Atletico Madrid vs Liverpool (a) EL

[Phil!]

Good result and performance tonight and would like to see us carry that on! Would like to see two changes from tonights team Babel and Macherano in and Maxi and Lucas out.


Reina
Johnson Carra Kyriagkos Agger
Yossi Gerrard Macherano Babel
Kuyt Ngog

Yossi looked good comin in from the wing tonightso more of the same and would like to see Babel run at the defence too. Gonna be tough but believe we can come away with result!

[trucker]

Is Babel Suspended?

[travis]

Is Babel Suspended?

i think it was only for one game which he's served already but not certain

[JMurray#8]

Is Babel Suspended?

No as far as I know his suspension has been served.

Bit concerned about the travelling situation of the team, hope it doesn't effect them spending so much time on buses and trains. Personally would like to see Aqualani play too, think this sort of game would suit his creativity a bit more than the physical side of the premiership...

[ROCCO]

The players will set off from Runcorn, and travel by train to London and Eurostar to Paris { over night stay } then to the south west of France, before flying from Bordeaux to Madrid .... 24 hours travel time .. 900 miles ..

[eddie rocket]

The players will set off from Runcorn, and travel by train to London and Eurostar to Paris { over night stay } then to the south west of France, before flying from Bordeaux to Madrid .... 24 hours travel time .. 900 miles ..

ye seen that in the paper alot of thought in that route .

[rev]

The players will set off from Runcorn, and travel by train to London and Eurostar to Paris { over night stay } then to the south west of France, before flying from Bordeaux to Madrid .... 24 hours travel time .. 900 miles ..

Pretty long trip imo :eek:

[ROCCO]

Pretty long trip imo :eek:

And back for a away trip to Burnley on Sunday ...

[Phil!]

And back for a away trip to Burnley on Sunday ...

Hopefully they'll be able to fly by Thurs night/Fri morn.




Babel is availabe only suspended for 1 game

[mascherIANO]

hopefully we getta result and an away goal. they have struggled a bit in la liga this season madrid but they have been very good in the cups so it will be a tough one.

ill take a 1-1 draw.

[byrnetred]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8631955.stm?

for anyone thats interested!

[Captain_Morgan]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8631955.stm?

for anyone thats interested!

There will hardly be a bag of cans involved for that train :D

[Tarabuses]

Hopefully they'll be able to fly by Thurs night/Fri morn.

Unlikely, but I'm sure they will be up and running before the return leg.

[dmac1989]

Some trip for the lads alrite. Does anyone know of any fans that are heading?

[7Cannibal-9Asbo]

Hopefully that trip doesn't affect their play, I'd say it takes a lot out of you travelling that far

[ROCCO]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/l/liverpool/8631955.stm?

for anyone thats interested!

OR

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/liverpool/7610795/Liverpool-travel-to-Madrid-live.html

[redabbey]

The team are in Paris for the night. Pic is from outside the Gare de Nord.

http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01620/Liverpool-Paris_1620211c.jpg

This was on the BBC reporter's blog earlier;

Rafa strolled through into media carriage, Liverpool boss in good spirits smiling and chatting with journalists. Told me long journey not ideal but good for team building and morale. Sense Liverpool will be more than ready despite arduous trip and only halfway there!

[elvis]

Rafa strolled through into media carriage, Liverpool boss in good spirits smiling and chatting with journalists. Told me long journey not ideal but good for team building and morale.

And who said Rafa didnt know what his players wanted,. Team building and morale, what more could you want,. :)

[trucker]

Gona miss maxi thursday, really came on in last few weeks, I'm a massive Yossi fan but I would not be surprised if we sell him during the summer, yossi and Riera = funds for half decent winger with pace for the left, this will happen if Rafa stays IMO

[pepesgloves]

couldn't they have hired a helicopter?:confused: i am sure the players could chip in to pay for it and be more relaxed than travailing by road/train.

every time nando gets a chance to play against ath madrid hes injured:(

[ROCCO]

The Liverbird has landed in Madrid ..

[SOC]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8631333.stm

Good video there, the platform is full of fans, few autograph hunters there too.

[ROCCO]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8631333.stm

Good video there, the platform is full of fans, few autograph hunters there too.

1.03

" i love you Steven Gerrard " sounded like true stalker love :o

[MrsPepe]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8631333.stm

Good video there, the platform is full of fans, few autograph hunters there too.

Stevie the only one thats been asked for an autograph.

I think Rafa is secretly loving this road trip, he seems to be always smiling:D

[dmac1989]

Good to see support wherever they go!

[ROCCO]

Our away form this season is terrible even more so in Europe ,need to get at least 1 away goal tonight ....A win would be perfect or a score draw would be good for us but even as 2-1 defeat could be over turned at home ....
Haven't see much of Athletico this season so not sure what to expect but going by their league position and form they seem just a average Spanish side this season.
But seems their defence is poor but their very good in attack so need to get at them early and have a go at their Defence and not sit back at play to their strengths .

With all this travel as well im not so sure if it will affect us but still expecting a win tonight ....

[ROCCO]

When the team arrived in Paris we had a trip to the hotel stayed over night then a 3.5 hour coach trip to the south of France to catch a flight to Madrid , Since their were flights out of Paris , why didn't the club book one and cut out the over night stay in Paris and the extra 3.5 hour coach trip the next day .... would have had us their a day earlier as well and less travel and more rest ?

[dmac1989]

When the team arrived in Paris we had a trip to the hotel stayed over night then a 3.5 hour coach trip to the south of France to catch a flight to Madrid , Since their were flights out of Paris , why didn't the club book one and cut out the over night stay in Paris and the extra 3.5 hour coach trip the next day .... would have had us their a day earlier as well and less travel and more rest ?

Surely this was looked into and could not happen. They would`nt intentionly make them travel longer. All avenues were explored and im sure they made there decision based on what was the easyer way of getting there.

[ROCCO]

Surely this was looked into and could not happen. They would`nt intentionly make them travel longer. All avenues were explored and im sure they made there decision based on what was the easyer way of getting there.

? Been told their was definitely flights out of Paris that day we arrived , even if Airlines booked out surely we could have charted a flight ? imo the yanks may not have sanctioned the price of a chartered flight ... like City and UTD get the players home quicker and more expensive from Brazil Argentina etc our players are made to the long haul cheaper return .

[clayton]

ha ha, he may not be many fans favourite - but you can't knock his sense of humour.... Lucas on twitter: hilarious...

Aquilani and Degan have made a den at the back of the coach out of sleeping bags. Sign on the front says 'no physios allowed'

Finally got my seat next to Rafa, Dirk popped out for a sneaky piss but i was all over it like as we say in Brazil, a donkey to a turbine.

