Champions League FINAL 2012

[Grizalltheway]

Reds vs Blues, THE FC Bayern Muenchen vs Chelsea, in the fabulous Allianz Arena. Suck on that, special one! xthumbsupxxbowx

[Skjellyfetti]

Thought this was going to be about the Santos - Monterrey matchup tonight. ;)



But, seriously... Bayern is going to destroy Chelski.

[Grizalltheway]

Thought this was going to be about the Santos - Monterrey matchup tonight. ;)



But, seriously... Bayern is going to destroy Chelski.

One would think so, especially considering how many starters Chelsea will have on the bench...but you never know for sure.

[TheValleyRaider]

So much for the Spanish showdown xlolx

Rooting for Bayern, expecting Bayern, especially with the game in Munich

Kind of unfortunate that Terry will miss the final, the red was a bit harsh given how much Sanchez sold the fall. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy... xwhistlex

[Grizalltheway]

So much for the Spanish showdown xlolx

Rooting for Bayern, expecting Bayern, especially with the game in Munich

Kind of unfortunate that Terry will miss the final, the red was a bit harsh given how much Sanchez sold the fall. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy... xwhistlex
Thank God that didn't happen, their semifinal tie last year was a joke.xsmhx

[TheValleyRaider]

Thank God that didn't happen, their semifinal tie last year was a joke.xsmhx

To be fair, their games this year have been much better, and with the Final just being a one-off instead of the two legs. Too bad we won't find out xlolx

[OhioHen]

One would think so, especially considering how many starters Chelsea will have on the bench...but you never know for sure.

Chelsea have four players ineligible for red (Terry) or accumulated yellow cards. Bayern have three ineligible due to accumulated yellow, including two starting defenders.

[Grizalltheway]

True, but van Buyten may be back by then, and I don't think the drop off with Rafihna will be all that significant. Overall, I think Chelsea will be more hurt by the suspensions.

[SonuvaHenx2]

As a Chelsea fan, I'll have to disagree with you, sir.

Having to replace Terry and Ivanovic with Luiz and Cahill won't be too much of a problem, as they've played together as our CBs already this year.
Our biggest loss is Ramires, but we can plug Kalou or Sturridge into that role just fine.
Meireles out means Essien likely gets to play, and I'd rather have him in against a team like Bayern anyway.
Moving Lahm over to the left and plugging Rafinha on the right means Cole will be able to have a field day with his overlapping runs to the outside of Mata.

Cech
Bosingwa - Cahill - Luiz - Cole
Essien - Mikel - Lampard
Kalou - Drogba - Mata

Doesn't look like too much of a problem to me.


I think it'll be a much better game than most assume.

[alvinkayak6]

Terry sucks as a defender. He's slow and pathetic (did you see his red card?) -- Bayern wont need a shootout this time

[alvinkayak6]

For that matter, Barca is over-rated. And so is the Messy Lion.

[alvinkayak6]

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

[Grizalltheway]

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

He is, in fact, a boss in midfield. xthumbsupxxthumbsupx

[Side Judge]

For that matter, Barca is over-rated. And so is the Messy Lion.

Whoa there cowboy - I'm no fan of Barca's WWE-style theatrics, but technically they're by far the best side in the world, although they've got huge shoes to fill with Pep stepping down as skipper. And you could make arguments against Messi being the best in the world, but he's certainly not overrated - c'mon, he just set the record for goals in one season in Europe...

[Grizalltheway]

Whoa there cowboy - I'm no fan of Barca's WWE-style theatrics, but technically they're by far the best side in the world, although they've got huge shoes to fill with Pep stepping down as skipper. And you could make arguments against Messi being the best in the world, but he's certainly not overrated - c'mon, he just set the record for goals in one season in Europe...

I agree he's amazing, but I don't think there's any way he scores that many goals playing in England or Italy. The gulf between the big two and the rest of the Spanish teams is just absurd. And yes, it's hard to argue with the results they've produced during Pep's tenure. Just ask Man Utd fans.

