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mmm... bacon
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EPL Season
- Thread starter VLM
- Start date
mmm... bacon
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mikel "bites yer legs" arteta?
fb.
fb.
originally posted by richard slicker:
mikel "bites yer legs" arteta?
fb.
Actually, despite my reservations about the limitations of his game, I do think Jackie boy has the spunk for this.
Frimpong could do it if he wasn't on loan. Dench!
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originally posted by VLM:
Do we have anyone bad assed enough to do it?
Szczêsny
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Using Wittgenstein as my excuse, I decided to check yesterday's scores again.
originally posted by .sasha:
Using Wittgenstein as my excuse, I decided to check yesterday's scores again.
Jesus, fucking Muller.
Dante looked shaky to me again, but Boateng looked great and played a couple balls out of the back that led to goals. Lahm was strangely quiet for much of the 2nd half. That was the most effort I've seen from Robben in a while, although Bayern may have had at least one more if he would pass the ball.
I still think Neuer is suspect and I hope Schweini doesn't regret that stupid yellow.
Surely, it speaks volumes that Cesc was nowhere to be seen.
It's what everyone has known for a while. Barca is vulnerable to pace and power.
originally posted by .sasha:
originally posted by VLM:
Do we have anyone bad assed enough to do it?
Szczêsny
I was thinking last night how much it would help to have a real leader in goal. Like Tim Howard. Imagine if you didn't have to be worried every time the keeper played the ball, someone who could actually put a foot through it and see it to Giroud way up the pitch. Imagine we had a vocal presence who would marshal from the back and hold his defenders accountable. Imagine we had a shot stopper that was probably worth 10 points a season to our team. Imagine you only had to spend $7-10M on this player.
It seems so fucking logical, it has to happen, right?
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As to more immediate issues - Walcott or Podolski as #9 in the next three games? I am guessing Podolski.
originally posted by .sasha:
GiroudAs to more immediate issues - Walcott or Podolski as #9 in the next three games? I am guessing Podolski.
Maybe. Theo might line up there but Poldo will switch off. Wenger did say he wanted to run Poldo as a true 9.
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originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by .sasha:
Using Wittgenstein as my excuse, I decided to check yesterday's scores again.
Jesus, fucking Muller.
Dante looked shaky to me again, but Boateng looked great and played a couple balls out of the back that led to goals. Lahm was strangely quiet for much of the 2nd half. That was the most effort I've seen from Robben in a while, although Bayern may have had at least one more if he would pass the ball.
I still think Neuer is suspect and I hope Schweini doesn't regret that stupid yellow.
Surely, it speaks volumes that Cesc was nowhere to be seen.
It's what everyone has known for a while. Barca is vulnerable to pace and power.
Lets see. On the first goal, he headed the ball so weakly and so directly at Valdes that he confused the shit out of him. On the second, he headed the ball to Gomez into an offside position (although a lot closer than I had thought, on replay), but no one seemed to notice. On the third, Darrel Garretson was turning in his grave, the mother of all illegal picks. On the fourth, he desperately tried to get himself substituted after getting a cramp, but could not leave quickly enough before scoring. Typical day at the office for this guy. He had a game like this against Kazhakhstan in March, always in the right place, mostly unintentionally, I think there was a Goetze goal that resulted from Muller clumsily colliding with a defender.
But may I suggest a different angle here? You are assuming they owned Barca, while pointing out several shortcomings. I did not think they solved the Barca problem at all, but rather worked their way around it, just like they did against Dortmund in February. Barca was still technically superior on both sides of the ball in midfield, and you could especially see this when Bayern tried to pass their way out, from just above the circle, to no avail. But the key was, they knew this would happen and were prepared to defend immediately. Against Dortmund, they knew they could not break the triangle press every time, but they also knew exactly what Dortmund would do once they'd lose the ball to them, and either Martinez or Dante were there to anticipate the passing lane, with remarkable precision. Against Barca, losing the ball so close is a far more complicated proposition, so they just stayed back, in numbers.
Given the above, I would not rush to judge Dante. I assume you've picked up on him clearing the ball poorly, especially in the first half. But the first half hour was a steep learning curve, and Schweinsteiger admitted it. Dante has never played against a team like this, and his job was not to do anything stupid.
Boateng was in there precisely because of his long balls and Barca's high line. Otherwise, Van Buyten plays.
