DLew On Roids said:
That's what my "reinverting the pyramid" comment was referencing.
Pep has become kind of a mad scientist at Bayern, which has made him a much more interesting figure in my view.
Bayern 2014-2015: Storming Through Half the Rückrunde
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That's what my "reinverting the pyramid" comment was referencing.
Pep has become kind of a mad scientist at Bayern, which has made him a much more interesting figure in my view.
From Bayern's visit to Oktoberfest yesterday. This may be the most German-looking family photo in existence:
Thiago has torn his ACL, again, and he will go under the knife again. Tough injury for a talented young player, and tough injury for Bayern.
bosox4283 said:
I guess I agree that it's tough for Bayern, but honestly, this guy has been healthy for approximately 37 total hours since he joined the club. It's terribly shitty luck for him, but if they were actually counting on him for anything in the near future, they were fools. How many times has he reaggravated this same knee in the last year? Three? Four?
A few days late with this, but this is what Michael Cox had Bayern's formation as against Roma:
It obviously worked out for them since they won 7-1, but that's mighty interesting to say the least. It's basically a 4-3-3 tilted thirty degrees to the right.
It obviously worked out for them since they won 7-1, but that's mighty interesting to say the least. It's basically a 4-3-3 tilted thirty degrees to the right.
My Arsenal fan side wants to see both of them upset in the R16 but my soccer geek side really, really wants to see Bayern-Chelsea this spring.
Missed the Bundesliga this weekend? Check some skills:
http://amp.twimg.com/v/d9ccbe85-d977-4a21-84f3-f21f86e6eed6
http://amp.twimg.com/v/d9ccbe85-d977-4a21-84f3-f21f86e6eed6
Lahm apparently collapsed screaming in training this morning and had to be taken off on a cart and carried inside by trainers. No official diagnosis yet but it's probably terrible.
Here's a sentence you don't read very often: Schweinsteiger is fit. Came on for 15 minutes vs. Hoffenheim today and got an assist on the fourth goal.
In other BL news, this happened to Marco Reus' ankle again today:
In other BL news, this happened to Marco Reus' ankle again today:
Several sources are claiming that tomorrow Bayern will announce the signing of Martin Odegaard, the Norwegian kid that every big club has been chasing. He has also visited Real, Liverpool, City, United, and Arsenal as far as I know. He turns 16 tomorrow and will be then eligible to sign a professional contract.
http://www.dw.de/was-reus-driving-with-a-fake-dutch-license/a-18141343
Marco Reus (25yo) drove 7 years without a license. He had some hours with a driving teacher when he was 18-19years old, but didn´t try to get his license. So he got a fake one from the Netherlands when he played in Mönchengladbach, which isn´t far from Holland. He was caught five times (i wonder how that´s possible to not get caught with no license) speeding and then got caught this march with the fake drivers license. I mean, there were thousands of pics in the papers and the internet of him hopping in his Aston Martin or his huge Jeep.
So, Dortmund now says, he made a mistake. They try to lower the huge media waves (he has to pay 540.000 euros, which is 90days of his wage), which is understandable. The fans are saying, it was criminal behaviour and not just a mistake and dumb. He´s compared to Hoeness and a normal guy like me and you would now have a criminal record for this behaviour. But not in this case. Nobody´s really complaining much, because Reus was always a reluctant and well-behaving guy in the media. But this is really showing that he got a favorable treatment here..
A lot of people in the social media are calling for the DFB to take a stand and kick him off the german national team for an extended period. As he isn´t in great physical shape at the moment, i don´t see a big problem in this at all. He could take a(nother) year off the german team and someday find his physical shape. DFB will go on as it did in the last year, without him. He may have a chance to earn a roster spot for Euro16, time will tell. What Dortmund will do with him, i don´t know, either let him pay another sum, sit him a few weeks, let him do some social work or nothing at all...But whatever they (BVB) will do, it will probably affect his decision to stay/go next summer a lot. Maybe Bayern already is thinking they don´t want another (semi-)criminal, as Hoeness will be back sometime soon and won´t buy him next summer. We will see...
Marco Reus (25yo) drove 7 years without a license. He had some hours with a driving teacher when he was 18-19years old, but didn´t try to get his license. So he got a fake one from the Netherlands when he played in Mönchengladbach, which isn´t far from Holland. He was caught five times (i wonder how that´s possible to not get caught with no license) speeding and then got caught this march with the fake drivers license. I mean, there were thousands of pics in the papers and the internet of him hopping in his Aston Martin or his huge Jeep.
