Has Neuer even touched the ball?

Olic on!

And you pwned their ass WITHOUT Robben !! Can't want to see the game against Napoli.

To be fair, I would hope we'd PWN any team with Lell in the First XI.

Napoli tomorrow. If we can keep a clean sheet I really don't know when Neuer will concede next. Heard they had a disappointing home loss on the weekend. I also think a 3 man defense is suicide against Ribery/Lahm, but we shall see. I'm just imagining one of the CBs coming over, getting skinned by Ribery, and then him connecting with Gomez making a run to the near post and beating the center CB to the ball. Not to mention the threat of long crosses or switching the ball to Muller.

I also think Hamsik needs to be active, because if he doesn't track back on defense and allows us to have a 3v2 advantage in the midfield, it's game over.

Terrified of Cavani on the counter against Badstuber and Boateng's propensity for desperation slide tackles in the box.

Napoli play with 3 Cbs (all of them average) but 5 defenders. They will probably play a counterattacking game like in Man city ground. Looking forward this game (Y).

And I'm looking forward to the Barca game. In my CL Fantasy League I have Messi (c), Villa, and Pedro. Hope you win 10-0.

I don't even know who's the rival, we got an Europa league group.

1-1 at Halftime. Maggio with about a 60 yard run, Lahm out of position, and then he crosses it off Badstuber for an own goal. Streak over.

Ribery brought down by the last man. He gets up and hobbles 1 step, then loses the advantage. Apparently this is not even a foul, much less a red card.

Wow Bayern conceded.

Well, on an own goal. Not very impressed by Napoli or any of their players except Maggio who I thought was very good. Bayern blew this one. Also thought the ref was bad.

Also thought the ref was bad.agreed ... though in none of your previous posts do I see a mention of the stonewall handball penalty denied for Napoli ...

A ball drifting out of the box in the area of no Napoli players that grazes a hand unintentionally is not a penalty. Not sure if Bayern's penalty was legitimate either though.

hahaha drifting out?! that ball was on its way to Hamšík at the back post, and the handball illegally took the cross away from him ...

4 Bayern fans stabbed in Naples. And you wonder why I hate Italy.

Well, Napoli has its own rules.

4 Bayern fans stabbed in Naples. And you wonder why I hate Italy.

Imbecility is no matter of nationality. Morons are everywhere. And they were more like scratched. Attackers drove by (probably with an Vespa) and tried to stab them in the back.

Imbecility is no matter of nationality. Morons are everywhere. And they were more like scratched. Attackers drove by (probably with an Vespa) and tried to stab them in the back.

(H)!!!!!

4 Bayern fans stabbed in Naples. And you wonder why I hate Italy.


the f*ck? disgraceful.

4 Bayern fans stabbed in Naples. And you wonder why I hate Italy.heard it was 2; but, blinded by your hatred, you would double the number for hyperbole ... and there is little detail about the circumstances, but I'm sure you assume the Bayern fans were perfect angels ...

anyway, needless to say, when ultras take to violence (as they often do), it is inexcusable ... and this is the case in any country ... ask Barcelona fans about Boixos Nois -- the ultras group reacted to being banned from attending matches with death threats, which obviously vindicated the ban being imposed in the first place ...

:willis:

heard it was 2; but, blinded by your hatred, you would double the number for hyperbole

LOL, seriously?

hah, no of course not, but couldn't let it slide either :rolleyes: ...

A friend of mine's boyfriend is a skinhead whose in the Boixos. Can't wait to meet him.

Well, there's been whispers about this the past week or so, but it's finally been outright stated: Beckenbauer tells Robben that he must prove his fitness to earn a new contract. His current deal goes through 2013. After Honigstein wrote what was damn near a hit piece on Robben on the front page of SI.com Soccer last week (really just an aggregate of what's been going on in the German press I imagine), the writing was on the wall.

Robben is going to react to this very poorly, and the situation could really blow up in the press. Certainly Uli Hoeness could never be described as camera shy. In fact he called van Gaal a great coach, but terrible human being this week.

A friend of mine's boyfriend is a skinhead whose in the Boixos. Can't wait to meet him.


Don't forget to wear your body-armor.

This type of violence is far beyond worse then racism. fans attacking fans. What kind of passion is this?

******* Cherundolo! :(

Alright back on track!

6-0 midweek against Ingolstadt

4-0 today against a parked bus.

EDIT: Ahhh ****, Schweinsteiger's injured.

Haha, 30-3 in 11 matches.

Dortmund are coming on though. The title isn't decided by goal difference sadly (we were only 4 behind Dortmund last year).

But speaking of goal difference, we're already up to +27; Dortmund won the league going away with +45 last year.

Klose is having a nice start of the season in Italy. I think we gave up on the lad way to early. Rumors have us after Marco Reus. With Robben always injured we need another winger.

Good for Klose, but he barely played the last two years. Was right to let him go. I want Reus.

I want Reus.

Apparently you are not the only one. So do Inter, Arsenal, City and Juve. All 4 teams have been scouting the kid lately. He is surpassing Goetze as the most sought after German talent.

There's no way that's true, but I hope so. If it means Gotze comes to Bayern, I'll be fine with letting all the German youth go abroad.

Gotze also commented on interest from Bayern :
"It is an honour, of course, if a big club like Bayern Munich are interested me. Basically I cannot and will not rule out anything."
Haha.. looks like he won't say no to a move. I also read that you guys have an option to buy back Hummels for around €8 mil in 2012. ****.. if it's true, then I feel sorry for the guys at Dortmund.

:mad:

Haha.. looks like he won't say no to a move. I also read that you guys have an option to buy back Hummels for around €8 mil in 2012. ****.. if it's true, then I feel sorry for the guys at Dortmund.

