Bayern Munich vs. FC Barcelona, 4-0

[flywoman]

Was it Robbery or were we just Mannschafted?

Full disclosure: Between work and lousy livestreams, I only got to watch bits and pieces of the match. I managed to miss all four goals, although I hear rumors that one, possibly more, should have been ruled offside. I also read something about two penalties not given, although I don't know whether they would have been in our favor or not. What I did see was hard pressing by Bayern, very little penetration by our forwards, including Messi playing as a false 9 when clearly neither Alexis nor Pedro was going to provide a goal, and Jordi Alba losing his shit and throwing the ball in Robben's face. So those of you who actually caught the action, wtf happened out there? And can I blame Pique's hair?

Comments

[bleeding-dry.livejournal.com]

Forget all the refereeing controversies: Bayern outplayed us by far and deserved a massive scoreline. I'm still too depressed about the match to try an explanation, but we were just poor all over. Messi wasn't ready, I don't know why Alexis played, I don't know why Tito forgot to sub, Dani's defense duties were a liability again. But aside from all that, Bayern played a great match and contributed in no small measure to the depressive picture we gave.

Let me look for a bright side... Oh, I think Bartra played well. In defense - he got nervous the two times he got into a scoring position, but you can hardly demand that he scores.

And sure, blame Piqué's lack of hair, but I'd say it was thew non-hair *with* the beard. That's just weird, Gerard, you're gonna scare the baby.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

I definitely got the impression that they outplayed us. I figured that Messi would insist on playing before he was fully recovered, and I'd say that it hurt us except that I'm not sure that anyone else would have done better (ditto Tito's conspicuous failure to sub).

Bartra has great potential, and yeah, it's hardly fair to demand that he score as well as defend. I'm glad that he played well.

I agree, the combination is just frightening.

Ah well, if Madrid make it to the final, they are going to get hammered.

[cuddyclothes.livejournal.com]

In that picture, Messi is clearly stressing over Pique's hair. He has that "seriously, what was that dude even THINKING?" look.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Pique went with a shaved head and week's growth of beard. He looked gruesome.

I think that this shot might have been taken near the end of the match. Messi looked like he might start blubbering, like he did at last year's semifinal against Chelsea, but he managed to hold it together until he got past the cameras.

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

Only comfort I can take is people respect us enough to say 'it'll be hard to come back from'; anyone else I think they'd have completely written them off after the second goal.

The (second?) goal was clearly offside, and another shouldn't have stood due to blatant foul. The other two were set pieces and we're midgets, so wasn't exactly hoping for the best.
I'm mostly just angry/disappointed Barca didn't get the shit together for 2 seconds to at least score once. You could see our defence was ropy, and Messi was off the place/out of place.

Killer Squirrel gone wild amused me more than it should; can understand the frustration but seriously. Xavi needs to give master classes in being sassy to people a foot taller than you.

I'm totally blaming Pique's hair situation, just wtf.

Overall I'm just going to pretend that never happened.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

I don't believe for a second that we can come back for this, even if we were able to pull 4-0 out of our butts against AC Milan. With Messi obviously still unfit and our defense in shambles, Bayern was, is, and will be playing *much* better, refereeing decisions aside. And I hope that this result finally forces the board and coaching staff to wake up and make some changes.

I'm not asking to throw out half the team and start over, but these are my thoughts: Pique is simply not consistent enough to be our starting centerback - we should sign a new one, with a balance of fitness and experience, and pair him with Bartra, leaving Puyol/Pique as alternates. Pedro and Alexis have great worth ethics but cannot be relied upon to shoot. Let's get a new striker - and I'm not thinking of Neymar - who can play as a true 9 in front of Messi or on the right wing. Alexis would be better as a right attacking midfielder who can advance to cross in or track back to defend, without being expected to score.

Also, the more I think about it, the angrier I am that Tito didn't make substitutions earlier in the match. Villa or Cesc should have gone on for Messi as soon as it became clear that he wasn't 100%. Abidal or Mascherano should have replaced Pique. By the time Villa was played, it was far too late.

