Champions League Watch

We play tikka takka in our own half and midfield but not in the final third. Like Astro says, we value possession but rarely try to walk the ball in. We often make slow build ups but usually the final third is quick one-twos, through balls and trickery to get a chance at goal. We attack the final third with pace and power (not said that about a Liverpool team for a while) with some great quick one touch passing at times but we don't pass for the sake of it IMO.

 

This.

 

Tiki taka definitely not the way to go. Not like Barca are top of the league by 11 points, have scored a 101 league goals in 33 matches and won 27 of them this season.

And only reaching a champions league semi final would be shameful. I think I'd have to stop supporting the club if we could only manage to reach a CL semi final.

 

Wasn't having a go at the specific style so much. Its more of the philosophy of this is the way we will do it and only this way. Passing it out of the back at all times for example, that alone has got us in **** many times. Its the complete lack of variation in style that will hamper us. Also that, by seeking out this dominating football, the chapter on defence got lost in the post, or Brendan ripped them out to write a few names on for the envelopes at the start of the season.

 

or the forgotten fact that they have had a new coach this year. Yeah they have been a disgrace

 

Well Barca & Spain have won more than anybody in the last 5 years, so I'm not sure how it'll hamper us anymore than another style? Think its just the media perception of Barca, personally. For some reason when they lose people go overboard and claim they need a plan B, despite them hardly every losing in the season. People don't go crazy and claim Man Utd need a big man or to change their style of play when they go out in Europe.

And he's been in NY for half the season getting cancer treatment...

 

I do know what you mean and wasn't just dismissing it. Possession football is pointless without the goals. I've seen Liverpool, Arsenal & Barcelona all have games where the passing turns into almost robotic, predictable sideways nonsense. We seem to be scoring more but I think we need better players to break down the better teams while maintaining this style. (States obvious there )

I think the high pressing, all team 7 second defending relies on 11 skillfullplayers who are aware of where each other are at all times without having to look. I think the issues is our team unlike Barca are nowhere near the finished article so leave gaps and double up unintentionally at times, particularly in defending set pieces. I think it also (and the whole style in general) relies on team confidence staying high. As soon as doubt comes in it all seems a bit too late & disjointed. I've witnessed that with us and Barca this year.

My gut instinct is though that BR doesn't quite get defence as well as attack but then he hasn't brought in his own players in that area yet but then that might highlight what he thought was the priority in itself.

 

CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FINAL

Wembley, Saturday 25 May, 19:45 BST

Borussia Dortmund v Bayern Munich

 

Come on Dortmund

 

Going for Dortmund too G!

What a day coming up! Mates arriving at 4.

Beers.
Ulster Match.
Beers.
Chinese
Beers
CL final
Beers
Froch fight
Beers and possibly some vodka!
Fall Over.......

 

Got a fiver on Dortmund @ 4-1 after semi first leg

 

I hope Dortmund beat Buy'em Munich. For all the things German football gets right, it could do with more of the English tribalism that lessens the likelihood of the best team in the league just buying their rivals' best players to make each season more boring than the last.

 

Go DORTMUND!!!

 

Decent game so far, and Dortmund just had a great chance...

 

Dortmund creating chances but Neuer equal to them...

 

Dortmund totally dominating so far.

 

Bayern with a good chance, but still no goals...

 

****ing American commentators

 

Ribery you dirty ugly ****

 

First yellow card goes to Dante for blocking off Reus...