(H)!!!!!

The Hummels thing is unfortunately not true. I think this past summer, or maybe during last season, Hummels waived that clause in his contract for improved terms with Dortmund. Even if we could get him for that cheap, it's not clear that he'd actually want to come back. Hummels seems to be very VERY upset with how he was treated, in fact it wouldn't surprise me if the reason he is this good is because he wants to prove Bayern wrong.

But I hope I'm wrong, the kid is Bavarian after all (so is Gotze).

Super Mario!!!

2-0!!

The rest of the match against this counter attacking Napoli side could be "die Tiki Take"

3-2 win. Schweinsteiger out 4-6 weeks with a broken collarbone from a piece of **** Italian challenging for a header with little intention to get the ball. They also looked extremely likely to injury Ribery.

Both goals came on set pieces awarded for dives.

Nim- We got linked to this American player called Brek Shea. Whats he like?

it's not a transfer link, he's only training with the first team.

OK...still..... whats he like?

Good player, looks really weird. Kind of like Gareth Bale; not as good, but that's his style.

Another win. Got careless in the second half though.

Nim, may i answer to your sig :) "Because you´re a dick!"

Looks like your not that excited about Müller anymore. Always said it, the kid is overrated.

Our midfield is vanishing. Hopefully Gustav will remain healthy. Dont wanna see Pranjic again.

Nim, may i answer to your sig :) "Because you´re a dick!"

Looks like your not that excited about Müller anymore. Always said it, the kid is overrated.

Our midfield is vanishing. Hopefully Gustav will remain healthy. Dont wanna see Pranjic again.

No Pranjic please. I don't think Muller is overrated, just not on form right now. I'm also not sure he knows his true position; he came up as a forward, then went to second striker, and right wing with the national team. He hasn't been able to focus on becoming the best player he can be because he doesn't know where he's going to play from game to game.

"I've had my fair share of injuries, but I've never experienced something like this. This was the worst injury in my life," Robben said to Bild. "It's impossible to imagine how bad it was. I had a lot of pain and the recovery process was very hard."

"I'm obviously looking forward to the game [Bayern's Bundesliga encounter with Borussia Dortmund] and to making my comeback. I can hardly wait for the match to take place. However, we don't want to risk anything by rushing my comeback."

That almost sounds like his career is in jeopardy, not that he's going to play tomorrow.

HAHA! When Gotze scored the commentator said, "Bayern/they are soooo buying him".

EDIT- On the players......Kroos looked awesome and Gustavo is a brilliant player. I thought Boateng and Badstuber weren't good but Neuer was immense.

From BvB I thought Hummels was fantastic. Kagawa is a beautiful little player and the rb Pisczek or somthn looked good. Lewadonski(wrong spelling?) looks a pretty impressive forward. That Santana guy was also pretty good.

Little ******* bastard from ******* Memmingen.

Group of death: vanquished

City's going to Europa League, Man United and Chelsea scares none and Italian teams sucks. Unless a surprise this is between us and ******* Madrid.

Yeah, sure looks that way. Really hope we don't have to face you or Madrid until the final.

Unless a surprise this is between us and ******* Madrid.

By us i am hopping you mean both FCBs' cabron. :biggrinx:
Couse if i was the current Barca i would not want to face the current Bayern right about, NOW. :D

BTW Nim it sure as hell is looking more and more like your boy Muller might be headed to the bench. Kroos has been fantastic spreading the ball and we have much more possession when he is around. And now that Robben is back his chances at winger will also greatly diminish. I see him becoming a supersub. :blush:

Yeah it really looks that way. I don't have a problem with it because his form has been off almost all season. He needs to rededicate himself and work harder.

Really good article on Marco Reus and how good he is, but also how he's the only player in Germany capable of playing the False 9.

http://bundesligafanatic.com/?p=8163

I almost, ALMOST, want him to go abroad because I'm sure he wouldn't be utilized that way at Bayern. I think he would be disgusting in Italy, in particular the very desperate Internazionale, but also Luis Enrique could probably turn him into a Ballon d'Or candidate at Roma.

Almost.

My money's on him ending up at City.

but also how he's the only player in Germany capable of playing the False 9.

Özil can also.

He's not in Germany, but he also can't really. He isn't capable of scoring enough.

Kroos and Götze as well. We saw Cesc, Pedro, Iniesta and Thiago playing that role for Barcelona + Silva in Spanish NT. False 9 is not a position is a tactic, Özil would do almost the same he always does but in a team without a reference up front.

Laudrup wasn't capable of scoring many goals and was Dream Team's false 9.

Kroos is slowwwwwwwwwww. Can't play it. False 9 is not "traditional 10".

but think 10 times faster than most of his partners, Fàbregas is not much faster than him and play this role succesfully many times. False 9 is about drag defenders and create space so wingers and midfielders can score. Watch Milan vs Barça from last Wednesay.


EDIT: Reus is maybe most similar player to Messi in BuLi but not the only one capable to play as false 9. Kagawa or Ribery also could. Leo is the best at it but not the paradigma of false 9, there are completely diferent players playing that role like for example De Jong at Ajax.

I think what makes the position so special and why most teams don't play it is that no matter how much space the false 9 can create for others, there's still a big hole at the front of the attack. You need a player who is smart with his runs, but also can assist for others, and score a lot of goals. Barca are pretty much the only team who play with a false 9, and now Gladbach too.