Although, yes, what I read was that the second goal was offside and the third resulted from a blatant foul on Jordi Alba by Muller that allowed Robben to get by and score. Hence the childish reaction. Now we won't even have Jordi for the return leg. He needs to curb that temper if he's going to play for Barcelona. It's okay to sass up at people, but it's not okay to vent your frustration through physical assault. (I guess I should be glad that he didn't bite anyone.)

I don't know what was uglier, Pique's hair or his performance.

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

Yes, all very true that.

It's inevitable we will need another defender as Puyi isn't getting any younger (missed him so much). Pique has been better this season overall, but yeah not consistent. Barta is good but so young, he had a clean shot at goal and choked (not that baby leftbacks get in that bind too often).

I really don't understand all this fuss about Neymar. He might be good, but that's a crap tonne of money and we already have the world's best striker.
Have long though Torres might be good for us, there was also talk of Aguero (who meets the maximum height requirement ;)).

Exactly, isn't the definition of insanity doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different outcome.
I think Masche was suspended but I'm surprised they didn't play Abi; no reason not to in the second leg as he will have been rested.
Messi probably shouldn't have started, given his fitness and him as an impact sub was effective against PSG.

I did notice Alexis played better when he was further back and feeding the ball to others; has potential, because y'know we need more midfielders.

Suppose we'll have to play Tello then.
No vampires for us, there is that as a small comfort yes.

The hair, for sure.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

Puyi is the boss, but yeah, getting older/slower and can't be expected to play every match even when he hasn't just had surgery. I didn't see Bartra's chance but I did hear that he had missed a good one.

I honestly feel like the Neymar thing is hype, not a good solution for us. Why not recruit someone from Argentina who already plays well with Messi? Kun, sure, or even Higuain could probably be recruited if we don't insist on the max height requirement!

Was Masche suspended? I didn't see that when I was reading up on the pre-match stuff. I'm guessing that Abi was tired after playing 90 min over the weekend, but he probably still could have been subbed in. I really don't think that Messi should have started. Once he was, he shouldn't have finished.

Yeah, constant midfielder shortage here at Barcelona ;).

Tello is fast but still young/inexperienced, so it's a trade off. I do think that it's good that he's been getting more playing time lately.

ITA, the hair was awful.

[sageharper.livejournal.com]

I do love Puyi and understand his work ethic, but it's not really fair on anyone to expect him (even in full health) to still be the player he was at 22.
You didn't miss anything much, just a whole lot of pain.

Me too, we've bought and sold on too many overhyped forwards. Someone Argentina does make sense then.

Eh can't remember now.
It would have made more sense for Abi to have played 45 mins of each game to ease him into it.

It's not the worst problem to have, you have to admit. They should start double stacking them then, ready for set pieces.
Masche was a midfielder once, so there's always scope for 'rehabilitating' them.

True, he's coming along ok. But then 'get up the pitch, give the ball to Messi' only really works if y'know Messi is in fit state to shoot.

It was the fact he kept a full beard that made it even worse.

[elizaberglund.livejournal.com]

the only thing that would make this better would be Borussia winning today.

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

That *would* make it better. But I also wouldn't mind seeing Madrid get clobbered by Bayern in the finals.

Are you planning to watch the match today?

[elizaberglund.livejournal.com]

I wouldn't mind seeing Bayern getting clobbered by Borussia in the final after sending Real out in teh semis.

I hope I will be able to, but my boys are crazily bad today

[jezziejay.livejournal.com]

Eeek! I caught the last twenty or so minutes of this. What I did see was pretty brutal. On the bright side, it made me think of you.

Pique went with a shaved head and week's growth of beard. He looked gruesome. I can't say I noticed, but I wish I had...that would kind of work for me ;)

[flywoman.livejournal.com]

I don't like extra short hair/bald heads or facial hair, so it really didn't work for me!