Lahm just needs to hold on, physically. He had played too many games. They finally started rotating him, but it was too late. He is the only player without a proper backup. Rafinha is useless. In a big game, Boateng would take over at right back. And yet, his psychological influence is still immense. I know this team well enough now to see what a difference his 2-3 runs forward made around the 20th minute yesterday.
Neuer has had a questionable year, but his two best games by far were against Frankfurt and the second leg against Juve a few days later. I thought it was symbolic that his stop from point blank range had cliched the league, and he proved me right with a stop on that insane free kick from Pirlo. I have not seen him do anything spectacular since then, but I haven't seen anything to indicate a drop in form either. But I do feel better about him now than I did in February.
You can see now why Robben wanted the Barca draw. They suited him the most, this is the matchup where his individual skill actually makes a difference.
Back to stupid yellows - Dante, Schweini, Lahm and Martinez are a card away. I guess they all have to play, especially Lahm. Perhaps 2 of them can play, and the others will sub in? I don't know.
originally posted by .sasha:
originally posted by VLM:
originally posted by .sasha:
Using Wittgenstein as my excuse, I decided to check yesterday's scores again.
Jesus, fucking Muller.
Dante looked shaky to me again, but Boateng looked great and played a couple balls out of the back that led to goals. Lahm was strangely quiet for much of the 2nd half. That was the most effort I've seen from Robben in a while, although Bayern may have had at least one more if he would pass the ball.
I still think Neuer is suspect and I hope Schweini doesn't regret that stupid yellow.
Surely, it speaks volumes that Cesc was nowhere to be seen.
It's what everyone has known for a while. Barca is vulnerable to pace and power.
Lets see. On the first goal, he headed the ball so weakly and so directly at Valdes that he confused the shit out of him. On the second, he headed the ball to Gomez into an offside position (although a lot closer than I had thought, on replay), but no one seemed to notice. On the third, Darrel Garretson was turning in his grave, the mother of all illegal picks. On the fourth, he desperately tried to get himself substituted after getting a cramp, but could not leave quickly enough before scoring. Typical day at the office for this guy. He had a game like this against Kazhakhstan in March, always in the right place, mostly unintentionally, I think there was a Goetze goal that resulted from Muller clumsily colliding with a defender.
It is sort of nuts watching him stumble around into things and pull the nice touch out of his ass from time to time. I don't think his "illegal pick" was all that illegal. I think that Alba was well beaten and tried to make a meal of it. I'm glad someone made Barca pay the price for all those buzzing annoying gnats. Alba is a bitch.
But may I suggest a different angle here? You are assuming they owned Barca, while pointing out several shortcomings. I did not think they solved the Barca problem at all, but rather worked their way around it, just like they did against Dortmund in February. Barca was still technically superior on both sides of the ball in midfield, and you could especially see this when Bayern tried to pass their way out, from just above the circle, to no avail. But the key was, they knew this would happen and were prepared to defend immediately. Against Dortmund, they knew they could not break the triangle press every time, but they also knew exactly what Dortmund would do once they'd lose the ball to them, and either Martinez or Dante were there to anticipate the passing lane, with remarkable precision. Against Barca, losing the ball so close is a far more complicated proposition, so they just stayed back, in numbers.
I guess I'm confused about what you mean by "solved Barca". I think that killing them with pace and power, neither of which they can handle and both kills them, IS solving them. Barca had almost no attacking thrust, they looked totally impotent. That's why i mentioned Fabregas. While he may not have the virtuosity of Messi/Xavi/Iniesta, he doesn't lack for aggression and drive. Being left out when those are qualities that were needed is a huge slap in the face.
Given the above, I would not rush to judge Dante. I assume you've picked up on him clearing the ball poorly, especially in the first half. But the first half hour was a steep learning curve, and Schweinsteiger admitted it. Dante has never played against a team like this, and his job was not to do anything stupid.
Boateng was in there precisely because of his long balls and Barca's high line. Otherwise, Van Buyten plays.
You watch more Bayern than I do, but what I've seen is not convincing. He's no Thiago. Hell, he's no Cahill.
Lahm just needs to hold on, physically. He had played too many games. They finally started rotating him, but it was too late. He is the only player without a proper backup. Rafinha is useless. In a big game, Boateng would take over at right back. And yet, his psychological influence is still immense. I know this team well enough now to see what a difference his 2-3 runs forward made around the 20th minute yesterday.