It's all about style, if you are a counter attacking team makes no sense play a false 9, but if you want to have the ball, dominate and press the rival it's perfect to create superiority in midfield mixing with the other 3 or 4. To succes need the wingers or fullbacks or both to make the pitch very wide and midfielders joining attack to exploit the created space when CB is dragged.

just watched the highlights ... no idea who the better team was, but I was just happy for Andreas Ivanschitz, who is a FIFA favourite of mine -- an absolute freekick master for me since 2005! (H)

I didn't see it either, but if van Buyten got both of our goals we didn't deserve to win.

We have been on a tear lately. 2 in a row now and a 5 point lead vanquished.

1-1 in the 60th minute, Robben comes on for Alaba.

Robben goal
Ribery goal
Robben goal

4-1 FT.

Giggidy.

Elsewhere in the league, Monchengladbach aren't a one man team. Or maybe they are, but the man is Lucien Favre, not Marco Reus. They played out a 1-1 draw against Dortmund despite Reus being sidelined in the last couple days with a broken toe.

Which means FC Bayern are back on top of the table as is the birthright.

Bernd Leno's loan to Leverkusen is going to be made permanent. Wonder what will happen to Rene Adler.

Adler was my #1 GK buy in FM11 (he seemed most well rounded), how good is he?

He's okay, but now has a major red flag with his history of injuries. Also, he's prone to some inexcusable errors, here's Beckenbauer in the run up to the World Cup 2010 (Adler eventually got injured and didn't go):

"If somebody makes an error like that in a school team, then you would tell him to find a different sport," Beckenbauer said on Sky. "Adler is a great goalkeeper, but since he has known that he is the No. 1, he is making one error after the other."

Reserves lose to City, top the group anyway.

Honestly don't think any of the 2nd place teams can beat us over 2 legs, but obviously I would want to avoid Milan the most. Really good to see 2 of the uhhh... 4 clubs that could eliminate us get knocked out in the Group Stage. If we're on the opposite side of the bracket from Barca and Madrid I could see us cruising through.

All this assumes Schweinsteiger is back and fit and looking good by the end of February or whenever the CL starts back up again.

3 points clear at the top, as it should be.

3 points clear at the top, as it should be.

A 10 man Stuttgart gave us more issues that it should have. Although i would take the 3 point lead now, especially since BVB will be without Goetze for the last 2 weeks of 2011.

No Gotze is a big opportunity for us, hopefully we can go into the break up 6+ points.

So I recently finished Uli Hesse's book on the history of German soccer "Tor" and all I can say is that I'm glad I didn't start following in the early 90s because I'm not sure I would be a Bayern fan if I did. Really had no idea that Hitzfeld was soooo important, not only making us champions of Europe, but ending 25 years of FC Hollywood.

Yeah the 90s are the main reason of the explosion of youth now. The federation realized they were going by doing the things in the wrong way, hence the multimillion $ youth development investments.

I meant more of FC Bayern, not the Bundesliga in general.

One thing I'm wondering is that if the TV Deal Collapse in Germany was actually more important than all the DFB youth policies. Teams suddenly couldn't afford to buy players and had to develop youth.

Alright, back in the swing of things in the new year.

BVB has signed Marco Reus, effective at the end of the season. No one can say it, but it seems obvious that he is going to replace Mario Gotze. Dortmund don't usually have 17.5m to splash on a single player, and it's not like their Group Stage exit was very lucrative.

Completely off topic (didn't know where else to post) but in PES2012 my team is Bayern, I really like their default tactic which is rare for me because normally I tinker with it before trying out the original.

I really like the fullbacks (Lahm as LB sometimes bring a lot to the playmaking by cutting inside from deep with the ball). Luiz Gustavo is a great DM, he's basically like a big fast defender but with decent passing. Schwiney is very talented as a CM playmaker and can play AM too. Robben and Ribbery are elite at their dribbling and shooting and cutting inside. Muller is good too however I wish he had more powerful and accurate shots or someone with more elite passing. (I'm thinking of getting Van der Vaart for the AM position.

I signed a defender because I thought Van Buyten was too slow so I got Baloy (Panamanian CB who has good ratings in PES for some reason). He's faster, has good defensive attributes but is on the shorter side at 1.85m.

And the marque signing has been Benzema. I think he's perfect for Bayern because he possesses good size, technique, speed, strength, passing, shooting. So overall is good in all the important facet of an all-round CF.

http://img444.imageshack.us/img444/3472/32307645.png

Lets pretend Bayern got Benzema, do you think he'd be successful and a fit above Gomez?

I wanna say thank you to bayern for their generosity to come and play against india and giving our national team captain a well deserved farewell match.it has certainly boosted indian football

I have insider information that they only did it for the money.

I have insider information that they only did it for the money.

Shocking. :eek:

Gotze is out for 2 months. I'm not all that upset about it for some reason.

It will slow down his development and can derail his trip to Poland/Ukraine.

I think Germany will be fine without him, and I'm a Bayern and USA fan first, Germany only second.

Congrats on Xherdan Shaqiri deal! :)

@Deisler, finally a jersey of Bayern with an Albanian name on the back? :)

@Nim, wassup wisconsin boy? :)

Congrats on Xherdan Shaqiri deal! :)

Didn't know that

Yeah, looks like Shaqiri deal is happening next summer. Congrats to him for ruining his career on the bench and going to Freiburg in 2014.

Congrats on Xherdan Shaqiri deal! :)

@Deisler, finally a jersey of Bayern with an Albanian name on the back? :)

@Nim, wassup wisconsin boy? :)

You mean with a Swiss name on the back? (H)

Yeah i read that too, i don't know that means that Robben is almost a goner. Not sure how i feel about this signing.

Nah, Robben is signing a new deal soon.

I won't be so sure about it, rumor has it management is sick and tired of his fitness. On the other hand i also read that we might actually shove Ribery instead and cash in from them PSG deep pocketed owners.