Aquilani has hurt himself in the den, typical. he cant move to get out and because of the sign, none of the psysios can get in

Its a papercut, hes out of thursdays match.

A nice scouse man just referred to me as 'a useless escaped goat' Must be a regional compliment. Lucas is a happy man

Lucas is a devil in the bedroom, just ask my girlfriend. More forward thrusts than against Lille and Benfica combined.

El Zhar is also still up. Saw him drink a 3 litre bottle of Cherry Coke before so he'll be up till dawn.

He's gone insane, too much sugar. He's shouting at Rafa saying 'Why am I even here. Please tell me why' with tears pouring down his face.

Rafa was doing his best to ignore it but finally responded. "You shouldn't still be here. You were signed to make an agent happy". Silence.

All thats woken Jamie up. He's not happy. He's completely naked shouting "who the f* cks woke me up." He's gone for Plessis again.

A sight for sore eyes, Rafa trying to hold a naked Jamie back from writhing all over Plessis back on the floor. I wish I was Jamie right now

Don't know who brought the football on board, Masch has started repeatedly trying to slide tackle it. Like a bull to a red cloth...

All settled down. Aqua is sleeping with one eye open (not sure he can help it), Stevie is listening to some Meat Loaf and Degen is limping.

Quiet enough to go to sleep now. Dreaming about scoring at the Vicente Calderón. I'd be quite happy with several passes back to Jamie though

[Kop On]

Although it's not actually Lucas the twitter post above is very funny.....

[clayton]

Although it's not actually Lucas the twitter post above is very funny.....

it's defo not him??

[dmac1989]

That is brilliant but cant be him. can it?

[clayton]

That is brilliant but cant be him. can it?

how do we know exactly that it is not him?

[NiallD]

how do we know exactly that it is not him?

Seriously?

http://twitter.com/LucasLeiva21

[Daz]

Did / does anyone seriously think for half a second that is actually Lucas writing that.? And I thought my 3 year old son was naieve when I told him if he doesn;t go to sleep Santa won;t be coming.

[Niall]

Did / does anyone seriously think for half a second that is actually Lucas writing that.? And I thought my 3 year old son was naieve when I told him if he doesn;t go to sleep Santa won;t be coming.

:D

[dmac1989]

Did / does anyone seriously think for half a second that is actually Lucas writing that.? And I thought my 3 year old son was naieve when I told him if he doesn;t go to sleep Santa won;t be coming.

What so you mean even if I stay up santa will still come??

[Daz]

What so you mean even if I stay up santa will still come??


If you eat all your dinner you might just be ok

[dmac1989]

If you eat all your dinner you might just be ok

:D

[1one80eighty]

Stevie the only one thats been asked for an autograph.


Jamie was asked, but he just blanked the poor fan.

[clayton]

Did / does anyone seriously think for half a second that is actually Lucas writing that.? And I thought my 3 year old son was naieve when I told him if he doesn;t go to sleep Santa won;t be coming.

No sleepies, no santa ??

[babbsnads]

Monies tight this year so I'll be taking the kids to santa's grave around November.

[dmac1989]

Monies tight this year so I'll be taking the kids to santa's grave around November.

Haha brilliant could you imange there faces. Film it send it to you`ve being framed and theres £250 quid so you can go off to a game around christmas. Super!!:D

[babbsnads]

Haha brilliant could you imange there faces. Film it send it to you`ve being framed and theres £250 quid so you can go off to a game around christmas. Super!!:D

Haha, sounds like a plan.
Looking forward to the game tonight. A score draw would be a great result.

[Wayne]

Doubt it's him but laughing none the less while reading it

[dmac1989]

Haha, sounds like a plan.
Looking forward to the game tonight. A score draw would be a great result.

Defo an away goal is need. Wouldnt even be 2 upset with 2-1 because we will defo have the 12th man out in force for the 2nd leg!

[Kop On]

Right lads lets get this thread back on track about the game tonight.

Atletico are pretty good up front but weak at the back. We're pretty good at the back but weak up front!

Don't know how this one is going to go. Babel owes us a big performance after getting himself sent off against Benfica.

No sign of any early team news by any chance Rocco?

[ROCCO]

Right lads lets get this thread back on track about the game tonight.

Atletico are pretty good up front but weak at the back. We're pretty good at the back but weak up front!

Don't know how this one is going to go. Babel owes us a big performance after getting himself sent off against Benfica.

No sign of any early team news by any chance Rocco?

That died since Rafa got rid of the white bibs in training ...


Hope we play to their weakness and have a go from the first whistle and not sit back .

[edcarroll02]

Honestly I reckon that tonight is going to be hard to watch, not too sure why but i've a feeling that we're going to be a bit sluggish out of the traps! No doubt it'll be Masch and Lucas playing together which hasn't exactly set the world on fire this season, would be happier with Stevie and Masch in the middle and Babel and Benni on the wings with Ngog and Kuyt up front but can't really see it happening!

[Kop On]

Honestly I reckon that tonight is going to be hard to watch, not too sure why but i've a feeling that we're going to be a bit sluggish out of the traps! No doubt it'll be Masch and Lucas playing together which hasn't exactly set the world on fire this season, would be happier with Stevie and Masch in the middle and Babel and Benni on the wings with Ngog and Kuyt up front but can't really see it happening!

No reason for changing the team that faced Benfica in my opinion. Lucas played very well in that game along with Masch.

Ngog might just start in Torres place other than that I'd like to see the same eleven.

My only worry is that both Barcelona and Lyon looked very sluggish this week having completed marathon journeys like us over land so I'm worried we'll be similarly sluggish!

Does anyone know off hand who we have on yellow cards going into the game tonight?

[ROCCO]

Id like


Reina

Glen ....Cara ....Kyriagkos ....Agger

Masch

Gerrard .....Aquilani

Babel .....Kuyt ......Beanayoun


Expect

Reina

Glen ...Cara ...Kyriagkos ...Agger

Masch {y} ...Lucas

Kuyt ....Gerrard ....Beanayoun

Ngog

Masch is the only 1 with a yellow in the expected line up tonight ...

[babbsnads]

I'd like to see kuyt up front myself tonight. Ngog did well Monday but kuyts european experience would be valuable. Plus it would enable rafa to play babel and yossi on the wings. I wouldn't mind babel through the middle either. His pace would give the athletico back line something to think about. Basically what I'm saying is I'd like kuyt,babel and benayoun all to start which would mean no place for ngog. Ngog then would be a good option of the bench if we're still chasing a goal with 20 or so minutes to go.