[alvinkayak6]

Whoa there cowboy - I'm no fan of Barca's WWE-style theatrics, but technically they're by far the best side in the world, although they've got huge shoes to fill with Pep stepping down as skipper. And you could make arguments against Messi being the best in the world, but he's certainly not overrated - c'mon, he just set the record for goals in one season in Europe...

Players don't score goals. Teams do. Come back to me when Messi is relevant in the World Cup or Copa America for Argentina. The last time I checked he can't score for ***** with Argentina, which is a top 10 side in the world. And possession is only half the battle. Yes, Barcelona wins the ball and keeps it. But there is no aerial attack and the defense gets burned up the middle by guys like Drogba. The English-speaking world is obsessed with Messi & Barcelona, glad they finally got brought down to Earth.

[Skjellyfetti]

Really need Bayern Munich to win now.

A Chelsea win knocks Spurs out of Champions League. :(

http://i.imgur.com/b3K7W.jpg

[TheValleyRaider]

Wow xeekx

[Grizalltheway]

****.

[HailSzczur]

What a finish. Can't wait to see the UEFA champs at PPL for the MLS ASG in 2 months. Drogba is so clutch

[Side Judge]

Players don't score goals. Teams do. Come back to me when Messi is relevant in the World Cup or Copa America for Argentina. The last time I checked he can't score for ***** with Argentina, which is a top 10 side in the world. And possession is only half the battle. Yes, Barcelona wins the ball and keeps it. But there is no aerial attack and the defense gets burned up the middle by guys like Drogba. The English-speaking world is obsessed with Messi & Barcelona, glad they finally got brought down to Earth.

Messi would've converted that extra-time PK...

[Grizalltheway]

Had some time to process it now, and...I still have no idea how we managed to blow that ****.
This has gotta be a bigger heart breaker 99 even, although I admittedly didn't follow Bayern back then.

[SonuvaHenx2]

http://theshedender.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Chelsea-Champions-League-Winners-2012.jpg

xbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowx xbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowx

[Grizalltheway]

http://theshedender.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/05/Chelsea-Champions-League-Winners-2012.jpg

xbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowx xbowxxbowxxbowxxbowxxbowx
:pumpuke:

[TheValleyRaider]

Spurs... xlolx

[344Johnson]

Awful game as far as what soccer is meant to be. Bayern made an effort to attack for the entire game. Chelsea put forth very little attacking effort. The way Chelsea played is a big reason why people in America do not like soccer. Teams like Bayern and Barcelona are very easy on th eyes.

[344Johnson]

I agree he's amazing, but I don't think there's any way he scores that many goals playing in England or Italy. The gulf between the big two and the rest of the Spanish teams is just absurd. And yes, it's hard to argue with the results they've produced during Pep's tenure. Just ask Man Utd fans.

Haha, the funny thing is that Manchester United got KO'ed by Athletic Bilbao....hardly a superstar lineup. Athletico Madrid took out Bilbao in the Europa Final. So the Spanish League had 2 teams in UEFA Champions League Semi's, and the two teams in the championship in the Europa League.

The Big Two in Spain are considerably better than the rest right now, but the Big Two in Spain would probably be considerably better than the rest in any league. Sub out the top two in Italy and put Barca and Real in there....Messi would still score a boatload. Sub out Bayern and Borussia Dortmund in Germany....Messi would torch the Germans. Sub out Man U and Man City in England, and Messi would probably still score a load of goals. Instead of trashing on the league that he plays against, you should acknowledge that his team, and himself, are doing something exceptional against excellent competition, because Spanish teams have been doing very well in European Competition.

Don't rag on Messi for Argentina. Argentina is a top 10 team because they have a wealth of attacking players. Messi, Ageuro, Higuain, Tevez. In midfield they have who? Pastore? Some old guys? Defense? Argentina is not your standard top ten type team. Before you rag on him, maybe you should look at that teams lack of midfield and defense. As well as poor coaching, Messi has gotten moved from position to position throughout his time playing for Argentina. I dunno where the best place would be for him, but sooner or later they should probably stick with something.

