Two for the price of one! That’s right, I sat through two Champion’s League games for you my dears. Thank you Fox Sports.
First up: FC Porto-Arsenal
Arsenal: Fabianski – Sagna, Campbell, Vermaelen, Clichy – Denilson, Fabregas, Diaby – Rosicky, Bendtner, Nasri.
Fc Porto: Helton – Fucile (pah pah!), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira – Ruben, Fernando, Meireles – Varela, Falcao, Hulk.
Fc Porto: Helton – Fucile (pah pah!), Rolando, Bruno Alves, Pereira – Ruben, Fernando, Meireles – Varela, Falcao, Hulk.
One minute in and Porto press the accelerator: Falcao presses, Campbell messes up, cold sweat for Arsene. With short and quick passes the Portuguese surround the Gunners’ box and offer Hulk the first shot of the game, just wide. Arsenal reply with combinations of their own and the first shot on target (Nasri, 6th). On home ground and carried by a effervescent crowd, Porto start to attack more dangerously, first with Hulk running into Campbell (who isn’t running), battle of the titans. Then Fabianski pulls out a ‘Dida’. Hear: Varela deposits Clichy on the right side, looks up, throws in a decent low and hard ball that bounces in the box, Fabianski, anticipating the cross, recovers poorly (horribly/shamefully/comically), can’t hold on the to the leather and 1-0 at the 10th minute.
The game is now well under way. Nasri dances around defenders, Bendtner and Alves fight for headers, Meireles shines in the midst of red shirts, Sagna needs a haircut, Wenger fiddles around with his hands, ultimately Bendtner obtains a corner. Fabregas to Vermaelen’s then Rosicky’s (so generous) and finally Campbell’s (who wasn’t running) heads. 1-1 at the 17 th. His first goal since the 2006 final against Barcelona. Arsenal smells the good opportunity. Three minutes later a flying Rosicky sends a bullet in from the sixteen. Helton pulls out a great save. The midfield battle is raging, Fabregas and Nasri are too predictable, Fernando rushes, Fabianski needs a six-men wall to protect himself from Hulk, the wings see beautiful fast paced duels (Sagna-Falcao, Clichy-Varela, Denilson-Fucile). Not many chances but incessant flow. The teams apply the same strategy, defense stretching, triangular progression, safe defending. Unsurprisingly then, the chances are even: Bendtner’s header to Helton hand (36th), Ruben’s shot to Fabianski’s gloves (27th). By the 30th minute the first yellow cards fall, with a game this technical a late tackle was bound to happen. Diaby dribbles too much, Rosicky uses the outside of the foot too much, Bruno Alves defends too much, Fabregas falls too much, Falcao runs too much, Micael recovers too much and finally Campbell heads the ball back to Fab-ski too much. Too much of everything to make any dangerous situations. At the end of the first half all the Portuguese want Fabregas dead (time to grow up man). Sol walks slowly to the lockers.
The game is now well under way. Nasri dances around defenders, Bendtner and Alves fight for headers, Meireles shines in the midst of red shirts, Sagna needs a haircut, Wenger fiddles around with his hands, ultimately Bendtner obtains a corner. Fabregas to Vermaelen’s then Rosicky’s (so generous) and finally Campbell’s (who wasn’t running) heads. 1-1 at the 17 th. His first goal since the 2006 final against Barcelona. Arsenal smells the good opportunity. Three minutes later a flying Rosicky sends a bullet in from the sixteen. Helton pulls out a great save. The midfield battle is raging, Fabregas and Nasri are too predictable, Fernando rushes, Fabianski needs a six-men wall to protect himself from Hulk, the wings see beautiful fast paced duels (Sagna-Falcao, Clichy-Varela, Denilson-Fucile). Not many chances but incessant flow. The teams apply the same strategy, defense stretching, triangular progression, safe defending. Unsurprisingly then, the chances are even: Bendtner’s header to Helton hand (36th), Ruben’s shot to Fabianski’s gloves (27th). By the 30th minute the first yellow cards fall, with a game this technical a late tackle was bound to happen. Diaby dribbles too much, Rosicky uses the outside of the foot too much, Bruno Alves defends too much, Fabregas falls too much, Falcao runs too much, Micael recovers too much and finally Campbell heads the ball back to Fab-ski too much. Too much of everything to make any dangerous situations. At the end of the first half all the Portuguese want Fabregas dead (time to grow up man). Sol walks slowly to the lockers.
