ono
Well-Known Member
I watched them last night with interest to see how they would line up and to see if we could replicate their system with what we currently have at the club. I know Pep often changes and tweaks his system (which he did in the 2nd half) but it was interesting to compare them and us, player for player to try and gauge which of our current squad might stay and prove their worth.
Firstly Neuer was obviously in goal, and he was a total calamity last night. He cost them one goal and should have cost them another one (which was disallowed). He's a great shot stopper and is very commanding but he also causes problems with how much he interferes with the actual game. His kicking and his distribution last night looked fairly average, which is most people's worry with Hart.
They played with a back four, although both full backs were more in line with Alonso. Kimmich and Benatia were the two centre backs, and both were awful. Kimmich is a midfielder really and Benatia is never in a millon years good enough to play for Bayern. Having said that, Juve countered brilliantly. They were flanked by Lahm and Alaba. Alaba had a shocker, getting caught on the ball a lot, but in the second half he ended playing centre back for a while when Alonso came off for Coman. Despite his bad game, Alaba is a level or two above what we have. Lahm was steady and obviously has a great brain on him.
In line with the advanced full backs was Alonso who almost slotted into the back 2 to make a 3. He had an ineffective game and was replaced. From our current squad, only Yaya could really offer that he offers, but he might not have the discipline to stay so deep all game. I think it is worth a try though personally.
Ahead of Alonso was Vidal, Muller (centrally) and Ribery and Costa (wide). The closest thing to Vidal in our current set up is probably Fernandinho. They have a lot of similar qualities. Muller is a confusing one because he basically is a forward really. He played behind Lewandowski but he was in the box an awful lot. He almost looks like a number 9 playing in a number 10's position. Maybe De Bruyne can do this for us, or even Yaya. I don't see anybody else carrying a big enough goal threat to do it.
Out wide is where it was interesting and it made me realise we are a million miles behind what they have. Costa, Ribery, Coman and Robben are all top drawer. Last night it was Costa and Ribery to begin with. They just have abilities that we don't have. They played as inverted wingers so they cut in, but rather than cut in and shoot (Costa still did that) they tended to cut in and play a diagonal. They did this time and time again. When they crossed the ball, they absolutely fizzed it at head height. Nobody in our current set up has that ability, nor do any of the wide players have the combination of the technical ability, explosiveness and physicality to actually go past an opponent like he isn't there.
When they took off Alonso and changed their shape a little, Coman came on and was exceptional (as he was at the weekend when he got 3 assists against Bremen). He has a diretcness about him that i wish Sterling had (or maybe Sterling would have if he played on the right). Pep put Coman and Costa next to eachother so Coman offered the outside threat, and Costa offered the coming inside threat. It's a far cry from Navas and Sagna fighting for the same space.
Up top, Lewandowski and Aguero, there isn't much difference. Lewandowski is better in the air but Aguero is more explosive.
So in conclusion, i don't think we need as big a clearout as i initially did, but it did leave me scratching my head a bit regarding Sterling, Silva, Nasri and maybe even De Bruyne . Unless De Bruyne plays a Muller sort of role i don't see where he fits in. I can't see where Silva honestly plays and same for Nasri. I can see Sterling maybe playing on the right where Coman was playing. He doesn't have the ability to play on the left and play the diagnoal with any form of consistency just yet (maybe he will).
Defensively, Otamendi and Kompany are both better than what they have. Even Mangala isn't much worse. Based on last night this is what i can honestly see..
--------------------------Hart------------------------
--------------Kompany--------Otamendi----------
New RB-----------------Yaya-------------------New LB
------------------------Fernandinho-------------------
----Sterling-----------------------------------New Winger
-------------------De Bruyne------------------------------
--------------------------Aguero------------------------
With the biggest remaining question mark being over Sterling and De Bruyne and how suited they would both be. Given what we have paid for them, i can see this sort of formation being tried for a while. I sadly can't really see where Silva plays which is gutting.
