lex talionis
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Mental letdown but still no excuses to not be up for a cup final. Props to Atalanta, who found a way to cope without Hojlund.
I think we've seen a glimpse of what happens when they face CL quality opposition tonight. Think Xabi made a big mistake staying on for another year.Really wanted for Leverkusen to win so we could face them for the European Super Cup.
That's the thinking that leads to shock resultsThey're in the 2nd tier. It was just going to be a formality.
Not even ten hag can feck that up, surelyThat's the thinking that leads to shock results
This season there has been a record amount of upsets in the DFB Pokal (in the sense of lower league team wins against higher league team), it has just been special season in German football. So nobody can feel safe, nothing is guaranteed.Not even ten hag can feck that up, surely
Atalanta was the worst team they could've faced tbh, and Leverkusen got a reality check.I did think Leverkusen would win, but I also saw this coming a bit. The undefeated treble has been talked about as a foregone conclusion by a bit too many lately
He's still pretty new to the job so I'm cool with him staying another season and getting more experience as I really want him to succeed with Real Madrid.I think we've seen a glimpse of what happens when they face CL quality opposition tonight. Think Xabi made a big mistake staying on for another year.
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Definitely overthought it, that tinkering of key players will get him sacked quickly if he makes it to Madrid
It was a Pep specialI thought his starting line up wasn’t it.
Boniface should have played up top and Andrich for Palacios.
I think Atalanta was just well prepped for this final, especially after losing the Coppa Italia last week.
So trueFecking De Gea. We could've been there until the next morning and he wouldn't have got near one.
It's a bit off topic but other than SAF who are the other managers that have/had the habit of tinkering successfully?Definitely overthought it, that tinkering of key players will get him sacked quickly if he makes it to Madrid
Up until now, Alonso's tinkering was successful. I think he made a mistake by not starting Boniface. Even in his current form his presence immediately had a positive impact. But what broke us yesterday was nervousness, IMO. We made more mistakes than in the 51 games before. Atalanta provoked many of them with their great pressing but many were uncalled for as well. Think this had as much impact as Alonso's tactical miscalculation. But shit happens, still one hell of a seasonIt's a bit off topic but other than SAF who are the other managers that have/had the habit of tinkering successfully?
It was effectively the same formation he used the round before against Roma. So not really a lot of tinkering involved.When I saw the starting 11, I knew Bayer could never win that game. Grimaldo and Adli has the most advanced players of the team. What was he thinking?
But... why? Even against Roma almost didn't worked. Only Guardiola can use 7 center midfielders and win the game.It was effectively the same formation he used the round before against Roma. So not really a lot of tinkering involved.
Which is the problem. Roma isn't Atalanta. "It worked against Roma" is insane decision makingIt was effectively the same formation he used the round before against Roma. So not really a lot of tinkering involved.
It did work against Roma, they battered them. Roma's atracking gameplans - esp going after their CBs - also worked fairly well but defensively they chased ghosts for 2 gamesBut... why? Even against Roma almost didn't worked. Only Guardiola can use 7 center midfielders and win the game.
I think the game plan wasn't that bad. Atalanta defends one on one which is very risky. Lots of pressure, not much space but when you beat their pressing line, they offer much space inbehind. Our biggest strength this season is freeing ourselves out of pressure and then play our fast paced attackers through. Alternatively you can play high balls over the pressing line up to a target striker but Boniface still lacks sharpness and Schick's hold up play is average at best. And it's not as if Atalanta overran us, they scored from more or less every threatening situation. Superior mentality.Which is the problem. Roma isn't Atalanta. "It worked against Roma" is insane decision making
It did work against Roma, they battered them. Roma's atracking gameplans - esp going after their CBs - also worked fairly well but defensively they chased ghosts for 2 games
The gameplan was bad. Build up from the back but rigid structure, short spacing, and no easy advantages, plus no plan B?I think the game plan wasn't that bad.
I mean, we didn't lose 51 games that way. This is literally what makes Alonso so successful. We invite, not to say provoke, opponents into pressing us, ideally around the middle line on the left side. Then we utilize the technical brillance and football IQ of Wirtz, Boniface, Palacios, Xahaka, Grimaldo and co. to outplay them and release the ball to other flank (most often Frimpong) or play a through ball inbehind when the opponent committed to it. In essence, we want possession around the center of the pitch and play through the last third of the pitch very quickly (we have that in common with Inter by the way). On paper, Atalanta was a very good match up for us because we love teams that condense the space like this. Thing is, when you make more errors in one game than in the previous 51 combined, this won't work.The gameplan was bad. Build up from the back but rigid structure, short spacing, and no easy advantages, plus no plan B?
I don't know, you kept a fairly rigid structure throughout and never tried to increase the spacing, force them to spread out. Didn't see your defenders pushing up, abandoning the shape to create advantages behind their midfielders - Inter's staple against them - shift play out wide quickly(where atalanta concede more space) or trying to go in behind early...I mean, we didn't lose 51 games that way. This is literally what makes Alonso so successful. We invite, not to say provoke, opponents into pressing us, ideally around the middle line on the left side. Then we utilize the technical brillance and football IQ of Wirtz, Boniface, Palacios, Xahaka, Grimaldo and co. to outplay them and release the ball to other flank (most often Frimpong) or play a through ball inbehind when the opponent committed to it. In essence, we want possession around the center of the pitch and play through the last third of the pitch very quickly (we have that in common with Inter by the way). On paper, Atalanta was a very good match up for us because we love teams that condense the space like this. Thing is, when you make more errors in one game than in the previous 51 combined, this won't work.
I felt that you'se had plenty of opportunities where you escaped Atalanta's press and were running at them, but just couldn't put it together in the final third. Didn't feel like you were completely outclassed by them (goals aside)I mean, we didn't lose 51 games that way. This is literally what makes Alonso so successful. We invite, not to say provoke, opponents into pressing us, ideally around the middle line on the left side. Then we utilize the technical brillance and football IQ of Wirtz, Boniface, Palacios, Xahaka, Grimaldo and co. to outplay them and release the ball to other flank (most often Frimpong) or play a through ball inbehind when the opponent committed to it. In essence, we want possession around the center of the pitch and play through the last third of the pitch very quickly (we have that in common with Inter by the way). On paper, Atalanta was a very good match up for us because we love teams that condense the space like this. Thing is, when you make more errors in one game than in the previous 51 combined, this won't work.