You have to see this game in conjunction with the Real game on Tuesday. Schweinsteiger can get match fitness only in matches and due to the progression of the whole season there is no time to waste at all even if this might have been advantageous for BVB. But if I look at Bayern in first half today they already had this advantage even without Schweini benched. Remember that Schweinsteiger "lamented" him missing the return leg vs Marseille due to this very problem. The other teams are less "perfect" (I'm not saying BVB is perfect by any means just that Bayern is always totally playing into their hands) in the way to play vs Bayern. Gladbach totally profited from two fluke goals otherwise they probably don#t score at all. And in general all these teams usually have too many weaknesses (whether individually or as a team) that Bayern still can exploit to win. I think we were because yet again, Bayern failed to control the center of the pitch vs BVB and the only weapons in Bayern's arsenal the wingers got shut down again (mostly, Ribs woke up a little in half 2, but too late anyway) yet again and consequently Bayern's offense game totally crumbled. I think Bayern desperately needs tactical and personnel flexibility to be able to employ a 4-6-0 against sides like BVB, in order to counteract on the pressing and take over the midfield center, while vacating the flanks a little to lure out the double teams on the wings better and beat Subotic and Hummels with a skilled (ideally, because we don't have this) striker on the ground
I think you can already cross off the cup final because I don't see a possibility for Bayern to win that one right now, not with this coach and and current level of tactical prowess unless individually Rib, Rob and Mueller/Gomez have a great day
Yea I understand that. It's the worst game to make your start after being out previously. Imagine though that he did start today, and the nature of the game being as physical and fast paced, he re-injured himself. Then he'd be out of the Madrid game altogether. Medical staff probably made the decision that its best not to start him. It was pretty obvious when he did come on that he still wasn't 100% fit. At the end of the day they might just not have wanted to risk it. Even Dortmund have weaknesses that Bayern can exploit. They became much more tired in the second half but we weren't effective enough as a unit and they still defended well. The pattern to me is very similar, this season going back to last year, its the same issue that rears its head over and over again. Until that is addressed we'll continue to struggle against these kinds of teams. We were horrible relative to our standards or potential but we weren't playing just any league side today but the best in the country. Against teams like that we can't always play the same or expect to maintain the same level of performance, we have to get around them in other ways. That lack in variety is what hurts us more than anything else. Definitely agree there.
just saw the result, but haven't seen the match. yet another loss to dortmund. looks like my prediction remains safe. it is a results business and it should be now clear that we aren't the premier German team. too mentally weak. I would expect no trophies this yet again this year.
OH jeez...now we have to listen to Grossfotze for the rest of the season. Let's see how they do next year competing for more than just domestic success. I can only hope that they actually achieve expectations in Europe, however, how high could they really be after the last 2 years?
Dortmund need to perform better in the Champions League next season... if they don't make it out of the group, I will put an asterisk next to their name on the list of Bundesliga winners Bundesliga Champions need to play well in the Champions League
Tough luck on the loss guys, but it needs to be taken on the chin. At least finally Bayern has a true competitor for the next few years in the Bundesliga in BVB, not one-year wonders like Wolfsburg or Stuttgart. It isn't over yet, but it's very close to being done now. Gotta focus on CL and Pokal now, still a lot of fish left to fry before the season ends.
just finished the match. wow. won't waste time on Gomez Ribery and Mueller. but what a disaster for Robben. I wonder if he can repair his psyche after yet another choke. Kroos and Alaba were bright spots.
Hitzfeld backed you guys before the match because bayern are in two other competitions as well. Or else he would have "backed dortmund" in this match. I thought that being in other competitions made you guys less potent in the BL?
We would have won the league titles fair and square. If you win the CL this year will you have an asterisk next to it for qualifying without winning your own league first? I thought the CL winner had to be the best team in their own country?
Didn't had a chance for posting before, but I just want to congratulate all BvB fans in the forum for the title ... ... and to thank Robben for delivering the Silver Plate personally to them. I also want to thank Heynckes, because removing your Key Goal Scorer in the most important match of the Bundesliga this season when the game is Tied with 15min left to play certainly is the right choice Now let's focus on Madrid !!! EDIT: Tell me about how awesome are the teams that Real Madrid Faced and won this season (both in La Liga and CL) ...
Better than the ones BvB couldn't outdo in their CL group ...and once again Bayern are in the Semi's.
Well, that wasn't fun now, was it? Since when does Robben miss PKs???? The dude is money on PKs and haven't seen him ever miss. Unbelievable! Ribery was out of it, his shots were off and so were his passes. Kroos too, really poor. Gustavo phoned it in. Schwein should've started and Gustavo should've been benched. BvB's quickness really caused a lot of problems but for the most part, Bayern held the ground. The 'Mez couldn't get into the match, maybe because Ribrob was on vacation. Olic was invisible. It's debatable as to whether Neuer should've stopped the goal but Weidenfeller deserves to be his #2 on the Nat team. Alaba was fantastic until he hit BvB's box, then he crumbled to dust. Still, job well done. I think the home crowd really got to the boys. If the match were on neutral ground or at the Allianz, the result would've been much more favorable. Sets up a dream Pokal finale. At least, the ref was good. Oh well, better to lose now than on Tuesday or in the Pokal finale.
I think this is hitting the nail on the head perfectly. Bayern are individually excellent but most of their play is dependent on players 'finding solutions' on the pitch. While this can often lead to fantastically one-sided results, the trouble mostly arises when things are not going Bayern's way or they are under pressure from the opposition. Compare this to Dortmund, whose style is so well coached and practiced that even if they are not having the best days they can execute many moves out of rote. Heynckes, I feel, is from the Harry Redknapp school of management. While his player management skills are supposedly good (or are they? Olic, Pranjic?) his whole approach is based on having a smooth working environment and putting the best team out there hoping they shine. Part of the blame for this lies with the management definitely, but in reality I am surprised Bayern have made it thus far considering the lack of proper 'coaching' that they often show, especially when the going gets tough.
what happened with Magath during his spell.... coaching??? i wasn't following those year 2004-2008 ...after Hizfield he came back again???....