Blog Archives
Recycling Success
7-nil.
FYI – Bayern Munich has scored 33 goals and conceded 3 in their last 9 games in all competitions.
For any Champions League match, that’s a startling final score. After dismantling Ukraine’s Shakhtar Donetsk following Müller’s successful penalty (and the fastest red card in tournament history) in the 4th minute on the friendly pitch at the Allianz Arena, Bayern Munich sent a clear message in their final game in the round of 16: Will Smith and Margot Robbie aren’t the only people in the world who are focused.
Last year’s devastating and embarrassing loss to eventual tournament champions Real Madrid in the semifinal still appears to be on the minds of the German leaders. 4th and 5th gears only. Pep’s Boys, regardless of potentially securing their 25th Bundesliga title with games in hand, will not rest until they can hoist their second Champions League trophy in three years. Or, in other words, winning the trophy that was the reason why Pep was hired as manager. As a matter of fact, they won’t rest until they get another historic Treble, like they did in 2013 with his predecessor Jupp Heynckes.
What are they doing to accomplish this? Oddly enough, it partially involves large buckets.
The goals are really piling up for Bayern Munich.
The Beautiful Investment
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take”
–Wayne Gretzky
Frank Lampard and Steve Gerrard are big signings for Major League Soccer (MLS). Make no mistake about that. However, the seismic shift that will catapult the still youthfully optimistic MLS (turning 20 years-old this year) is, quite literally, youth. This constitutes early 20-somethings born and raised in the United States and (equally and possibly more importantly) early 20-somethings from Europe. The latter are highly-talented players who are groomed in the reserve/youth teams of top clubs for future picking onto the grandest pitches in the world. One of the best at discovering and elevating players through a club’s system is Louis Van Gaal. Ever heard of Xavi Hernández and Andrés Iniesta? How about Thomas Müller and Bastian Schweinsteiger? Yeah, Van Gaal discovered them before they were household names/global stars/World Cup winners. And his track record will continue for years to come, as the aforementioned names are just a few of his stellar sightings. There’s not enough space to get into detail about his successful tenures with some of the top clubs and world-class players, but his instincts for future success is the focus in this post.
Then there’s the modern tactical genius Pep Guardiola. Bayern Munich announced last Friday that Pep had signed the fresh-faced, yet deeply talented 19 year-old German national Joshua Kimmich worth millions. He’s a defensive midfielder who some have reported could be positioned as the future of Bayern’s stout midfield. The point is that there is value in serious investment of youth that requires vision and patience. MLS team have youth teams, but not anywhere close to the level of Europe’s giants. Admittedly, there is a major cultural and financial difference between the U.S. and Europe when it comes to soccer/football. True. But still, until individual MLS teams partner with said European giants who have similar tactical dynamics that includes 1-3 year loans of their youngsters for non-reserve, competitive matches who are not-yet-ready for their first team, the obvious barriers will remain between the United States and its competition (so to speak) across the pond. Most clubs may predictably refrain from moving their players to a foreign country and system from their own, but this is just a suggestion. However, it seems to be the most practical for realistically earning the ear of at least a few future (and unknown) stars.
The next big, truly transformational moment for MLS will be the signing of future household names from here, but especially abroad. Lower the risk for European clubs in these partnerships with the profitable United States soccer market (see Bayern Munich for their insistence/establishment of an American headquarters in NYC) and increase the rewards for MLS teams, fans and investors alike. A majority of these investments will all but certainly be short-term, but it will undeniably take the league to the necessary next level for discovering, training and producing indisputable world-class talent. There is a genuine attraction to living in and playing in the United States. This country is a central piece in the future of global soccer, despite FIFA’s oblivious rejection of a future U.S-hosted World Cup. Plus, it’s clear that David Beckham came here for reasons beyond a substantial paycheck.
U.S. soccer doesn’t have a ceiling, which is an amazing asset to have. The excitement is palpable, particularly during the World Cup. Only time will tell if this hypothesis will ever come to fruition. And to the naysayers out there who openly laugh at this idea, I say why not? The best coaches and clubs view their youth as vitally important future investments. Why not MLS? Dream big for goodness sake! Note that some of these players could be current and/or future members of the USMNT.