Half time. Don’t look at the other score, just don’t! You have to do this the right way! Cigarette.
Second half starts on a Sunday game rhythm. Bendtner shoots high, midfields are static, Butterfinger Fabianski trips Sagna and Fabregas is double teamed. Then at the 50th Campbell redeems himself to all the Porto supporters. While running back towards his keeper and under very minimal pressure, the Big Friendly Giant decides to slightly touch the ball back to his keeper (that’ll teach him). Fabianski doesn’t hesitate picks up the ball. Controversial. Did he really touch it? Yes. What was the keeper thinking? Obviously not much. Does it matter? No. Ruben is right there, indirect free kick within the empty Arsenal box, Falcao runs in, goal. The keeper doesn’t even dive, Campbell is still holding his head in his hands (which probably means he touched it) and Vermaelen is too busy calling back his teammates. 2-1, 50th. Not a good day for Sol (shouldn’t have run that much). Arsenal is under shock. No need to ask Porto to take advantage of abundant errors. By waves, Hulk (sombrero over Sagna and Campbell), Falcao, Ruben and Meireles (technical diamond of a volley di controbalzo) bring panic to the Gunners defense. At the other end of the field every shot, cross, pass and header is blocked/intercepted by a concentrated defense. We have to wait until the 70th minute to see Arsenal get on top of ball possession thanks to Diaby who champions second balls. Bendtner doesn’t see the ball, Fabregas misses easy passes, Fernando clears with a bycicle kick, Pereira still runs, Porto cover the field well and wait for the counter attack, Denilson doesn’t look where he passes. The Gunners’ game is too transversal and has no depth. It’s actually Porto who is more on the verge of scoring every time Falcao and Rodriguez (inter 2006 anyone?) rush towards Vermaelen. They even obtain a couple of corners, just to break Arsneal’s rhythm. Eboue running and Vela falling won’t change anything tonight, Bruno Alves is king in his box (see saving tackle at the last minute).
Grades
Arsenal – 3: Sure they have a lot of injured players, but it is not with a bench like that you are going to win anything anywhere. A qualification seems plausible (all they need is a 1-0 at home). And if so, we’ll even hear them say “third consecutive year in quarterfinals”, but we know better.
Fabianski – 2: I am sorry to put such a bad grade, his other saves of the night were of a decent standard, but those two mistakes speak for themselves. Might have cost Arsenal the qualification already.
Sagna – 5: Normal performance, correct defensively.
Campbell – 1: I thought he knew, I thought Arsene knew, but if you can’t run, you shouldn't play football. One for the goal (and that wasn’t hard either).
Vermaelen – 4: Unfortunately had to make up for his partner’s mistakes, could have been a big plus for the team in regular situation.
Clichy – 6: Very busy with Varela and Fucile, did the best he could.
Diaby – 5: Made his presence felt in midfield only intermittently, it’s time to start making the useful passes.
Fabregas – 3: Tonight Fabregas was thinking how he will win Champion’s League with Barcelona one day. Also fell a lot, sometimes legitimately, sometimes not, but always with pretentiousness.
Denilson – 4: Not fully ready for matches of this intensity.
Nasri – 5: Although some good movements (notably sending a defender into the stands), not the impact wished.
Bendtner – 4: Not the typical Arsenal player, useful for anchoring plays but inefficient.
