I came home at 1.15 AM (90 minutes back) after a rather long work-day, just in time for the second half of the first leg Semi between Bayern and Lyon. Tymoschuk was replacing Ivica Olic while Muller was already in. Wondered what tragedy would want a forward to be replaced by someone not-so-forwardish. Three minutes into the second half, I was wondering why Schweini had to run so much and be everywhere and still have too many Lyon players around him. Only when Toulalan got his first yellow, the commentator mentioned the Red card for Ribery. What?
From the replays, looks like he deserved it.
Ten on eleven is a scary prospect. van Gaal made one correct substitution after quite a while. Muller playing a lone CF with Schweini moving to his natural position was another positive move. But clearly, the day belonged to one Arjen Robben from the Netherlands. Beating one of the world's best keepers in Lloris isn't easy, even if aided by luck. He deserved a goal for his play, though. There was talk in the commentary box about Bastian missing chances in the first half but turning around so effectively in the second. I'd say that happens when there's no Ribery he has to adjust to.
Bayern just showed other teams how to play with ten men against eleven...and not lose and blame it on the card later. Superior possession with I think three to four times the no of passes, great running except for a coupla losers, really good overall. I want to know the distance covered by Schweini. He was freakin everywhere today. 'Supreme presence on the field', as the commentator put it.
Gomez, the worst forward in the history of the game, played at his best and had so many Gomez moments that I lost count of them. Bayern and Germany are probably the only teams in the world who could have such a joker on their side and still win. Robben would cry for two days at the 'shockingly innovative' Gomez header. Schweini passed a perfect ball to him around 70'. Any striker in the world would have turned around. Gomez back-passed it to a LYON player. Repeated it again at 83' or 85'. After a save by Lloris off Robben, the ball was well on its way to get Bayern a corner. But oh yea, Gomez flew in to save the ball and try to score. He saved a corner for Lyon as the bloody guy was offside. I was like FTW! And hey Barca fans, you call Ibra's performance bad?? If Ibra's bad, this guy is tragedy to the power of catastrophe. Why Gomez would come on with Klose on the bench is something only van Gaal can answer. Why gomez would come on in the first place is for everyone to solve. Is he related to Gerd Muller or Beckenbauer?
Anyway, I couldn't have picked a better half to watch this week. Here's hoping I watch both matches completely next week. Lyon's a scary side with amazing talent. Didn't know they had Delgado, Toulalan, pjanic, Makoun, Lissandro and Lloris. No wonder they beat Madrid.
Player rater (for second half alone):
22 Butt - Not as bad as usual. There was this one time though, when he thought he was a spectator and did nothing when Lyon attacked. Thankfully, nothing happened.
05 Van Buyten - Good. Wasn't threatened at all.
06 Demichelis - Awesome.
21 Lahm - Awesome.
26 Contento - Not much to do
07 Ribery (red) - Didn't see him play
23 Pranjic (yellow) - Didn't see much of him (Gomez 63 - He deserves a separate post)
31 Schweinsteiger - God
10 Robben - God 2.0 (Altintop 85 - Not much to do)
11 Olic - Didn't see him play (Tymoschuk 46 - Good. Especially the assist)
25 Muller - Had a couple of Gomez moments. Btw, that's an insult. How much more could Lahm have done there??? Trying to move back that way? Gimme a break.
01 Lloris - Awesome
03 Cris - Good
13 Reveillere - Didn't know who he was
20 Cissokho - Good
06 Kallstrom - Not bad
08 Pjanic - didn't see much of him (Makoun 55 - Good)
10 Ederson - Didn't see much of him (Michel Bastos 71 (yellow) - Average)
28 Toulalan (yellow, red) - Unlucky chap
41 Gonalons - Who?
09 Lopez - He didn't have much attacking to do today
19 Delgado - Awesome any day (Govou 79 - had a good chance towards the end. Mis-hit.)
C ya next week! Cricket till then.
