The Road to Madrid: CL Final -2

unfortunately I won't be able to join you guys for today's liveblog cause the room outside in our house that has the HD channel doesn't get a decent wireless reception.
I will be with you in spirit though, and I will hopefully come back and celebrate with you guys! ;)

Enjoy it while it lasts interisti.

Thats all I will say

Drew: Aw man.. I went and planed a trip to the pub with a friend (also more into beer than soccer) If that plan falls thru I'll hit you up in the morning. Thanks a bunch btw!

Huhhh.... Can't wait for the biggest game in our life so far, Jo there is no way I won't be here tomorrow. Forza Interrrrrr!!!!!!

I already have a kegger going!!

90/120 Minutes left in the season. They will play 90/120 minutes on the pitch that they will replay in their minds for the rest of their lives.

FORZA NON MOLLARE MAI!!

FORZA INTER!!

No, no passwords. You have to hit play on the applet then a field should appear that has you set a name and comment. It will be in a separate page from the preview (which will go up tonight if I ever get out of work).

Last time I was having problems with you having multiple IP address. Each IP address is a participant. I only get 25 unmoderated participants (plus some number of panelists - which is why some of you are panelists).

If you switch computers or something, but keep the same name I cant tell which one is active and which I can bump. Might I suggest (file this away) that if you are going to go away and come back, you change your name slightly. Like, for my first stint, I would use Johonna, then, when I came back, I could use Johonna2. That way, I will know which user name to bump.

Sorry if you felt left out. I should be a lot more on the ball for this liveblog - it is at a decent hour. Those 6am's were killing me.

I turned down a friends invitation to watch the game with them.I want to be all alone.Is that weird?

And i am still humming the cheesy vamos a madrid song:D

nomad, you just click play on the java applet. then you type your name and comment and hit send. jo just has to approve your first comment then you can type away at will! she usually has a dedicated post for the live blog so maybe you were at the old one?

argh jo unfortunately I dont think I will be able to have access to the computer tomorrow, my whole family is watching this game, and when I say my whole family I mean my WHOLE family. If we do win this thing I will be there for the post match festivities and if we lose it I will be there for the post match grievances.

@Jo - speaking of live blogs, I tried getting on for the Sienna game, and did as you asked by writing in your last entry for you to then "invite" me in. I was a little late coming back from a meeting and got online a few minutes into the game. I tried to contact you then, but had no joy at all. I felt like I was standing outside a house (resplendant in my best "Disco Stu" suit) where a great party was happening inside - but I didn't know the password to get in! Did I come too late? Is that how it works? Or was the "Disco Stu" suit a deal breaker?!

i would start balo on the right and eto on the left. bayern have been playing two relatively inexperienced players at LB. Diego Contento and Holger Badstuber have played well but they are very young(19-20) and have only just broke into the first team this season. balo is the only player we can rely on to run at the defense. i remember him creating problems against malouda when he came on against chelsea at the san siro.

i think this is the best selection to counter bayern.
JC
maicon - lucio - samuel - chivu
cuchu zanetti
balo sniejder eto
milito

eto-zanetti-chivu to keep robben and lahm quiet.
maicon and balo to attack whoever plays LB for bayern(Diego Contento or Holger Badstuber)

Yes - I will run a liveblog.

I am sure Jo will run the liveblog.

Just wondering, will someone be running the liveblog during the game tomorrow?

Wow, these last few days I had a great time and wonderful feelings about this game. Only one thing I couldn't handle (intimately)- glory-hunting fans. Everyone was calling (they still do) saying how Inter is great, that they moved boundaries of the modern football, winners already, and I realized that 1. Inter have become widely recognized and praised as winners usually do 2. I'm a hypocrite for enjoying it, because I slammed everyone around me who was all of a sudden a Barca fan last year.
And still the only guy I want to hang out for the game is my friend, a hard-core Roma fan :)

The problem with Deki in midfield is that he isn't a good defender. Cambiasso has enough on his plate already. Zanetti will do okay against Robben, but the Dutchman has phenomenal pace and skill. You cannot expect Zanetti to keep up all the time.