[Kop On]

I'd like to see kuyt up front myself tonight. Ngog did well Monday but kuyts european experience would be valuable. Plus it would enable rafa to play babel and yossi on the wings. I wouldn't mind babel through the middle either. His pace would give the athletico back line something to think about. Basically what I'm saying is I'd like kuyt,babel and benayoun all to start which would mean no place for ngog. Ngog then would be a good option of the bench if we're still chasing a goal with 20 or so minutes to go.

Yeah I think that would be an interesting line up alright. It's pretty much what Rocco has outlined above. I'm just not sure we could rely on Babel to track back.

We might be better with Babel up top on his own and Kuyt out on the right. Although I'm not convinced Babel has a good enough touch to play up top!

[babbsnads]

Yeah I think that would be an interesting line up alright. It's pretty much what Rocco has outlined above. I'm just not sure we could rely on Babel to track back.

We might be better with Babel up top on his own and Kuyt out on the right. Although I'm not convinced Babel has a good enough touch to play up top!

Your right ,it's a tricky one. Probably safer then with babel up front because if his touch let's him down they're still 50 or 60 yards from goal as opposed to him not tracking someone who could create or score a goal. But I just have a feeling that if he starts he'll play well. He'll definitely be looking to make up for benfica.He's got bags of ability so if his attitude is right he can give any team nightmares.

[bobby benitez]

Need a good site on my phone to keep upto date with the match. I have a shit phone so something user friendly would be great if any one could reccomend something. (will be doing it on the sly so must be silent)

Appreciate any advice.

[Ron1892]

Ronnie whelan ,just been on the races, on rte..

He was asked about tonight and how'd we'd do??

He said he doesnt care..

Says it all...

[djdwainec]

Need a good site on my phone to keep upto date with the match. I have a shit phone so something user friendly would be great if any one could reccomend something. (will be doing it on the sly so must be silent)

Appreciate any advice.

Hi mate, r u just looking for the scores or updates every ten mins or so? if its just the goal or major incidents updates im sure myself or someone who knows you personally off the site would text u every few mins for the duration with the major incidents if that would help like any red cards, penaltys or goals etc.?

[bobby benitez]

Hi mate, r u just looking for the scores or updates every ten mins or so? if its just the goal or major incidents updates im sure myself or someone who knows you personally off the site would text u every few mins for the duration with the major incidents if that would help like any red cards, penaltys or goals etc.?

something like what sky have were you can read about updates every 2 minutes or so.

[Skintown Red]

something like what sky have were you can read about updates every 2 minutes or so.

BBC website is decent for that

[SOC]

I am going for 1-1 tonight. Simao for Atletico, Gerrard for us. Good draw with an away goal then bring them back to Anfield to finish the job.

[Phil!]

BBC Sport livetext is your man bobby

[rafalabamba]

Forgot Aguero was out for this!!Happy Days:D

[carramagic]

Lets hope we can do it tonight. Would be a great end to a terrible season if the boys can make the final. Fancy Gerrard to score. Come on reds!

[djdwainec]

Liverpool: Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Kyrgiakos, Agger, Kuyt, Lucas, Mascherano, Benayoun, Gerrard, Ngog. Subs: Cavalieri, Aquilani, Degen, El Zhar, Ayala, Pacheco, Babel.

[MutantNinjaSkrtel]

Reckon this'll be 2-1 but not sure which way it will go.

[Ron1892]

Suprised Kuyt is not leading the line..Thought Rafa might have gone for abit of experience up front in him than Ngog..Big job for Ngog tonight and i think he is going to need support up there..Some times when he is up front on his own, he doesnt offer much up, where as other nights he can be great..

Getting excited about the game now...Think 1-1 could be on the cards...We need to score though...Any one think Gerrard for a goal tonight??

[ROCCO]

Expect

Reina

Glen ...Cara ...Kyriagkos ...Agger

Masch {y} ...Lucas

Kuyt ....Gerrard ....Beanayoun

Ngog

Masch is the only 1 with a yellow in the expected line up tonight ...

;)

[barnestormer]

just keep it tight tonight,pack the midfield ngog have to put him self about tonight focus for 90 mins i'll be happy

[Skintown Red]

Any word on Atletico team yet?

[travis]

Phil Babb and Mark Wright pundits on 3e.. good blokes

[ROCCO]

Any word on Atletico team yet?

1 keeper and 10 outfield players :p

[prendy]

Suprised Kuyt is not leading the line..Thought Rafa might have gone for abit of experience up front in him than Ngog..Big job for Ngog tonight and i think he is going to need support up there..Some times when he is up front on his own, he doesnt offer much up, where as other nights he can be great..

Getting excited about the game now...Think 1-1 could be on the cards...We need to score though...Any one think Gerrard for a goal tonight??


im nervous as hell.

I love and hate big european nights!



the team is as we expected, rafa was never going to go for it in the first leg. That team is good enough to get a result tonight but id be delighted with a score draw.

[bono]

Any predictions on the match? Will take a 1-0 win but won't be upset with a 1-1 draw.

[ROCCO]

Starting Line for Atletico Madrid
43 De Gea
3 Lopez
17 Ujfalusi
31 Dominguez
21 Perea
8 Raul Garcia
9 Jurado
12 Assuncao
19 Reyes
20 Simao
7 Forlan




Substitutes
1 Sergio
2 Valera
6 Camacho
14 Salvio
16 Juanito
24 Carbera
0 González Tomá

[Maverick]

I think if we keep things tight and look to sneak an away goal be it through a draw or a win then we have a great chance at home.Unfortunately our away form in Europe has been poor but no better time to change that than tonight.We badly need something to shout about.Come on the pool!!I think stevie will step up to the plate tonight in torres' absence.

[prendy]

jesus I hate 3e.

[ROCCO]

jesus I hate 3e.

Be carefull ...

[bono]

Fcuk me Have Atl. Madrid won any games in the Europa League?

[travis]

sticking with 3e tonight, last 2 games I watched on that channel we won , when I watched on ch5 we lost twice , don't tell me I'm superstitous .....

[Skintown Red]

1 keeper and 10 outfield players :p

There's always one:rolleyes:;)

Cheers for the team, up a few posts btw

[prendy]

Be carefull ...

huh?

[ROCCO]

sticking with 3e tonight, last 2 games I watched on that channel we won , when I watched on ch5 we lost twice , don't tell me I'm superstitous .....

+1

[ROCCO]

huh?

3e :eek:

[Fran74]

Reports that Masch pulled out of warm up and may have done his hamstrng. Big blow if so. He'd be a huge loss tonight.

