Bayern Munich - pre match discussion thread

[mancity1]

I've not watched Bayern this season but i'm under the impression from reports and things that at times they've been all possession but struggled to break teams down? I think we'll play narrow and compact, let Robben and Ribery do their cutting inside into a packed middle. Let Alaba or Rafinha try and make the overlap or whatever, then counter attack. I like Aguero's chances against Boateng especially.

Be interesting to see if Pellegrini thinks we can control the match (i don't).

And i hope Lahm plays in midfield, i doubt he's had to cope with anyone like Yaya before.

Yes and no, some games it's been like that but the recent games v Schalke and Moscow it was fantastic football, just like Pep's Barcelona. The finished product is not quite there but we are a good side. Then again so are you, should be an end to end game imo. Lahm will play in midfield but he has done it many times before, he is comfortable in the job.

Don't know of any better sides in Europe than Bayern at present.

We are well below what we can be but we have to do it on the big stage as well as in the premier league at the same time before objective observers will start to take us seriously.

Our second half on Match Day One was encouraging but this is Bayern we are talking about here.

While a point would suit both teams perhaps Bayern will come at us for the win as they fear no one home or away.

 

[cibaman]

I really hope he plays Richards tonight - I personally thought Zabba was poor on Saturday & I always think we look stronger when we have a 100% fit Micah in the side.

Richards and Navas tore Milan to pieces in the first half of the Audi Cup game.

I think our biggest risk tonight is Bayern catching us on the break. Just like Dortmund and Napoli. We need the right balance of attacking intent and defensive solidity. For me we should play Richards and Milner or Zabaleta and Navas

 

[Jumanji]

I really hope he plays Richards tonight - I personally thought Zabba was poor on Saturday & I always think we look stronger when we have a 100% fit Micah in the side.

Richards and Navas tore Milan to pieces in the first half of the Audi Cup game.

I think our biggest risk tonight is Bayern catching us on the break. Just like Dortmund and Napoli. We need the right balance of attacking intent and defensive solidity. For me we should play Richards and Milner or Zabaleta and Navas

If I'm honest, we'll probably be the ones looking to break most likely.

 

[LoveCity]

Looks good!

[bigimg]http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BVkyUW3CUAAWhZI.jpg:large[/bigimg]

 

[daxman]

I really hope he plays Richards tonight - I personally thought Zabba was poor on Saturday & I always think we look stronger when we have a 100% fit Micah in the side.

Richards and Navas tore Milan to pieces in the first half of the Audi Cup game.

I think our biggest risk tonight is Bayern catching us on the break. Just like Dortmund and Napoli. We need the right balance of attacking intent and defensive solidity. For me we should play Richards and Milner or Zabaleta and Navas

Seeing as Navas is every bit the defender Milner is, this is unneccesary. Play Micah and Navas. The truth is Zab attacks just as much as Micah, he Just isn't as effective or disruptive. And Navas defends as much as Milner, he just doesn't look as "worked up" doing it.

I'l play Navas and MIcah.

 

[daxman]

I really hope he plays Richards tonight - I personally thought Zabba was poor on Saturday & I always think we look stronger when we have a 100% fit Micah in the side.

I'd do similar,Richards' powerful runs will help put their most dangerous players on the backfoot and give them something to think about......

Id also play Milner,simply for his energy and desire,i think he could thrive alongside Fernandinho.

So

Richards--Nasty--Komps--Clichy(if fit!)
------Milner---Fernandinho---------
---Nasri-----Yaya----Aguero-----
-------------Negredo---------------

Perhaps, but this is no time to start trying old toys in new positions . We either match their formation, or simply play ours. Personally I'd prefer we match their formation, as I think that is our strongest formation too.

Micah-Komps-Nasty-Clichy
----------Fernandihno----------
Navas-Silva--Yaya---Nasri
------------Aguero
And if SIlva Can't go, play Jovetic left and Nasri middle.

or play our basic formation

Micah_Komps_Nasty_Clichy
_________Dihno____________
Navas___Yaya_______Nasri
____Aguero___Dzeko_____

I put Dzeko coz I suspect he is starting after escorting MP to the interview.

 

[Maldeika]

I did not know that Maurizio Gaudino played for Manchester City before (he was loaned to City in 1995 - played 21 matches). Gaudino never played for Bayern - but he lives in Munich so his son grew up in Bayern teams. His son plays next to Mehmet Scholl's son in the Bayern U19 team that plays right now against your U19.

 

[paul_blue]

I don't think we will get beat tonight, I'm expecting a few goals and think its going to be a great match, but we won't lose!!

 

[Maldeika]

I did not know that Maurizio Gaudino played for Manchester City before (he was loaned to City in 1995 - played 21 matches). Gaudino never played for Bayern - but he lives in Munich so his son grew up in Bayern teams. His son plays next to Mehmet Scholl's son in the Bayern U19 team that plays right now against your U19.

Does anybody watch that match? The ManCity young ones are a lot more athletic than the ones of Bayern. Looks like boys against men...

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

I did not know that Maurizio Gaudino played for Manchester City before (he was loaned to City in 1995 - played 21 matches). Gaudino never played for Bayern - but he lives in Munich so his son grew up in Bayern teams. His son plays next to Mehmet Scholl's son in the Bayern U19 team that plays right now against your U19.

Does anybody watch that match? The ManCity young ones are a lot more athletic than the ones of Bayern. Looks like boys against men...

Tearing you apart by all accounts

 

[TGR]

I did not know that Maurizio Gaudino played for Manchester City before (he was loaned to City in 1995 - played 21 matches). Gaudino never played for Bayern - but he lives in Munich so his son grew up in Bayern teams. His son plays next to Mehmet Scholl's son in the Bayern U19 team that plays right now against your U19.

