Lewandowski out for 4 weeks

Seems we are being charitable

Lewandoski and Coman out injured, joining Sule Perisic and Martinez

Who will strike for us? Will Flick try Gnabry or Muller at false 9 or play Zirkzee as striker? I am not sure he rates Arp that highly

Happy 120th birthday to the #1 Club on the planet

raumdeuter:
Lewandoski and Coman out injured, joining Sule Perisic and Martinez

Who will strike for us? Will Flick try Gnabry or Muller at false 9 or play Zirkzee as striker? I am not sure he rates Arp that highly

Time to unleash our Bini brother. Orobosa Zirkzee

8 wins in 8 knockout matches for burndisleaguedown teams so far

To be honest, we weren't that good against Chelsea. Our passing game was average and we gave balls away in dangerous areas a couple of times. That Coman was up against Alonso for over an hour and couldn't take him on and beat him for once was shocking. I don't even remember him putting one cross into the box. The guy come get injury on top. I can't wait for Sane to come, make all this nonsense stop.

Davies had a great game but i'm a bit concerned with his defending. He looks good but if you watch closely you will see he's most times recovering than actually winning the duel first time. A couple of times Mount got in behind him and was through on goal only for him to catch up just in time. A fellow speedster, say Mbappe would be far gone. But don't mind me, the boy is only 19 and will only get better.

I've got nothing but love for Pavard . I know he's not a natural RB and i understand playing him allows more stability in defence and he's there to stay but abeg he should work on his offense small. He doesn't have to gallop forward like Prime Alves. Funny enough, his stats look good. He's scored a couple of that his signature goal and a few assists to boot but i'm still uncomfortable watching him at RB.

They should just hand the keys to the city of London over to Gnabry. Make dem even make am Mayor join. The boy means business whenever he steps foot into London. Rich vein of form, he's in also. That dip in form late last year now looks a distant memory. I just need him to keep up this form now that his partner in crime Lewy is injured.


Airmark, Unlimited22 how una dey? I'm looking forward to watching the second leg with a relaxed mind

pkasso:
To be honest, we weren't that good against Chelsea. Our passing game was average and we gave balls away in dangerous areas a couple of times. That Coman was up against Alonso for over an hour and couldn't take him on and beat him for once was shocking. I don't even remember him putting one cross into the box. The guy come get injury on top. I can't wait for Sane to come, make all this nonsense stop.

Davies had a great game but i'm a bit concerned with his defending. He looks good but if you watch closely you will see he's most times recovering than actually winning the duel first time. A couple of times Mount got in behind him and was through on goal only for him to catch up just in time. A fellow speedster, say Mbappe would be far gone. But don't mind me, the boy is only 19 and will only get better.

I've got nothing but love for Pavard . I know he's not a natural RB and i understand playing him allows more stability in defence and he's there to stay but abeg he should work on his offense small. He doesn't have to gallop forward like Prime Alves. Funny enough, his stats look good. He's scored a couple of that his signature goal and a few assists to boot but i'm still uncomfortable watching him at RB.

They should just hand the keys to the city of London over to Gnabry. Make dem even make am Mayor join. The boy means business whenever he steps foot into London. Rich vein of form, he's in also. That dip in form late last year now looks a distant memory. I just need him to keep up this form now that his partner in crime Lewy is injured.


Airmark, Unlimited22 how una dey? I'm looking forward to watching the second leg with a relaxed mind

Congrats i pray you meet Man city, next round. Boathand must show his calamitous self.

airmark:
Congrats i pray you meet Man city, next round. Boathand must show his calamitous self.

You want the 2 teams you hate will play the quarters while yours will sit at home?

Why not Chelsea vs Madrid in the quarters So Hidden can have a chance to play his former team

airmark:


Congrats i pray you meet Man city, next round. Boathand must show his calamitous self.

You want us to meet Man City? That's strange. Anyways, you are guaranteed an L regardless of who qualifies so you might want to be careful what you wish for.

pkasso:
You want us to meet Man City? That's strange. Anyways, you are guaranteed an L regardless of who qualifies so you might want to be careful what you wish for.

How will i get an L if City knock Bayern out and fail to win Ucl?

I have always asked Dayo when Fraudiola would win Ucl without Messi. Why L for winning a knockout round?

airmark:


How will i get an L if City knock Bayern out and fail to win Ucl?

See sense. Pep knocking out Real and then Bayern is an L for you anyway we look at it. Shebi you claim the man is a fraud?

pkasso:
See sense. Pep knocking out Real and then Bayern is an L for you anyway we look at it. Shebi you claim the man is a fraud?

I have been asking Dayo for years, when Fraudiola would win ucl without Messi. I don't think next round is Ucl final stage, so where the L?

Lewy's injury is obviously a big cause for concern for Bayern. The lack of a quality back-up option for Lewy is one issue the club hasn't really addressed in recent seasons. The club has never considered it a matter of urgency given the Pole's consistency and incredible fitness. Half-hearted efforts were made in fixing the problem by improvising and playing Muller as a false nine, a role in which he looked uncomfortable and ineffective. When that experiment proved unsuccessful, the club went for Sandro Wagner, the third in a transfer raid on Hoffenheim. An old-school poacher who wasn't suited to Bayern's dynamic game, he left for China after only two seasons.