[ROCCO]

Reports that Masch pulled out of warm up and may have done his hamstrng. Big blow if so. He'd be a huge loss tonight.

Who reported it ..

[travis]

Reports that Masch pulled out of warm up and may have done his hamstrng. Big blow if so. He'd be a huge loss tonight.

is that from the same fella that said Gerrard pulled up during the warm up against Fulham

[Fran74]

Who reported it ..

Was on LFC tv. Not sure how true it is.

[ROCCO]

is that from the same fella that said Gerrard pulled up during the warm up against Fulham

They just showed Masch feeling his hamstring in the warm up, slight grimace on his face, LFCTV talking about bringing Aquilani in or putting Gerrard back. No-one seems to have confirmed whether he's gonna play or not?

[Ron1892]

Mentioned his hamstring on channel 5 too...Nothing about him been pulled from the team though..

[Skintown Red]

Masch okay acording to CH 5

[Fran74]

Masch is there ok. That's a relief.

[ROCCO]

Masch there ..

[Skintown Red]

How many ad breaks have there been on ch 5 now? Feck this is ridiculous, although I hope that ACDC ad is on again...love Thunderstruck!

[MrsPepe]

such a pity Torres is not there, he would have got some reception no doubt

[blackbetty69]

How many ad breaks have there been on ch 5 now? Feck this is ridiculous, although I hope that ACDC ad is on again...love Thunderstruck!

ya whats with that like?! there were 3 ads with thunderstruck in a row!!

[kingofthekop]

come on ye reds and puts these cnuts to bed

[kaiser_del]

shocking goal

[welshy1]

i know it shouldnt have come to it, but how the hell did carra not clear it with that swipe

[Tarabuses]

Heavens, where's the defence?

[kingofthekop]

donkeys!!!

[Ron1892]

fcuking poxy goal and even worse fcuking marking....Have to get on the ball and try play now..

[Skintown Red]

Minds still on the bus, train, plane...take your pick?

[bono]

Crap goal crap start.

[Maldjd23]

that was onside surely??...

[kaiser_del]

stevie should have done better.great ball from lucas

[kingofthekop]

Minds still on the bus, train, plane...take your pick?

not an excuse!!

[Skintown Red]

not an excuse!!

I know just a shit joke from me. I was half expecting the commentators to mention something like that

[kingofthekop]

I know just a shit joke from me

:o 4 u :D:D:D

[barrydoherty]

that was onside surely??...

From my Picture by Picture steams looked offside

[Millhouse]

Painful watchin we've been awful so far

[Ron1892]

Reyes is a fcuking joke..The cnut should be booked by now..He has gone down 5 times and has got nothing for any of them...Diving little fcuker..

[vincenzo]

Painful watchin we've been awful so far
+1

[Ron1892]

We can certaintly get something out of this game, as they are as fcuking bad as us..

[rafalabamba]

Like most of our europa league games horrible football to watch, doest seem like a semi final of a european competition at all for me, the players dont seem to be playing like it is either

[ROCCO]

Got better as the half went on ... but tempo is way to slow

[ROCCO]

Bring Babel on ..

[dubit10]

Got better as the half went on ... but tempo is way to slow

I actually thought we got worse as it went on. The players are the ones that need to be sacked not Rafa. Gerrard in particular has been disgraceful and it's now obvious he does'nt want to be at the club. Sickening.

[babbsnads]

We've looked vunerable down our left side again. Reyes is all left foot so just show him down the line. Coming inside or picking little passes inside far too easy the first half hour. These are poor defensively so we have to try get on the front foot more this half. The refs been decent to be fair. Hasn't been taken in by them.

[travis]

Siamo worries me, his distribution is fantastic, we need to get an away goal but i think Atletico will score 2

[crumlin red]

the body language of some of the players is terrible when we lose the ball
were dropping the heads instead of trying to win it back.

hopefully rafa gets stuck in to them in the dressing room

[ROCCO]

I actually thought we got worse as it went on. The players are the ones that need to be sacked not Rafa. Gerrard in particular has been disgraceful and it's now obvious he does'nt want to be at the club. Sickening.

Thought we got better just to slow .... Yossi's goal was on side imo ..

[ROCCO]

Id get Ryan and Aquilani on and up the tempo and we can still win this ...

[dubit10]

The only positive about this game is Madrid are as bad as we are and i would'nt be surprised if we drew this game at least.

[vincenzo]

I'd settle for one- nil tbh and try and do them at home. Just don't see where a goal is going to come from and the way we are defending we look like conceding more.

[babbsnads]

I actually thought we got worse as it went on. The players are the ones that need to be sacked not Rafa. Gerrard in particular has been disgraceful and it's now obvious he does'nt want to be at the club. Sickening.

"discraceful"and "sickening". Sorry pal but I think your going a bit over the top there. He hasn't been anywhere near that bad.

[ROCCO]

"discraceful"and "sickening". Sorry pal but I think your going a bit over the top there. He hasn't been anywhere near that bad.

........

[barrydoherty]

"discraceful"and "sickening". Sorry pal but I think your going a bit over the top there. He hasn't been anywhere near that bad.

Yeah Gerrard isn't doing as bad as some other players out there. Bring Babel on and take NGog off, Babel will run at them

[Juan]

Our own fans writing us off already:(

[ROCCO]

When did Phil Brown get the Atletico job ?

[vincenzo]

Bit more positive this half

[D7Hooper]

I don't think we've been as bad as some are suggesting, the greek was terrible for the goal and we started sluggush, but we've had a good goal chalked off, benny missed a sitter of a header stevie had a decent chance unfortunately on his left and magic is scaring their defense when he runs at them. Only half time chaps

[kingofthekop]

i bet yossi gets subbed

[rafalabamba]

pepe reina.....unreal

[barrydoherty]

what a save from reina

[vincenzo]

Great Save Pepe

[kingofthekop]

and some people on here gave Lucas player of the season!!

[barrydoherty]

Babel coming on thank god

[ROCCO]

i bet yossi gets subbed

Ngog

[barrydoherty]

Good sub would made the same myself

[Skintown Red]

Babel on the right...happy days

[kaiser_del]

About time, a traffic cone would have done better than Ngog!

[kingofthekop]

About time, a traffic cone would have done better than Ngog!

+1

[barrydoherty]

About time, a traffic cone would have done better than Ngog!

IceCream Cone you mean :D

[rafalabamba]

I would definetley take a 1-0 defeat right now the way we're playing

[vincenzo]

Fcuk off Reyes you cnut

[Skintown Red]

That Reyes prick is a divin ****

[Skintown Red]

Still no Aqua?!

