Pizy

Player for player (when we have everyone fit, that is) I don't think Bayern are a million miles better than we are. They've got a couple of world class players in key positions, yes, but the rest are solid but not spectacular.This isn't the Real Madrid, Barca, or Bayern of recent years where they've got a worldie in every position. The biggest differences I see are the speed and confidence in which they zip their passes around knowing that their teammates can control it and also the mentality from every player. There's a big time swagger and confidece you can see. From minute one they looked like they knew they'd boss us and did just that. So, yeah. We desperately need not only more technically excellent players to replace the Barkley's, Azpi's, Alonso's, etc but players that are grown men with some cajones. Players who don't look totally out of place against this level of opposition. You flip on the TV and some of our players stick out like a sore thumb. Like this level is way above them.

Bayern being the kings of Germany allows them to simply pick and choose pretty much any top talent or player from other German clubs. They see a player they like, they make their interest known, and that player is then desperate to move there. They're even able to go to their most direct rival for the title like Doetmund and steal their best players away. Same thing happens with Juventus. This is a huge advantage some clubs have that simply isn't possible in the PL.

Hard for me to feel angry or devastated by either this result or our prospects going forward this year because we have NOWHERE NEAR the quality to do any damage in the CL. We've known that since the day the transfer ban went into effect. What I am annoyed at is just how massive the chasm is between us and the very elite clubs like Bayern. This should be a harsh reminder to our owner and our board that we have a colossal task on hand to get us back to this level.

Azpi slips for the first goal and is easily beaten in the air for the second. Gets way to close to the attacker so that he's instantly out of the picture if anything goes wrong. And it went wrong twice. Gives himself no chance to recover.

Tie over. Azpi directly at the heart of both goals.

This is the sort of team that's always going to cause certain players in our team in particular problems. Barkley, Jorginho, Azpi, and Alonso all struggle against teams that press them intensely. Barkley, Alonso, and Azpi becasue they're technically not great and Jorginho because he's not athletic and needs space. It doesn't do us any good now, but at least the holes in our team are bloody obvious and will surely be addressed in the summer.

Must be said again that Kova is a fantastic player. Nobody can get the bal off him when he's running with it. If we had better attackers in front of him he'd look even better. This match is screaming out for Pulisic or CHO (or Ziyech) to shred Bayern on the counter.

Willian would indeed be controlling these passes Barkley is losing. Make that switch please, Frank!

Barkley simply cannot deal with getting pressed. He loses it EVERY TIME it's played into him with defenders around him. You would think someone as massive as he is would be able to shield it and hold players off, but nope.

Welp, if it wasn't set in stone against Spuds I think it is now. Kepa is 100% done here. Most expensive keeper in history done after 1 year basically. Wow.

So what chance do we have tonight? Are Bayern in great form? I have t watched a minute of their matches since they embarrassed Spuds a while ago.

Imagine if we played with this same intensity and desire week in and week out. The pressing and workrate of the front 3 was superb and both Jorginho and Kova bossed it in midfield, not allowing any of Spuds' midfielders to do much of anything. Winks and Ndombele were invisible. Giroud demonstrated that he's the most polished striker we have by far. He's got his weaknesses but he's classy at most things and works his socks off. I'd start him against Bayern Tuesday.

Spuds have looked awful time and again but always seem to squeak something out. Usually it's Son scoring so we're fortunate that's he's not here. We definitely need the next goal, though. We're good for at least one schoolboy error each game and are normally punished for it.

Best thing about having both Mount and Barkley on the pitch together is that they'll press extremely well. Neither are decisive with the final touch but are causing Spuds players to rush and turn the ball over. And man, it's nice seeing a big striker not getting pushed around. That's something Tammy needs to improve on. Giroud is almost immovable.

If we're able to keep most of the ball at least we'll have good crossers in wide areas and someone to actually aim at in the box.

With the exception of AC, that might be the best we can hope for considering our injuries. That Spuds team really doesn't look at all scary. But neither did United's.

It's basically going to be a "who can be less shit with all the injuries" derby. I do like how Lamps said in the presser that the players fully realize how seriously important this match is. But they should have last game as well and shit the bed. I truly fear for us if we lose tomorrow.

We've fallen pretty damn far. And yeah, I actually wouldn't mind seeing Alonso or Emerson starting in their natural position instead of playing Azpi there. We need all the attacking threat we can get when Pulisic and CHO are both out. As for AC, just sick and tired of seeing him get pushed around like a youth player that was just promoted from the under 18's. At least Zouma and Tomori are built like tanks.

Kepa back in for Willy, Mount will be in for Kante, and hopefully Giroud in for Bats. I'd rather Giroud than an injured Tammy in such an important match. God knows I'd love to see AC dropped for Tomori or Zouma, but Frank seems to have fallen in love with him and out of love with the latter two for some reason.

Man, seriously wtf is going on with Pulisic? How does he pick up such a serious injury in training? Starting to piss me off.

No Kane, no Son, no Eriksen. Mourinho ball. They leak goals. But it probably still won't matter because we have so many key injuries ourselves. This is how it'll probably go - we dominate the ball, dominate the run of play, have 20 shots with 5 on target, don't score a single goal. Then, after getting pinned back most of the game, one of their smallest players like Lucas will get one chance in our box and score to win it. Story of our season.

It's just so infuriating and frustrating to have so many key players out injured all at the same time (and at the most important time!) of the season. Injuries are something Frank can't control, but it's the things that he can control that are starting to really bother me. Having Michy above Giroud in the pecking order is baffling. Frank has praised Giroud all season long for his training and professionalism. So if he's training so well why can't he get a sniff? The only explanation is that it's an ideological thing. Frank must think that Oli is just too slow or something. But he cannot possibly be worse than Batshuayi. Then there's the defensive decisions. AC is softer than two-ply toilet paper. He's skinny as a stick and gets bullied even by people much smaller. He falls to the ground constantly from soft pushes. He seems to go down for treatment or worse every game. Azpi, as much as I love him, should not be starting over and over as a LB. And then the keeper situation. Just put Kepa back in and ride it out. If he returns to form, great, if he doesn't get rid in the summer. But Willy isn't any better. Kepa's average level is better than Caballero's average. I just have no faith we'll even finish 5th-6th if we don't get Pulisic, CHO, and Tammy back AND in red hot form all at once. Teams can look at our team without those players and think "unless Willian pulls some magic out of his hat from outside the box they have no real goal threat." Everyone can get set up well in a low block and we have ZERO answers.

And that's top 4 gone.

How FUCKING lucky have United been here today!? TWO obvious VAR decisions that completely change the game go in their favor.

Christensen is massively soft physically and makes schoolboy mental errors. How he is a first choice CB I don't know. He should be a distant 4th choice. For all Zouma's limitations on the ball, he wouldn't be getting beaten in the air by fucking Martial.