Balotelli, imho, is a big gamble. Bayern has one of the best RB in Philip Lahm, who is more than good enough to contain any winger. And we may need the winger to track back to help out defending, something Super Mario isn't known for doing. Overall, I think Mou will stick with Pandev to be on the safe side. Balotelli can then be introduced in 2nd half as a game changer.

hahaha you guys could come over and have a piece tomorrow if you want!

Khalid: im trying. i really, really am trying to resist the temptation

Kirby that cake is Awesome!

Grande- That Mou link is awesome, I hope he'll get to wear that crown tomorrow!

One thing is for sure, the moment we are atleast 2 goals up, we will see Chivu for Stankovic and it will be more defensive and only counter attacks..

Very true skyder that we need the first goal. But with Balotelli, Eto'o and Milito all trying build it up, there is a high risk that we may concede one esp with Robben long range left foot...

With Pandev, we can be atleast sure that one of Eto'o or him will be near half line most of the time..

Kirby -- I'm drooling! Wish I could have a piece!

Probably will see Balo in starting line-up, not Pandev:
1. Mou doesn't play someone unless he's 100% fit/fresh
2. Balo started the Sienna match. Mou was probably testing him out as a starter
3. Balo in the wing will keep the Bayern wingers in check
4. We have to go for the first goal
5. Herr van Gaal doesn't have good coverage for a dynamic player like Balo

I too think Mou will go with pandev instead of Balotelli.... the only factor for this could be the defensive duties or just the fact that Pandev starts his play more from the half line and rarely stcks around near the box..

kirby, It's too good... will you wait until the final? we still got about 20 hours more.... ;)

kirby that looks awesome!!

CAKEEEEEE!!!!!!!!

http://yfrog.com/9fimg00223201...

lol

With the squad we have right now Benitez wouldnt be bad. He is an excellent tactition with an established squad at his disposable. Liverpool is a mess right now because it's a point where it needs to be retooled. I agree he should be no where near the squad when we rebuild it but that's 2 to 3 years away, more then enough time to fire him.

I will miss Mou and his press conferences. They are SO quotable and hilarious! LOL.
Jo- Thank you for making us even more nervous! :P
Great post though, really shows are journey throughout this tough competition!

I don't think Chivu and Balotelli will be starting though, they might be used as tactical substitutes.

I CANNOT WAIT FOR THE GAME.

That is what I have decided all of this Mihajlovic to Inter garbage is about - it is so the fans wont revolt against Benitez. I mean he may be crap but he is loads better than Sinisa!

(we are so screwed next season)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

i will def miss his press conferences. going from mou to benitez will be like going from chris rock to george lopez in terms of entertainment.

I feel very emotional guys....I feel like crying of happiness.If we take that cup i will prolly have a hard time to stop crying.Damn it,i hate crying.

I am with vinod. deki and pandev ahead of chivu and balo. pandev tracks back much more than balotelli so I think mou will go with him as long as he is healthy. deki for the same reason as vinod.

will be watching from slainte in baltimore if anyone is in the area.

One thing that Pandev gives us that Balo does not is possession. Pandev can hold the ball and work the clock as well as make a nice pass.

Balo gets the ball and it's straight up the field - which isn't a bad thing in the second half when folks are a little tired.

I agree with Bobogoal. I doubt if Balotelli will start a game as big as this. I have no doubt that he is probably our most gifted player and is leagues ahead of Pandev in terms of raw talent, but he cannot possibly start this one. I'm pretty sure he will make an appearance though, most probably for Pandev, or maybe even Milito in the later stages depending on the situation.

As for the midfield, I'm pretty sure Deki will start this one. Zanetti is more solid defensively, but Deki is a better distributer of the ball, and we need someone to spread play in Motta's absence. Zanetti should play at LB. Again, later in the game, Chivu for Deki is a possible sub depending on the situation.

I think if Pandev is 100% than he will start. Balo is psychologically weak and I think Mou will not risk anything with him. He is our first sub, but I doubt he will start.

Kabir, I feel like that would be our best starting line up. Balo should definitely start ahead of Pandev after his performance against siena.

So does anyone want to venture a guess on the lineup? Zanetti in midfield with Chivu at the back? Will Balo start?