That would be interesting and he's not getting any younger, but he really has been our best player BY FAR. I guess it depends on the bid. If they're going to approach a world transfer record for him, then au revoir.

Its good to add Shaquiri to the team, it adds healthy pressure to Robben to be good.

I honestly don't know if it does. Heynckes prefers Kroos as a #10, not as a Scholes type CM, which might be right for the team with Schweinsteiger and Gustavo holding the midfield, but that means Muller is the odd man out. And I think Muller adds waaay more pressure to Robben than Shaqiri does. Muller is the ******* starting RM for Germany!

You mean with a Swiss name on the back? (H)

Yeah i read that too, i don't know that means that Robben is almost a goner. Not sure how i feel about this signing.

You know my opinion about them. I hate them all lol. Month ago we (TKZ) were invited in this tv show and there was Granit Xhaka as well. He left earlier coz couldn't stay us booing and cursing at him. But to be honest, the case with Shaqiri is different. We never invited him. We also never heard of him until we saw his name in the WorldCup list. Still, don't love him, but don't put him in the same bag as Xhaka, Behrami, or the others, either.

I see that the news is official now. :)

No Müller?? Jupp...

holy shnikes last minute? they can overcome this and advance to the next stage.

Danke, Ribery! Again.

Thanks for what? Come talk to me when he delivers in the competition that matters. The Champions League. I could care less about the Bundesliga as long as we don't fall out of the first 4.

Without him I think we would

Sexy Red Jerseys. 2-0 Min 41




Mueller! (H)

Sexy Red Jerseys. 2-0 Min 41




Mueller! (H)

haters where are you????

EDIT : I just purchased to watch Bayern games starting today at the apartment. Not bad (H)

EDIT 2 : Domination!!!! Alabaaaaa??? I bow!

That's not the Basel of the first leg

That wasn't the Bayern of the first leg! Robben is back, and as he goes, so goes Bayern.

That was the most amazing game I've seen in a long time.

About Alaba, he does seem pretty good as a left back, which is weird because Van Gaal always said that Alaba's real future was at left back.

Oh come on, the poor Swiss guys just gave up after half time. Their defense was shocking. Still, 7 in a CL knockout game - that doesn't happen often.

FC Bayern, the team I support, doesn't do this often. The last one I remember is when we embarrassed Sporting Lisbon 12-1 on aggregate in 2009 before Barcelona made us their bitch. ******* Klinsman.

Tomorrow, Chelsea 7 - 0 Napoli

Oh come on, the poor Swiss guys just gave up after half time. Their defense was shocking. Still, 7 in a CL knockout game - that doesn't happen often.

Happened twice already, courtesy of Messi and co. and a pathetic performance from the Leverkusen crew.

Mueller!

haters where are you????

Yeah sure, one goal in 19 tries hardly qualifies as proving the doubters wrong. He sucks and he knows it. :innocent_smile_1:

Yeah sure, one goal in 19 tries hardly qualifies as proving the doubters wrong. He sucks and he knows it. :innocent_smile_1:


When you got the Terminator Gomez as a Goalscorer you want to ease off with Mueller. :biggrinx: Anyone catch his reaction on the field? :skip_e:

That wasn't the Bayern of the first leg! Robben is back, and as he goes, so goes Bayern.

That was the most amazing game I've seen in a long time.

About Alaba, he does seem pretty good as a left back, which is weird because Van Gaal always said that Alaba's real future was at left back.

Why weird? Van Gaal is a genius...

Asshole too, everyone hates him.

Yeah but in terms of football knowledge is wise

I think he can recognize talent, but that's where it ends IMO. Ask Cruyff what he thinks of Van Gaal's genius.

He's going to end up being a good thing for the club, just like he was for Barca, but he needed to go when he did before he ruined all the good stuff.

Cruyff is so simple that is also a genius, i mean, his logic is like: "if we are small and they are tall, we will defend them giving no corners" or "if i have the ball, rival can't score".

And he's also a bit of asshole

Haha Bayern are at it again against Hertha!

A 6-0 bashing of Hertha Berlin yesterday means that's 20 goals for Bayern Munich in their last 3 competitive fixtures. Seem to be having so much fun that they actually play rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets to take a free kick!

rUjd6CNf_hs

20 goals in a week motha****as!!! Bring on Real.

Just finished seeing your Hertha game. Entertaining stuff. If you continue playing like this I can definitely see you guys reaching the CL final. You have the quality to bang Real out of the semis.

Oh, and right now Ribery is in the top 5 players in the world. The man is just unstoppable.

I actually think the Bayern vs Real matches may be THE classic matches of the tournament. In a way I think you will find Real tougher than Barca though, because Real are a bit physically stronger than Barca and may stand up better to the Germanic pounding you are bound to throw at them...

Barca will pass around us IMO. We can control the game against Real. I'm scared of Barca, but relish the challenge of Madrid.

Mourinho got the better of you with Inter and he has even better players with Real now..

Exactly, against a team of Bayern's quality in such a key game, having slightly better players is not enough, you also need tactical superiority, and I see more likelihood of that coming from Jose than Pep.

Mourinho got the better of you with Inter and he has even better players with Real now..

Just to play devil's advocate, there was no Ribery or Gomez or Kroos in that game. And the defense was Demichelis, Van Buyten, and Hans-Jorg Butt in net.

We had 68% possession, but no creativity. Robben was double and triple teamed, and Olic/Muller/Altintop couldn't do anything. Then they just hit our horrible defense and keeper on the break.