So, Dortmund now says, he made a mistake. They try to lower the huge media waves (he has to pay 540.000 euros, which is 90days of his wage), which is understandable. The fans are saying, it was criminal behaviour and not just a mistake and dumb. He´s compared to Hoeness and a normal guy like me and you would now have a criminal record for this behaviour. But not in this case. Nobody´s really complaining much, because Reus was always a reluctant and well-behaving guy in the media. But this is really showing that he got a favorable treatment here..
A lot of people in the social media are calling for the DFB to take a stand and kick him off the german national team for an extended period. As he isn´t in great physical shape at the moment, i don´t see a big problem in this at all. He could take a(nother) year off the german team and someday find his physical shape. DFB will go on as it did in the last year, without him. He may have a chance to earn a roster spot for Euro16, time will tell. What Dortmund will do with him, i don´t know, either let him pay another sum, sit him a few weeks, let him do some social work or nothing at all...But whatever they (BVB) will do, it will probably affect his decision to stay/go next summer a lot. Maybe Bayern already is thinking they don´t want another (semi-)criminal, as Hoeness will be back sometime soon and won´t buy him next summer. We will see...
Schnerres said:
I doubt whatever BVB does over the driver's license scandal will affect his decision to stay or go nearly as much as the fact that barring an absolute miracle, there will be no CL football in Dortmund next season. The way they're going, they may need to win the DFB Pokal to even get an EL spot. Heck, right now they're in the relegation zone. I cannot see Reus hanging around for that.
As for Bayern's interest, well, they're inviting Hoeness back, they stood by Ribery through his underage prostitute mess, and Breno the arsonist was working for them all year on day release until he was deported yesterday. So they don't appear to be put off by criminals.
Of course, if he leaves, it will be because they may not play international football.
But the interest in him from other clubs will definitely be lower because of his injuries and this (half-criminal) act. Imagine you come to Real as a world champion, proven player from a top club (Kroos) or you come over with half the matches played in the last two seasons, almost no national team matches, a missed world cup experience, that 540.000 € payment because of the non-existant drivers license. The standing you have at other clubs is not just a lot different, this would be from a different planet, going to a team like Bayern and sitting on the bench behind Götze/Müller/Robben, etc., because Pep isn´t Klopp and you´re now only one of 22 and not at your home team (he came through Dortmunds youth stable until he was about 15 and was born in Dortmund, too) anymore.
And however Dortmund, Klopp, Watzke and Zorc behave in this act will be a chance for them to keep Reus. If he stays, this could be a chance for them. If he leaves, he leaves. But if they stick to him and play a decent 2015, he could be staying. The guy is totally broken down, one year full of injuries, Dortmund plays the worst 17matches in their history and this private bullshit is now out in the press. I don´t think he has a lot of interest to go to Rummenigge and say "Hey Kalle, let´s buy me in the summer" and create even more drama.
But the interest in him from other clubs will definitely be lower because of his injuries and this (half-criminal) act. Imagine you come to Real as a world champion, proven player from a top club (Kroos) or you come over with half the matches played in the last two seasons, almost no national team matches, a missed world cup experience, that 540.000 € payment because of the non-existant drivers license. The standing you have at other clubs is not just a lot different, this would be from a different planet, going to a team like Bayern and sitting on the bench behind Götze/Müller/Robben, etc., because Pep isn´t Klopp and you´re now only one of 22 and not at your home team (he came through Dortmunds youth stable until he was about 15 and was born in Dortmund, too) anymore.
And however Dortmund, Klopp, Watzke and Zorc behave in this act will be a chance for them to keep Reus. If he stays, this could be a chance for them. If he leaves, he leaves. But if they stick to him and play a decent 2015, he could be staying. The guy is totally broken down, one year full of injuries, Dortmund plays the worst 17matches in their history and this private bullshit is now out in the press. I don´t think he has a lot of interest to go to Rummenigge and say "Hey Kalle, let´s buy me in the summer" and create even more drama.
Not really Bayern news, but since there's no other Bundesliga thread: 20-year-old Wolfsburg MF Junior Malanda killed in car crash this afternoon
He was a passenger in a car that spun out on the Autobahn in the rain, went through a guardrail, and flipped down an embankment into a tree. Malanda was thrown from the backseat (likely not wearing a seat belt) and killed instantly. He was a promising player for both Wolfsburg and Belgium. RIP.
