Bayer to go for our jugular apparently

Dans

Correctly predicted Portugal to win Euro 2016
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Toppmoller is starting to sound a bit like Irueta did. Apparently we're not very good defensively so they will come and attack us. Suits me fine, we play our best football when teams try and take the game to us. I think we could be in for a good result on Wednesday - by good I mean in terms of number of goals.

<a href="http://www.planetfootball.com/article.asp?id=90515&Title=%42%61%79%65%72%20%74%6F%20%67%6F%20%66%6F%72%20%55%6E%69%74%65%64%20%6A%75%67%75%6C%61%72" target="_blank">Story from Planet Bollox </a>
 
I read that about half an hour ago, and thought the same Dans.

He forgets one thing when he says that his team easily scored 4 against one of the best defenses in Europe - that the Liverpool midfield is nowhere near as good as ours at protecting the defence.

I've not really seen Bayer Leverkusen play. Do they attack down mainly the middle or down the flanks? If they try to attack us down the middle, I cant see them getting much joy TBH. Whenever Deportivo tried it they eventually had to resort to long range shots as there was no way through. As long as our back line can keep in line and not play anyone on-side, they will have to go along the flanks to get any joy.
 
Originally posted by WeasteDevil:
<strong>I've not really seen Bayer Leverkusen play. Do they attack down mainly the middle or down the flanks? If they try to attack us down the middle, I cant see them getting much joy TBH. Whenever Deportivo tried it they eventually had to resort to long range shots as there was no way through. As long as our back line can keep in line and not play anyone on-side, they will have to go along the flanks to get any joy.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Ze Roberto on their left caused all sorts of problem for Liverpool. This little Turkish guy in the Cantona role also saw a lot of the ball.
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They're a decent team who attack from all areas. Decent wing play comes from Ze Roberto and Neuville (who's pretty much an in the hole type attacker but get's all over the place) and Ballack is a good attacking midfielder (more so than a defensive midfielder which everyone lauds him as). If we can stop Ballack and stick Butt on him for the first 30 mins or so his head will drop I think and therein lies the key. Ze Roberto is a good tricky little winger but he's nothing exceptional. They are very beatable, but then anyone is at this stage of the competition.
 
Originally posted by Floyd:
<strong>

Ze Roberto on their left caused all sorts of problem for Liverpool. This little Turkish guy in the Cantona role also saw a lot of the ball.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Good point - Basturk is a good little player, but as like most Germans they can't handle a good physical contest so if we press them and put in a few hard crunching tackles, all yellow card free of course, we should begin to dominate the game as they shrink like violets.
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Originally posted by Dans:
<strong>If we can stop Ballack and stick Butt on him for the first 30 mins or so his head will drop I think and therein lies the key.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Fully agreed!
When you look at Butt's current form and how he handled Valeron vs. Deportivo I think he is capable of marking Ballack out of the match.
Moreover it will also be a very tough match for Gary to handle Ze Roberto.

If we don't underestimate them we should go through comfortably.

Besides, I think the pressure on Bayer increased after the last weekend.
They could have been champions if they would have won vs. Werder and Cologne had at least to draw against Dortmund.
If this would have happened I think they would have come to Manchester full of confidence, knowing that they had achieved their seasons aim and the rest from there would only be a bonus.
But instead their 5 point lead in the league was cut to only 2. They really have to watch out that they don't lose it again in the last moment like they did 2 years before. It will be very hard for them to focus on both, league and Europe.
There lies our advantage. They are by far not so experienced and used to this pressure than we are.
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Defence certainly doesn't look like Bayer's strong point. They've conceded 23 in Europe this season - a shitload more than us! But they do look extremely good going forward and I seriously think they could get a goal or two at OT.

However, if we're flying we could stuff them because on their travels they don't look the cleverest. 4:0 defeat at Juve, 4:1 at Arsenal, 5 loses in Europe in total. At the Bay Arena though, they'll be very difficult to beat I'd say, so ideally we'd want at least a two goal lead.

