[FONT=Calibri]I’ve been offered a corporate ticket to the game by a customer this morning. I must be an afterthought or a back-up option to only get the nod 48 hours before the game. Fuck them, I’m going to the Scottish Cup Final this weekend anyway.[/FONT]
Dead right mate, with those fucking Germans in town and members of the rap community going mental with cleavers combined with the EDL it could get propa nawty in blighty this weekend.
Could you not combine both, Bandage?
Also Bandage, please post your itinerary for Sunday as some of the lads are a bit worried you will miss the Coppa Italia final.
This is a trap bandage, do no such thing.
When have I ever let you down, Bandage?
[FONT=Calibri]I’m afraid not, Bomber. It doesn’t work for me logistically. However, my man has returned with an offer for the Ireland game next Wednesday instead. Negotiations are now underway. [/FONT]
I can confirm that I won’t be watching the Coppa Italia Final as I’ll be getting locked after Celtic’s 3-1 victory.
Spox (a German sports website) has a couple of excellent tactical preview articles on the final. The standard google translated text isn’t great so I’ll just post the images here where they analyse some typical phases from the last competitive Bayern-Dortmund game (so it’s really an analysis of Bayern’s superiority that day).
[SIZE=5]1. Bayern’s Positioning[/SIZE]
Often chosen against BVB: An enormous range in Bayern’s offensive game. Robben (circle below) and Müller (upper circle) like to stick as a winger entirely on the sidelines.
Lahm (circle) shifts very high as full-back and is more offensive than the midfield triangle Kroos, Schweinsteiger and Martinez.
Schweinsteiger (circle) can fall between the central defenders
Alaba gets pressure from the side, but then plays centrally to Kroos. He is relatively unchallenged there because the Bavarians have shifted from right to left and BVB have been pulled wide apart.
BVB surround Kroos. Robben (below) immediately makes a deep run, Kroos looks for Martinez, which then opens up the gap for the ball through to the incoming Robben.
[SIZE=5]2. Bayern’s Pressing[/SIZE]
http://www.spox.com/de/sport/diashows/1305/champions-league/bayern-finale-taktik/gegenpressing/400/bayern-gegenpressing-1_400x230.jpg
Kroos (circle) tries to switch flanks to Müller, because BVB is very well positioned in the center with seven players.
http://www.spox.com/de/sport/diashows/1305/champions-league/bayern-finale-taktik/gegenpressing/400/bayern-gegenpressing-2_400x230.jpg
The ball strikes Bender’s knee and falls to Dortmund. All Bayern players are still relatively far away from the ball, all the BVB players behind the ball
http://www.spox.com/de/sport/diashows/1305/champions-league/bayern-finale-taktik/gegenpressing/400/bayern-gegenpressing-3_400x230.jpg
Now it goes fast: Gundogan (circle) takes the ball. Kroos Martinez and attack from the front, Müller also runs from right off the bat.
http://www.spox.com/de/sport/diashows/1305/champions-league/bayern-finale-taktik/gegenpressing/400/bayern-gegenpressing-4_400x230.jpg
Gundogan plays a dirty slipped pass to Grosskreutz, who is immediately put under pressure by Martinez. Neither he nor Gundogan before has a possible forward pass.
http://www.spox.com/de/sport/diashows/1305/champions-league/bayern-finale-taktik/gegenpressing/400/bayern-gegenpressing-5_400x230.jpg
Grosskreutz flicks the ball away to Bender, there are only two pass options. The three Bayern players hold a total of eight BVB players in check.
http://www.spox.com/de/sport/diashows/1305/champions-league/bayern-finale-taktik/gegenpressing/400/bayern-gegenpressing-6_400x230.jpg
Bender plays the ball out to Schmelzer, because even the back pass to Santana would have meant pressure. Müller attacked Schmelzer, whose only option is just a long kick forward - there the Bavarians can restart without problems.
[SIZE=5]3. Mandzukic manages space and time[/SIZE]
BVB has the ball on the left Mandzukic (circle) does not move to the ball, but remains in position in the center. He covers the space to the side and behind (rectangle) and could also cover Subotic (bottom left).
Dortmund played the ball out to central defender Santana. Gundogan drops back to this depth. Mandzukic (circle) moves only a few feet forward, but remains in the center and could thus attack Gundogan or Subotic.
Santana plays the ball into the contested central area because Mandzukic’s positioning makes the other balltoo risky. He can now take up Gundogan or remain in free space.
Grosskreutz has played a short ball to Reus, who has Schweinsteiger in close proximity. Now Mandzukic injects his pace and runs at the ball carrier from the other side.
Reus played the ball over to Piszczek. BVB still knows how to switch sides quickly via 3 players. Mandzukic makes tracks at Piszczek.
The Croatian tackles and won a throw-in for Bayern.
[SIZE=5]4. Martinez: The Traps[/SIZE]
Piszczek (small circle) is coming onto the ball. Bayern ignore early pressing - or so it appears. Martinez (large circle) is only used in space, and lurking.
