The Bayern Semi Thread.

I agree in some big games that I've watched your tactics are often give the ball to Robben on the right everytime you get it. He is a great player though, so hard to not give him the ball.

I think Lewandowski is so important because you don't have a quality back up striker. I think in other positions you are stacked with quality in reserve, but you only have 1 quality out and out striker. I know Muller can play there if needed, but it's not his natural position

 

Agreed, future plans are to spend in the region of 100m euros each year to replace current 'stars'. First up is to buy a replacement for Franc Ribery. I do not feel we should try to purchase a winger but a striker who can compliment Lewandowski who I feel is the best 'hold up' centre forward in Europe, as I said do not expect me to be impartial. The chances of creating another 'Robbery' are slim. Several fancyful choices on FCB fan sites (Bayernzone) include Aguero, Hazard, Sanchez, De Bruyne and others. I think we could get Sanchez from Arsenal with a bid of 60 m euros as he has had his stay in the EPL and might wish to sign for an even bigger team with a great chance of CL glory; wages however could be a problem.

Mia San Mia

Apologies to any 'Gooners'.

 

...........wages would be a problem, BK. That is one reason why Bayern are so wealthy, they pay sensible wages, and are financially well-run. No, I am not a Bayern fan by any means, but am submerged in thousands of them, which includes my missus and a few mates here, so bits and pieces of this and that are bound to sink into this old heed. I am also vaguely connected with their departed physician, although I've never met him personally. Erm, are you a kilt-wearing 'Eric' by any chance? How on earth did you get tangled-up with Bayern München? Having said that, how on earth did I get tangled-up with Real Madrid in CL football, so enough said. Always loved Real, for donkey's years!

 

As a child, my boy played corner back for the Dinmore Bushrats, for a number of years. Real Madrid came sniffing around but we sent them packing when the tight bastards wouldn't throw in a mega yacht as part of the sign on deal. Pricks.

 

What you smoking, Cyc? Corner backs, Dinmore Bushrats......

 

SH - I saw Franz Beckenbauer on television 1965 and was hypnotised. This was reinforced in 1966. My love and admiration has moved to Paul Breitner mainly due to his politics. I don't know what an 'Eric' is but I have, in the past, worn a kilt to Bavaria and the US however I prefer my lederhosen which I have proudly worn around Edinburgh after recent CL and World Cup wins.
Until my mother moved into a care home about four years ago I used to purchase a season ticket (120euros) for standing at the 17 Bundesliga matches. I attended about five games a year governed by early booking of Easyjet flights and stayed with fellow fans at Starnberg.

Good luck against Juventus!

 

Thanks, BK, that's very interesting. The word 'Eric' I pinched from OddDog; it sounds better and more friendly than the word 'Kraut', which I don't like at all. Know Starnberg well, often go there for a day out by the lake. I honestly think the Final should have been between Barca and Bayern, but it was not to be. In a way, and on form, Juventus or Real should count themselves lucky to have a semi-final chance to be there? Just an opinion, of course.

 

SH - just after I sent my last post I remembered Auf Weidersehen Pet where 'Oz' referred to the locals in Dusseldorf as 'Erics' - ho hum. When my mum used to join me for trips to Munich we always had a day trip to Starnberg so I keep up this practice. Off to Cologne in July and then to Munich in February 2016 so looking forward to a snowy ramble around the lake followed by a few drinks! If I am staying in Munich I quite often take day trips to Mittenwald and Seefeld - en-Tirol although sometimes I have a wee bit too much to drink and stay overnight!!!

 

Sorry for appearing to ignore you, Swan - as you'll see from the DT, I've been celebrating international labour day by supporting the retail structures of Epsom.

The reason(s) why Lahm and Dante aren't in my tentative back four are that I thought that Lahm would be one of the patrolling pair in front of the back line, and that Dante is simply out of form, apparently out of favour with Pep, and generally considered unlikely to start unless the squad is so ravaged that there's no sensible alternative. All that might well be rubbish, and Kenny probably knows more than I do.