The accident scene. This used to be a VW Touareg:
He was a passenger in a car that spun out on the Autobahn in the rain, went through a guardrail, and flipped down an embankment into a tree. Malanda was thrown from the backseat (likely not wearing a seat belt) and killed instantly. He was a promising player for both Wolfsburg and Belgium. RIP.
The accident scene. This used to be a VW Touareg:
I assume this is also what Ribery wears when he goes looking for very young ladies of a certain persuasion.
Tonights starting match:
Wolfsburg(2nd) vs Bayern(1st).
Probable lineups:
Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Jung, Naldo, Knoche, Rodriguez - Luiz Gustavo, Arnold - Vieirinha, de Bruyne, Perisic - Dost.
Bayern: Neuer - Rode, Boateng, Dante, Bernat - Xabi Alonso, Schweini - Robben, Müller, Götze - Lewandowski.
This match is a hard test for Bayern to start the Rückrunde and it may be the biggest chance to lose another match this season. Although we have to admit: when they are focused, they aren´t losing matches in the Bundesliga, it´s more mental slips when they are losing to dangerous mid-table teams like Frankfurt or Mainz in the last years, i think.
The match won´t have a traditional minute of silence for Junior Malanda: According to VfL boss Allofs, the team wants to continue where the funeral service in Belgium stopped and they are planning a minute of clapping for the always happy player. The fans are also planning some choreographies.
Wolfsburg(2nd) vs Bayern(1st).
Probable lineups:
Wolfsburg: Benaglio - Jung, Naldo, Knoche, Rodriguez - Luiz Gustavo, Arnold - Vieirinha, de Bruyne, Perisic - Dost.
Bayern: Neuer - Rode, Boateng, Dante, Bernat - Xabi Alonso, Schweini - Robben, Müller, Götze - Lewandowski.
This match is a hard test for Bayern to start the Rückrunde and it may be the biggest chance to lose another match this season. Although we have to admit: when they are focused, they aren´t losing matches in the Bundesliga, it´s more mental slips when they are losing to dangerous mid-table teams like Frankfurt or Mainz in the last years, i think.
The match won´t have a traditional minute of silence for Junior Malanda: According to VfL boss Allofs, the team wants to continue where the funeral service in Belgium stopped and they are planning a minute of clapping for the always happy player. The fans are also planning some choreographies.
1-0 Wolfsburg, beautiful attacking sequence!
Edit: 4th min, attack through the right wing, perfect pass into the 4-man-defense of Bayern from Daniel Caligiuri, then de Bruyne already had the chance to shoot it but laid it perfect for Bas Dost who shot it into the far corner with no chance for Neuer.
Edit: 4th min, attack through the right wing, perfect pass into the 4-man-defense of Bayern from Daniel Caligiuri, then de Bruyne already had the chance to shoot it but laid it perfect for Bas Dost who shot it into the far corner with no chance for Neuer.
Half an hour played, Bayern dominating possession as usual. Wolfsburg is holding tight on defense and playing forward with high speed. They are also generating chances, better shots than Bayern, who aren´t showing much creativity (best chances are shots from 15-25 meters).
One hour to play is a long time against Bayern, so we´ll see if they can hold or better add another one.
One hour to play is a long time against Bayern, so we´ll see if they can hold or better add another one.
Foul from Dante, free-kick in first half-extra time. Reporter says Wolfsburg is dangerous from set pieces with 11 goals, Pep obviously had a great idea about that. Bayern defended it aggressive 5+meters in front of the box.
Long ball into the box, Lewandowski wins the header vs. Knoche, ball drops to the box, where Bas Dost shoots it into the top far corner. Again no chance for Neuer and it´s 2-0 Wolfsburg with the whistle.
Long ball into the box, Lewandowski wins the header vs. Knoche, ball drops to the box, where Bas Dost shoots it into the top far corner. Again no chance for Neuer and it´s 2-0 Wolfsburg with the whistle.
Dost loves making me look dumb, here's his second goal: http://gfycat.com/UniqueWebbedAldabratortoise
Guys, you're supposed to start putting on a shitshow about midway through the Ruckrunde, not right at the restart. Feh.
#tangagate (=thonggate) @Bayern:
http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/mitchell-weiser/alaba-weiser-loescht-verrueckten-nackt-selfie-39704822.bild.html
Bayern youngster Mitchell Weiser loaded a pic up to Instagram showing himself and Bayern ace David Alaba only in thongs (see pics above).