This is how they decide who will take the free kick. (H)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUjd6CNf_hs&feature=player_embedded

This is how they decide who will take the free kick. (H)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUjd6CNf_hs&feature=player_embedded

A 6-0 bashing of Hertha Berlin yesterday means that's 20 goals for Bayern Munich in their last 3 competitive fixtures. Seem to be having so much fun that they actually play rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets to take a free kick!

rUjd6CNf_hs

;)

Haha I was about to say "Yeah, I saw that" - now I know where I saw it!

My attention span doesn't go further than Calums so yeah my bad fellas. (H)

I love Robben behind them making sure everything is within the rock-paper-scisors laws. All the while knowing he'd nail that free-kick to the net.

Seems to me that the coach is letting everyone have fun. There mindset is so structured at the moment that I can only see Barcelona maybe Chelsea as Bayern's real threat remaining.

Mourinho #1, i can't see you beating them.

I think we're a similar team to barca in a lot of ways thanks to van gaal. I really don't fear Madrid. Maybe they beat us, but it's a fair fight. Barca on the other hand would crush us.

Tbh I'd rather see a Bayern - Chelsea final than a Real - Barca one.

Why? Barça-Real are getting better and better, we're set for an epic Champions League final this year.

I have no doubt it will be an epic encounter if they meet in the final. I'd just rather they don't just because I'm biased.. I like Bayern better than Real and I like any team better than Barca.

I'm not even sure if Chelsea will reach the semifinal, they might underestimate Benfica which is a very good team

GNgnDuDTWKs

Ramires is an inferior player to Witsel

Yeah, I agree they might. Wouldn't surprise me.

Bayern and Moenchengladbach are going to Extra Time at 0-0 in the Pokal Semi Finals.

It's no surprise. I read somewhere that Gladbach is the team with the fewest goals conceded in Europe. Better than Juve, Barca..etc. That's crazy.

Bayern wins the penalty shootout! Thanks to Dante (probably coming in the summer) with the worst taken penalty I've ever seen. He tried to do the cheeky little chip down the middle and sent it over the cross bar. Then Neuer saved one was well, and we didn't miss any of ours. Alaba-Ribery-Lahm-Kroos. Alaba stepping up for the first penalty was a nice surprise; great attitude on that kid.

Pokal final will be against Dortmund who needed a 120th minute goal yesterday to get by Greuther Furth. That is going to be an epic game.

In other news, Robben might not sign an extension and therefore leave in the summer of 2013 on a Bosman.

I don't know how to feel about this, I actually don't think I mind if he leaves. He'll be 30, and he is so unreliable. On the other hand, when he's on form he obviously elevates the level of play.

Wow. That Ribery-Robben-Kroos goal was superb from start to finish. You guys are a joy to watch.

Big game today. Hoping for a repeat of the last time we went to France for a knockout round game, which was the 2010 Semi Finals against Lyon when we walked over them like they were an amateur side. Marseille aren't even as good as that ****ty Lyon team and Mandanda is suspended.

Why? Barça-Real are getting better and better, we're set for an epic Champions League final this year. We get to see Real play Barca four or five times a year anyway, it's getting to be like the ******* Old Firm derby, who really wants another one?

Oh noo, the thing is, it's getting better and better every time!

Haha I've gone from about two years ago "oh ****, it's El Classico tonight, better clear my schedule" to nowadays "what football is on tonight? Oh, just El Classico again. Might aswell watch a movie." Less is more Fili!

In general I dont like it when teams from the same country get drawn together at the business end of the Champions League, and hate it when it happens in the final. The whole point of the CL is to get to see different games than what we get week in week out in the domestic leagues and cups.

And generally I tend to agree. But from everything that final would(will, imo), it would be epic.

I think it would be more epic to see this Bayern team in their home stadium play one of the Spanish giants. I wish the draw had been the other way round, so Bayern played Barca in the semis, because my dream final would be Bayern vs Real Madrid, taking Chelsea out of the equation of course.

Also even as a neutral a Bayern vs Chelsea final would give me an orgasm just from thinking about how upset the world's 350m spanish speakers would be (H)

There is nothing more epic than a CL final between Barça and Madrid, especially this Barça and this Madrid.

I wondered how long it would be before you popped up in this discussion (H)

Just counted up and in this and the last season Barcelona and Real Madrid have already played each other eleven times and you want yet another one? Talk about flogging a dead horse....

I'd play against them every weekend, at least until appears another team good enough to challenge us (for a title) in the world.

Bayern is just as good as Madrid.

1-0!!!! Horrible keeping! MARIO GOMEZ!!!!

I will say this for Marseille, they are a very athletic team.

2-0 Robben! Hello Madrid!

https://p.twimg.com/ApHUJTRCEAIYaeh.jpg

http://www.ronaldo7.net/news/archive/news299h.jpg

I'm a homer, but I actually think healthy Robbery is better than any 2 of those players.

Not Ronaldo.

Another reason why I think this Bayern side is up there with Real and Barca is because I reckon it is much harder to get results week in week out in the Bundesliga than in La Liga, because the Bundesliga hasn't been decimated and ruined by having to behemoth teams monopolizing at the top.

Sounds like you don't know all that much about Bayern's transfer policy, although I suppose it hasn't been as bad in the last 5 years. But historically the entire basis of our transfer policy has been to cannibalize the other 17 clubs. Even though it hasn't been as bad recently, we still essentially forced Schalke and Stuttgart to sell us Neuer and Gomez. It has been the same with Ballack and Klose in the last decade; it was the case with Effenberg and Mattheus and Kahn before that. Until very recently (Robbery, basically), if a player on Bayern didn't come from the youth side, they came from the Bundesliga. Giovanne Elber, Mehmet Scholl, Ze Roberto, Paulo Sergio, Sebastian Deisler, Toni Kroos, Ivica Olic, Hamit Altintop, Daniel van Buyten. It goes on and on.