Those runs were beautiful and showed what a unique player he is. Just love watching him.
Neuer has had a questionable year, but his two best games by far were against Frankfurt and the second leg against Juve a few days later. I thought it was symbolic that his stop from point blank range had cliched the league, and he proved me right with a stop on that insane free kick from Pirlo. I have not seen him do anything spectacular since then, but I haven't seen anything to indicate a drop in form either. But I do feel better about him now than I did in February.
I've not seen him produce the form that has folks insisting he is one of the best keepers in the world. Honestly, I don't think he is better than de Gea and certainly not Howard, Lloris, Hart, or Courtois and certainly not Cech or Gigi.
You can see now why Robben wanted the Barca draw. They suited him the most, this is the matchup where his individual skill actually makes a difference.
Yeah. Robben is a perfect fit for that type of game.
Back to stupid yellows - Dante, Schweini, Lahm and Martinez are a card away. I guess they all have to play, especially Lahm. Perhaps 2 of them can play, and the others will sub in? I don't know.
I'd sit Lahm the rest of the way. To be deprived of watching him in the final would be terrible. I'd play the rest of them. Honestly, I think that Bayern will get an away goal.
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yeah, I watch Bayern twice a week these days.
Points about Cesc and about solving Barca well taken. What I meant was that Bayern enjoys as much possession as Barca does, on a regular basis, and spending this much time without the ball does not give them a warm and fuzzy feeling. But maybe I underestimate them, perhaps they took a page out of Fergie's book on that account.
Dante... you found him weak on previous occasions? When, against Gunners? Certainly not against Juve. Dante has been huge for them, actually. You will not hear this from most Bayern fans but I think the main thing that Dante brings to the table is that he is not Badstuber (or DeMichelis before him). Bayern addressed their weaknesses from last year very directly, and Dante has been a more disciplined (and probably more coachable) defender this year than Boateng, Van Buyten or Badstuber. Not spectacular; but when you consider the way the team used to concede, he may be exactly what they needed. And he has stepped up on more than one occasion, most notably against Dortmund in the domestic Cup quarters.
In the second leg, it is also possible that Bayern will start all four carded players in an attempt to "spread the risk", and get an away goal.
They haven't met Mandzukic yet.
Points about Cesc and about solving Barca well taken. What I meant was that Bayern enjoys as much possession as Barca does, on a regular basis, and spending this much time without the ball does not give them a warm and fuzzy feeling. But maybe I underestimate them, perhaps they took a page out of Fergie's book on that account.
Dante... you found him weak on previous occasions? When, against Gunners? Certainly not against Juve. Dante has been huge for them, actually. You will not hear this from most Bayern fans but I think the main thing that Dante brings to the table is that he is not Badstuber (or DeMichelis before him). Bayern addressed their weaknesses from last year very directly, and Dante has been a more disciplined (and probably more coachable) defender this year than Boateng, Van Buyten or Badstuber. Not spectacular; but when you consider the way the team used to concede, he may be exactly what they needed. And he has stepped up on more than one occasion, most notably against Dortmund in the domestic Cup quarters.
In the second leg, it is also possible that Bayern will start all four carded players in an attempt to "spread the risk", and get an away goal.
They haven't met Mandzukic yet.
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dortmund = chomp.
fb.
fb.
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i can't be bothered to quote teh shitz an all, but müller is a thing. his own thing. he is a technically weak, often unconfident player with a remarkable positional intelligence.
he is an oddity in today's game (and i confess, i enjoy mocking teh thomas - *fistpump!*). but in a way, barca are his ideal opponents: most likely to ask whether he can do 100,000 keepy ups and kill a ball with teh chest, and least likely to wonder whether this goof might have an unappreciated ability to kill you.
qed.
fb.
he is an oddity in today's game (and i confess, i enjoy mocking teh thomas - *fistpump!*). but in a way, barca are his ideal opponents: most likely to ask whether he can do 100,000 keepy ups and kill a ball with teh chest, and least likely to wonder whether this goof might have an unappreciated ability to kill you.
qed.
fb.
originally posted by richard slicker:
dortmund = chomp.
fb.
Heilige Scheiße! And I thought that Bayern looked dominant...
Mark Lipton