The pics are now deleted. It started when someone from the team took a pic from David Alaba while he was sleeping (in the plane i guess) and held a beer bottle in front of him. Alaba posted it with the hashtag #photoiwouldneverpost and challenged several other guys to do their own version (including Mario Götze, austian ski star Marcel Hirscher and...Mitchell Weiser). Weiser did the pic with Alaba in the photo and uploaded it to his own Instagram account...it´s now deleted, but the damage was done
(If you wonder who the hairy grizzlies in the link above are: it´s Uli Hoeness and Paul Breitner in a bathing shorts shooting, anno about 1975.. :blink: )
http://www.bild.de/sport/fussball/mitchell-weiser/alaba-weiser-loescht-verrueckten-nackt-selfie-39704822.bild.html
Bayern youngster Mitchell Weiser loaded a pic up to Instagram showing himself and Bayern ace David Alaba only in thongs (see pics above).
The pics are now deleted. It started when someone from the team took a pic from David Alaba while he was sleeping (in the plane i guess) and held a beer bottle in front of him. Alaba posted it with the hashtag #photoiwouldneverpost and challenged several other guys to do their own version (including Mario Götze, austian ski star Marcel Hirscher and...Mitchell Weiser). Weiser did the pic with Alaba in the photo and uploaded it to his own Instagram account...it´s now deleted, but the damage was done
(If you wonder who the hairy grizzlies in the link above are: it´s Uli Hoeness and Paul Breitner in a bathing shorts shooting, anno about 1975.. :blink: )
Thiago got his first minutes of the last year vs. BVB yesterday, coming on for Lahm (who had his first start since early November and looked predictably rusty) in the 69th minute. However, David Alaba tore his MCL with Austria over the international break and will miss the rest of the season, which is a huge loss at exactly the wrong time. One step forward, one step back.
With the win against Dortmund, they got the Bundesliga title now probably wrapped up (10-point lead, 7 to play). The decisive thing is to stay on a roll (other than last year, when they lost a step and dropped out vs.Real in CL) and keep everyone in great form. With the comeback of Thiago, Pep got a good option back for the midfield. This was a problem in some matches, where you could see Schweinsteiger + Alonso in defensive midfield isn´t the perfect solution for the decisive matches. Let´s see how it will work out with Thiago and how his body will hold up.
The problem is the loss of Alaba. As it seems, in an optimal world he could come back in 7 weeks and can play in possible DFB cup and Uefa CL finals. Bayern has tons of options in midfield, but for someone like Alaba, there is no equivalent option to replace him. They could play with 3 CBs or Pep could decide to play Juan Bernat there, who is the closest thing to what David Alaba offers as a fullback. Bernat is also world-class, but more defensive-minded with less forward-running attacks as Alaba and less wing-play in combination with Ribery or Götze or whoever plays on the left side.
In the long run this season shows that Bayern needs to look for some replacement for the wings. Sure, they have Müller and Götze who can play everywhere, if Robben and Ribery aren´t there anymore (which seems to be closer than some might think), but there should be some big transfer coming. Both aren´t made like the RibRob duo, who can create of their own when thei´re dribbling with the ball on their feet and one of even two defenders in front of them. With Bayern having the ball for 70% of match-time in many games, this dribbling-skill is a valuable asset and Götze and Müller are very good finishers, but those high-paced runs that both Ribery and especially Robben offer aren´t seen as often as with the aging stars.
The problem is the loss of Alaba. As it seems, in an optimal world he could come back in 7 weeks and can play in possible DFB cup and Uefa CL finals. Bayern has tons of options in midfield, but for someone like Alaba, there is no equivalent option to replace him. They could play with 3 CBs or Pep could decide to play Juan Bernat there, who is the closest thing to what David Alaba offers as a fullback. Bernat is also world-class, but more defensive-minded with less forward-running attacks as Alaba and less wing-play in combination with Ribery or Götze or whoever plays on the left side.
In the long run this season shows that Bayern needs to look for some replacement for the wings. Sure, they have Müller and Götze who can play everywhere, if Robben and Ribery aren´t there anymore (which seems to be closer than some might think), but there should be some big transfer coming. Both aren´t made like the RibRob duo, who can create of their own when thei´re dribbling with the ball on their feet and one of even two defenders in front of them. With Bayern having the ball for 70% of match-time in many games, this dribbling-skill is a valuable asset and Götze and Müller are very good finishers, but those high-paced runs that both Ribery and especially Robben offer aren´t seen as often as with the aging stars.
Huge loss as Lewandoski broke his jaw in the German Cup last night. If Ribery, Robben, and Lewandoski are all out for UCL, how will Pep adjust?
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