European Super Cup

Thanks to the BBC:

LINE-UPS - Bayern Munich v Chelsea (1945 BST):
Bayern Munich: Neuer, Rafinha, Boateng, Dante, Alaba, Lahm, Robben, Muller, Kroos, Ribery, Mandzukic. Subs: Starke, Van Buyten, Javi Martinez, Shaqiri, Pizarro, Gotze, Contento.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Cahill, Luiz, Cole, Ramires, Lampard, Schurrle, Oscar, Hazard, Torres. Subs: Schwarzer, Essien, Mata, Mikel, Lukaku, Terry, Azpilicueta.

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sigtuna)

Chelsea to win 2-1.  

Chelsea look weap up front this year. They really need Willian and Eto'o to settle in quickly because Torres looks so poor.

Chelsea to scrape it 1-0

2-1 Bayern me thinks.

I recon Lampard will be MOTM since he is the best center midfielder in the world.

NickisBHAFC wrote:2-1 Bayern me thinks.

I recon Lampard will be MOTM since he is the best center midfielder in the world.

Goal scoring wise I think he is.

I can see either Bayern winning this at a canter or Chelsea spoiling their way to a 1-0 win.

Bit tiresome now Nick.

Suggestions Lahms playing DM, would it not be Alaba DM and Lahm LB.

GSC wrote:Bit tiresome now Nick.

Suggestions Lahms playing DM, would it not be Alaba DM and Lahm LB.

pep seems to like playing lahm at DM has done it since he took over.

Not a fan of Philip Lahm as a central midfielder, nor the formation Guardiola has started to use at Bayern, just think it's unnecessarily "clever", I think Guardiola is trying to cement his legacy as an innovator. 

Really surprised that Terry has been dropped and that there is no Mata, I know it's not a big match technically but it would be a great start for Jose to win it, especially against Bayern. No De Bruyne at all, could he be off on loan?

Also why on earth is Gus Poyet so popular as a pundit, seems to be on every channel at the moment despite being difficult to understand and not even being a very interesting or intelligent pundit. Please somebody hire him as a manager.

Fair enough, knew Alaba wants to be a DM

Very much getting the sense Jose would listen to bids for Mata now

GSC wrote:Very much getting the sense Jose would listen to bids for Mata now

Arsenal????

Wouldnt surprise me, Arsenes a long term admirer, and probably has to splash some cash.

Left out for Man Utd, and this game, despite getting a week off thanks to no international call up.

Looks very much like Jose will recreate his United tactics and look to play on the break while setting up shop.

You'd have thought Barcelona would be all over that, although I suppose it depends on how much they have to spend after the Neymar deal, I know they tend to only have one big signing in them every year.

Can't see Chelsea selling to anybody else in the Premier League if they do sell, PSG are an option. 

I can't comprehend it though, Mata is a better player than any of Chelsea's other options in his positions, probably one of the top 3 players in the Premier League as well. Can't get my head around it at all.

Theres no room at Barca, he'd be behind Cesc in the backup for every position pecking order

Its a shame itv get CL and England games, when they have such bad presenters and commentators

I'd have thought he'd be ahead of Sanchez on the right of the front three for Barcelona.

I'm still a bit gutted that Guardiola is at Bayern, they were such a good team last year and I loved the way they played, with two of probably the best pivots in football with some pacy, great wingers, Muller/Kroos etc. Now they're going to be sucked in by Guardiola's need to change and chop things and play odd formations to prove his intelligence. 

I can see his reign being a disaster. Just don't think the German efficiency will mould well with his Spanish flair.

GSC wrote:Its a shame itv get CL and England games, when they have such bad presenters and commentators

I agree, ITV very rarely have good pundits. I like Lee Dixon but that's about it. I know a lot of people criticise the BBC, but I think they do have the better pundits and think Alan Shearer has got better and better every year. Would rather BBC had more football, but it's hard to compete financially.

Guardiola is a fantastic coach, he'll be very successful

Why not just watch it on Sky then?  

