Pep likes to play a spare man at the back so if we play a 442 that could work, but if we beat the first press that formation is asking for all sorts of problems.
Yeah 0% chance of that formation happening. He usually tinkers with midfield positioning rather than defensive structure. I think he pushed midfielders up to do what Dortmund did last year and stop us from playing through Xabi, but we weren't intent on playing today, just countering, which probably surprised him. Robben said after the game he was very surprised how we played, it was meant to be a sort of derogatory statement but I think it was a genuine surprise to the Bayern coaches that we sat back and countered.
I think overall you guys had your best defensive performance of the season.. Everyone was throwing bodies and blocking shots, clearing headers and crosses, etc.. Very unmadrid like, but you didn't concede. Which in turn gives you guys the edge in this series now..
I think we dealt with most things well but there were two moments we slipped up, and it could have lead to two goals. I liked the Barca copa final more - we weren't at home for that game but we made them look quite toothless. But our CB's were very commanding today. There were plenty of crosses from wide positions because we preferred to give you the ball there rather than through the middle, but Pepe/Ramos dealt with almost everything. I think that was the difference today - we protected our CB's (and FB's) much more than you did. I don't think the same approach will work in the return. We will definitely get scored on even if we bunker all game. If it's me I would probably try to bunker for 65 mins then go for a goal after that. Even if it's 2-0 to you on 65 we can still decide the tie with a goal.
Bayern gonna win 3-1. We'll have plenty of opportunities to win this 10-0; however our players will take an early half time to begin scheduling their final celebration. We'll likely see a heated discussion between Kroos and Robben between which of the two should host. Not to worry though, in the 92nd minute, our substitute Daniel Van Buyten will dribble through the entire Real defense and score the 3rd and winning goal. Not knowing how to celebrate, he grabs a razor and shaves one half of his head off.
I predict Pep will stick with the elite sideways passers Lahm and Kroos in "defensive" midfield that will continue to leave our CBs exposed due to their lack of ability in breaking up counter attacks, forcing Dante and Boateng to have a world class game to not be blamed for conceding. Then SirManchester will come in and say that losing in the CL semi-finals is good for Pep's vision and winning another CL title with a Heynckes lineup would have been detrimental to his long term plan. Even though winning the CL is the primary goal in the first place.
You're losing it dude. From what we can see as fans, the lineups seemed like a mistake. But Pep is the one who works with these players every day. he knows which players are playing poorly and not gelling and which players are. Martinez has been anything but spectacular since the beginning of the year and we've been clamoring for him to be a starter all the time. Have faith, he has his reasons to do things and most of the time he is right. I don't think he could have predicted Ribery to continue playing terribly when and being a complete offensive liability when Real is stacked with these options and players like Isco and Ronaldo are at least contributing.
I think someone posted it in the 1st leg thread and it looked really nice. ------------Neuer-------------- Lahm--Boa---Dante---Alaba -----------Martinez----------- Robben-Kroos-Müller-Götze -----------Mandžukic--------- I think we should go 4-1-4-1 and Martinez must start. Sorry bout Piggy, but i don't think he offers enough offensively(lately)to be in that starting11. Ribery could come on 2nd half and actually same goes for Basti if we need to lock it up or smt.
go next week: ------------Mandzukic ---Gotze---Kroos--Mueller-- robben ---------------Piggy --Alaba---dante---boateng--lahm I think Piggy style of play is inherited from Ballack who tends to move back behind to get the ball and deliver it. Let Kroos have more freedom up front to connect both wings.
I´ll try this one: ------------------------------Neuer------------------------------------- ------Lahm-----------Boa-------Dante---------------Alaba----------- ------------------Schweini--------Martinez---------------------------- -------Robben--------------Götze-------------------Müller------------ ---------------------------Mandzukic------------------------------------- Winning the midfield battle will be mental (and I don´t mean to win, by having 109% possesion) and we need our Destroyer in Martinez here. Also, unleash the GÖTZE! Dude finally has to step big for Bayern in such an game. Perfect time to shine now. Ribery coming from the bench and Müller and Mandzu to penetrate their backline and create space for either Robben or Götze. Let´s do this boys! I´m sure we can go futher in this one, if Pep brings on the right game plan and Real shyte their pants like they usually do in Munich.
Pep facked up in the first game, i mean Real are shit when attacked through the middle and what Pep did, he played a trio of Schweini,Lahm and Kroos. Lahm is zero goal threat, Kroos is playing too deep and plus him and Schweini cannot take on a single player to save their lifes. So only thing that was left was to attack through the wings where there were Isco and another guy helping Coentrao and Di Maria, Modrid helping Carvajal. Look at Dortmund they killed Real through the middle creating chances, with Alonso making strong fouls here and there. Pep is playing either too cautious(first game against United and yesterday) or too attacking like the second game against United and we probably have to play like that in the second leg when we could have easily played a trio of Martinez,Kroos and one of Muller/Gotze in the first game and probably score a goal. Now lets all hope that we will score an early goal and start playing fast instead of this slow shit(even Ancelotti said that Bayern playing slow suited Real).
Schweni adds nothing to this team anymore and Kroos had a fantastic game IMO. Kroos must start with Martinez. Muller-Madzu in a double ST Formation and Robben and Goetze as the inverted wingers
3 Man Defense is a Proven Failure especially against Wing Heavy teams you have no chance. I hated the Lahm Piggy Kroos trio as none of them attacked for s***. Away goals early will kill the game IMO and Ronaldo-Bale will devastating through the wings
Funny, how the various views can be that different. IMO, Schweini was really strong in the first half and winning loads of physical battles to gain ball control. Kroos in my opinion, was an real weaking point. If the dude wants more recognition and more money on an extend, than he has to deliver in such games. No deadly passes, no finding or creating space, no presents at all.
I think it's clear by all of us that we have our back 4. Lahm boateng Dante Alaba Mixed with 2 of 3: Martinez/Kroos/bastian Attacking 4: Robben gotze muller mandzukic
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (Madrid) Current UEFA rank (2013)4 Matches15 Wins 6 Drawn 1 Losses 8 Goals for 20 Goals after 23 Goals difference -3 The biggest win 2:0 The biggest loss 1:4 The most resultative match 2:4 The most resultative draw 1:1 Points 19 Fußball-Club Bayern, München e. V. (München) Current UEFA rank (2013)2 Matches15 Wins 8 Drawn 1 Losses 6 Goals for 23 Goals after 20 Goals difference 3 The biggest win 4:1 The biggest loss 0:2 The most resultative match 4:2 The most resultative draw 1:1 Points 25