I feel like it will be Balo starting in a 4-2-3-1:
Maicon - Samuel - Lucio - Chivu
Zanetti - Cambiasso
Etoo - Sneijder - Balo
Milito

But I'm usually way off with these...

Jo -- Naah, 'drama queen' is way off. Its more like making crazy connections that I would never imagine.

And Kabir, kirby, that countdown clock is way off. I'm an emotional wreck as it is, and they have to go make it worse!

God what I wouldn't give to have Zanetti score the winning goal tomorrow!

If anyone is in DC, I will be at (sigh) Lucky Bar in Dupont...apparently it is not as disgusting in the day as it is on weekend nights.

Ultimately, this is a mouthwatering clash of two European heavyweights (although I am a wee bit biased as a Bayern fan of 25+ years) and a tactical battle between the ‘Master’ and his ‘Apprentice’

In contrasting the teams:

*BAYERN:

—————-Butt———————

–Lahm—V.Buyten–Demichelis–Contento–

—Robben—V.Bommel–Schweni–Altintop–

————–Olic–Müller—————

*INTER:

—————-J.César——————

–Maicon—Samuel–Lucio—Zanetti——-

——Stankovic—Cambiasso–Sneijder—–

———-Etoó—-Milito—-Pandev——–

Defense: Advantage Inter
No contest here. Lucio and Samuel are scary efficient as well as hard tacklers, who can sprint out of the back and start attacks as well. Maicon is pacy and Zanetti, while a bit slow, is world class and has been for a long time – but Robben’s pace will keep him busy all night. For Bayern, the game against Man U exposed the weaknesses for all to see – Van Buyten and Dimechelis are tall, strong in the tackle and good in the air, but not very fast. They are susceptible to speedy counterattacks when Bayern hold a high line. Van Gaal might and should consider Badstuber in central defense – for all his mistakes, he is younger and faster than either of those two. Lahm on the outside is world class and Diego Contento (while very green) is strong in the tackle, fast, reads the game well for someone his age and very helpful in attack.

Midfield: Advantage Bayern
Pretty even, although I tend to say Advantage Bayern. Van Bommel and Schweini are strong tacklers and distributers of the ball. Robben is world class, and Altintop was in outstanding form at Manu-U and Lyon – subbing in for Ribery. Cambiasso plays the Van Bommel ’stopper’ role for Inter, with Sneijder the main creative force. Stopping Sneijder is key to stopping Inter and preventing the midfield link to the offense. Stankovic was not very impressive in the games I have seen him in.

Strikers: Advantage Inter
Barcelona were ‘estupido’ to get rid of Eto’o – his blistering pace on the counter attack combined with the grit and guile of Milito give Inter a lot of different looks in attack. Bayern will have their hands full. Bayerns attack on the other hand with Olic and Muller are not very flashy and rely more heavily on strong midfield support and a slower buildup – which they might not get if they are pressed too far back by Inter.

So 2-1 in Inter’s favor and they go in as favorites man-to-man, but as any bookie will tell you – Bet against the germans at your own peril.

The difference could be the managers –

Tactically, both managers have tremendous resumes and although i think Van Gaal is more well rounded with more experience, Jose is probably the shrewder – street-wise – manager and better at reacting to the opposition play on the day. He also has better, in-form players on the bench as options.

What is fascinating is the history these two bring to the table and as Van Gaal’s assistant coach, Jose probably tried to impress back in the Barcelona days doing his scouting reports and opponent analysis – giving Van Gaal insight into how this man thinks.

I feel it plays to both teams strengths to have Bayern fight for possesion, and dominate the ball and midfield – and have Inter play on the counter – which makes sense for Van Gaal (”The best defense is a good offense”) and for Jose (”I will expose these fools and their weak backline on the counter”)

Hard to call this one – my head says Inter but my heart says Bayern. Mia san mia.

Kabir... fucking with us is an understatement...

Anyone know a good place in Melbourne, Australia to watch the match? I'm thinking somewhere in Lygon Street, Carlton - the Italian Quarter here... Thoughts?

Aghh I'll be at a bar so won't be able to follow this online with you guys! Damnit.

