Barça vs. Bayern

My conclusions from game include:

- Bayern are showing just how complete and good they are. With Gotze and Pep if things continue, they will be a real force in the next few years
- We are showing more often vs more oppositions that our style is being countered and we are not flexible enough in our game, we play despite our weaknesses being exposed and countered
- Tito is no Pep in that he doesnt have the influence and decsiveness in difficult situations, no subs or change in game strats
- I dont know what should be the plan going forward for the team strat and tactics wise. Its clear tika taka has its weaknesses being exposed now by many opponents and yet we just stick to it stubornly without a real plan B. That is fine as it is club/manager/team identity I guess, but I think it is better to be more flexible and pragmatic in times of need to counter back opponents. In fact I will make a thread and I hope all the experts and have their opinions on this
- End of era in terms of we are no longer the clear best team in the world dominating, with Pep gone, players aging, other clubs catching up, etc. We will still be competitive right up there but not like the clear no.1 as in the previous few years. I have come to this as I hear a lot of the past great teams the same cycles and this is clearly just the norm unfortunately

danyjr wrote:

BarcaLearning wrote:My conclusions from game include:

- Bayern are showing just how complete and good they are. With Gotze and Pep if things continue, they will be a real force in the next few years
- We are showing more often vs more oppositions that our style is being countered and we are not flexible enough in our game, we play despite our weaknesses being exposed and countered
- Tito is no Pep in that he doesnt have the influence and decsiveness in difficult situations, no subs or change in game strats
- I dont know what should be the plan going forward for the team strat and tactics wise. Its clear tika taka has its weaknesses being exposed now by many opponents and yet we just stick to it stubornly without a real plan B. That is fine as it is club/manager/team identity I guess, but I think it is better to be more flexible and pragmatic in times of need to counter back opponents. In fact I will make a thread and I hope all the experts and have their opinions on this
- End of era in terms of we are no longer the clear best team in the world dominating, with Pep gone, players aging, other clubs catching up, etc. We will still be competitive right up there but not like the clear no.1 as in the previous few years. I have come to this as I hear a lot of the past great teams the same cycles and this is clearly just the norm unfortunately

Very good post. I agree with pretty much everything. And I can't say I didn't see this coming. I think Barcelona have been past their best for a couple of seasons but due to Messi's brilliance or other teams choking they managed to go through, but not this time.

Who's to blame? Human psychology is the most important. You can talk about tactics all night but my father, a football coach once told me when I wasn't running enough in the pitch that "the team who runs (but not literally) more will win ". The difference between eagerness in the two teams was so blatant, the way Bayern players won every 50-50, so full of running and hunger to win.

Other factors are obviously tactical, the monotone style that Barcelona play with no physical presence or pace in the pitch made them too predictable and having a manager at helm whom, to me, lacked that kind of charisma at the start. Defensive problems have been very obvious since seasons ago, which were neglected. The sad thing I predict for Barcelona is that they'll end up signing a couple of overrated players for big money in the summer who won't help them solve their issues.

In the end, I want to say I felt the pain Xavi and Iniesta were going through when the camera switched to them after the 4th goal. They are battered, done and dusted but these guys will always be remembered as legends.

Thx for the explanation... its actually a funny feeling...not that long ago, Im just a regular fan and still half is, didnt knwo too much and so were able to "dream" more, but as I read and learn more from here especially...watch more football, I understand it more and its all more "predictable" and in the past I wouldnt of saw this result coming but today as sad as it is I sort of thought it could happen. I totally agree, we were great and rode our luck at times and now its finally cracked... and I realise since I witness it first half why all the great teams in the past decline despite maybe not changing a lot. The main thing as u mention is human psychology, and u just cant be at the absolute top top form all the time.

Some saying Bayern will dominate in the next few years, but then it is likelyt that things will happen to them too if they continue this path

I hope we dont make mistakes in the transfer market....I think we are more shrewd than that... but I wonder what will Tito and the team do in the summer...

messixaviesta wrote:

BarcaKizz wrote:A few disjointed points because I really cbf right now.

1. We got our asses handed to us and deservedly so. We just got beaten by the best team in the world. They deserve the trophy.

2. Its actually a little bit liberating this feeling. I can't remember the last time I felt deservedly beaten and not robbed somewhat in being knocked out. I think it would be about 2004? Yes the ref made mistakes, but on both sides. We were horrid, don't even bring the ref up.

3. Why Pep's greatest innovation, intense collective pressing, has been dropped from our tactical game is beyond me. In my opinion there's no point playing possession football if you don't also try and win early ball.

4. We need big changes. We've ignored our weaknesses too long.

kizz, great post. Some comments.

1. Agree. They need to win this trophy to take over officially as the world's best team.

2. Very well said. While this was going on I was saying to myself Inter parked the bus in 2010, Chelsea did it to the most extreme possible extent in 2012 but what's happening tonight is completely different. We are actually being very deservedly beaten by a much better team. After a defeat like this there isn't much anger or frustration. That happens when you feel you deserved more than you got. Instead it's more a case of resignation and acceptance that we had it coming and were just trying to deny or at least delay it for as long as possible.

3. Very true. It's quite baffling. Some have said that Ronaldinho's off pitch antics aside this was the main reason why the team of Frank Rijkaard had declined so fast so soon.

4. Guess no one would dream of disagreeing with that now.

Agree with that, although same, not sure about point 3, I guess it goes back to the point above, the team and players lose hunger to press as hard? Although I still think we press very well and mainly have the will do it....but a little bit difference is all the difference needed....

Bayern for me have been the top 3 teams in the past few years, they made 2 CL finals dont forget... and Im hoping for them to beat Real in the final likely now