And that's why I said any 2 players! Ronaldo is the best individual, but if you combine him with Ozil or Kaka or Benzema, the pair of Robbery beats them.

I don't really agree with Ronaldo+any other of those being worse than Robbery.

And yeah, Bayern tend to be pretty much like the 8-times-french-champions Lyon where they just pick the best players from the league and buy them. But as Nim said, fortunately it has kind of stopped.

Benzema is world's best #9 and improves what is around him.

Gomez is better. So is Messi?

Messi isn't a #9 in its classical assessment. Gomez is much more of a killer, I agree, but Karim is getting there plus he's more technically gifted. Currently Gomez is better, though.

You know, now that I think about it I don't actually think it HAS got better. I just think German youth has got better, so there are too many good players to poach. Also, foreign clubs are coming in for Germans (Ozil and Sahin :mad:) because they are better than they used to be.

Oh, and no one is mentioning him because domestically he is overshadowed by Gomez, and internationally he is over shadowed by Messi, Ronaldo, and van Persie, but Huntelaar is REALLLLLLY GOOD. Spurs need to make an offer for him. The man has 40 ******* goals this year.

Messi isn't a #9 in its classical assessment. Gomez is much more of a killer, I agree, but Karim is getting there plus he's more technically gifted. Currently Gomez is better, though.

We forgot van Persie

Yeah I'd really like to see Klaas in the Premierleague, too. If RvP goes I'd love for Arsenal to get him. He's in insane form at Schalke, and although he wasn't awesome in Spain and Italy, it's one of those cases where you kind of know it wasn't only lack of quality. When it comes to top goalscorers of the Dutch first division who go out he's much closer to Ruud than Kezman.

I didn't think he ever got a chance at Madrid and Milan. For better or worse, with these kinds of players you have to just stick with them and let them build confidence when they aren't playing well. I think he would make Tottenham a LOT better, he is so much better than Adebayor it's not even funny, and I also want him out of Germany :$

I think Schalke are about to pay him a lot of money though :(

Sorry to break your guy's flow but I think the BVB/Stuttgart match needs a mention and since there is no Bundesliga thread nor BVB/Stuttgart threads, I figured this is the only place where I could insert this post. Damn, and I mean DAAAYUM!!! that was a legendary effort from both teams. An epic match for the ages. There, continue..

Rooney > Benzema, Gomez, Van Persie, Huntelaar
Chicharooney > Robbery (H)

We forgot van Persie

I was just arguing about Benzema and Gomez, I wasn't agreeing with Arnau that Karim is the best striker in the world.

Sorry to break your guy's flow but I think the BVB/Stuttgart match needs a mention and since there is no Bundesliga thread nor BVB/Stuttgart threads, I figured this is the only place where I could insert this post. Damn, and I mean DAAAYUM!!! that was a legendary effort from both teams. An epic match for the ages. There, continue..

Rooney > Benzema, Gomez, Van Persie, Huntelaar
Chicharooney > Robbery (H)

yeah! 2 dropped points!

**** THAT ****, ******* BORUSSIA COST ME THE CHANCE TO WIN 60€ ******* MORONS LETTING THAT LAST GOAL IN.


I'm calmer now, Clippers won (EVEN THOUGH THEY ALMOST DIDN'T!)

Guess whoooooo (H)

3 points! 6 games to go! Home against Augsburg next week (should be a guaranteed 3 points), then Madrid, then Dortmund on the 11th, followed by Madrid again. Oh boy.

I misread the schedule. Dortmund is actually on Wednesday the 11th, not on a weekend sandwiched by the Madrid games (THANK GOD). Going to be a massive game though, might be the title decider.

Also, Germany is facing the potential for two of the biggest games ever; in the Relegation Playoffs we could see:

Hamburg vs. St. Pauli OH MY GOD YES!

or

Koln vs. Dusseldorf

These are the kinds of games where fans kill each other.

Well it's official now! Madrid vs. Bayern is a nice little rivalry too. Lot of history between the clubs.

"After a long winning streak against Real Madrid in the late nineties, the Spanish press dubbed Bayern La Bestia Negra, or the Black Beast."

I'll be rooting for Bayern. I tuned in to watch this game with Barca - Milan in the background and Bayern are looking dangerous. Despite the fact that it could be an epic clasico CL final, I think it would be more entertaining if it was Bayern - Barca. Plus, **** Madrid. (H)

We know what we'll see if it's Barca vs. Madrid. We see it 8 times a year. Bayern vs. Barca is something unique, not to mention we'd see Barca having a new challenge of playing the CL Final on the road.

We don't see it in a CL final and all that it would mean 8 times a year. I see the sun 365 days a year it doesn't mean it's not good. I want to see blood and sweat on a Barça-Real, not Barça winning comfortably against Bayern.

You're just cheering for Mourinho.

This discussion will be rendered moot when Chelsea beat Barca.

Get past Benfica first. 1-0 isn't safe.

Well, to be honest you're just cheering for Bayern. They're good, but there's no way anyone can say Barça and Real aren't the best teams in the world right now. Can anyone beat them? Sure. But the same logic you used to say Barça should be in the final is surely the same for Real. It just isn't for you because obviously you're a Bayern fan which is fine and normal, so I'm not expecting you to agree.

Get past Benfica first. 1-0 isn't safe.

We got this man, Cardozo will play as CB.

We got this man, Cardozo will play as CB.

Really?

nope, just joking.

Luisão = injured
Garay = injured
Jardel = injured
Miguel Vitor = injured

So maybe we'll play with Javi Garcia and Emerson as CB.