Sagna – 5: Normal performance, correct defensively.
Campbell – 1: I thought he knew, I thought Arsene knew, but if you can’t run, you shouldn't play football. One for the goal (and that wasn’t hard either).
Vermaelen – 4: Unfortunately had to make up for his partner’s mistakes, could have been a big plus for the team in regular situation.
Clichy – 6: Very busy with Varela and Fucile, did the best he could.
Diaby – 5: Made his presence felt in midfield only intermittently, it’s time to start making the useful passes.
Fabregas – 3: Tonight Fabregas was thinking how he will win Champion’s League with Barcelona one day. Also fell a lot, sometimes legitimately, sometimes not, but always with pretentiousness.
Denilson – 4: Not fully ready for matches of this intensity.
Nasri – 5: Although some good movements (notably sending a defender into the stands), not the impact wished.
Bendtner – 4: Not the typical Arsenal player, useful for anchoring plays but inefficient.
.Vela, Walcott – 2 (one each): both of them think that it’s by falling that you help the team. Horrible. .Eboue – 5: Gave his heart to the game, unfortunately, could not outsmart a vigilant Porto defense.
FC Porto – 7: Used to upsetting the big teams, the Portuguese used all their experience (one mistake, one goal) to acquire a precious lead before the return game.
Helton – 7: Not very sollicitated, innocent goal, way to get a good grade without actually doing much! Fucile – 6: Made some very interesting runs, very focused defensively, could have done with less fouls. Rolando – 7: Threw himself wholeheartedly in the battle, might be guilty on Arsenal’s goal, but most of demoralized Wenger’s boys.
Bruno Alves – 7: As time goes by, people will realize how precious a player this dedicated is, just see his intervention at the last minute.
Pereira – 6: A real steam machine, good technique, applied one basics to trouble Arsenal: attack to defend and it worked.
Fernando – 6: Struggled a bit at first, helped out considerably in defence and usefully too.
Meireles – 7.5: Cesc look, he’s a real bad-ass. Conviction, roughness, meticulousness and a heart bigger than the whole stadium (even though the legs might not support just as much as before).
Ruben – 7: The most generous on the field, there with every attack, there with the defence. Excellent game tonight for Micael.
Varela – 8: Maybe 8 is a bit much, and maybe he didn’t mean to score, but that dribble left a sweet after taste in my mouth.
Falcao – 8: Understood straight away how to hurt the defense, and that lucidity at the moment of the second goal.
Hulk – 10: For every duel tonight, it was all of Arsenal vs. Hulk. Fantastic.
Bruno Alves – 7: As time goes by, people will realize how precious a player this dedicated is, just see his intervention at the last minute.
Pereira – 6: A real steam machine, good technique, applied one basics to trouble Arsenal: attack to defend and it worked.
Fernando – 6: Struggled a bit at first, helped out considerably in defence and usefully too.
Meireles – 7.5: Cesc look, he’s a real bad-ass. Conviction, roughness, meticulousness and a heart bigger than the whole stadium (even though the legs might not support just as much as before).
Ruben – 7: The most generous on the field, there with every attack, there with the defence. Excellent game tonight for Micael.
Varela – 8: Maybe 8 is a bit much, and maybe he didn’t mean to score, but that dribble left a sweet after taste in my mouth.
Falcao – 8: Understood straight away how to hurt the defense, and that lucidity at the moment of the second goal.
Hulk – 10: For every duel tonight, it was all of Arsenal vs. Hulk. Fantastic.
Costa, Belluschi, Gonzalez - 6: Could have killed the game, but carrying out the ball successively was enough to assure Porto a win tonight. Probably merit of the coach.
