Champions League 14/15

[D_Murph#9]

Haha... Rafinha on Alba and Alba is getting down like he was shot

 

[Stevencc]

There was no way Bayern were going to be able to stop that Barca front three from scoring so I think they were probably expecting to have to score five plus goals tonight.

 

[MSB92]

Neymaaaar 2-1 come on Barca score 3 more please

 

[Stevencc]

Now it's over

 

[Super_horns]

Just too good even for a team like Bayern!

 

[MSB92]

Ter Stegen is a good goalkeeper

 

[Stevencc]

He's done fantastically to keep that out.

 

[Master D]

Guardiola just needs to take his medicine.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Remember when Barcelona created a team without spending millions? They did spend money no denying that but most of the 2011 team were players that Barcelona created. Now they just spend money.

Hate both teams here. I've gone to disliking Bayern this year.

 

[D_Murph#9]

Now it's over

Hey but Schweinsteiger plays well.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Some **** on twitter decided to tell me I'm a fool for saying Luis Suarez didn't show up for big games in the Prem what a fucking melon.

 

[SALTIRE]

No one likes Real or Barca mate, Bayern aren't much better themselves to be honest but they've got Schweinsteiger so they can't be all that bad!

Bayern and Barca are less odious than Man Utd tbh pal! Real are utter scum though I do agree there.

 

[GodsGift]

Is Guardiola totally immune to criticism?

 

[Stevencc]

Bayern and Barca are less odious than Man Utd tbh pal! Real are utter scum though I do agree there.

Barca are just as bad as Real if not worse, neither United or Bayern could match either of those sides in the scummy stakes and you know it!

 

[TheArtfulDodger]

Guardiola bit pally with Messi at half time. That won't go down well in Munich, I said before about his lauding of Messi before the first leg, it's a bit uncomfortable for me, doesn't feel like he should be doing it and can't help but think would annoy some of the squad, never mind fans.

 

[TheArtfulDodger]

Barca are just as bad as Real if not worse, neither United or Bayern could match either of those sides in the scummy stakes and you know it!

Nah, Manchester United have scum pretty much sewn up. Still sponsoring the tributes to your dead players?

 

[Stevencc]

Nah, Manchester United have scum pretty much sewn up. Still sponsoring the tributes to your dead players?

What, me?

 

[Stevencc]

Lewa! He made Mascherano look stupid there, making someone else look stupid while wearing a mask like that takes some doing.

 

[Master D]

Genius goal from Lewandowski.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Barcelona are making this so boring. Nothing new.

 

[Stevencc]

Lovely strike from Muller.

 

[Libertadores FC]

Barcelona have been terrible this half.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

This Rode looks decent, who is he?

 

[mistermagic]

Is Guardiola totally immune to criticism?

Not at all. I have a lot to say about his management of the tie.

Let's talk about the personel first. When he first came to Bayern he decided to stop playing Lahm as RB and put him as a midfielder. Not a bad move but let's remember that this guy has won the World Cup playing in his natural position and this after playing games as a CM where he was frankly invisible and not having a real threat in the middle of the park. It's not that he's a bad CM but he's still up there with the best RBs today. We all know that Rafinha is not good enough for this level (later stages of the CL that is) so not play Lahm in his natural position? Would make a lot of sense.
The same goes for David Alaba. He is the best LB in the world and yet he has been playing CM as Guardiola's fancied a 3-man defence (with Xabi Alonso in it!) more often than not. Alaba had so much more threat about him when he was coming from deep.
Then we have Benatia who has started 10-odd games for Bayern in the Bundesliga. Why put him on the pitch over Dante whom Guardiola clearly favours in other competitions? Benatia is a great CB but sticking him out of the blue like that just isn't logical. Dante has done some good things in past seasons and yes has not looked the best CB in the world this term but experience brings confidence which Benatia serously lacked over the two legs.
Onto Götze. Guardiola desperately wants to prove that he made a good buy in what is becoming more and more a flop in the big games.

Then tactics. Tonight we saw Guardiola play a 451/442 with no LW. I think I haven't seen such tactical naivety since Scolari's stint at Chelsea. I know this guy pretty much created the organised disorder at Barcelona but when you have such an adventurous RB to deal with like Dani Alves, you'd think your cautious action would be to put a LW who tracks back. Nope, Pep thought none of it and went with Bernat covering the whole left side of the pitch with no support. It didn't show as Barcelona barely did anything tonight but had they been bothered it could have been hell.

Then we have the captain's armband going from Lahm (a RB who played RW and then CM in the second half) to Schweinsteiger (a world-class CM who was apparently told to play a bit on the left but didn't because he obviously didn't want to) and finally Neuer (a goalkeeper who, ironically, stayed between the sticks - funny that). Don't think this will go down well with the fans. It just sends a message that Bayern have no leader.

Yes, Bayern were missing Robben, Ribéry and Alaba - 3 key players - but the lack of plan B and some of the tinkering has been shambolic over the two legs. It's a quite a sad end of season for Bayern who will just play their last 2 league games and wait till August to tear defences to shreds again. With what team though? This is where we will see Guardiola at a game he doesn't excel at: signing new players successfully. He tried at Barca even though he didn't have to and brought a couple for Bayern and he's still getting found out in the CL for being quite tactically naive (unlike last season, he does have the injury list excuse this time out).

Those are my criticisms of Pep. Feel free to argue with me.

 

[Master D]

He continues to make the game too complicated and he's trying far too hard to be different for the sake of being different. Consistently having the best full back in the world in midfield or high up on the wing (as tonight) and wondering why you're getting killed down the sides all the time is just one little sign of his madness. He thinks he's going to be at Bayern next season but I wonder what his bosses think.

 

[SALTIRE]

Would Bayern really go for Klopp (and would he go as well?), if they sacked Guardiola? If not Klopp who would they get that could then push them on to where they were under Heynckes?

 

[Libertadores FC]

I don't know what the hell Barcelona were trying to do in the second half. Don't know if they were trying to ease off so they don't get as tired or shut up shop I don't know but they were awful in the second half. They also made the match really boring. Impressed with Bayern's determination though. They never gave up even when the match was in complete doubt for them

 

[G-Dragon]

Guardiola = Messi Iniesta and Xavi.

 

[allouso]

First time Barcelona reach the CL final without controversy in a while. I can't see Real or Juve beating them if the attacking trio are all fit, they are just too good.

I think Guardiola is a great coach, but he can overthink things to a point that it becomes harmful. Obviously the injuries didn't help, as Ribery, Robben and Alaba are essential to his game plan so beating Barca was always gonna be a long shot. I think he'll stay for one more season.

 

[4froale]

Barcelona have been terrible this half.

they did what they had to do, the tie was over. If they had needed a win, they would of got it.