and Alonso and Lahm are both well into their 30s. Having a few options on the bench would certainly be beneficial to Guardiola. The question is: Will Bayern risk losing a top talent in Hojbjerg in order to ensure their depth in midfield?

Outside the midfield, there are questions of the wide players in attack and defense. Lahm and Alaba were the world's best full-backs in 2013, but Guardiola converted both to central midfielders and last season used Juan Bernat and Rafinha consistently in the wide defensive positions.

The former is still very young and has potential on the left, although it is far from fulfilled as of yet. But Alaba is just a year older and simply world class. The Austrian will surely start—the question is whether in defense at the expense of Bernat or in midfield at the expense of Hojbjerg and the youngsters as well as one of Alonso or Martinez (or Benatia, if Martinez starts in defense).

On the right, it's a question of Lahm or Rafinha, the former of whom is 32 in November and the latter of whom turns 30 in September. The captain ought to start, but Bayern should be thinking to the long-term future without him, and that isn't Rafinha.

Mitchell Weiser left for Hertha this summer, and Bayern missed out on the chance to sign Matteo Darmian. As much as Costa and Vidal's signings have grabbed fans' attention, the long-term options at right-back should be a concern. After all, Bayern spent years trying to replace the brilliant duo of Bixente Lizarazu and Willy Sagnol before Alaba came along to partner Lahm.

Finally, Guardiola will soon have to figure out what to do with his attack. Ribery's future is seriously questionable, and although brilliant last season, Arjen Robben will turn 32 in January: He will eventually need to be replaced and before that will need to play fewer games to ensure his longevity.

Matthias Schrader/Associated Press

Costa is still relatively young and could be a long-term option as a forward but will have it all to prove as he looks to take the step up from the Ukrainian league to the Bundesliga. Similarly, Mario Gotze will truly need to step up if he is to fill the sizable shoes of Ribery and Robben.

Thomas Muller is well-established as a forward in the Bayern team and most likely will be a star figure for years to come, but Gotze and Costa will have to show they're capable of succeeding the likes of Robben and Ribery.

Or Bayern will have to sell Gotze and find another option before summer's end, another big decision.

Overall, there are few fully settled positions in the Bayern starting lineup, and exactly what will happen to the bench is unclear. Manuel Neuer will start in goal, with Jerome Boateng a certain inclusion in defense. Vidal and Thiago will play in midfield and Lewandowski up front. Alaba will play somewhere, although it is uncertain as to what his role will be.

That leaves five positions up for grabs, plus the bench to sort out. Guardiola and the management's decisions for the rest of the summer and during the course of the 2015-16 season will have a huge effect on what the team becomes in the coming years. It's Bayern's biggest challenge.

@Mr_Bundesliga