Bayern Munich - Fiorentina
Bayern Munich: Butt – Lahm, Demichelis, Van Buyten, Badstuber – Van Bommel, Schweinsteiger – Ribery, Robben – Muller,Gomez
Fiorentina: Frey – De Silvestri, Kroldrup, Natali, Gobbi – Bolatti, Montolivo, Marchionni, Vargas, Jovetic – Giladirno (suonaci il violino)
Fiorentina: Frey – De Silvestri, Kroldrup, Natali, Gobbi – Bolatti, Montolivo, Marchionni, Vargas, Jovetic – Giladirno (suonaci il violino)
No joke. We’re inside the first minut, already Robben devours his right side and forces Natali to a last minute clearance. We’re inside the second minute and Marchionni puts Butt to the test after a Gila-backpass. No time for close-ups on Ribery. We’re inside the first ten minutes and we get a preview of what we will see in the next eighty minutes: Gila eats Van Buyten and/or De Michelis in aerial duels (this guy is a magnet), Jovetic and Van Bommel battle for midfield possession, Vargas uses his strength to push beyond half way, Montolivo distributes elegantly, Ribery dashes towards Frey, Schweinsteiger sends the leather to the corners and Kroldrup always gets a foot on the ball. After these erratic ten minutes, the game takes a shape. Tonight it will be Bayern in possession and Fiorentina playing a refined catenaccio. Van Buyten sucks, Badstuber tries to kill Montolivo and Marchionni one after the other, Jovetic starts to dribble past Van Bommel, Ribery and Robben are the only ones to touch the ball. We have to wait until the 17th minute to catch a glimpse of a constructed chance. Robben swirls in a free kick, the Viola defence clears poorly only to see the ball fall back to Ribery who unleashes his furious left foot. Frey saves..
Things start to heat up. Bayern forces on fouls to stop venomous Florentine counter attacks. By the 27th minute we have seen Van Bommel do the same foul about ten times (I’m late on the ball so I just stick out my two feet in the hope of getting my opponent’s shin and therefore macerating his knee) at the expense of Montolivo, who, injured, will nonetheless continue playing. Robben continues to dribble past defenders but is offered no solutions by his teammates, so he shoots, centrally. Fiorentina get some semi-chances through Montolivo (shot high, 34th) and apply a remarkable pressure as soon as the Bayern players pass the 35 meters line. Natali steps well to Ribery, De Michelis gives the ball away, Van Bommel gives the ball straight to Frey, Gilardino winks at the referee, Muller doesn’t touch the ball, Bayern never play through the middle and De Silvestri pulls Robben’s shirt. At the 41th, Robben links up with Gomez who returns the favour, arriving at full speed at the box the Dutchman serves Muller who turns to shoot. Natali is there (and will be) Frey comes out. We have to wait until the 45+1 minute to finally see Robben dip in towards the middle more, serve a full-speed Ribery who shoots. Frey saves. The ball gets to Gomez, who followed well, and scores. No sorry, take that back. Referee has whistled penalty kick for a foul on Ribery. Robben takes it, same outcome. Bizarre but all the same. 1-0. Van Buyten fails one last basic clearance and Van Bommel destroys Vargas’ ankle before half time.
Things start to heat up. Bayern forces on fouls to stop venomous Florentine counter attacks. By the 27th minute we have seen Van Bommel do the same foul about ten times (I’m late on the ball so I just stick out my two feet in the hope of getting my opponent’s shin and therefore macerating his knee) at the expense of Montolivo, who, injured, will nonetheless continue playing. Robben continues to dribble past defenders but is offered no solutions by his teammates, so he shoots, centrally. Fiorentina get some semi-chances through Montolivo (shot high, 34th) and apply a remarkable pressure as soon as the Bayern players pass the 35 meters line. Natali steps well to Ribery, De Michelis gives the ball away, Van Bommel gives the ball straight to Frey, Gilardino winks at the referee, Muller doesn’t touch the ball, Bayern never play through the middle and De Silvestri pulls Robben’s shirt. At the 41th, Robben links up with Gomez who returns the favour, arriving at full speed at the box the Dutchman serves Muller who turns to shoot. Natali is there (and will be) Frey comes out. We have to wait until the 45+1 minute to finally see Robben dip in towards the middle more, serve a full-speed Ribery who shoots. Frey saves. The ball gets to Gomez, who followed well, and scores. No sorry, take that back. Referee has whistled penalty kick for a foul on Ribery. Robben takes it, same outcome. Bizarre but all the same. 1-0. Van Buyten fails one last basic clearance and Van Bommel destroys Vargas’ ankle before half time.