[wheeliekop]

we are dead......no tempo

[vincenzo]

Still no Aqua?!
Who????

[barrydoherty]

Still no Aqua?!

he would only get injured El Zhar looks to be coming on or is it degen

[MrsPepe]

jesus how may times is Reyes going to go down

[barrydoherty]

Poor result didn't deserve anything from the game. In another point what the hell is going on with the Aqua situation

[Redrob09]

I think we will settle for that after a very lack lustre performance.
We should be well able for them at anfield next week.
Not a great showing, but not a bad result.

[vincenzo]

One nil is not too bad but a better effort needed next week. Good nite.

[Gerry]

Not the worst result considering how poor we were tonight, Hopefully we can turn it around next week, We made them look alot better than they are

[rafalabamba]

We can definetley go through in the 2nd keg, Aguero's gonna be a huge threat though, we'll have to defend much better next week, in other news, nice result for Fullham

[GaryMc]

That was painful to watch. If Torres was fit for the second leg, I would fancy us to go through. Without him its hard to see who will make the difference.

[ROCCO]

One nil is not too bad but a better effort needed next week. Good nite.

Hate that score line , makes it very tricky , if they score we need 3 ...

[Span Molby]

Brutal game, brutal performance, but all in all not a bad result, roll on next Thursday. They arent a good side so here's hoping

[trucker]

3things from tonight, aqualani must be fcukin sick he ever met rafa, Roma are going for the double while he rots on our bench, agger is a left back? Johnson is better than finnan was for us, you know who u are!

[Gray72]

What a load of absolute crap yet again!! We didn't hit the target once at that it just not good enough. Right over two legs a 1-0 away is a good result but just when oh when are we going to see a good team performance? We have absolutely nothing up front, never looked like scoring.

Ngog is just woeful, I don't care what Rafa says about him. He is lazy, laboured, heavy footed, lacks vision, lacks creativity, lacks a goal and fails to hold the ball. I am sick sore and tired of watching the lazy Babel. He brings absolutely nothing to the team, foul after foul after foul, gives the ball away coming inside every time.

To sum it up we see El Zahr come on and the £20m boy sits it out yet again. Atletico Madrid are a very average team who are very poor at the back we didn't test them once. We didn't target their weaknesses and didn't look worried about getting a goal. You know what will happen, we will concede at home and struggle for the night.

Pepe sums it up quiet nicely. Not good enough. Why have we a bunch of flair players who create nothing? Not happy again:mad:

[babbsnads]

Hate that score line , makes it very tricky , if they score we need 3 ...

Yeah I agree. Very dissapointed with that result.but we've been in similar situations against better teams and got through so let's stay positive.

[ROCCO]

Think we can win at Anfield but 0-1 is a very tricky score line ... feel we will need 3 and i cant see it without Torres .
We have to stop them scoring imo in the return game ...... 2-0 .

[dubit10]

"discraceful"and "sickening". Sorry pal but I think your going a bit over the top there. He hasn't been anywhere near that bad.

Disagree. His head has been somewhere else this season and he needs to be dropped. Word is he's gone next season and if we get anywhere near 30m for him i'll be delighted.

[babbsnads]

Think we can win at Anfield but 0-1 is a very tricky score line ... feel we will need 3 and i cant see it without Torres .

Know what you're saying. The "let's stay positive" comment wasn't aimed at you by the way. Was just saying in general. If I'm honest though I'm pretty worried.

[Gray72]

Whatever way you look at this season we have fallen short in the main for the lack of goals. This team just doesn't share them about enough. You will win nothing with Ngog up front. In tight matches you need to take the chances that come your way! Ngog fluffs his lines every week, with poor finishing and poor touch. Rafa how could/did you let a team battling for titles and cups have one recognised striker. I just don't get it!!!

[gowinit6times]

Dismal performance reminiscant of so many games this season, without Torres we look woefully short in attack. N'gog is out of his depth at this level while creatively we are badly lacking.

A fit Torres and I would be confident of reversing the scoreline at Anfield. Without him we will have to rely on keeping a clean sheet and grinding them down. The Aqualani situation is becoming a bit of a mystery at this stage.

[paddy cork]

it was complete letargic and why was babel spending more time horizontal than vertical

[rafalabamba]

We've lost all our first home legs in the Europa so far and thrashed them at home, so why not let the pattern continue!!:D

[born red 79]

Some bad knob-eds textin in to that 3e

[trucker]

The Aqualani situation is becoming a bit of a mystery at this stage.

In what way Rafa plays for a draw shocker or Rafa fcuks up yet again in transfer Market,nothing new there IMO

[babbsnads]

Disagree. His head has been somewhere else this season and he needs to be dropped. Word is he's gone next season and if we get anywhere near 30m for him i'll be delighted.

Yeah,he hasn't been up to his usual standards. But probably his first poor season barring injuries so I think we owe him our support. Lost count of the number of times he's pulled us out of the shit. No-ones above criticism but I still think you were a bit over the top.
And with him on the way-I stopped paying any attention to rumours coming out of Liverpool since Henry was "Spotted" in melwood a few seasons ago. Even Robbie Fowler says in his book Liverpool is the worst city in the world for rumours. So I don't think you should pin your hopes on that.

[born red 79]

Just heard a boss comment there.... Reckon it's someone off here.. As a Liverpool fan I am ashamed at some of the comments on here, especially the ones calling for Rara's head. The problems at liverpool are at boardroom level etc etc. Can't remember rest.

[CrazyHorse]

Shocking match in all honesty.

Both teams were very poor, and not one individual came out of that game the better...

Think we'll take them at Anfield, as we can lift our game ten-fold on the dross from tonight, and Madrid do not travel well.

Is it a coincidence that the 4 travelling Euro semi-finalists done nothing this week???
Fulham the only away side not to lose, and I heard they were lucky too.

Anyway as I said, think we'll do 'em at Anfield.

[prendy]

we played crap but only lost 1-0.
I am confident we'll get through at Anfield.

a few things though.

what the story with Aqualiani? I mean surely last 15mins we could do with a bit of creativity in there...surely 20m player should get his game ahead of elzhar.

Ngog is not up to leading the line on his own yet. I hope he will be one day but at the moment I just cant see it. We need to try something different up front next thurs.

