Agreed. Every season we should lay into every accomplished manager that fails to win the champions league.
Champions League - Quarter Finals
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Could you please show me where I said anything even close to that?
What does "more reaction" and "making excuses" mean then? Managers will get knocked out out in the cl for all but a few seasons in their career. It's what happens. And I mean that for the absolute greats.
I was talking less about him being knocked out of the CL (which is far from certain) and more about another poor result. Hell, Pellegrini and City were getting mocked for losing against Barca. My first impression is that people are glossing over Pep's poor results (which are few and far between I'll admit) because they want him as United manager.
That's because this is Manchester United forum and that's city you're talking about. I can't think of why I'd mock bayern and pep if they went out.
I'm sorry, but that's just completely silly. You make it sound like it's easily possible and should be expected that a top team can keep the same performance level for decades. Even Ferguson clearly said that you need to rebuild and teams have cycles. Guardiola took over a team that had incredible success for years. I guess, you must be equally critical of Ferguson the way United regressed after the treble in 1999 and after reaching 3 CL finals between 2007 and 2011. After all his job was to anticipate and react accordingly.
Don't get me wrong, I agree that Guardiola so far at Bayern made several mistakes and could have done better. But he's overall still doing a great job. The notion that it's perfectly normal to win 3 league titles in the Bundesliga in a row and the manager doesn't deserve any credit for that is just as silly by the way (you mentioned that in your previous post). It certainly isn't more difficult for Mourinho to win the Premier League this season than it's for Guardiola to win the Bundesliga.
Actually - only one can win the European competition every year. And it has a lot to do with luck.
League is something different.
The treble season of Bayern...
The group stage was not very great. We lost 1:3 against BATE, did really look clueless in Lille and won by a penalty, in Valencia we tied by a lucky strike from Müller in the last minutes after laying back and playing against 10 men - and a red card could have gotten us on 2nd place if Müller would not have scored the 2:0 immediately after the send off of Boateng against BATE home.
Arsenal away was a good match - Arsenal home we did not convert the chances and at the end could even be lucky to go to the quarter finals.
Juve - Alaba had a wonder strike in the first minute against Buffon. But we had problems in the build up. Then luckily Kroos got injured and Robben subbed in - and Müller made the 2:0. The second match was without danger.
Barcelona... - two great matches
But I am not so sure it would have been the same when Kroos would not have been injured. Heynckes did not have a chance with his tactics either.
Dortmund - hold the pressure in the begin of the match. We were lucky that the referee tried to keep a soft line. And won with Arjen's late goal.
I know that a lot romantisize that win. But - you need to have the luck, too - and the decisions have to go the right way.
And it is about the same every year with every winner.
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The people that think the setup against Barcelona was Heynckes main idea are wrong - we played more van Gaal than we did with him before - or maybe Jonker as after van Gaal was let go in the recent matches of 2010/11 the offense was allowed to play more fluid and to interchange. It was van Gaal with a more fluid attack and the wingers tracking back. Heynckes idea in this two years was to play a defensive midfielder in Martinez (or Gustavo), a central midfielder in Schweinsteiger and with Kroos on no. 10 - in the first year with Robben on the right, in the second with Müller. Even at that time we had nearly as much ball possession as Barcelona had.
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It could still be the same this year. Let there be an early goal for Bayern on Tuesday. Then I can see every result possible. And for the semi finals Robben and Ribery are back. Schweinsteiger is back. Thiago and Lahm will be further with their match fitness... If we fail then and Pep gets the tactics wrong you can blame it on Pep. But not that Porto match where he did not have any choices.
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I agree with you that the premiership isn't in a great state and in fact I think Pep would win the premiership with that Chelsea side too.
I also agree that I am judging him by his own insane standards but its Pep he should be judged by a higher standard than others because if we give him a free pass we can never truly guage whether he's on the ball or not. Guys like him and Mourinho are that good that league titles alone don't really demonstrate if they're operating at their best level or not or if their tactical approach is spot on.
People can knock the CL all they want and call it merely a 'cup' competition and that the league is a better judge of a side but I disagree, in general bar the odd freak results the best team in Europe tends to win out more than most and it helps expose teams which can't really handle the extreme pressure of European knockout football or are tactically a step off the pace.
This Bayern side for me reminds of me that Barcelona side near the end of Pep's barca reign. It just doesn't look as dangerous on the ball and it looks slightly off the pace off the ball. He has been very unlucky with injuries I agree but I still think he needs to develop his understanding of the game abit more and adapt his approach to games. He is obviously still brilliant but he can be more brilliant. He shouldnt rest on his laurels.
Football needs more guys like Pep - I am rooting for him but he needs to become more rounded.
Fair enough, I don't disagree with anything you wrote here.
And Pellegrinni shot himself in the foot by playing 4-4-2 at home in the first leg. Everyone knew what would happen.
Guardiola could only pick that starting 11 yesterday. As he didn't have many other options.
He is simply wrong and I honestly think he hasn't watched him enough to say that. PSG defensive liabilities have always come from their CBs mainly.
Is that Shane bloke reliable?
Yeah, it's all over the news in Germany.
Yep.
@porto fans
Am I right that about nobody that played Wednesday and will play Tuesday again played in yesterday's match of Porto more than some minutes - besides the goalkeeper Fabiani?
Am I right that about nobody that played Wednesday and will play Tuesday again played in yesterday's match of Porto more than some minutes - besides the goalkeeper Fabiani?
Correct
ITV are showing the Barca game tonight, idiots.