“I wonder why Ribery and Robben don’t look for each other more, instead of staying on their sides all the time?”
Second half starts with good news: Van Buyten is out for Contento. Fiorentina come back conquering. Vargas and Jovetic obtain corner kicks, the German defense has trouble finding itself amidst the Viola furia. Contento inaugurates the foul-festivities. De Silvestri obtains another corner. From the flag Vargas delivers a good ball in, none of the defenders pick it up, the leather falls on Jovetic’s left shin, rolls to Kroldrup who is about a meter away from Butt. 1-1, 50th. Deserved equalizer (I believe so) or not, Bayern now have to react. The game considerably slows down, now that all of Fiorentina are in their half. Contento doesn’t miss a pass, Schweinsteiger holds the midfield together, Ribery crosses low but no one picks up, Robben shoots in the stands, Gilardino still winks at everyone, Jovetic tries his luck from far. At the 65th Van Gaal introduces Olic and Klose for Gomez and Muller. The heavy artillery is out. Ball possession becomes 60-40 for Bayern. The game becomes an attack-defense style training. Usually this ensures entertainment for the viewers. Well, not with Bayern. Because if it doesn’t work on one side, well you just try the other. Over and over, and over, and over so on so forth. So we see Schweinsteiger continuously bringing the ball from Ribery to Robben and vice-versa. Fascinating…
Ribery tries to find Olic from the left but Natali steps in. Klose tries to cross for the right but Frey intervenes. These are just examples. Fiorentina’s heroic defense continues but their counter attack become progressively shorter. 72nd minute, Gossi gets a red card after elbowing Robben in the face. Not that it did not deserve a red card, but where was the red for Van Bommel? And for Klose? Pretty weird referee (I think to myself). Now Fiorentina are imprisoned inside their own half. Klose moves well around Contento and Ribery only to be cut out by a last minute De Silvestri. Montolivo sticks to Robben like superglue, Schweinsteiger keeps going back and forth between left and right sides of the field, Olic finds a couple of corner kicks, no one pressure Van Bommel anymore. On the 89th minute, Robben sends his thousandth powerful central, Frey cannot maintain, the ball falls to Olic who heads it to Klose, alone in front of the empty goal. 2-1. The stadium erupts, all the Florentines gather around the referees, especially the one with the flag, and rightly so. Klose is in fact 2 meters off-side. There is no doubt about it, and I usually try to have understanding for the sideline officials (I tried refereeing on the sideline, it’s impossible to get it right) but this is unforgivable. His view was not obstructed. Nothing else to say. Bayern win in the worst manner and thank you Van Gaal for such a display of ugliness. To remain polite: Fiorentina in our hearts, Bayern on the score sheet (shit?).
Ribery tries to find Olic from the left but Natali steps in. Klose tries to cross for the right but Frey intervenes. These are just examples. Fiorentina’s heroic defense continues but their counter attack become progressively shorter. 72nd minute, Gossi gets a red card after elbowing Robben in the face. Not that it did not deserve a red card, but where was the red for Van Bommel? And for Klose? Pretty weird referee (I think to myself). Now Fiorentina are imprisoned inside their own half. Klose moves well around Contento and Ribery only to be cut out by a last minute De Silvestri. Montolivo sticks to Robben like superglue, Schweinsteiger keeps going back and forth between left and right sides of the field, Olic finds a couple of corner kicks, no one pressure Van Bommel anymore. On the 89th minute, Robben sends his thousandth powerful central, Frey cannot maintain, the ball falls to Olic who heads it to Klose, alone in front of the empty goal. 2-1. The stadium erupts, all the Florentines gather around the referees, especially the one with the flag, and rightly so. Klose is in fact 2 meters off-side. There is no doubt about it, and I usually try to have understanding for the sideline officials (I tried refereeing on the sideline, it’s impossible to get it right) but this is unforgivable. His view was not obstructed. Nothing else to say. Bayern win in the worst manner and thank you Van Gaal for such a display of ugliness. To remain polite: Fiorentina in our hearts, Bayern on the score sheet (shit?).
