godhandiscen said:Never change Bla :lol
I will be rooting for you during those matches. The last time I rooted for Bayern was during the time you guys scored the fastest goal against Relol Madrid.
Roy Makaay - Never Forget
godhandiscen said:Never change Bla :lol
I will be rooting for you during those matches. The last time I rooted for Bayern was during the time you guys scored the fastest goal against Relol Madrid.
Blablurn said:
close to the edge said:I don't really mind who wins, as long as it's not Bayern.
I'm Austrian. I'm born to not like Bayern. Sorry bro.Blablurn said:
close to the edge said:I'm Austrian. I'm born to not like Bayern. Sorry bro.
Hootie said:As a relatively uninformed American, who should I root for?
Blablurn said:Bayern München!!
just look at our arena
Totally agree. That will be excellent. Mick McCarthy's on board, too:Adamm said:Cant wait for the Arsenal v Barca game, should be a good one!
and im not too bothered about whos wins
Well, even if you lose, you'll win.Dina said:Bordeaux en Lyon.
Blablurn said:
Blablurn said:Ribery will definitely start. Unfortunately Robben's chances aren't that good. the last thing i heard he's gonna be on the bench.
Reno7728 said:So bayern should definitely be firing on all cylinders for the second leg, and not capitulate like Milan
I really want Man U to lose. But I don't think Bayern can beat them.
On paper, United should be set up perfectly to deal with this one. No side in Europe rely on their wide players as much as Bayern do, no side in Europe defend from the wings as effectively as United do.
As discussed in ZMs analysis of Bayerns fortunate win over Fiorentina in the previous round, the best way to stop Bayern is by strictly doubling-up on Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben. United have done well this season when playing a 4-3-3 against the big sides, with the wide players in the team to shut down the opposition full-backs. Today, a similarly strict defensive job will be required from them although it might be 20 yards deeper than usual, with Ribery and Robben their attention, rather than the full-backs.
Fiorentinas doubling up against the wingers worked well, but left themselves exposed in the centre of the pitch, where first Mark van Bommel and then Arjen Robben smashed in long-range efforts. But whereas Fiorentinas shape was a vague 4-2-3-1 or 4-1-4-1, Uniteds use of three central midfield players (compared to two for Fiorentina) means they should avoid the same thing happening.
Of course, this is assuming Ribery and Robben are fit they might well both miss out, and Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended, meaning Bayerns entire creative spark could be unavailable.
Ferguson will certainly go 4-3-3, but it will be interesting to see which players he uses in wide positions against Milan both home and away Park was fielded in the centre, but his stamina might be better suited to the wing in this game. He and Valencia would be the best players defensively, but Nani is in good form and might cause Lahm and Bastuber more problems with the ball.
The role of Darren Fletcher will also be interesting his energy might be wasted in a deep midfield role, and it wouldnt be a surprise to see him either higher up the pitch pressuring van Bommel and Tymoschuk, or deployed wide to assist his full-back.
Daniel van Buyten and Martin Dimichelis will be dreading facing Wayne Rooney theyre both tall, strong defenders, but prone to pace and movement as Stevan Jovetic showed in the last round, and both always have a mistake in them. As long as United get support to Rooney, they will surely score an away goal.
Its difficult to predict teams with Bayerns injury doubts, but one suspects that one of the wingers, probably Arjen Robben, will make the side.
Predicted teams:
Bayern Munich (4-4-1-1): Butt; Lahm, Van Buyten, Demichelis, Badstuber; Robben, Van Bommel, Tymoschuk, Pranjic; Muller; Olic.
Manchester United (4-5-1): van der Sar; Rafael, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Scholes, Fletcher, Park; Rooney.
Reno7728 said:How long is Schweinsteigers suspension?