Lucas was very good tonight and Reina was our MOM tonight.
Agger was poor tonight, i know LB isnt his position but he looked very sluggish.


the stevie critics on here are way out of order, our best player of the last decade has had one bad year in 10 and people lambast him. Remember Alonso the year before he left? Injuries aside he didnt exactly set the world alight. Mark my words Stevie will be back to his best next year and i pray he is in the red of liverpool coz i dont think i could handle seeing him in another jersey let alone lining up against us.


remember lads its only half time and were playing into the kop second half.

YNWA

[gowinit6times]

In what way Rafa plays for a draw shocker or Rafa fcuks up yet again in transfer Market,nothing new there IMO

Well firstly he hasn't shown enough in the time I have seen him play to suggest that he is a £20m player or anywhere near it. Perhaps Rafa has now seen this for himself up close and has decided that he doesn't rate him and is now trying to limit the loss on a Summer sale. Or maybe his body is so fragile that he isn't capable of playing much, but thats all guesswork.

Either way the transfer has been a failure to date if a £20m player can't get into a side that is badly lacking in creativity and playing poorly.

[travis]

This day next week we'll all be booking our trips to Hamburg for a monster session So chin up Kopites

[Millhouse]

away record in all comps this season: P26 W7 D7 L12. Wins v Leeds, Unirea, Debrecen, Bolton, West Ham, Everton, Villa

makes interesting Reading. Christ we were awful. Apparently the first question from the Spanish press was "why 2 holding midfielder?" poor Aqua, that journey & for what

[CrazyHorse]

This day next week we'll all be booking our trips to Hamburg for a monster session So chin up Kopites

+1

Dont agree with people being happy to see one of our greatest players being sold..
One bad season since he started with us.... and its all the more noticeable because the whole team have been awful throughout the season.

A large chunk of perspective is needed please...

[MR KING KENNY]

and there we have it, another sh1t effort, 1 nil down to a poor madrid side.
rafa and hs piss poor choices does it again, aqua played a good game 2 games ago and gets taken off after 60 mins, and gets dropped for the next 2 games? maybe if he played sh1t like lucas week in week out maybe rafa will play him, cant get over it, to think wehave 20 million on the bench every week since oct, and this was the player to turn our season around, what some'd it up for me was the free kick we had near the end of the game, johnson runs down the wing to offer something up front, and rafa tells him to ge back, same old story, rafa more worried about conceding than scoring.

[megager]

really really poor. I cant believe how bad Madrid were. I reckon we should have done them tonight and we just didnt go for it. I reckon with aguero back they could easily score at anfield. Well probably win 2-1 and go out. | Dont see us getting three.

[4tothefloor]

Awful performance, we're painful to watch this season. The usual stuff from Rafa, he's not going to change. But the most disappointing of all are our so called top players. Carra, Gerrard and Johnson were shocking tonight and have been all season. The others and the periphery players are just not good enough anyway. We don't need 4 top players next season, we need 6 or 7 because this team is a spent force.

[bobby benitez]

Didnt see it but by all accounts we were shit again tonight. Too think if we win next week we could be in a European final after playing well on 1 occassion all season.

Unbelievable stuff, maxium 5 games left in this never ending season.

[Millhouse]

Awful performance, we're painful to watch this season. The usual stuff from Rafa, he's not going to change. But the most disappointing of all are our so called top players. Carra, Gerrard and Johnson were shocking tonight and have been all season. The others and the periphery players are just not good enough anyway. We don't need 4 top players next season, we need 6 or 7 because this team is a spent force.

That's a bit harsh naming them 3. The team is crippled with Lucas & Masch playin that role. It's been the same all season..we have no one to pass, pull the strings. Any wonder Gerrard's been poor by his own standards. He's up there beside Ngog runnin & chasin absolute scraps. It's shocking stuff. How Rafa has persisted with this is beyond me. It beggers believe. Even if he moved Stevie back into central mid it'd helped.

I've backed Rafa all the way, even still. But FFS he doesn't make it easy

[MutantNinjaSkrtel]

Shite performance.Shite to watch.Not surprised though-no Nando,no creativity in the middle (albeit I rate Masch and Lucas individually) and Gerrard playing with the ability of Carlton Palmer and the enthusiasm of Berbatov all season long.


Didn't expect Aquilani to start tonight but I feel theres definitely some politics we don't know about behind the scenes there.

Still confident we'll do these at Anfield next week.

[ROCCO]

Without Torres in Attack 4-2-3-1 just doesnt work or Gerrard behind Ngog , Imo either go 4-4-2 with 2 strikers and Drop Gerrard back into midfield , or go with what 4-1-3-2 with Masch as the defensive midfielder and Gerrard in the middle of the 3 with 2 strikers in front of him.
What ever formation we play we just dont need both Lucas and Mach together just slows the team up and makes us stagnant .
Very disappointing against a very poor Atletico side just cant understand in such a game last night Aquilani didn't at least get 30 Min's ...

Felt gutted watching Reina interview after the game , he was looked totally gutted with the result and very despondent , seems by his reaction he thought we had blown it last night.

[Anfield Old Boys]

Gerrard playing with the ability of Carlton Palmer and the enthusiasm of Berbatov all season long.

This must be the quote of the season for me....well done.... :D

[Pimboli]

I thought I would have calmed down overnight but Im worse this morning knowing how badyly we messed up.

Rafa tactical mastermind my arse. We conceeded a sloppy goal typical of our season but it was clear to everyone at their cat that that Madrid team last night was muck and there for the taking yet Rafa goes with his tried and tested Plan A ultra defensive stop the opposition for scoring formation which prevents us from scoring.

So what does Rafa do at half time to shake things up and get back into the game? Stick with Plan A and try and stop them scoring a second which bar another defensive cock up they never looked like scoring rather than get back into the game.

How many times did we see Maureen at the chavs when things were not going his way he would make double substitutions at half time and completely change the teams tactics? we saw it plenty of times but Rafa has plan a and if that isnt working or was the case last night simply not needed and is actually hurting us he sticks to plan A.

What happend to all his pre match talk of taking it to Atletico and looking for the away goal because if thats his definition of going for it Id hate to see him being deliberately defensive.

We have come home a goal down with no away goal, and we have seen how important they have been this season, whereas we should be coming home with at least a score draw if not a win.