La Liga gets a bad rap because Barcelona and Real dominate. Well in Germany, Bayern Munich and Dortmund tend to win consistently. In Italy, its Milan, Inter, and Juventus.

[SonuvaHenx2]

May not have been the most attractive game to watch from a non-Chelsea-fan perspective, but you can't argue that it wasn't effective. We went in with a game plan that the coaches thought would be our best chance to win, and right from the start absorbed pressure, and whenever possible, gave our back line a break with a bit of possession ourselves. You don't have to like it, but Chelsea are the champions of Europe.

[Grizalltheway]

May not have been the most attractive game to watch from a non-Chelsea-fan perspective, but you can't argue that it wasn't effective. We went in with a game plan that the coaches thought would be our best chance to win, and right from the start absorbed pressure, and whenever possible, gave our back line a break with a bit of possession ourselves. You don't have to like it, but Chelsea are the champions of Europe.
You need to take off the blue colored glasses if you really think Chelsea were the better team on balance of play. Bayern didn't convert enough of the chances they created and it came back to bite them, but they clearly out-classed Chelsea up until PKs.

[OhioHen]

You need to take off the blue colored glasses if you really think Chelsea were the better team on balance of play. Bayern didn't convert enough of the chances they created and it came back to bite them, but they clearly out-classed Chelsea up until PKs.

As a neutral observer, I agree that Bayern out-played Chelsea for 90 minutes (I thought the 30 minutes of extra time was fairly evenly matched). Bayern's failure to convert the chances they had was far too reminiscent of my favorite side's (Arsenal FC) recent history. Controlling the run of play and creating opportunities looks great, but doesn't always win the day.

Chelsea were only in the match to draw even late because Ashley Cole (who SHOULD have been MOTM, not Drogba) performed spectacularly in defense. Without Cole's heroics it would have been 3-0 (or more) early in the 2nd half. Kudos to Roberto DiMateo for a strategic plan that allowed the (seemingly) inferior side to leave the stadium with the hardware.

[TheValleyRaider]

Chelsea was definitely fortunate to have Bayern miss on a few occasions, but certainly deserve credit for taking over after the Muller goal. Such is life in a one-off game

On the other hand, watching a German side (and German players!) miss penalties against and English team? Bizarre.... xrotatehx

[Grizalltheway]

Chelsea was definitely fortunate to have Bayern miss on a few occasions, but certainly deserve credit for taking over after the Muller goal. Such is life in a one-off game

On the other hand, watching a German side (and German players!) miss penalties against and English team? Bizarre.... xrotatehx
Don't count on it happening in Ukraine/Poland...should England make it far enough to face them.xcoffeex

[TheValleyRaider]

Don't count on it happening in Ukraine/Poland...should England make it far enough to face them.xcoffeex

xlolx Not this England team xlolx

[SonuvaHenx2]

You need to take off the blue colored glasses if you really think Chelsea were the better team on balance of play. Bayern didn't convert enough of the chances they created and it came back to bite them, but they clearly out-classed Chelsea up until PKs.

When did I say that we were the better team throughout, or even at all? I said that we executed the game plan that we set out to, and it was effective in its own way. There is no denying the fact that Bayern had the better of possession, pressure, chances, etc. We played it exactly as I expected, and it worked about as well as it possibly could have.

Just because your team lost the CL in its home stadium doesn't mean you should act like a dirty Scouser about it. I've been hearing nothing but good things about the fans in Munich as far as being gracious and hospitable to Londoners both before and after the match, including sticking around for the trophy presentation and congratulating the team and fans. You might try emulating them if you're going to call yourself a supporter of that same team.

[alvinkayak6]

Drogba had ice in his veins. One header, one goal. Cech was unreal. Robben was the biggest loser, missing a PK to win the game in OT