Could see Mata at Barcelona im sure they would fit him in nicely

Any chance of the box being opened for this?

GSC wrote:Guardiola is a fantastic coach, he'll be very successful

That may be the case, but would rather he'd returned to Barcelona than taken over Bayern. Don't like his need to tinker and create odd formations, such as the one he's playing today or where he played extremely odd ones at Barcelona. Also don't like the fact that he tries to turn quality midfielders into centre backs such as Mascherano, likely Martinez...he tried to turn Yaya Toure into one!

Much prefer Mourinho ruthless efficiency to Guardiola's tinkering. Bayern were probably the perfect football team for me last year, I'm not sure he'll be able to recreate that with his changes.

1-0 Chelsea

Torres

Great goal.

Torres is back! 

Bayern 0-1 Chelsea - Fernando Torres - Quality goal and play building up to it

Boom!

Bayern more committed than United offensively and pay on the counter

Swear I've never seen Ribery do anything

Hoping for a high-scoring game. Can see Chelsea shutting up shop now though and Bayern struggling to break them down.

Would like to see Guardiola take over at an AC Milan or another sleeping giant like that and try and raise them from the ashes. Then he can innovate.

GSC wrote:Swear I've never seen Ribery do anything

Same here. Apparently we are missing something.

WHAT A GOAL!!!!!!!! That was just pure class all round. Maybe Jose can get the best out of Torres

Torres always seems to have one or two moments of brilliance every year but then just disappoints by not being consistent enough.

GSC wrote:Swear I've never seen Ribery do anything

Did you see he was shortlisted as one of the best in Europe the other day. What a joke. It's only because the Frenchies run it.

Great play by Bayern, Ribery hit it well but a superb sabe from Cech

Ribery seems to hit one in ten shots well.

Torres needs to bring his blonde hair back

Chelsea defending excellently at the moment, and their organisation is first-rate. They also look incredibly dangerous on the counter - Torres in particular seems to have a new lease of life, and Schurrle is doing very well. Jose has set Chelsea up perfectly tonight. Bayern are just being restricted to speculative efforts thus far.

Bayern 1-1 Chelsea - Scarface from long range

Good goal.

GSC wrote:Swear I've never seen Ribery do anything

.  

NickisBHAFC wrote:

GSC wrote:Swear I've never seen Ribery do anything

.                                                                     

He is massively overrated.

Problem with how Chelsea have approached the game is that they got the early goal and sat back and allowed Bayern to control the game, it then becomes very difficult to actually get a foothold in the game once Bayern get an equaliser. 

Relying on defensive mistakes and quick breaks but at this point the pace and acceleration of the Chelsea players isn't quite there to be able to break with the same ferocity as early in the game.

Really surprised Mourinho hasn't made any changes, you'd think neither manager will want this going to extra time.

Extra time is fine for us. We don't play again until the 14th.

I've always felt that this fixture should go straight to penalties.

CFCNick wrote:Extra time is fine for us. We don't play again until the 14th.

I'm less thinking tiredness and more injuries. I know Chelsea have a big squad, but I can't imagine they'd be happy with any of their players getting injured. The longer they're on the pitch the more likely they'll be injured.

FreekShow wrote:I've always felt that this fixture should go straight to penalties.

I thought it did until the commentary said differently.

I don't think it really counts as a proper trophy, it's more like the Community Shield so it should do I think.

Crimey wrote:

FreekShow wrote:I've always felt that this fixture should go straight to penalties.

I thought it did until the commentary said differently.

I don't think it really counts as a proper trophy, it's more like the Community Shield so it should do I think.

Liverpool won this via ET and pens in 05 if I remember correctly.

Just the ET was needed. Must have dreamt the pens  

At least it's being played at a decent venue on a decent pitch for once. Is this going to be permanent?

Cardiff's stadium is next.

Yeah just checked and they are changing venues every year.

Is Ramires suspended for the Champions League now then?

Harsh sending off.

Chelsea should have made a substitution earlier I think.