The old cliche of "when they're good they're very good, but when they're bad they're fecking brutal" seems to apply to Bayer! As long as we don't give them any encouragement in the opening exchanges on Wednesday, we have every chance of getting a good result.

We have to watch out for Ballack at set pieces though, apparently he's brilliant in the air(?) - see his second goal against the scumpool. If we put a leash on him, I'd say that could be half the battle won but never underestimate the germans!
 
Ballack IS good in the air, but this is something we are well aware of so as long as he's well marked at set pieces (I'd put Blanc on him - Butt is too short) we should be sorted. His strong points are his late runs into the box. He also does have a very good shot on him. Basically a man to man job on him is necessary. Nicky Butt is our man.
 
Today´s Kicker says Leverkusen will start with one man up front only, Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov, scorer of the third goal v the Scousers in the 2nd leg.

Keeping Ballack quiet is a must. Nicky should be up for that job IMO.

Leverkusen probable

---------------Butt---------------
Sebescen--Nowotny--Lucio--Placente
-------Ballack----Ramelow---------
Schneider----Bastürk----Zé Roberto
--------------Berbatov------------
 
as Jens stated in above post Ballack is a threat. He needs to be stopped, Butt is capable of keeping him busy. We have got to do the job in first match. I know Leverkusen (I live in Germany) They are very strong at home and on a good night can beat "anyone". Come on United <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
 
If they play like they did v the Scousers in the 2nd leg we could be in trouble, but I think that was a one off for them.

Ballack, Bastürk and Zé Roberto are the guys that can inflict the most damage.

Sebescen v Giggs is a matchup we should exploit cos Sebescen´s actually a right midfielder.

Lucio can be had cos he takes too many risks IMO and often loses the ball going forward.
 
Originally posted by Jens:
<strong>Sebescen v Giggs is a matchup we should exploit cos Sebescen´s actually a right midfielder.</strong><hr></blockquote>

Giggs will surely be given a free role at Old Trafford and in the second leg like he got against Deportivo and Chelsea, so he won't be tied to the left wing and be going up against Sebescen that often perhaps?

If Giggsy is at his best in the semis, Bayer will be in for a tough time at the back! His pace, penetration and sheer unpredictability gave Deportivo nightmares. He is definitely our most potent weapon in Europe and it's great to see him get a free role rather than staying on the left where he can often drift out of games. European teams cack themselves when playing against Giggsy so we need to use him to his full capabilities.

I'm just stating the obvious here, don't mind me.... ;)
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Originally posted by Jens:
<strong>Today´s Kicker says Leverkusen will start with one man up front only, Bulgarian Dimitar Berbatov, scorer of the third goal v the Scousers in the 2nd leg.

Keeping Ballack quiet is a must. Nicky should be up for that job IMO.

Leverkusen probable

---------------Butt---------------
Sebescen--Nowotny--Lucio--Placente
-------Ballack----Ramelow---------
Schneider----Bastürk----Zé Roberto
--------------Berbatov------------</strong><hr></blockquote>

What country is their goalie from?
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Originally posted by oakey:
<strong>

What country is their goalie from?</strong><hr></blockquote>

Germany

They signed him for free from Hamburg at the beginning of the season. He was linked with us before we signed Barthez. He takes their penalties, as well. IMO the second or third best German keeper.
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Bastürk is a little hothead that can play really well, but also can be played out of the game with a little mental warfare <img src="graemlins/devil.gif" border="0" alt="[Devil]" />
 
Nowotny, Placente, Ballack, Lucio, Brdaric, Sebescen and Oliver Neuville will be banned for the 2nd leg if they get booked on Wednesday.
 
Originally posted by Jens:
<strong>Nowotny, Placente, Ballack, Lucio, Brdaric, Sebescen and Oliver Neuville will be banned for the 2nd leg if they get booked on Wednesday.</strong><hr></blockquote>


who is endangered from our players?
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Originally posted by altair_8800:
<strong>


who is endangered from our players?</strong><hr></blockquote>

i think larry, butt and ruud are for sure ...
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