In other news, the inter.it clock is giving me wrong information, saying the game starts in 1 day, 10hrs, 44minutes, when really it's 1 day, 4 hrs, 44 minutes...WHY ARE THEY FUCKING WITH US?!!!

Basically, Mr Ahmed run away from home. After 48 hours, his wife notified the cops. He wasn't dead or with a secret lover, as the wife feared, but had taken refuge with friends because "she always finds an excuse to stop me watching the Inter games, and was insisting I should attend a friends birthday party on the very evening of the CL final"

This may tickle your Interista funny bone...

FUGGE DI CASA PER VEDERE PARTITA SENZA LA MOGLIE

È scappato di casa per poter vedere con gli amici (e senza la moglie) la finale di Champions League. Ahmed A., 30 anni, egiziano, operaio e supertifoso interista, l'ha spiegato ai poliziotti che l'hanno rintracciato in un appartamento di Sesto San Giovanni, nel Milanese, dopo che la consorte, preoccupata per l'assenza del marito, svanito nel nulla da oltre 48 ore, aveva presentato denuncia per scomparsa. Ahmed A. è incappato in uno dei controlli degli agenti coordinati dal dirigente del commissariato di Sesto, Paola Marsiani. Era in una casa con alcuni amici e connazionali e subito ha spiegato di aver chiesto loro una sorta di 'asilo calcisticò per evitare la moglie, anche lei egiziana, che in occasione di ogni partita dell'Inter trovava sempre un motivo per impedirgli di stare davanti alla tv. Ahmed A. ha detto anche di aver deciso di fuggire quando la moglie ha iniziato a insistere per recarsi insieme, proprio domani sera, a casa di amici per una festa di compleanno. Ora la donna è stata avvisata dai poliziotti e sa che il marito sta bene e che si è allontanato per motivi calcistici e non, come sospettava, per una amante.

Just to mention, our youth players look promising eg Stevanovic Alibec and Crisetig. I think they are really good.

If we win this champions league, i wish we could celebrate it with recoba, he was soo talented. Unfortunatly he was part of the cheated generation and hence ( no scudetto, less money and players not attracted to inter leading to a weak team for champions league). I miss him.

Wow, are we full of nervous energy much or what?

I laugh but I am the same way right now.

I think I'll be taking the dogs on some incredibly long hikes and find ways to distract myself before the promise of tomorrow haunts me today...

Anyone's taken a look at the bayern offside? It seems to be regularly updated by one 'Luke' but there don't seem to be too many people following / contributing to the discussions. In his latest preview, he says 2 things (1) Robben is not the only threat (Olic, Mueller) (2) Inter is not so defensively ahead of Bayern...just a tad

Oh, and they expect Lucio to score an own goal!

Sat night wouldn't come fast enough...

Also, Ribery seems to have signed an extension till 2015 for Bayern...good for them.

Haha Van Gaal's speech surly is creepy and it was my first association without even watching the documentary lol

Maybe Jo is 2 people in a trenchcoat.

(j/k too)
Cbf finding a picture. =/

are we sure jo is a woman ??

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wi...

jk

Johonna -- Grazie. You're the man, (wo)man.

Cambiasso & Zanetti please do not let Robben turn to his left foot!

Done!

Johonna -- Thanks! I actually entered my secondary email address, due to that very concern.

Actually, on second thought, it might be best to edit the whole thing out, if you don't mind -- I've been feeling unusually, dangerously generous with all my fellow interiste all week.

Speaking of which, who wants my PIN?

Oh, Drew - I edited your comment - I dont want the spambots to get a hold of your email address!

For future reference - I would be more than happy to help people connect. I can see the address you enter when you comment and I would be happy to act as an intermediary if people dont want to post an email address.

Vinod: I am a drama queen?

That, and I tend to type exactly what I am thinking at the time - I dont filter well. I just watched a documentary - so that is what came to mind.

I take back the soggy dead mouse thing about Thaigo Motta and Milito, though. This time the cat brought little bars of gold.