Anybody else watch the game and see where they think he could play?
EDIT: I might try and do this type of analysis for Bayern's remaining games (when possible).
Firstly Neuer was obviously in goal, and he was a total calamity last night. He cost them one goal and should have cost them another one (which was disallowed). He's a great shot stopper and is very commanding but he also causes problems with how much he interferes with the actual game. His kicking and his distribution last night looked fairly average, which is most people's worry with Hart.
They played with a back four, although both full backs were more in line with Alonso. Kimmich and Benatia were the two centre backs, and both were awful. Kimmich is a midfielder really and Benatia is never in a millon years good enough to play for Bayern. Having said that, Juve countered brilliantly. They were flanked by Lahm and Alaba. Alaba had a shocker, getting caught on the ball a lot, but in the second half he ended playing centre back for a while when Alonso came off for Coman. Despite his bad game, Alaba is a level or two above what we have. Lahm was steady and obviously has a great brain on him.
In line with the advanced full backs was Alonso who almost slotted into the back 2 to make a 3. He had an ineffective game and was replaced. From our current squad, only Yaya could really offer that he offers, but he might not have the discipline to stay so deep all game. I think it is worth a try though personally.
Ahead of Alonso was Vidal, Muller (centrally) and Ribery and Costa (wide). The closest thing to Vidal in our current set up is probably Fernandinho. They have a lot of similar qualities. Muller is a confusing one because he basically is a forward really. He played behind Lewandowski but he was in the box an awful lot. He almost looks like a number 9 playing in a number 10's position. Maybe De Bruyne can do this for us, or even Yaya. I don't see anybody else carrying a big enough goal threat to do it.
Out wide is where it was interesting and it made me realise we are a million miles behind what they have. Costa, Ribery, Coman and Robben are all top drawer. Last night it was Costa and Ribery to begin with. They just have abilities that we don't have. They played as inverted wingers so they cut in, but rather than cut in and shoot (Costa still did that) they tended to cut in and play a diagonal. They did this time and time again. When they crossed the ball, they absolutely fizzed it at head height. Nobody in our current set up has that ability, nor do any of the wide players have the combination of the technical ability, explosiveness and physicality to actually go past an opponent like he isn't there.
When they took off Alonso and changed their shape a little, Coman came on and was exceptional (as he was at the weekend when he got 3 assists against Bremen). He has a diretcness about him that i wish Sterling had (or maybe Sterling would have if he played on the right). Pep put Coman and Costa next to eachother so Coman offered the outside threat, and Costa offered the coming inside threat. It's a far cry from Navas and Sagna fighting for the same space.
Up top, Lewandowski and Aguero, there isn't much difference. Lewandowski is better in the air but Aguero is more explosive.
So in conclusion, i don't think we need as big a clearout as i initially did, but it did leave me scratching my head a bit regarding Sterling, Silva, Nasri and maybe even De Bruyne . Unless De Bruyne plays a Muller sort of role i don't see where he fits in. I can't see where Silva honestly plays and same for Nasri. I can see Sterling maybe playing on the right where Coman was playing. He doesn't have the ability to play on the left and play the diagnoal with any form of consistency just yet (maybe he will).
Defensively, Otamendi and Kompany are both better than what they have. Even Mangala isn't much worse. Based on last night this is what i can honestly see..
--------------------------Hart------------------------
--------------Kompany--------Otamendi----------
New RB-----------------Yaya-------------------New LB
------------------------Fernandinho-------------------
----Sterling-----------------------------------New Winger
-------------------De Bruyne------------------------------
--------------------------Aguero------------------------
With the biggest remaining question mark being over Sterling and De Bruyne and how suited they would both be. Given what we have paid for them, i can see this sort of formation being tried for a while. I sadly can't really see where Silva plays which is gutting.
Anybody else watch the game and see where they think he could play?
EDIT: I might try and do this type of analysis for Bayern's remaining games (when possible).
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