As far as I know, Oddy himself borrowed "Erics" (possibly 'Erichs', after the film director von Stroheim) as a generic term for Germans from the TV show Auf Wiedersehen Pet. My unreliable recollection is that the Tim Healy character invented it because he thought the locals wouldn't recognise or resent it as they would Hun, Boche or Kraut.

 

I wonder if Dennis thought Dagmar was an 'Eric'!!!

 

That was a top cast.

 

I wasn't making a case for Bundesliga being stronger than La Liga, there's plenty of **** in both. I was just thinking that there's been comments about Barca's form and its not the be all and end all

 

Rainer/Oddy: Ah yes, now I remember. "Oy, Ayatollah, get yer skates on", great stuff!

Rainer, I think Lahm is still one of the world's best flank defenders (left or right, it doesn't matter to him). That's where he should play IMO. Honestly don't think he has always been at ease with some of Pep's positional experiments with him? Dante is a bit off-form, but I'd still play him for his positional sense and ball distribution from the back; worth taking a gamble with his tackling, I'd say. Would like to hear what BayernKenny has to say about who should play in the back four. He knows more about Bayern than anyone on the forum, I'm sure.

Now will resume watching the final final installment of "The Mentalist" which I recorded from Channel 5 yesterday, I think it was.

 

Thanks SH. The feeling on 'Bayernzone' is that Lahm has lost a bit of pace since his peak in 2013; I am not so sure. No matter his condition I would save Lewandowski for the second leg so Pep will probably stick with:
Muller

Goetze - Schweinsteiger - Thiago - Lahm

Alonso

Bernat - Boateng - Benatia - Rafinha

Neuer

The advantage of this line up is that many players are interchangeable and the defenders are all fairly pacy. The difficulty is that no team can account for the individual brilliance of Neymar, Suarez and Messi over a full ninety minutes. As I have related earlier we will have one very good chance and probably two/three half chances. It is then up to indivuduals to take these opportunities. I do however feel we will have to score in the first leg to have a chance to progress to Berlin.

When I watch these games sober whilst lying on my living floor my legs kick out when the opposition are attacking; it's like a dog dreaming.

 

Comparing the overall strengths of the teams in Germany, England and Spain is difficult unless a tournament was organised for the five/six bottom teams in each league. It would seem to me that when considering the top six in each country Spain is easily the best; just look at the Europa League in the last 4/5 years. I am however aware that the vagaries of the TV deal in Spain and the effort that English teams put into this tounament caused by the Sky/BT money for the EPL probably causes some of the difference in success. The decision that the winner of the Europa League qualifies for the Chamions League should surely affect the prominence that EPL teams give this tournament. I would however warn the EPL teams that European co-efficients are based on the last five years records and currently England, Germany and Italy are fairly close in points totals. Italy, in third place, have three teams in the semis compared to England's zip!

I think the EPL is lucky that BT have joined the fray as Sky now support the Bundesliga whose average crowds are rapidly leaving the EPL behind:

2009-10 - Bundesliga average crowd 1000 greater than EPL
2010-11 - Bundesliga average crowd 2000 greater than EPL
2011-12 - Bundesliga average crowd 4000 greater than EPL
2012-13 - Bundesliga average crowd 6000 greater than EPL
2013-14 - Bundesliga average crowd 10000 greater than EPL

 

Thanks for your insight, BK. Well, I'm wrong, and I must bow to Rainer's superior knowledge on Bayern München!

 

SH the postings can only ever be our opinions on any subject be they horses, politics or football at one particular point in time so do not bow to anyone's 'superior knowledge'. Impartionality on football and aftersight on horses are a wonderful thing . Luck in all sports particularly gambling on horses is why we enjoy our passtimes!

 

Nonononono - not 'superior knowledge' at all, Swan, and I'd never claim it. I just try to keep up with informational sites on matters where I'm contemplating a bet, and my guess at the Bayern back-line was just an amalgam of other people's opinions. But obviously, I'm grateful to Kenny for reinforcing my view and putting you in your place. Insofar as I get emotional about football outside Selhurst Park (i.e.not at all) I'd like Bayern to come through, and I hope they do.

Enjoy your TV, and I wouldn't dream of telling you whether or not Lazarus successfully blows up Jane and Lisbon. But get the tissues ready......