Tag Archives: Bayern Munich

Champions League Final Viewing at Farmer’s Gastropub Downtown Saturday

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Bayern Munich Celebrate League Title, 2010

Bayern Munich Celebrate League Title, 2010

The big game is Saturday afternoon on Fox, meaning there’s no baseball :) Start time is 1:30 pm and I’ll be getting some lunch and enjoying the game at Farmer’s Gastropub for anyone interested in joining me.

Here are a couple of stories previewing the game, including US Today who talked to Munich’s star, Arjen Robben.

MADRID (AP) — Bayern Munich winger Arjen Robben expects Inter Milan coach Jose Mourinho to employ defensive tactics in the Champions League final, he said Thursday.
Robben said Mourinho is only concerned about winning matches while Bayern, under coach Louis van Gaal, aims to attack.

“It’s a little bit maybe defense against attack. (Van Gaal) is a coach who wants to play football, he wants to play nice football,” Robben told a news conference. “Mourinho is a purer winning coach. He has his tactics always ready. He doesn’t think too much about playing nice football.”

And the Champion’s League website can probably answer any question you might have.

Farmer’s Gastropub is located downtown in the building directly South of the YMCA on Jefferson. Parking is available in the lot North of the Catholic elementary school on Elm and Jefferson with an entrance and excellent outdoor seating area directly below the parking lot. From the Farmer’s Gastropub website:

Pubs are meant to be places where anyone from the neighborhood can stop in to have a bite and a pint. A regular pub is sought more for its liquid fare than its fine cuisine. However, a gastropub, like ours, ups the ante on the food side. So, basically, we’re a friendly, unpretentious, neighborhood pub that serves good food.

Really good food, in fact.

It also means we added a talented mixologist behind the bar for signature cocktails. We have ales and lagers with real pedigree and wines that pay attention to the taste from the land where the grapes were grown. For Bill, the Brit, and Christina, the Springfield native, the one thing that drives the creation of Farmers Gastropub is their absolute and passionate resolve that good food is not rocket science and that it does not have to cost the earth.

I’m headed that way because the food is very good and with a Brit for an owner, you know there will be a nice international crowd already in attendance. Come out, enjoy the game and discover an excellent new option downtown if you haven’t already.

Because I Hate ManU and Chelsea

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arjen robbenDefender Martín Demichelis put FC Bayern München’s UEFA Champions League quarter-final triumph over Manchester United FC down to the “spectacular” duo of Franck Ribéry and Arjen Robben. Robben added to his collection of eye-catching goals for treble-chasing Bayern with their decisive second at Old Trafford, meeting Ribéry’s corner with a superb volley that swept the ball past fellow Dutch international Edwin van der Sar. For Bayern, who had trailed 3-0 late in the first half, that goal spelt salvation – making it 3-2 on the night and giving them the away-goals advantage after a 2-1 first-leg win in Munich.

Demichelis told UEFA.com: “It was tremendous vision from Franck Ribéry, who played the perfect ball across, and Arjen’s execution was fantastic. Both Franck and Arjen are spectacular players who can win a game at any moment.

Here’s the basis of the wonderful video above

Cesc Fabregas, Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney

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Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal

Have you been enjoying the Champions League quarterfinals? Some amazing games the past two days with Bayern Munich (my first team, having been born in that fine city) coming back against Manchester United and Cesc Fabregas leading Arsenal to a tie in their game Wednesday against Barcelona. Oh, and did you hear Wayne Rooney is injured, maybe for the remainder of the EPL season? The Guardian is my new go-to site for the international game, thanks to more in-depth materials compared to what I was seeing on the BBC site. Here are three articles to get you caught up…

Time for Dimitar Berbatov to seize the moment for Manchester United

With Wayne Rooney missing, the expensive Bulgarian needs to step out of the shadows to keep the light shining at Old Trafford. From the hyperactive Wayne Rooney they turn to the languid Dimitar Berbatov to see off Chelsea and Bayern Munich inside five days. The good news is that Berbatov has already scored three times against Germany’s grandest club. Less encouraging is that Rooney’s replacement as Manchester United’s chief striker posted all three while at Bayer Leverkusen from 2001 to 2006.

Selfless to the end, Cesc Fábregas embodies the spirit of a leader

Two Arsenal captains left the pitch with applause in their ears at the conclusion of last night’s enthralling match. One, Thierry Henry, lingered to enjoy a sentimental ovation on his return to north London in Barcelona’s colours. The other, Cesc Fábregas, had preceded him down the tunnel, limping off with the deeper satisfaction of knowing that he had reshaped the outcome of a pulsating evening. He was also heading towards the distressing discovery that the injury could have consequences not just for the remainder of Arsenal’s season but for his participation in the World Cup.

To put in the proper framework, here’s an article that was published in advance of the game, breaking down what the analyst expected. Did he anticipate’s Fabregas’ individual brilliance?

Arsenal v Barcelona tactical analysis: David Pleat’s view

The saying within the game is that a player must treat the ball as he treats his wife: he must hold it, caress it, even take it to bed with him. If the analogy is a bit bizarre, the point is still clear. To be a successful footballer, you have to have complete mastery of the ball.

The logic is impeccable: if we have the ball, the opposition cannot affect the game. That theory was really challenged only with the development of more powerful, quicker and less technically proficient players in the late 1980s and the 1990s, with the emphasis then placed on the counterattack. Fortunately, in Arsenal and Barcelona, we will see two teams whose principles shine out: passing not kicking; moving cleverly not aimlessly; making space not congesting it.

UPDATE – Fabregas fears campaign is over

Cesc Fabregas fears his season could be over after suffering a suspected broken leg during Arsenal’s dramatic 2-2 UEFA Champions League draw against Barcelona at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners skipper had been a doubt for the game after suffering severe bruising to his knee and leg during the Premier League game at Birmingham. However, Fabregas returned to lead the side, and played a pivotal role in their comeback after falling 2-0 down to a brace from Zlatan Ibrahimovic looked to have all but killed off the tie.

And finally, an update to the Guardian’s analysis – Barcelona’s La Masia magicians leave Arsenal outclassed and surpassed