Grades
Bayern Munich – 4: No idea, redundancy, a defense made of cardboard, referees’ favours and a win. Tonight is a night to hate Bayern.
Butt – 5: A couple of important saves at the beginning of the game, maybe come out on the corner?
Lahm – 6: Lahm is an example of professionalism and patience, although a couple of mistake, covered well on Vargas (or best as he could), get out of there Philip!
Demichelis – 3: Clumsy, slow and unprepared.
Van Buyten – 2: Clumsy, slow, worrisome and overrated.
Badstuber – 5 then 7: Struggled in the first half against an overactive Marchionni, much better in his natural position of central defender where he brought the little calm Bayern needed.
Van Bommel – 0: I understand the need of a strong player, but he is just unnecessarily brutal, useless in the game plan and a disgrace, especially against a team as aesthetic as Fiorentina (some people might say 10 just as a heads up)
Schweinsteiger – 7: Has progressed tremendously in the defensive tasks, yet his position at Bayern limits him to long passes (which he does very well) but he should be up there scoring and creating.
Ribery, Robben – 6: I know this seems blasphemous, but it is not their technique that I am grading. They are too mechanical, no creative genius, just take the ball, run, dribble a little bit, always the same. (Let me know if you got something to say)
Muller – 3: This game seemed to be a bit over his head, let’s wait a couple of years.
Gomez – 5: Very generous in the efforts, dropped off his position to help his teammates.
Lahm – 6: Lahm is an example of professionalism and patience, although a couple of mistake, covered well on Vargas (or best as he could), get out of there Philip!
Demichelis – 3: Clumsy, slow and unprepared.
Van Buyten – 2: Clumsy, slow, worrisome and overrated.
Badstuber – 5 then 7: Struggled in the first half against an overactive Marchionni, much better in his natural position of central defender where he brought the little calm Bayern needed.
Van Bommel – 0: I understand the need of a strong player, but he is just unnecessarily brutal, useless in the game plan and a disgrace, especially against a team as aesthetic as Fiorentina (some people might say 10 just as a heads up)
Schweinsteiger – 7: Has progressed tremendously in the defensive tasks, yet his position at Bayern limits him to long passes (which he does very well) but he should be up there scoring and creating.
Ribery, Robben – 6: I know this seems blasphemous, but it is not their technique that I am grading. They are too mechanical, no creative genius, just take the ball, run, dribble a little bit, always the same. (Let me know if you got something to say)
Muller – 3: This game seemed to be a bit over his head, let’s wait a couple of years.
Gomez – 5: Very generous in the efforts, dropped off his position to help his teammates.
.Contento – 7: A very good surprise, more of a left back that Badstuber, brought the right incisiveness to the game. Also successfully deliver and conserved the ball.
.Olic – 6: Brought his usual activity to the pitch, don’t talk to me about that goal.
.Klose – 7: Great games great players, Klose is an adept of this. A killer, even got away with scoring an offside goal!
.Olic – 6: Brought his usual activity to the pitch, don’t talk to me about that goal.
.Klose – 7: Great games great players, Klose is an adept of this. A killer, even got away with scoring an offside goal!
Fiorentina – 7: The plan seemed to work until fate turned against them. Still have a precious away goal after a heroic performance. Hope is not lost for the Viola.