With Lewy in his 30's, the search for a successor has taken on more importance but mysteriously the club has failed to actively pursue strong replacements. Luka Jovic was on Kovac's transfer wish list but the club vetoed the move saying he would have been too expensive for a non-starter. The player would later move to Real Madrid for a reported 65 million euros that summer, providing cover and competition for Karim Benzema.

Then there was Timo Werner. Heading into the final year of his contract at Leipzig, he looked like the perfect signing. Young, German and fast, he fitted into President Hoeness's dream of building a Bayern with a strong German core. But the club never really looked like signing him, not even at a measly price of 30 million euros. Questions were raised about his best role and his ability to play against packed defenses with little space to operate.

Werner renewed his contract and under new manager Julian Nagelsmann, he has upped his game, scoring and even creating goals. His running battle with Lewandowski for the Torjagerkanone has been one of the most interesting subplots of the season and his goalscoring exploits have not gone unnoticed with the likes of Liverpool and Barcelona said to be interested.

Now with Lewy out for about a month and the club fighting on three fronts, the issue has reared its head again. How will Bayern cope without their best player?

Luckily, the situation might not be as bad as it looks and an unlikely combination might just provide the answer.

A number of alternatives are open to Coach Hansi Flick in light of the injury to his star man. He could turn to the old, tested but not trusted trick of playing Muller as a false nine. Or better still play Gnabry in that same role. Heck, he could give rising star Zirkzee a shot at CF.

Of all these options, the Gnabry one looks the most appealing and likely. The Germany international is no stranger to this role, having trialled in a more central position under Jorgi Low during the Euro qualifiers and friendlies.

Gnabry is clearly not the same type of player as Lewy so Bayern would have to alter their approach when attacking. Lewy was usually the target of direct balls from the back because he could hold up the ball and bring others into play. Playing with his back to the goal, he could lay off the ball to teammates running in behind. While Gnabry lacks the strength and aerial prowess to do this, he has other attributes that could see him succeed in this role.

Unlike Thomas Muller, he is comfortable playing on the half-turn. Gnabry's close control and dynamism allows him to navigate tight spaces. Like most false nines, he can operate 'in the hole' and along the halfspaces. Gnabry constant movement and drifting to the wings could cause problems for opposition CBs who could get torn between following him or holding their position.

While extolling Gnabry's skillset, there's another player that could complement his abilities and make him excel at this role: Leon Goretzka. While capable of playing as part of a double pivot, Goretzka's best position is in an advanced 8 position. There, his biggest strengths are on display. His all-round game, covering ground and winning duels. His aerial ability and not forgetting those late runs into the box to get on the end of cutbacks and crosses. It's no surprise comparisons have been drawn with Michael Ballack.

With Goretzka, Bayern can still retain that physicality and aerial threat in the final third. Gnabry can play off Goretzka, with the latter knocking down balls for him to run onto. Another option is Goretzka running into the central space vacated by Gnabry who has moved to the wings to put in a cross. It's not hard to see that Goretzka provides a perfect foil for Gnabry.

Goretzka also offers Bayern another threat on the counter. He might not look like it but he is adept at starting and finishing off counters. Imagine Davies, Gnabry and Goretzka running a three-man counter.

I'm hoping Flick sees the potential of this partnership and gives it a try. There's enough evidence of the two playing together for the German national team that this might work.

Who needs Lewandowski when Joshua OROBOSA Zirkzee is available.

3 shots 3 goals

Zirkzee >>>> Haaland

A40:
Time to unleash our Bini brother. Orobosa Zirkzee

Called it

I don't understand why Bayern Hoff match was interrupted

Leipzig has not been in great form this year, Spurs can knock them out if they dont take their chances today

sleekdot:
Leipzig has not been in great form this year, Spurs can knock them out if they dont take their chances today

Welp. Not with Aurier and Lloris in goal

A40:
Welp. Not with Aurier and Lloris in goal

Everytime the ball goes to Aurier I think he makes a mistake. In his box he will foul, I think he is only good close to opposition box

sleekdot:


Everytime the ball goes to Aurier I think he makes a mistake. In his box he will foul, I think he is only good close to opposition box

The second goal was just comical. Helped the winger with a flick on literally and of course his poor spatial awareness meant he had no shot at recovery

Calamity Hummels at work as usual

Muller has been extended to 2023

Alphonso Davies extended till 2025

Waiting for Alaba and Thiago to officially extend

Talk of the Bundesliga restarting behind closed doors May 9. Bold move. Let's see if it's feasible

There might be news on the Thiago and the Sane front

raumdeuter:
There might be news on the Thiago and the Sane front

Manchester City should agree on a fee and not scupper this deal...I need him out of City.

Roland17:


Manchester City should agree on a fee and not scupper this deal...I need him out of City.

I believe that barring any mishap Sane will be a Bayern player

Looks like it's official guys. Sane to Bayern

I hope we can find one maga EPL club that will take this Tolisso off our books. This is literally the only ninja that can get injured during isolation. There is no sensible explanation for keeping him beyond this season

I wonder who would go down as the bigger flop between Breno, Renato and him in recent times