If MLS can just get the next Arjen Robben (LOL, sorry about that) young stud (like Julian Green) to turn his head and attention towards the crashing waves of the U.S. for his league play for a couple years before returning back to Bayern Munich, it could be the first wave in something really big on the foreseeable horizon in the United States.
Don’t merely mind the gap…bridge the gap.
The Munich Empire Takes Rome
Rome’s defensive force just isn’t what it used to be.
Bundesliga juggernaut Bayern Munich traveled to Rome for a Champions League match against AS Roma yesterday. In the dawn of this season, FC Holywood was struggling (meaning they actually lost and/or tied a game or two). These minor hiccups (following a successful, hard fought World Cup for many of its star players mind you) are extrapolated because the expectations continue to be astronomical for Pep Guardiola after guiding a golden generation at Barcelona and the fact that he had the impossible task of directly following Jupp Heynckes’ record-breaking, treble winning season. Actually, Pep’s won everything Jupp did in that unforgettable 2012-2013 season, except a Champions league title. Sort of a big omission. Pep had a few words about his strategy in the disastrous semi-final leg versus Real Madrid, but this is a family-friendly blog. To paraphrase, he said ‘it was his biggest goof of his career.’ Still, thus far, Bayern Munich has earned two 1-nil victories in their 2014-2015 Champions League quest against Manchester City and CSKA Moscow. Next up was s trip to Italy against AS Roma.
In-depth analysis could break this game down, but someone graciously compiled a video that encapsulates the tone and feel of the match…in 6 seconds.
(Just click on the video to pause it)
Bayern Munich 7-1 AS Roma.
Pep’s Boys are officially back in top form. Simply put, this was a statement game for a final that won’t be played for around 7 months on June 6, 2015. And by the way, the UEFA Champions League Final is in Berlin at the Olympiastadion.
How do you say, “relentless focus” in German?
Looks like Pep’s rewriting it so that it starts with Bayern and ends in Munich (technically Berlin, but you know what I’m saying).
Lost in Translation
MLS All-Stars 2 Bayern Munich 1
The Jekyll and Hyde dynamic of the MLS All-Star game can be tricky to define and prepare for as a result. On the one hand foot, both coaches and teams are under the presumed assumption that the game will be more entertaining than competitive. It’s a reward of sorts for both squads. Tactics will be utilized, but to a suspended degree. And on the other foot, fans want to see their money’s worth. Consequently, this requires efforts of players be exhausted that would simulate a crucial playoff match in some circumstances.
Enter Bayern Munich into Portland, Oregon.
The first team for Bayern Munich did not even begin to take shape on the pitch until very late in the game (~ the 80′). The players from Germany and the Netherland’s World Cup squads flew in special for this event yesterday afternoon. For the most part, it was Bayern’s second team battling the MLS All-Stars (underscore the word “battle”). Things got tense on the field and on the coaching sideline when the best of MLS took some hard challenges on Pep’s Boys (my nickname). It appeared to violate “a gentleman’s agreement” before the match began, particularly in the mind of Pep Guardiola. This led to a refusal of Pep to shake hands with Caleb Porter, along with a stern talking to the officials after the final whistle blew. It should be noted that it’s the middle of the season for MLS and preseason for Bayern Munich.
Who is right and who is wrong?
It depends on what the agreed upon protocol was for getting Bayern Munich to play in this game and what was said before the game began for what the overall tone of the game would be. One thing for certain is that European clubs should be fairly aware now that the MLS All-Star game is less of a celebration of the two sides and more of an opportunity for the best of MLS to showcase its talents and compete against the best clubs and players in the world. It’s a friendly only until the MLS All-Stars have a chance to score a goal or be competitive.
Regardless of whose side you are on (if you are at all), that’s a very ambiguous situation to prepare for in terms of what players you start, tactics you employ and level of intensity you ask of your players for either the full 90 minutes or just 20 minutes here and there.
In a genuine effort to play peacemaker, Jimmy’s Daily Planet has a suggestion to (at least partly) alleviate the tension that was displayed at the end of the game last night: Both coaches and players should be treated to a maple bacon doughnut from the Portland staple VooDoo Doughnut.
This perfectly delicious treat is a winner in any country.
Jimmy's Daily Planet 