Frey – 7: Came and relieved his defense very well, another good game for one of the most underestimated keepers of his generations.
De Silvestri -6: Very focused on defending, applied the task well, also tried his luck in offence.
De Silvestri -6: Very focused on defending, applied the task well, also tried his luck in offence.
Kroldrup - 6: Although he created a penalty kick (it was aleady a goal) stuck well to his task and even offered Fiorentina the only ray of light that might be left.
Natali – 8: Simply heroic.
Gobbi – 6: Very good until the expulsion, and he might blame the referee (he might be right) but those things should never appear on a field.
Montolivo – 7: also heroic, played with a hip injury and played well. Essential as always
Bolatti – 5: Not used to these big time games, like Muller, was out of the rhythm yet fought with determination.
Marchionni – 7: ADHD and problem for the defense.
Vargas – 6: Not as incisive as I thought he would be, still though, when he paces down that left side, I got chills!
Jovetic – 6: Again, maybe not fully ready for these big rendez vous and that much responsability, Stephan showed a lot of good things. Keep an eye out.
Gilardino – 7: Fought until the last minute, even when he didn’t have the effort to control the ball anymore, Alberto didn’t have much fun tonight but sure helped out.
Natali – 8: Simply heroic.
Gobbi – 6: Very good until the expulsion, and he might blame the referee (he might be right) but those things should never appear on a field.
Montolivo – 7: also heroic, played with a hip injury and played well. Essential as always
Bolatti – 5: Not used to these big time games, like Muller, was out of the rhythm yet fought with determination.
Marchionni – 7: ADHD and problem for the defense.
Vargas – 6: Not as incisive as I thought he would be, still though, when he paces down that left side, I got chills!
Jovetic – 6: Again, maybe not fully ready for these big rendez vous and that much responsability, Stephan showed a lot of good things. Keep an eye out.
Gilardino – 7: Fought until the last minute, even when he didn’t have the effort to control the ball anymore, Alberto didn’t have much fun tonight but sure helped out.
Donadel, Pasqual, Felipe - N/A : came in and never went to Bayern's half.
2 comments:
Man Vargas is a beast. I would have given him a 9 for that game just because of how many times he broke down Robben's runs, plus the way he looks so unnatural when he dribbles but still manages to pull it off with ease. That picture you have of him, that tackle on Robben.... that was awsome. Also I agree on the Robben and Ribery part, but they're wingers. If I was Van Gaal, who seriously looks like Josh Homme by the way, I would put Gomez and Klose in the front and just destroy teams by getting Robery to cross from the wings. Van Bommel is an abomination. I hate that guy. All he does is destroy. Fucking ugly.
As per la Viola, I was expecting more from jovetic, he lost the ball alot, but I think he will explode in Florence, just like he did against liverpool. Prandelli is a master, I think he will take over after Lippi even, or maybe go to Juve (Inter is always a possibility right? :)
First, let's take a minute and imagine Van Gaal singing "I wanna make it with you". Epic.
'Robery' is an efficient way of getting the ball in box, but I have some resentment as to Gomez' ability to put score constantly (he has done it in the past, but is no Toni). Vargas is an animal, no wonder Real Madrid want him (instead of that Marcelo horror). The 6 I gave him is because he's usually keen on taking shots, dipping into the middle and pushing his luck much more often than what I saw against Bayern. I guess out of disapointment. But I would sign him in a heartbeat.
As for Prandelli he's one of my favourite: no shame in preferring beautiful game over result, although Champion's League has pushed a bit away from that mentality. I don't see him at Inter (I wish), we have never been good with italian trainers. Juve would be a good solution, he inscribes himself well in that tradition. As for coaching the Italian team it would be a good bet, but he has been known for being very close to players and building identity with time, and with national teams it is very hard to find the same lapse of time as with a club. You know? Anyways it would be a good message from the Italian Federation to choose him!
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