The Spaniard makes a few sidesteps, but always keeps Piszczek in view. The full back could now use the free space in front of him, because Robben (circle) stays away further.
Martinez has absolutely no pace in his actions, strolling almost apathetically. Piszczek interpreted this wrongly and wants to play the pass to Grosskreutz. At this moment Martinez tempo changes with the direction …
The Spaniard can spring the trap and goes tackling (circle). Now momentum is suddenly in debate. A safe ball for BVB is a 50-50 situation.
Martinez tackles Grosskreutz off the ball and initiates the counter-attack. Three Bayern players embark upon an immediate assault on the enemy target.
[SIZE=5]5. Dortmund’s Defensive Construct and its Vulnerability[/SIZE]
In the Cup quarter-finals BVB employed a midfield against Bayern with Gotze and Reus on the wings and a triple “6” with Grosskreutz, Bender and Gundogan
From this basic grouping players ran out every now and again (like here Gundogan) to confront the ball carrier
From the basic system of BVB they adopted their usual defensive approach: pushing the opponent to the outer edges and confronting them there. In the picture both central defenders (circles) are adjusting to the ball, Robben is confronted by three players
The near side (below the lines) is occupied by the black and yellows. The far side is three Bayern against three BVB players par. FCB plays the ball from the compressed zone …
The crucial error is now: Dante (large circle) has no pressure and will retain the option of the diagonal ball. Grosskreutz (small circle) has not anticipated the opposite sprint motion of three Bayern players.
Dortmund’s midfield is outplayed by a relatively simple ball, the left central defender Santana is too far away from Schmelzer, who has come to the ball against two Bayern players
Schweinsteiger and Muller (by a hair’s breadth) can not get to the ball. Schmelzer and Santana would not have been able to intervene.
[SIZE=5]6. Passing Game with Weidenfeller and Subotic[/SIZE]
Too often seen in the Dortmund game structure: keeper Weidenfeller has enough time; Piszczek (below) urges calm, Subotic and Schmelzer (circles) stood ready. Weidenfeller though chooses the long boot.
Another situation itself Effect: Santana (above) is marked, Subotic and Piszczek both direct themselves immediately forward - no one makes the short trip to offer themselves
Also: 1 Bayern player is enough to force Weidenfeller to hack it. Only Gundogan (above) offers a timid option. Subotic (circle) remains in Mandzukic’s shadow.
The Serb played 17 long passes, but only four short passes. About two thirds of them landed with the opposition. Gotze and Grosskreutz would have been feasible as a passing option. Not for nothing did the Bavarians leave Subotic free as the “Spieleröffner”
[SIZE=5]7. An Incomplete Counterattack[/SIZE]
Perfect starting point for a counterattack. Götze (circle) gets the ball after a Bayern corner kick.Lewandowski and Grosskreutz (below) choose the correct running lines with pace. four Bayern players are far behind the ball
Lewandowski (circle) indicates the pass route, with Lahm dragged away into the central space. Even Grosskreutz on the way to the second post would be a suitable option.
Bayern have at least the center blocked up a little, but are limited in defensive position. Gotze risked the difficult flat pass to Reus, but plays it behind.
The smallest player in the entire scene, Lahm (circle) can intercept the pass effortlessly. He would have been relatively easy to over play. An excellent counterattack situation has ended because of the sloppy negligence of Borussia Dortmund.
The reaction: Klopp is seething.
Another tactical preview: this time it’s a video from Jonathan Wilson, Paulo Sousa and James Richardson. (Recorded before Goetze was confirmed out).
Interesting fact: Dortmund spent less on Pisczezk, Goetze, Gundogan, Bender, Kuba, Lewandowski and Subotic than English teams have spent on Charlie Adam.
Paul Lambert mingling with Borussia Dortmund fans in Trafalgar Square. 
Germany really should have entered this in the Eurovision.
[quote=“Sidney, post: 776680, member: 183”]Paul Lambert mingling with Borussia Dortmund fans in Trafalgar Square.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BLHN9JJCYAASC-N.jpg:large[/quote]
Great to see Gerry Adams backing Dortmund tonight.
[quote=“ChocolateMice, post: 776687, member: 168”]Fighting in London…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgWvCmBxfwQ
[/quote]
When in Rome…
[quote=“Sidney, post: 776680, member: 183”]Paul Lambert mingling with Borussia Dortmund fans in Trafalgar Square.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BLHN9JJCYAASC-N.jpg:large[/quote]
Does he think he is in a wall, defending a free kick?
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Borussia Dortmund (4-2-3-1): Weidenfeller; Piszczek, Subotic, Hummels, Schmelzer; Gundogan, Bender; Blaszczykowski, Reus, Grosskreutz; Lewandowski[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]Bayern Munich (4-2-3-1): Neuer; Lahm, Boateng, Dante, Alaba; Martinez, Schweinsteiger; Robben, Müller, Ribery; Mandzukic[/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial] [/FONT][/SIZE]
[SIZE=13px][FONT=Arial]No real surprises there.[/FONT][/SIZE]
Come on Bayern!!!