The Football Thread

[snowy25]

The problem is that now both German sides have had dubious goals allowed when they were playing at home that has aided them in the Champions League. Tonight there were 2 goals for Bayern and the other week the goal(s) at Dortmund. I think there will be those that see more than there is to see and will be shouting conspiracy and favouritism.

Personally I think its just football and sometimes you get things go your way and others times you don't, its that simple. Barca in the past have had the rub of the green and in this case its been Bayern who had it. Whilst we all bitch and moan sometimes about decisions that don't go our teams way it also is what makes football such a great sport to talk about. After the weekend, or in this case tomorrow, people will be chatting about great goals and dodgy decisions and thats what football does.

[tamsmith]

Originally Posted by m100

mainly from the itv commentators. As is usual when barcelona are on i watched with the sound off as the constant hero worship by itv of barcelona does my head in. However when it became 3-0 i had to listen and i wasn't disappointed they were clearly heartbroken that goal 'simply shouldn't have stood'. If they were as good as itv make out they would have had the trophy for the last four seasons and been unbeaten.

I think I agree. The Spanish clubs time at the top of the tree is starting to finish. Looks like the German clubs are trying to retake top spot. Good luck to them. British clubs are still not in the running.

[Roger Allott]

The 2nd goal was clearly offside, but only on stop-motion replays that the officials of course don't get. So, I'll chalk that one as an understandable error.

The 3rd goal though should never have stood in a million years.

On the flip side, Bayern should have had a penalty in the first half when ... I think it was Pique .... clearly hand-balled in the area to deflect a goal-bound shot for a corner.

Anyone got any thoughts about the amount of water the Bayern ground staff chose to spread on the pitch? My view is that it was a clever bit of gamesmanship, but just on the wrong side on what should be allowable.

[pierrelm]

Originally Posted by Roger Allott

Anyone got any thoughts about the amount of water the Bayern ground staff chose to spread on the pitch? My view is that it was a clever bit of gamesmanship, but just on the wrong side on what should be allowable.

...which the ref should have picked up on before the game started? It reminded me of John Beck during his time at Cambridge when he turned the corners of the pitch into something approaching a beach, so that long balls would stand a better chance of holding up for his players to chase down.

Sorry but it fell on the 'cheating' side of the gamesmanship coin and it I hope UEFA do something about it. Otherwise perfectly good pitches will be doctored to penalise teams that look to play a bit of football, which is patently ludicrous. On the night, it did hinder the passing style that Barca usually exhibit but it looks like BM didn't need to do it anyway? Bayern played very well indeed and it probably went better than they dared hope. Did Barca simply have an off night or, is it another case where it doesn't matter how good the group of players is, the manager is critical - it appears the absence of Pep making them more vulnerable and less inspirational.

A Bayern - Real final could be a VERY 'streetwise' encounter...

[Roger Allott]

Originally Posted by pierrelm

A Bayern - Real final could be a VERY 'streetwise' encounter...

A Bayern - Dortmund final would be intriguing, after the news that Mario Gotze will be transferring from the latter to the former at the end of the season.

Would Dortmund dare to select their star player to oppose his future team-mates??? How would he play? There would be a clear conflict of interests, and I'm not sure how it could resolve itself.

[melk7]

2 questionable goals = 2 clear penalties ( 2 handballs in 16m box)

Germans were way better side last night , Barcelona for few years was the best football team in the world (probably the best ever) but now they are on way down

[buttsie]

Finishing in the top 4 for umpteen consecutive years is hardly what I'd call on the way down

Even when they were dominant they still got knocked out of the semis twice in between their 3 wins...they get knocked out here 2nd year no final

For mine several other teams have worked out how to negate their possession dominance
though one still wonders how they managed to lose to Chelsea last year
- piss poor finishing by the likes of the Arsenal wonderboy Cesc Fabregas.

The last time they truly went off the boil was 2006-2007 / 2007-2008
when they won 1 minor trophy which was quite amazing
given the team they had under Frank Rijkaard.

Best description of a team on the way down in Europe

Man U after 3 finals in 5 years not even being in the latter stages 2 years running
or coming close to winning the consolation Europa competition.

The 2nd leg will be interesting given what they did to A C Milan there

FC Barcelona vs AC Milan 4-0 12/03/2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_72elp6NL4w

[pariser80]

A grandiose performance of Bayern!
But in my opinion Barca this season not the "Superteam", just look the results of the last rounds of Championsleague. Bayern also in Bundesliga a giant.

I think Bayern, like Real and some other teams, all-time one of the best, nobody can win every year. Bayern was the last three years in two finals of Championsleague and this year (Im sure) again. That's more then Barcelona.

But Bayern is the only team in Germany on this high level. BVB has a good team in the moment, but they wont keep it for a long time. Actual Götze goes away, other will follow.

An other point about Bayern in the moment:
Chairman Uli Hoeness with a massive tax problem. He make a voluntary declaration in January and paid 10 Millions Euro. In March there was a detention order, without paying 5 Millions Euro caution, he wouldn't have been in the stadium yesterday.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22262812

[pariser80]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Previous was Mario Gomez Stuttgart to Bayern £26 million

German teams are poor

[pariser80]

Originally Posted by footstep

Gotze to Bayern for 37 millions!

A Scandal.
People in Ruhr Area don't like Bayern Munich (unless they beat Barcelona )
Most people here think he is a traitor. (Also me.) It's normal, if players change, but no-go to go from Schalke or BVB to Bayern. We are all very sad about that news, only hope to win vs Real tonight and killing Bayern in final.

His Facebook and Twitter were closed yesterday, cause there were to much evil postings.