Don't you have CBs in Benfica youth teams?

Theyre portuguese so... cant play.

But in the last hour was said that Luisão will make it, So that makes Luisão and javi Garcia as cb.

Well, to be honest you're just cheering for Bayern. They're good, but there's no way anyone can say Barça and Real aren't the best teams in the world right now. Can anyone beat them? Sure. But the same logic you used to say Barça should be in the final is surely the same for Real. It just isn't for you because obviously you're a Bayern fan which is fine and normal, so I'm not expecting you to agree.

Yes that's true, but if you compare starting lineups I think ours stacks up with Madrid's in terms of talent. Madrid have better depth because they are so rich, but I'd say that's what their advantage is. Probably a better coach too.

If you were to make a combined squad from Real and Bayern the competition for places would be massive and I couldn't tell you which team would get more guys in the first XI.

Haha, "probably a better coach" (H)

Heynckes won the Champions League too, you know.

Who?

Heynckes won the Champions League too, you know.

Who?


This:

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_fjP5UPaZZu4/TUhhIaLWhSI/AAAAAAAAIas/0jd8v3w37os/s1600/heineken.jpg

I think he misspelled the name.

Both fired by Benfica

I'm just saying, Madrid in 1998 weren't exactly Madrid of 2012. And it had been 30 years.

Bayern is a very powerful opponent. It is a team I know well as it is almost the same side that I played when coach of Inter Milan in the Champions League final two years ago

No Ribery, Gomez, Kroos, Alaba, Boateng, Gustavo, or Neuer in that final. Exactly the same team.

"I do not see myself in the final because Bayern are a side who can win the Champions League."

- Cristiano Ronaldo

This is something I've seen done on another forum, usually involving EPL teams, but as you brought it up, I thought I'd try to put together the best team by using Madrid's and Bayern's players.

------------------------Casillas----------------------
Lahm-----------Pepe------------Ramos-------Marcelo
---------------Alonso------------Schweinsteiger-----
----Robben------------Ronaldo-----------Ribery-----
-----------------------Gomez----------------------

Wow, that was even tougher than I expected. 6-5 for Madrid. But I'm not entirely sure I'm happy with this XI. Di Maria could easily jump over Robben. Gomez has been beasting it lately, but I'm not sure if he's necessarily a better footballer than Higuain or Benzema. He's just a beast at finishing. Özil, Kaka, Coentrao... Atleast if the XI would be pretty even, bench would be very much Madrid's.

"I do not see myself in the final because Bayern are a side who can win the Champions League."

- Cristiano Ronaldo

That's the club message now

"I do not see myself in the final because Bayern are a side who can win the Champions League."

- Cristiano RonaldoThat's the club message nowhaha, yup, to sync with José's mind games of saying that Barça see themselves in the final already ...

CR has a great track record of predicting outcomes...

Just seemed off for someone so arrogant to say that. I assumed mind games, but what's the goal? To make Bayern overconfident? I don't think that's likely.

Too keep the team focused on the semifinal instead the final against barça, media are already asking about since the last draw.

Just seemed off for someone so arrogant to say that. I assumed mind games, but what's the goal? To make Bayern overconfident? I don't think that's likely.Re: Bayern - applies also to Mou's comments about Bayern being almost the same team as the one his Inter faced in 2010 (which is of course untrue) ... it's to get the public and press to figure out what they're talking about, so that they're not talking about the pressure on the team or on individual players, etc. ... aka diversion tactics ...

Re: Barça - to get refs/officials in charge of the other semi consciously thinking about all the talk of favouritism towards Barça ... and to get a reaction out of the increasingly mouthier Pep ... aka pressure tactics ...

I didn't realize this until today, but the Clasico is between the Champions League games! HAHA ALRIGHT! That's probably our biggest advantage! And I think it works out in our favor with the placement on Sunday because we could maybe get a 2-1 at the Allianz in the first leg, and then play out a draw at the Bernabeu aided by fatigue from the Clasico 3 days earlier.

We play Satuday, which is good, against Werder Bremen, which could be tricky, but they definitely aren't Barca.

Yeah just checked their schedule, Real now have Valencia-Atlético-Gijón-Bayern-Barça-Bayern-Sevilla.

Alright, well that took 24 seconds. 1-0 Mario Gomez.

2-1 win on a couple of Gomez goals. Dortmund wins 3-1 though :(

Massive SIX POINTER on Wednesday. Beat Dortmund and we go top on goal difference, lose and the title is gone.

http://img593.imageshack.us/img593/453/franzb.png

I don't even know who that's supposed to be. Gomez? And I'm not supposed to criticize this?

Beckenbauer's mug shot?

Beckenbauer's mug shot?

bingo

Robben (H)

**** him

How was the second half? I saw the first one and from that Dortmund deserved the win.

Totally opposite in the second half, sadly. Dortmund were too tired to continue their pressing, and Schweinsteiger came on for Muller which helped. Robben missed a penalty and an open net from 5 yards in the last 5 minutes.

Holy crap, just saw the highlights. Plus he was the one putting Lewandowksi onside. Oh and, Subotic (H)

yeah

******* americans

Why did they throw bananas at Neuer?

He's the new Kahn. I guess.

Good article about what "may well be the only genuine, cross-border rivalry in Europe"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/blog/2012/apr/05/real-madrid-bayern-munich-champions-league

Too many money quotes in this to pick just one. Well, okay, maybe just one

"Just because you wear cashmere sweaters, doesn't make you a gentleman," bristled the Bayern grandee Beckenbauer. "[Mourinho] is rude and loutish."

So basically, this:

"Black", said Pot Bayern grandee Beckenbauer to the Kettle Mourinho.

