Naah, it happens. I embarrassed myself here more then a few times with this memory thing.

Grade A trolling by Juve fans.

I see Arsenal are quite enjoying themselves against Bayern. 0-2 down in a flash!

Tie over after 20 minutes.

Bayern remind me of Jose's Inter a little. They have more finesse about their play and less strength, but I mean in the sense that they're very direct, strong, have no real weakness and don't rely on a single player. They keep the ball well, work hard, dominate games and as the 2nd goal showed they work on their set peices which can be crucial in 2-legged ties.

I'm actually going to pick them to win it.

I really hope Bayern thrash them, so we won't be alone.

Sadly this made me laugh my @ss off because it's so true!

Worst defending of a corner ever. What was Neuer doing.

Worst defending of a corner ever? Worst corner ever. Even the commentator was saying so, it was non-existent. Wonder what the referees and linesmen smoke before the games, but whatever they do, must be good!

Aye, how on earth was that a corner?!

I seriously want Arsenal to do well here. Can't stand Bayern

1-3, own goal?

No worries, sanity restored with the 3-1. Arsenal really had to bring their AAA game to beat this Bayern. People easily forget how efficient they are, they were in the final last year, can't see them not making it close this season again in the CL, unless they get a really tough tie in the semis.

Taking the game to them on German ground for Arsenal will be really, really tough going.

I'll admit I'm only half paying attention to the game.

Can't blame you. Arsenal were playing lost most of the 90 minutes!

Arsenal's goal proves that Neuer has a looooong way to go before he can truly replace Oli Kahn (not that Kahn was absolutely flawless because no one is). that was beyond bad GK'ing.

I don't follow Bayern too often, but I really liked Mandzukic.

I did as well. Did he take the starting spot from Mario Gomez?

Neuer was absolutely horrible on that "corner". I guess he is similar to Abbiati, great in reflexes but decisions such as when to lunge for the ball.

It would seem so. I think it was a pointless signing in a way, almost as if they didn't need him (why did they need to replace Gomez?) and just bought him so others couldn't.

True, Neuer is just a good keeper, surely does not seem like he has that extra special something that separates players like him from the greats. Buffon, Casillas, Kahn and friends were in a different league altogether. Wonder when we'll see another great goalkeeper, most in the last few years have been just okay.


They replaced Gomez because some doofus in the higher management of Bayern thought that he was not a good player. Basically, they needed someone to put the blame of the final loss, and it was Gomez and Robben who took the fall. And well that Boateng brother too, but he wasn't anywhere near quality, anyway.

His recent career history reads that he played for Man City, Bayern Munich and Germany. On paper that's great, but he's such a crap defender it's unreal.

So very true. Reminds me a bit of Robinho, and how lucky he has been playing for the teams he has!

Wenger didn't shake Heynckes' hand? Poor from Arsene.

If they want to throw away Robben at the end of the season I'd like it if we can catch him in our garbage bag.

Still a class player and if we are to stick with Allegri and the 4-3-3 then why not? It would be great to finally have a real winger who can play on that right side

Aye, wouldn't mind him, we can do a lot worse. The guy still has it in him.


Only problem is that Allegri will not be here come the season's end. Word's gathering pace that he is heading to Roma come season end. Mr. B is really the one that wants him out, and well the man knows he'll rarely get better opportunities than Roma. Wouldn't be too bad seeing him there.

Still he can be useful if we go 4-2-3-1 with another coach. Any word on where the Bayern coach is heading next season. I think he'd be a great signing for us

Agreed, again, he's a pretty good tactician. I'd say great even. You know watching his teams play you get a sense of someone who is in command and knows football inside out. But I'm sure his age and experience has got a lot to do with it. Unlike someone who is experimenting on the pitch and learning (or maybe not) with every match.

No, I'm not talking solely about Allegri, there are a few half-cooked coaches out there in the wild. Bayern's current coach is not one of them, and if we can rope him in, I wouldn't mind that one bit.

Pointless? Gomez is very injury prone, and Bayern just got rid of Petersen. So they were short of one true striker. You see, it's only recently that Gomez came back from a long injury. Also, Mario Madzukic can play as a winger, which gives them even more tactical edge.


You're listing the best keepers, not just now but for the last 2 decades. Sure, Neuer isn't on eyesight and he makes those goofs every now and then but he still hasn't peaked. We'll see, he's 26, still time to get better.

