they don't grow on trees, you know - musings on the left back problem

The world class left back - just like the unicorn, it is ever elusive and quite possibly mythical.

Philipp Lahm has already expressed his willingness to switch back over to the left if need be and because he's Philipp Lahm, you know he'll do a good enough job like the energizer bunny that he is. However, the longer he's stayed on the right, the more that I've felt that that's the place for him. There needs to be a point where we just say hey, why don't you stay where you want to stay. I thought we had reached that point already but yet again, here we are.

So, let's take a look at some of our other options.

Holger Badstuber: is a natural center back and should stay there.

Luis Gustavo: Gustavo's versatility was certainly part of his allure when we signed him. He's a perfectly serviceable left back, if not particularly inspired. However, I see his future at Bayern as Herr Schweinsteiger's partner at CDM. It's where he's played best and it would be foolish to place him otherwise.

Danijel Pranjic: I shall refrain from saying any unladylike things that may or may not involve regurgitating the delicious fusilli all'arrabiata that I made earlier. Short answer - no, thank you.

Diego Contento: Oh hey remember this guy? Creative hair styles, loves espresso, quite chummy with our resident Frenchman? A blunder earlier in the season has seen Contento fall out of favor and injury problems have been just another obstacle in his way. Clearly he should have stolen the self-help book "The Best Way to Sacrifice Virgins to the Devil" from Pranjic's bedside table.

Contento is a tricky case because I get this uncomfortably queasy feeling at the thought of leaving him behind and shuffling him off. For a player who has been with Bayern as long as he has, I believe he's owed his due. Whether that's being given another chance under our new management or getting loaned out to gain experience (for Bayern or to pique the interest of another club willing to buy, perhaps), only time will tell.

'Lo! What's that in the rumor mill?

Fabio Coentrão: has been on our radar for yonks. Bayern has made noise about signing him before but backed off at the sight of his considerably high price tag. Now the rumor is making the rounds again. It could just be the football journalists getting bored because it's been a while since any decent sex scandal reared its ugly head (honestly, John Terry, time to step up your game). Still, if there's anything that I've learnt over the years, it's that in the world of transfers, anything is possible. I'm a great admirer of Coentrão's. After all, he was one of my first choices for my UEFA Champions League Fantasy Football Team this year, and is there any accolade greater than that? Surely not.

He's a talented young chap and should we somehow manage to pull this signing off, I'll welcome him with open arms, but I'm not going to get too fussed about it until we hear anything definite.