We get both games in India lols
Early goal for PSG might spark the tie into life... But probably not
Try early three goals. One goal does nothing.
Two early goals and I am tuning in.
The Bayern game is on Sky here. Just a shame for those here who only have terrestrial television.
Hoping for Bayern to turn it around tonight!
I wish cl games were back to back. Want to see both games.
I know what you mean but at least it gives you the option should one of the games be a dead rubber. Now I'm not too fussed about missing the Barca - PSG game.
Yeah, only as subs.
Massive risk it should be said, we fielded a totally inexperienced side on a must-win match. Had we drawn, the league would be all but over. And we won 1-0.
Pep's Bayern played the most dominant spell of football I've ever seen away at Man City last year, and this year they apparently dominated their game with 10 men but lost in the final few minutes.
I've never been a big fan of Alonso - he was perfect for Mourinho's counter attacking setup with his big diagonals but almost every big game (apart from last years' CL run) has seen him exposed --- many Clasicos, semis vs Bayern, semis vs Dortmund, Welbeck on Alonso at OT, vs Holland in the world cup. I'm convinced Carrick handles pressing better than he does.
I've never been a big fan of Alonso - he was perfect for Mourinho's counter attacking setup with his big diagonals but almost every big game (apart from last years' CL run) has seen him exposed --- many Clasicos, semis vs Bayern, semis vs Dortmund, Welbeck on Alonso at OT, vs Holland in the world cup. I'm convinced Carrick handles pressing better than he does.
All about the Champions League for Bayern. You don't assemble a squad of that quality just to win the Bundesliga.
When a player like Thiago joins Bayern, it's for the CL. You sacrifice a bit of exposure when you join them. There are no El Clasicos or SUPER DUPER SUNDAYS!!! there. Its all about Europe for the non German world cup winners.
When a player like Thiago joins Bayern, it's for the CL. You sacrifice a bit of exposure when you join them. There are no El Clasicos or SUPER DUPER SUNDAYS!!! there. Its all about Europe for the non German world cup winners.
What has changed since Wednesday in terms of Bayern injuries? Who's back? Anyone injured since then? Did Gotze recover?
Benzema also out apparently. So that's Marcelo, Modric, Bale and Benzema on the sidelines. Interesting to see how the replacements will step up.
Ouch.
Front six of Irra, Kroos, Isco, James, Ronaldo and... Khedira? Hernandez?
Schweinsteiger should play. Götze should be fit to start as well.
I'm really worried that Pep starts with a midfield of Alonso, Schweinsteiger and Lahm though, then we're fecked
.Something like:
Götze Lewandowski Müller
Thiago
Schweinsteiger Rode
Bernat Badstuber Boateng Lahm
Neuer
or
Lewandowski Müller
Götze
Thiago ----- Rode
Schweinsteiger
Bernat Badstuber Boateng Lahm
Neuer
Thiago
Schweinsteiger Rode
Bernat Badstuber Boateng Lahm
Neuer
or
Lewandowski Müller
Götze
Thiago ----- Rode
Schweinsteiger
Bernat Badstuber Boateng Lahm
Neuer
would maybe give us a chance. I fully expect Alonso to start instead of Rode though and Lahm shoehorned into midfield next to both Alonso and Schweinsteiger to make us as boring and predictable as possible
Thanks @Balu
I think Thiago was Bayern's best player in the first leg, why would Pep bench him now to play an insecure Alonso and a returning-from-injury Schweinsteiger? Even assuming he can't resist putting Lahm in midfield...
I think Thiago was Bayern's best player in the first leg, why would Pep bench him now to play an insecure Alonso and a returning-from-injury Schweinsteiger? Even assuming he can't resist putting Lahm in midfield...
I think a 4-4-2 perhaps ? With James and Isco on the wings and Ronaldo and Chico as the front two. Could be wrong though, but it seems the more rational solution.
What about Jesé?
He wouldn't bench Thiago, he'd bench Rode, even though he offers energy in midfield none of the old guys does at the moment. And we desperately need it, but Alonso seems to be Guardiola's favourite player and despite his awful form for 6months now, it never looked like he considers benching him.
I thought Thiago wasn't good in the first leg by the way, except for the goal of course. He tried a lot, but so often was dispossessed when attempting dribblings and sometimes he carelessly gave the ball away in our own half and put us under pressure when he needlessly tried something fancy instead of looking for the easy option. But everyone else was awful as well, so maybe he actually was our best player. Still not good enough, he needs to play a lot better today if we want to have a chance to turn this around.
They chose the first and second leg at the same time. Before the first leg was played I'm sure 90% of us thought Barca vs PSG would be a better choice for the second leg.
It's Neuer; Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Bernat; Alonso, Thiago, Lahm; Götze, Lewandowski, Müller according to the LiveScore app which is pretty accurate most of the times, except for the odd change here and there.Schweinsteiger should play. Götze should be fit to start as well.
I'm really worried that Pep starts with a midfield of Alonso, Schweinsteiger and Lahm though, then we're fecked
Something like:
Götze Lewandowski Müller
Thiago
Schweinsteiger Rode
Bernat Badstuber Boateng Lahm
Neuer
or
Lewandowski Müller
Götze
Thiago ----- Rode
Schweinsteiger
Bernat Badstuber Boateng Lahm
Neuer
would maybe give us a chance. I fully expect Alonso to start instead of Rode though and Lahm shoehorned into midfield next to both Alonso and Schweinsteiger to make us as boring and predictable as possible
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