the knives are starting to come out:

"I still can't figure out why Pep has this 'cool as a cucumber' reputation," natters Matt Loten. "He never had to worry about the stress of actually having to compete for titles until Mourinho rocked up at Madrid, and as much as Jose is a master of turning mind games into results, I've never seen a man fall for them as hook, line and sinker as Guardiola. I mean, he had to abscond to New York for a year just to recover!"

The announcers in the Bayern Munich vs. Real Madrid game sound sad.

I don't believe Bayern would sack Pep after this but it will put massive pressure on him next season. But I don't think he can change.

That's very true

this was my fear last year and it came true:

bayerlona

"I've never heard it so silent in here, Allianz Arena is church like"

Not a good night for Pep's reputation, for sure, but it also highlights the frailties of the Bundesliga when a team able to dominate it as much as Bayern have can struggle so much against a team currently placed only 3rd in La Liga.

don't know about places or why teams are where they are, but real madrid is a team of galácticos who man for man are very hard to top anywhere. i'm actually surprised they are 3rd.

and didn't bayern beat barca 4-0 last year?

this really is about the limits of tikitaka and guardiola's refusal to adapt. heynckes figured out a way, but guardiola went backwards and poached gotze instead of beefing up the defense. that was a bonehead move and now bayern is paying.

ps- where the fuck is thiago alcantara and what has he been doing? i just saw a comment. he's the other guardiola acquisition.

ps- knee injury. but another small midfielder! apparently he's essential or something.

madrid are looking very impressive. they will be tough to beat

and that's the 4-0 from last year, returning

Zonal marking's analysis up all ready ...

http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/04/...unter-attacks/

'This individual result doesn’t signify the death of tiki-taka, but as part of a wider picture it’s clear that possession football has become less celebrated, less widespread, and less dominant. But not necessarily less effective – as ever, that depends upon the implementation of the approach, rather than whether it’s being used.'

Real were so good last night. Hoping for a Madrid derby final.

madrid vs. madrid final!

i'm looking forward to seeing that.

jaaaa jaaaaa jaaaa jaaaaaaa

Just home from work and started watching the second half of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City.......all I've seen is shots on goal by Manchester City. They are OWNING Tottenham and I didn't expect that!

Oh well, time to make some breakfast.

That would be West Ham, City play later on today with Everton.

Haha, not every week West Ham get confused with Man City.

Anyway, been a terrible season for us but a double against Spurs always deserves a little dance

Went to watch Albion at the Emirates today, unlucky to not come away with a point.

But what a soulless place the Emirates is, no atmosphere, home support were dreadful. Good showing by the Albion fans as always, could hear them outside the ground.

What's the point of going to watch a game if your not going to get behind your team.

That gentleman has nothing on Jorge Jesus. There’s a good chance he’s on his way to the epl btw(brace yourselves).

18 year old scores a goal in his Man U debut.

Absurd Ronaldo goal from a couple of days ago ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8wUiEmMUAU

It took seeing a couple of replays to work out what he'd done.

that is some fucking bruce lee shit.

that man is a genius. i still hate him, but one has to recognize genius when presented with it.

Twice! And so ends the 'Man Utd in Meltdown' feelgood-factor.

Becks is probably looking to sign Lebron to his theoretical Miami MLS team,
I bet Lebron could play soccer better than at least 50% of the MLS anyway ;)

That is one wicked goal!

Not sure how old this kid is......but he is trolling hard :)

For the first time, a woman has been appointed to coach a men's team of a major European League:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...female-manager

What do you think of Bayern's kit for the next season, signos?

It looks a bit Barcelona-ish. Stage 2 in Pep's plan?

[quote=Cunt]For the first time, a woman has been appointed to coach a men's team of a major European League:
http://www.theguardian.com/world/201...female-manager

i've never heard of her but on that level it's definitely good news


i get it that the bavarian flag has blue in it (a different blue though), and i get it that they used red/blue in the 90s, but considering everything else, and how things are going,

IT'S A TERRIBLE OMEN

this must mean for sure that bayern will have no more tall players on the attack.

They're only selling replica shirts in sizes up to medium.

EDIT: Have you read this? http://www.goal.com/en/news/15/germa...na-beckenbauer

S, XS, XXS

S, XS, XXS and LionelS

my eyes!

Almost enough to inspire a 90s revival ... almost

ha ha! jorge campos!

that was just designed to confuse and inflict pain in the eyes of the opponent, wasn't it?

All very different in the old days of course

http://www.corbisimages.com/images/C...9-c02a2b85a9d4

But what's Savage Clone doing in the front row of a 1922 West Ham team photo?

Guessing Savage avoids this thread......but in Clone's previous life : )

Celebration of ONE

Meanwhile in Brazil, an innovative free-kick wall:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CczPSU7EH9A

that was very funny. extra laugh when the goal is scored, thinking about the guy down there (and it was a really nice shot).