Maurizio's Gaudino's nickname was 'The Strolling Vagabond'. He really did look a character and a half!
He made 20 apperances for us whilst on loan and scored 3 goals
He got mixed up in some motor car dealing apparently...

 

[ZZmaestro]

Milner is not anywhere from being worldclass material.

When you have to fight against a stellar side such as Bayern Munich, you just can't afford to let any weak link slip into your squad.
As the wise used to say, your team is only as good as your weakest player ...

For me tonight, this will do :
Hart/Pants - Zabs/Micah - Vinnie -Nasty - Clichy - Dinho - Yaya - Nasri - Silva / Navas - Aguerro - Negredo
subs : Dzeko & Jovetic 70'

Confident to witness a memorable performance from the lads.

 

[Maldeika]

I did not know that Maurizio Gaudino played for Manchester City before (he was loaned to City in 1995 - played 21 matches). Gaudino never played for Bayern - but he lives in Munich so his son grew up in Bayern teams. His son plays next to Mehmet Scholl's son in the Bayern U19 team that plays right now against your U19.

Does anybody watch that match? The ManCity young ones are a lot more athletic than the ones of Bayern. Looks like boys against men...

Tearing you apart by all accounts

Probably - even if it got better. But you remark how different the players are. Look e.g. at Scholl - he is a technican like his father - and a small shirt... It is his first year in the U19. It is the same about Gaudino.

What surprises me is how much foreigners play for Manchester City already in that age.

 

[BoyBlue_1985]

Does anybody watch that match? The ManCity young ones are a lot more athletic than the ones of Bayern. Looks like boys against men...

Tearing you apart by all accounts

Probably - even if it got better. But you remark how different the players are. Look e.g. at Scholl - he is a technican like his father - and a small shirt... It is his first year in the U19. It is the same about Gaudino.

What surprises me is how much foreigners play for Manchester City already in that age.

A lot of our U18's are supposed to be very technical. We have an accelerated youth program at the moment where we have brought in very good youngsters from elsewhere. the main aim is to have lots of English but as our academy was poor only a few years ago we cant afford to fall behind when trying to make a transition from buying to promoting

 

[Maldeika]

Tearing you apart by all accounts

Probably - even if it got better. But you remark how different the players are. Look e.g. at Scholl - he is a technican like his father - and a small shirt... It is his first year in the U19. It is the same about Gaudino.

What surprises me is how much foreigners play for Manchester City already in that age.

A lot of our U18's are supposed to be very technical. We have an accelerated youth program at the moment where we have brought in very good youngsters from elsewhere. the main aim is to have lots of English but as our academy was poor only a few years ago we cant afford to fall behind when trying to make a transition from buying to promoting

Do you have a U19-league or are do you usually put them all together with the U21s in the Youth Premier League? In Germany we have a U17 and a U19 league (or exactly three regional ones on the top of a league system - promotion does not have anything to do with the Bundesliga teams) and U23-teams that plays in the usual adult leagues.

The best U19-players of Bayern do not play in the U19 anymore. Höjbjerg and Julian Green already play in the U23 or the first one is part of the usual Bayern team even if he usually plays his matches with the U23.

 

[Zlatan]

I really hope he plays Richards tonight - I personally thought Zabba was poor on Saturday & I always think we look stronger when we have a 100% fit Micah in the side.

I'd do similar,Richards' powerful runs will help put their most dangerous players on the backfoot and give them something to think about......

Id also play Milner,simply for his energy and desire,i think he could thrive alongside Fernandinho.

So

Richards--Nasty--Komps--Clichy(if fit!)
------Milner---Fernandinho---------
---Nasri-----Yaya----Aguero-----
-------------Negredo---------------

Perhaps, but this is no time to start trying old toys in new positions . We either match their formation, or simply play ours. Personally I'd prefer we match their formation, as I think that is our strongest formation too.

Micah-Komps-Nasty-Clichy
----------Fernandihno----------
Navas-Silva--Yaya---Nasri
------------Aguero
And if SIlva Can't go, play Jovetic left and Nasri middle.

or play our basic formation

Micah_Komps_Nasty_Clichy
_________Dihno____________
Navas___Yaya_______Nasri
____Aguero___Dzeko_____

I put Dzeko coz I suspect he is starting after escorting MP to the interview.

Both lineups are very good. I think you are very close here. You can maybe miss one player, 2 hardly.

 

[crystal_mais]

Nervous and Excited at the same time. Nearly time to clock off at work, bit of food and a few drinks and then off to the game. C'mon City!!!!!

 

[The Black Shed]

With Javi Martinez injured, I think Bayern will miss their main defence->attack link-up man, more than they will admit. This has to be a bonus for City, but they need to be very strong in the middle. Most of Bayern's attacking play seems to start from the flanks with a tendency to cut in nearer to the box, so our LB & RB need to be very switched on, so playing Kolarov could be a mistake.

I can't predict this one. Could be a tight, intricate game with one goal in it, or a glorious frenzy of attacking play with 5+ goals.

Let's have it blues!
3-2 City

 

[LoveCity]

Wow!

<a class="postlink" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/7yk43kv2ijq34k7/VIDEO0040.mp4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/7yk43kv2ijq34k7/VIDEO0040.mp4</a>

 

[The Silver Surfer]

Wow!

<a class="postlink" href="https://www.dropbox.com/s/7yk43kv2ijq34k7/VIDEO0040.mp4" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;">https://www.dropbox.com/s/7yk43kv2ijq34k7/VIDEO0040.mp4</a>

Sound like they're up for it but Dortmund turning up in town last year were far more awesome.