Match Reaction v Bayern

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Originally Posted by Letters

There were, we just weren't punished for them. Perhaps not as bad as some of the mistakes we've made but there were some, a few clearances which fell straight to a Bayern player, etc.

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I’m not saying it was perfect. There were minor errors but nothing major or comical like we’ve seen in the past where there is poor marking, awareness and we fail to do the very basics. Still a long road to go but they were switched on at the back at least.

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

I think the shape of the team was better, Bayern only managed to get in behind us once and that was with Mullers clever backheel to set Robben free. Other than that we mainly limited them to pot shots from outside the box.

Overall though I do believe Bayern would have moved up a gear if they were facing a better side or if they weren't already in a commanding position.

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i think it is far too easy to say that. teams have off days, no matter who they. the gears can't always be clicked through like magic at the touch of a button. if you start the game with the wrong approach, and by all accounts they did, then that task becomes harder. going 1-0 down at the start would have course set off some alarm bells for them and if they weren't interested, they literally would've just played keep ball. they're a great team who can destroy most teams and i believe with their habits, why wouldn't they want to have fun smashing yet another team in front of their home fans? they wanted to of course, but they couldn't. we contributed to that. hard to believe i know, but we did. let's just enjoy a victory. there's no shame. it doesn't mean any lasting change or any cosmic shift in wenger's team but we're allowed to take satisfaction from beating one of the worlds best teams.

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Originally Posted by Power_n_Glory

I’m not saying it was perfect. There were minor errors but nothing major or comical like we’ve seen in the past where there is poor marking, awareness and we fail to do the very basics. Still a long road to go but they were switched on at the back at least.

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Yes, it was definitely better. They only got in behind us once when Robben broke free, most of the rest of their chances were pot-shots from distance which were generally well closed down.

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Originally Posted by fakeyank

Great performance.. Arteta shouldve been replaced by Diaby. The defense was brilliant.. Gibbs makes a big difference and also to note, the absence of Vermaelen! Biggest liability of a captain. Why cant we defend like this more regularly?! Why do we have to play for absolutely nothing to perform at this level? This clearly shows that out shitness has more to do with attitude than actual talent.

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The effort. . .passion, call it what you will is a big issue for me. . .so many games could be won or at least not lost if we took a leaf (dare I say it?) Utd's book.

Lets hope we keep the same mentality. . .asking a bit much though for two games on the bounce

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Originally Posted by Master Splinter

Because Wenget has made Vermaelen captain?

Because of Vermaelen's captaincy, Koscielny is dropped?

Because he dropped Jenkinson despite his consistently excellent performances?

Because Gibbs is always injured?

Because we have no defensive-minded midfielders?

Because we don't defend well as a team?

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Because/MS :bow:

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Originally Posted by Marc Overmars

Fabianski new number 1?

Kos, Rosicky and GHELkinson first choice from now on?

Or does computer say no?

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If anything Fabs deserves the #1 because of Ches's lame arse excuse for not playing. . .although the excuse haa lots of Wumgerness about it

Kos should be playing instead of Verms, terrible decision to make him captain thus forcing his inclusion in every starting 11

Rosicky to provide a rerun of the drive that saw us nick fourth last term?

Our defending was better last night no doubt about it, we still made errors but less than usual.

Overall Bayern just didn't turn up, the nature of the game and them being 3-1 up and being told the tie is over (that's what they said everyone thought in Germany) clearly didn't help their mentality, they didn't really know what to do and were unprofessional on the night IMO.

We won yes, but had what 4 shots on goal, we didn't exactly lay siege on their goal, we just caught an off colour Bayern and played well defensively....at no point did we look like winning the tie, there was no pouring forward putting Bayern under intense pressure, even after going 2-0 up there wasn't a huge amount of urgency and if anything Bayern then controlled the game and we didn't get a sniff.

I agree with LDG had the first leg been a bit different Bayern would have played a different game and beaten us comfortably. Good win without question but another totally pointless win I'd rather have beaten Blackburn in the FA Cup as that would mean something.

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Originally Posted by Japan Shaking All Over

Lets hope we keep the same mentality. . .asking a bit much though for two games on the bounce

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We really need more than that. The defence was a lot better but the midfield and attack was woeful. Bad decisions, sloppy passes poor touches and positioning, players hiding. I thought they’d really be up for this game but a lot of the players were really tame. Very slow to close down the ball and not compact enough when defending or attacking. I remember Jenko losing his shit when he was going forward with the ball and nobody was making themselves available for a pass when he was getting closed down. Annoys me to see that sort of thing and players like Arteta pointing away so he doesn’t receive the pass instead of trying to get into space to alleviate the pressure. You never see that crap with Barca. They all make themselves available even in tight spaces where only a touch can be played for a simple one two. What’s happened to our triangle passes and bouncing one twos around the opposition in the midfield?

The next ten games is arguably the most important set of games the club has had for a long time.

If we fail to compete, or die away without a whimper, it really does spell worse times to come for the club.