As for the blame...well, I wouldn't say it's undeserved when it comes to Robben. Also, I really don't see how he'd fit in Heynckens system anyway. He's a good sub, and he can bring the extra element in the game. But as a starter he tends to make always the same runs, the same tricks and dribbles and once people noticed this repetition, he gets nervous and disappears.

Boateng didn't take the blame, he actually started this season as a starter, but his poor performances ensured him the bench.

As I said, Gomez was injured. I didn't seem to pick up any blame towards him for the lost final?

Well he did get the blunt edge, as opposed to Robben, but I think the Bayern president or probably someone from the board had some choice words for Gomez. As in labeling him of mediocrity. You can probably dig them up in the media, but the result he lost his starting spot in a flash.

Which still surprises me, considering how good a striker he actually is.

I swear, acid, sometimes you are so one-sided in your arguments. The guy scored 12 goals in 12 games in last season's CL! Only Messi managed to score more. The management didn't have a reason to place any blame on him. He was by far one of their better players. The reason they signed Mandzukic is what Fillipo wrote above, not to mention that Gomez got injured so he was a quality replacement in that regard. There's no need to look more into this.

Bayern president Hoeness: Gomez is good, but not great

Sure, injury also had a part to play in all this. But he is not exactly injured in recent few matches and still starts from the bench. Maybe thing will pick up in coming months, but the vibes I am getting from my Bayern contacts is that they (quite rightly) are devastated to lose the CL final last year after reaching so close.

You don't discard your number one (and one of the most lethal) strikers this way or slack them off in public.

And well considering the amazing form Mario Mandžukić is in, makes the task all the mode difficult. But Bayern almost always has had an abundance of riches, so let's see who wins this little battle. Sad thing is we are so broke, we can't even make a realistic offer to bring Gomez here, even if his time at Bayern was up.

Bayern are Europe's best team right now.

Well, he lost his starting place because he was injured for months and out. Then Madžukić (or Mandžo) came in and started scoring like hell. Now he's Bundesligas top scorer among with Müller and Kießling, so bringing in Gomez wouldn't be exactly fair. The thing is, Madžukić is working much more, he's kind of a striker that makes Allegri's wet dreams.


It's a thing of mentality. As I said earlier, something isn't right with Germany and Bayern. They lost all semi-final and final matches, many of the to inferior teams. They started inheriting a bad mentality.

To blame Robben isn't exactly unfair. The man did miss TWO crucial penalties, one in the final and one against Dortmund. Maybe Gomez is partly as well to blame for the mentality dump? I don't know. But Bayerns management is mostly wise, and I trust their decisions.

And one more thing: in Germany everyone is mentioning Lewandowski's possible Bayern move. This would really mean Gomez is leaving.

Galatasaray - Schalke tonight

True, and true, Fillipo. I'd only like to add one thing that this Gomez criticism was not taken well in Germany, with many former players and even media were up in arms with that comment, which essentially made Gomez Europe's best unwanted striker. And I agree, his time could well be up in Bayern soon.

Pity, I really wanted to see him here, but as said above, nil chance of that happening.

Is Alex Sandro a consistently good player?

So there is a tred for CL finals with year ending in a 3, Kurt inspired statistic;

1963: (Milan 2-1 Benfica)
1973: (Ajax 1-0 Juventus)
1983: (Hamburg 1-0 Juventus)
1993: (Marseille 1-0 Milan)
2003: (Milan - Juventus) Milan wins on penalties

2013: What is your say people

No Ambrosini but Marchisio? Typical UEFA, very politically correct lineup.

Let's wait and see. Hopefully we'll be the ones maintaining the trend.

I think Juve have the better chance this season. Despite what we achieved I think people are running with it too much now.

It doesn't mean I think Juve are close to being good enough to win it, they are far away from teams like Bayern, Man U, Real, Barca, etc. But if they get a bit of luck on the draw then they have a very good shot at it. Although their recent and past history indicates that they'll choke in the final anyways, so no worries


I'm surprised they picked Abate instead of a more glamorous name like Alvez/Lahm/etc

No Rooney in the starting line up?

Looks like a clever move so far.

Put him instead of Nani or Giggs and they are in a better position IMO.

Ramos