27 Apr 2016 21:01:30
Anyone else think whilst watching the Bayern game Pep has a very similar philosophy to LVG. Expect Bayern have a better side to execute it. No wonder we didn't go for Pep. We already have him.

Hate to say it chaps, LVG is growing on me!

1.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 21:19:28
This athletico side are growing, bayern won't be going through, Imo. Eric that auld philosophy might be out of date mate.

2.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 21:41:44
Carefull Eric, if he grows on you too much he may leave a nasty rash.

3.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 21:44:17
Bayern will go through and open them up in the return leg IMO.

4.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 22:00:25
That athletico team are good pros, they work hard for each other, nothing fancy a good solid fit team with good balance,

5.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 22:45:42
Somewhat like Leicester eh Leahy?

6.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 23:07:54
X files I don't see that happening. Atleti are by far the best team defensively Very compact and hard to get through. They're like a consistent Leicester with higher quality players.

7.) 27 Apr 2016
27 Apr 2016 23:53:23
That's right yaz.

8.) 28 Apr 2016
28 Apr 2016 05:39:03
Trumours

I agree with everything you say but still saw enough tonight to believe they will open them up. I think Bayern will make some adjustments and have a feeling they will put 3 past them.

I also believe they are a completely different outfit when they go down a goal and having to come out and play. On certain night things go right for you and last night was one of those.

9.) 28 Apr 2016
28 Apr 2016 07:52:02
I think much will depend on whether Godin is back for Atletico, they kept Bayern from scoring without their best defender and their leader at the back. If he is back for the return leg then at best Bayern will maybe score twice more likely only the once. That is unlikely to be enough.

For me this tie reminds me a little of the Barca/ Inter tie from Inter's UCL winning season. Like Barcelona Bayern possess the better players and play in a more controlled fashion. But Atletico much like Inter are masters on defending and hitting on the counter with the sucker punch.

After last night I can see it ending in much the same way.

10.) 28 Apr 2016
28 Apr 2016 11:17:02
I must say I'm not a big fan of athletico and i know there are hundreds of ways to play the game but i find their style quite 'anti football'
Don't get me wrong I admire their organisation, work ethnic and spirit but it's not hugely pleasing on the eye. Imo
That said I hope they see the tie out and get one up on the messiah.
If they win the cl and Leicester win the epl it will have been a good year for the underdog ' smaller club '

11.) 28 Apr 2016
28 Apr 2016 12:43:11
Ken - I'm not sure that you can call Atletico the underdog anymore.

I certainly fancied them to knock Bayern out at the very least when the draw was made.

I agree that Simeone is a very pragmatic manager but give him huge credit for the job he has done with Atletico and think he's gone some way to cementing their place as a big club. Their record in La Liga and the Champions league over recent years suggests as much anyway.

12.) 28 Apr 2016
28 Apr 2016 12:04:38
I agree Ken, they have a lot to admire but you feel that they don't entertain you enough. If they could use the same work rate, fighting spirit and organisation along with a real threat going forward and an offensive mentality they could be awesome. I think they need more pace on the break and to hold a higher line. But they lack pace in defence so would have to sort that out first.

13.) 28 Apr 2016
28 Apr 2016 13:13:08
Redseven. They are relatively New to the big big time. They are a small club in turnover and budget and income compared to most of the ''big' club's
On the field for the last 4 years they have been successful but they are a small club still in comparison to the giants but they are not a small team at the moment i agree with you there. Although they were under dogs to beat Barcelona in the last round. Underdogs to beat Bayer in the semi and will be underdogs if they face real in the final. So I think it's fair to say they are underdogs. You may have fancied them but they were 2nd favourite for those ties and will be in the final too if they play real madrid.

14.) 29 Apr 2016
29 Apr 2016 05:01:25
Been saying this since I watched the Arsenal vs Bayern games, it was exactly the same style, yet we've got everyone thinking Pep is some tactical genius compared to LVG, when the paying style is almost identical.