I lost track of how many times David Pleat said on Channel Five that all we had to do was put a bit of sustained pressure on Atletico and their defensive would crumble

[Badman]

I dont c why people are surprised we played shite - that's par for the course i'm afraid. we just dont have enough good quality footballers, even good enough to take on a hopeless athletico madrid who are a midtable team at best, and without aguero even worse than that. hard to single out any single individual for particualr criticism - they all passed poorly, dreadful first touch etc and look like they spend approx 30 seconds a week on ball skills,....augmented to 36hrs of prozone analysis. i watched a good chunk of the fulham game too and they ahd to travel even longer than us and trained on the side of the road yet were more of a threat and passed the ball with purpose. that aint a fluke, its the way they play, its the way the manager makes them play. And yeah, i'd have duff all day long before el zhar who looked like he got lost in space or babel who, like my 5month old, stilll hasnt learnt how to stand up without falling over.
only positive is we only conceded one goal. felt sorry for ngog, he just isnt good enough and never holds up the ball - he's just not able. rumour has it that kuyt had a massive heart attack last week and skipped the light fandango yet still turned up to play the full 90 minutes despite being clearly hampered by rigor mortis.
dreadful stuff again, just dunno why it still bothers me when i should be useda it by now. must be love...or delusion...tis a fine line. And done get me started on aqualini. rafa and marcia have spent £27m in italy and they may as well have burnt the cahs for all the good it has done us. heard we're linked with the lazio full back, and ballotelli (babel mark II) as part of a swap with gerrard. interesting times ahead

[stevieg]

Shyte performance, shocking goal to concede. Two shyte teams.

I think we planned to get to 0-0 at halftime and silence them and their fans but that went out the window after the goal we gifted them. Rafa should of gone 2 up top for a period of the game yesterday as there was a goal there. Anyway it's only halftime.

Gerrard walked around like a sulking little girl as he has been for a lot of the season.

Rafa has to go 2 up top against these at home as we can take them.

[justydawson]

I tell ya that was like we were playing Athletico in a pre season friendly

No movement, no belief we might as well have been a reserve team.

They looked tired, not interested and hopefully 12th man can change it all around next week.

[garyc]

4 attempts.............NONE on target, says it all really!!!

[Clerk]

yeah agree with a lot of the sentiment here. Brutal stuff, more like a pre-season friendly than a European semi.

Ngog was woeful in the 1st half. Of course people will say he's 21 and not a lone striker etc. But still he's picked and it's a European semi and he was woeful.

Carra was desperate for the first goal. There is no way that cross should have gotten in and he should have cleared it off the line. Where was the marking in the middle. Horrendous stuff and where the **** was Johnson gone. I presume it was Johnson that Carra was roaring at ?? Desperate goal to concede and I was fearful because the first goal was always going to be crucial. In fairness to Carra I thought he grew into the game and in the second half was back to his old self and made a goal saving clearance after Reina made his one error in the game.

Benayoun was woeful. His goal was onside but apart from that he was terrible. Example 10 minutes to go he tracks back to the edge of the penalty area as cover, lovely stuff. Next, Liverpool win the ball and he stands there 30 yards from his own goal rubbing some part of himself. Jesus Christ it's a European semi Benny !!!!!! Will you move yourself for **** sake. Also, his header in the first half, the way he was shoved out of the way for it was unreal. Small bit of aggression needed there Benny !!

Now, by old chestnut Babel, a perfect example of what a moronic footballer he is. 5 minutes to go and Gerrard makes a lovely run into the Madrid box and cuts a good ball back, naturally no Liverpool player there to score !!! Then the ball breaks across the box and Babel gets it. He is overlapped by an unmarked player and has a pass on that an 8 Year old could make for a good attacking opportunity. Does he give the easy ball, no ****ing way he cuts inside and tries to dribble past two Madrid players and loses the ball. The guy is a moron of a footballer. He'll never make it at a top level. He's 23/24 now. To be fair he apologied to his team mate. He seems to have an awful lot to apologise about. He's shite.

Then Rafa springs El Zhar from the bench with 10 minutes to go. Madrid are shitting themselves, unfortunately so is El Zhar. Did he actually touch the ball ??? He might as well as been having a shite in the dressing room for all the impact he had.

Gerrard was Gerrard this season, tried but totally off form.

Kuyt was Kuyt, tried hard in fairness.

Johnson was poor.

Reina made a World class save from Simao to keep Liverpool in it after some desperate defending by Agger who was poor.

In fairness I thought Lucas did well enough :) and Masch was decent in the hacker role.

Thanks be to **** Portsmouth got knocked back for the 7th spot or we may not be in the Europa league next Year.

Sorry about the rant but sick of watching this setup.:mad:

[merc]

Awful game sums up our season.
Neither team showed any ambition and even if Rafa was playing for the draw he should have been able to see fiarly early on that they were there for the taking.

One of the worst games I have sat through all season.

[redspider]

Atletico Madrid 1 Liverpool 0 (1st leg)
Forlan 9

This was a poor match with few chances but Liverpool come away with a reasonable result. Whilst we came close to getting an all-important away goal, and should have, it was a poor display so there can be no quibble with the result. The tie is fairly balanced, but Liverpool on paper at least should have the wherewithal to get the necessary goals on the return leg.

Benitez lined up Liverpool in his usual 4-2-3-1 formation, with Mascherano returning:

———— Reina ————
Johnson - Carra - Kyrgiakos – Agger
--------- Lucas - Masch ----
Kuyt ---- Gerrard ----- Benayoun
——––––– N’Gog ———

Babel came on for a poor N’Gog on 64 minutes, and El Zhar perhaps surprisingly came on for Benayoun on 83 mins.

Liverpool’s match was prefaced by the forced land journey due to the Icelandic volcanic ash. Whether that was a cause of tired legs, lethargy and lack of sharpness and sharp minds we will never know, but one thing is for sure, Liverpool did not look sharp in this match.

Liverpool were missing Torres and it showed, but equally Atletico were missing their star-man Aguero. It was Atletico that showed the most promise at the start of the match. Their efforts and passing from Reyes and Simao helped to create a chance for Forlan, who eventually put it away.

But the parts played by Liverpool players in that goal need to be outlined. Carragher was pulled out right as the cross came in, okay with that, but Kyrgiakos completely lost Forlan in the box and dived into thin air, gifting Forlan with a free header in the 6 yard box. Forlan fluffed it, but the ball fell to him again, he snapped at it and should have been put under more pressure by Reina, who should have saved it at that point. It squirmed passed him and was falling over the line only for a returning Carra to completely miss the clearance as Kyrgiakos watched on. So who to blame, clearly a collective blame. Should Agger have been coming in more from the blind-side? Perhaps. But clearly a mistake by Kyrgiakos, clearly Reina should have done better and poor Jamie missed it at the end. A comedy of errors type of goal.