Nikko -- Not sure of a better place of the Westside, though I'm sure you could find something. The Cat & Fiddle on Sunset in Hollywood always has the big matches of the weekend playing, but no guarantees on the crowd there. You could also check out the Goethe Institute on Wilshire & Fairfax which had all the Euro matches playing on a big screen a couple years back -- I'm sure they're doing something for this one.

I do, however, happen to be an L.A. native (I live just east of Hollywood, right below Griffith Park), and I'll be having a little party at my place to watch the game. I'm actually the only hardcore interista who'll likely be present (the rest are just my buddies who like having an excuse to drink before noon), so it won't be a real fan's screening, but i'd be happy to have you all the same.

[edited by Johonna. Nikko, if you want Drew's email address, just post a comment and I will forward it on to you.]

Jo -- You mistake me. I don't disagree with a single thing you said about Mourinho and the Italian media. And since when has the media or the FIGC needed a reason to to hate Mourinho? "The bloody foreigner walks into our country and calls our favourite coach a 70 year old loser? How dare he..."

No, my point was that I just found your metaphor a little extreme. Like I have in the past. Like how Milito and Thiago Motta were supposed to be soggy dead mice. Or how Bobby Acquafresca joining Atalanta was some form of the Oedipus complex. Ok those two were funny, but extreme nonetheless.

guys tomorrow is my birthday and im to will be hosting a party at my place!!! :) so either its gonna be best birthday ever or worse !! guess what.. i had a good feeling about this.. come on inter!!

Van Gaal looks like a pastor of some cult in the video above. Really creepy.

I am not saying he is a Nazi, I am just saying that the scene was evocative. Of course, that could be due to the documentary we just watched on the battle of stalingrad (not a good place to have been).

All I am saying is that coaches get all worked up all over the place - not only Mou. Hence the perspective. I was just thinking, as I watched this, that if the Italian sports press doesn't like Mou celebrating with the team after a win or an important goal, they would eviscerate him if he ever spoke like that to a massed crowd of supporters.

Can you imagine if he even said the same thing in a press conference (Inter are the best, but not only in Milan, in Rome, in Turin, in [insert name of town here])? They would have hissy fits about his arrogance (no mater if it is true or not). The FIGC would ban him for inciting riots or something (with a huge fine).

I dont follow the bundisliga. I have no idea what is considered ok coach-like behavior. Personally, I have no problem with Van Gaal whooping it up with the fans. I am just saying that maybe Mou isn't as out there as people make him out to be. Maybe celebrating with the fans is not so strange and it doesn't make you arrogant or a bad guy, just passionate. Maybe the Italian sports press needs to pull their heads out of their respective behinds and get a clue.

Thats all.

Aren't you going a little too far with this?

Wow. A little perspective. Some of the Italian sport pundits dont like Mou because they think he is too emotionally involved with the team, well Van Gaal would blow their minds. Check out how they celebrated winning the league (towards the end of the video):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

Can you imagine what the talking heads would have said about Mou if he stood in the Piazza del Duomo and shouted to the gathered masses?!? They would have torn him a new one.

Besides, some guy with his hands in the air, screaming in German to an enormous throng of adoring people about how great they are - better than everyone else - is sort of... evocative lets say. Creepy evocative.

Too much History Channel for me, I think.

so I'm contemplating which bar to go to watch this magical game. I'm in the L.A. area and was thinking King's head in S.M. anyone know of a better place?

Tip to everyone:

Do not watch that final video. You think your aniexty about the match is bad now.....

"we didnt park a bus, we parked a plane....a plane!"

damnit Jose we fall in love with you and now you are going to leave? *sigh*

Vinod: twisted!

My God, woman, you really have some time on your hands, don't you? Also, from the last post, you really think this community is going to abandon you for the biggest game of our lives as Interistas? Tsk, such lack of faith in your devoted readers...

Kirby -- that comment in the end of that interview is pure gold! Long live Jose!

Everyone around me is all excited about graduation. Family's flying in, friends are all pumped up. Somehow things like graduation, moving to the west coast, starting work, new phase of life and all that seems so trivial and meaningless compared to The Match. Am I messed up or what?

JOHONNA THANK YOU FOR THIS POST! This will pass the time nicely until the next post of course!! THANK YOU!! FORZA INTER!!!