Nah, Beckenbauer can say that (not saying if he's right or not). Uli Hoeness most definitely would be a hypocrite if he said it though.

Well, that ref was a joke. 2 cleat pk not given.

Slight advantage going to Madrid.

Well, that ref was a joke. 2 cleat pk not given.

Slight advantage going to Madrid.

Which clear pks??? The one on Ribery in the first half would have been a harsh call, that's the only one I could think of.

The one on Gomez at the end of the game and the hand ball right before that.

That one was a clean Ramos tackle which then prompted Gomez to fall on Coentrão's challenge.

And which hand ball?

There are 3 Portuguese players and Jose in Madrid. I get it.

Sure, avoid the question by stating that I was the one being biased. Not ironic at all.

Wasn't Bayern's first goal offside? Neither should have been called... when do they ever call incidental handballs as a penalty? And Gomez's call there was contact but the ball was cleanly taken away. There was nothing clear about either calls.

Thought the Gomez one was iffy, but all in all it was a fairly officiated game. Maybe I'd think different if it ended 1-1. Also, I thought there was a clear foul before a Madrid counter attack, but I don't remember if that was on the goal, or on another one that didn't amount to anything.

(cronaldo)

Solo robar, solo robar


(/cronaldo)


Now seriously, it was a deserved win, if Real wants to reach the final, they have to improve their game. Gomez/Ramos challenge was clear, no fault there, it was on the ball. And im not being bieased cause of portuguese players there, i just dont care. I ONLY SAY DA TRUTH!

Ribery and Robben got in a fist fight at halftime of the Madrid game which may or may not have resulted in Robben getting a black eye. My friend says "I wonder how much time Robben spent on the floor grabbing his ankle" (H)

Hahaha, I imagine it had to do with Robben's refusal to pass the ball. (H)

Damn, looks like Ribery did a number on him.

http://i43.tinypic.com/dc362v.png

You think that's bad? You should see the other guy.
































Oh wait.

Robben looks like 40 year old since he was 20

Robben doesn't look like the guy who would get in a fist fight. He usually curls up in fetal position after contact. Would have been interesting to see.

http://xaxor.com/images/25666/arjen_robben_is_640_04.jpg

http://xaxor.com/images/25666/arjen_robben_is_640_10.jpg

http://xaxor.com/images/25666/arjen_robben_is_640_15.jpg

http://xaxor.com/images/25666/arjen_robben_is_640_20.jpg

http://xaxor.com/images/25666/arjen_robben_is_640_25.jpg

http://xaxor.com/images/25666/arjen_robben_is_640_29.jpg

I guess at halftime Robben was bitching at Ribery that he should have let Kroos take a freekick so much that Ribery just up and socked him one. The best part is that if that's what it was then Robben was right, Kroos is the best free kick taker.

How come Holland is so chilled yet Dutch footballers are such twats?

The footballers tend to be pretty short for a country with an average male height of like 6'2''. Maybe it's just insecurity.

Also on account of drugs testing in football they are probably the only dutchmen in the world who dont get high on a regular basis, leading to high levels of comparative stress.

I know Dortmund have quite a few good players, a couple of great ones, but how good is Klopp? Maybe his inexperience got the best of him in the CL, but I'm betting next year might be a different story, if he stays that is.

(sorry but this seems the only place to discuss La Bundesliga)

Do they test for cannabis in the Eredivisie? I've wondered for a while.

They don't test for steroids, so doubt they do.

I know Dortmund have quite a few good players, a couple of great ones, but how good is Klopp? Maybe his inexperience got the best of him in the CL, but I'm betting next year might be a different story, if he stays that is.

(sorry but this seems the only place to discuss La Bundesliga)

First of all, he's not going anywhere. He's getting paid well, and it would be horribly hypocritical of him to leave Dortmund after getting all of his players to buy into the project.

Second, he is really good, and I think next year will be different as well. Depth may have been an issue as well as lack of experience. Next year their attacking 4 could be Gotze, Kagawa, Reus, and Lewandowski. That's really good.

Yeah plus German clubs hang to their assets pretty well, they're all rich as ****. Because if not Gotze and Hummels would go out in the summer. They still might if Germany performs great again (as they probably will)

I don't know what inspires so much loyalty in the players actually. I don't really think German clubs have that money relative to English ones at least (except Bayern of course). But 2 years in the CL helps at least. The domestic TV deal went up, but not really a ton per individual team I don't think, and while Dortmund have a huge stadium, German clubs are owned by the supporters, so the ticket prices are affordable.

Anyway, we'll see how it goes. If Dortmund can't get out of the group stage next year I think people will devalue what they have accomplished domestically a little bit.

"One step away. One very, very big step."

First of all, he's not going anywhere. He's getting paid well, and it would be horribly hypocritical of him to leave Dortmund after getting all of his players to buy into the project.

Second, he is really good, and I think next year will be different as well. Depth may have been an issue as well as lack of experience. Next year their attacking 4 could be Gotze, Kagawa, Reus, and Lewandowski. That's really good.

Reus is going to be great addition. There's talk of Kagawa leaving but I think he'll ultimately stay.

K0xeEou-tfM

Congrats Bayern!

Don't quite follow the Bundesliga, so who's likely to replace Badstuber, Alaba and Gustavo in the final?

Thought Alaba's yellow was an incredibly harsh one, though it was a defo penalty imo.

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FUxz3yvFE&h=DAQEzrHRgAQGbDYQnV-T9sABrW-z-Xjv31bdU6zGdhGMOvg

FC Bayern, wir fahren nach Minga. Schalalal lala lala!

Let's beat Chelsea and save the sport!