Liverpool took more control of the game after this but created few chances. And indeed Atletico had more chances later on as well. Liverpool did create a chance when Benayoun was put through by a nice through pass from Kuyt (who was as hard-working as ever) but the linesman ruled it offside, incorrectly as it happened but these are often called that way. Gerrard did well to create a chance for himself on a through ball over the top but he put it into the side netting with his left foot from about 15 yards and a tightish angle on the left. Kuyt had an effort and just before half-time and then Atletico hit the side netting from a tight angle.

The second half began with more of the same. There was slowness in the play as the ball was passed around. Was this really a semi-final of the Europa League or a kick-around? It was hard to tell. A bit of life came into the game on the hour mark when Reina made a good reflex save from a volley from Simao who was slipping at the time. Reina does have his good points and saved Liverpool there.

N’Gog who on this performance would struggle in an U14 match was replaced by Babel, but we all know he is not a striker of calibre and he squandered a chance soon after coming on. Atletico had another chance well saved by Reina although he put it into the danger area and it was cleared by Carra. That could have been a goal.

El Zhar was brought on for Benayoun whereas perhaps Pacheco as a striker would have been a better option or indeed Aquilani for a Lucas. Liverpool huffed and puffed but couldn’t create anything definitive as the game petered out.

The tally at the end of the match read Atletico Madrid’s 7 attempts to Liverpool’s measly 3 attempts, with none officially on target. Liverpool did have chances, such as the time Kuyt was put through yet he was so slow that it ended up as nothing, so not everything came through on the stats (nor do they in any game), but no matter how you dress it up, 3 is abysmal!

So, where to now? Well, Anfield hopefully, where a refreshed and recharged Liverpool team backed (hopefully) by a vociferous Anfield crowd will play a much different game in the 2nd leg. Liverpool have to go for high tempo, surely, have to go for some attack and some goals. Yes, avoid the away goal, Masch will be a key here, covering breaks with his pace as he does as Johnson pushed forward and adds width. With the tie at 1-0, Liverpool will surely get back into it. All that’s needed is 1 goal and from there surely two would be possible. The key is not to allow Atletico to get any confidence at all, to overwhelm them mentally.

With Fulham putting it up to Hamburg with a 0-0 away draw in their 1st leg, surely this trophy is there for the taking for any half decent team. Aren’t we a have decent team? I would hope so!

Redspider

[rev]

Wasn't the best but we'll take them at Anfield :D

[graham]

Wasn't the best but we'll take them at Anfield :D

Hope so but they'll have Aguero back and he's a top top player. I hope we didn't blow our chance last night :(

[aquaman]

depressing stuff to watch but i thought we had a foot hold in the game.johnson showed himself again as he was out of position for the goal and carra had to go across.i have been given stick for what i have said about ngog.he did try but i would have done anything to have seen kuyt or babel up there instead of him tonight.

not a bad result tho

[dmac1989]

Hard to watch but they are there for the taking. Ye last night could of went beter but it didnt so lets look forward to next thursday and taking them at home rather than look back and get annoyed by last nights performance. The 12th man will be in force next week!!!

[glen]

that was rubbish last night ngog should of been of at halk time put kuyt up there and bable on the right should of took lucas of for aquilaini to we didnt deserve anything from that game or this season people are say its not a bad result tell me that again when they score the first goal at anfield absoulute shit e

[dmac1989]

that was rubbish last night ngog should of been of at halk time put kuyt up there and bable on the right should of took lucas of for aquilaini to we didnt deserve anything from that game or this season people are say its not a bad result tell me that again when they score the first goal at anfield absoulute shit e

Why so negitive. Ye everybody is annoyed. Nobody likes the result last night. We have to look forward, think positive and support the team. The result could have being worse, we were lucky! 1 nil to them is not a bad result and il will tell you that again when we get the first goal at anfield and the second and the third and have another massive european night!!!

[aquaman]

that was rubbish last night ngog should of been of at halk time put kuyt up there and bable on the right should of took lucas of for aquilaini to we didnt deserve anything from that game or this season people are say its not a bad result tell me that again when they score the first goal at anfield absoulute shit e

ya a loss is never a good result id agree.id agree with u too about ngog i dont rate him.he doesnt hold on to the ball.but we controlled the game i thought without attacking.it was a european game so keep it tight and try nick a goal.sadly a mistake by johnson and a dodgy linesman things didnt go to plan.we just have to drive on next week chap

[glen]

Why so negitive. Ye everybody is annoyed. Nobody likes the result last night. We have to look forward, think positive and support the team. The result could have being worse, we were lucky! 1 nil to them is not a bad result and il will tell you that again when we get the first goal at anfield and the second and the third and have another massive european night!!!yeah your right its been the first time ive been negative all season i always support the team its just a build up of anger from the season as a whole back to being positive we will batter them 3 nil ageruo will play so the will be more attacking and open leaving space for our players to play im happier now

[dmac1989]

yeah your right its been the first time ive been negative all season i always support the team its just a build up of anger from the season as a whole back to being positive we will batter them 3 nil ageruo will play so the will be more attacking and open leaving space for our players to play im happier now

I can understand the build up of anger but no alot of games left so lets get behind the lads and hope they will give us something to smile about.:D

[Maverick]

Not a great result last night granted but we have Anfield next thursday to hopefully make amends.The performance was poor and lacked creativity and drive but that's something that we have had to endure all season.We can point fingers at almost everyone to try and come to terms with all that we have witnessed this season.Many people blame individuals but we have underperformed as a team in all honestly.it's easier at this late stage to look forward rather than dwelling on the past.This game is still there next thursday to be won and we would be foolish to write off our team just yet.I for one will be focussing on getting behind the lads and not compounding the misery by slagging off our players and manager.

[RedArmagh]

that was one of the most pathetic performances i have ever seen. did we have a shot in the second half?

Last night i was getting so stressed watching the game - I DESPISE the way we play. we are so boring and negative its unbelievable. i didnt want to watch, i just wanted the game over. this is the main reason i believe Rafa has to go. when we are not getting results, and not achieveing them by playing in a negative way its just too much.

What is Rafa doing with Aqualiani? Not a single minute against West ham, not a single minute against Athetico when we are getting beat. the first game we controlled and won easy the second game which we lost we had no rythem and the much improved lucas has his poorest half to date (2nd half). so in two very different situations Rafa decides not to use his big summer signing. in what situation does he plan to use him. Honestly what is the point in naming the man on the bench if he has not intention of using him under any situation?

Thank you for the good times under your tenure Rafa, but i honestly believe we have become stale, boring, predictable under you now and now is the time to go. I hope he goes onto be successful at juve or real or wherever he goes but i do really believe his time here is up.

[zamaguire]

For the love of God can Rafa not see that Masch and Lucas in the middle does not work. How many games have they played together and how many have we lost.