Where it all went wrong

[kemm1]

Well what a crap final. Anyone else think that we didnt even give it a proper go?

Where it went wrong?

1:Season finished to early
We qualified for the final and then had meaningless games to play. You mess around with the team and everyone relaxes. It is then difficult to get back into top gear

2:We played them at their game
English football is based upon pace, power, strength and aggression. We should play to those strengths the continentals dont like it. We met Milan and felt we had to play a European game. Thus we went 4-5-1 and played to their strengths.

3:Wrong players and positions
Zenden is a hard working and honest chap but he looks like a 14 year old playing against bigger boys. Out of his depth and too easy to keep out of the game.
Alonso..how did he stay on? Absolute stinker of a game.
Gerrard...played in a position guaranteed to isolate our most influential player. An absolute crime.
Kewell....ahh yes his one or two games of the season when glory time comes around...absolute dross. waste of money and goodbye in the summer.
Kuyt....hardworking and determined. If we are playing one up front the striker has to stay up front and not drift out wide in midfield etc...seems lost on him.

BULL****! 4-5-1 was the correct formation, we controlled the game from to finish. They scored a fluke goal for the first and with the options at Rafa's disposal the players he chose was spot.

NOW SHUT THE FCUK UP AND GIVE RAFA CREDIT WHEN IT'S DESERVED!

[SouthAfricaRed]

We were the better team but I think that's more to do with Milan being off colour, they made a lot of mistakes when not actually being pressed.

I think Rafa showed tonight one of his biggest flaws is that he picks teams to not lose matches rather than to win them. It's been obvious to anyone watching us in the league away from home this season. Far too often prior to the introduction of Crouch - after 78 minutes - we lacked bodies in the box so all our good play was never capitalised on.

I'm gutted we lost but we have only Rafa to blame on this particular night. I hope he wakens the **** up in the league next season or we're doomed to mediocrity there once more.

Credit to the fans too, were in good voice all evening and didn't give up. Unlike our manager.

What a WUM

[Imy]

wrong team i'm afraid, Kuyt and Gerrard both play similar roles, too deep no one truly upfront. Zenden well what's the point? and taking Mascherano off instead of Xabi.

[Tatterdemalion]

Oh god we lost....

[Mr Tourette]

We were the better team but I think that's more to do with Milan being off colour, they made a lot of mistakes when not actually being pressed.

I think Rafa showed tonight one of his biggest flaws is that he picks teams to not lose matches rather than to win them. It's been obvious to anyone watching us in the league away from home this season. Far too often prior to the introduction of Crouch - after 78 minutes - we lacked bodies in the box so all our good play was never capitalised on.

I'm gutted we lost but we have only Rafa to blame on this particular night. I hope he wakens the **** up in the league next season or we're doomed to mediocrity there once more.

Credit to the fans too, were in good voice all evening and didn't give up. Unlike our manager.

youre talking **** as well. we bossed the game. just a smidge more quality was all we needed - its not rafas fault - how exactly did he give up?:whatever:

[spud_gun]

What a WUM

WUM?

[redheart]

We gave it a go? How many times did we have a striker in their box. Giving it a go is not fannying about in midfield with pointless short passes. How many clear cut chances did we have? Exactly. THe moment we went 4-5-1 or 4-4-1-1 or whatever you want to call it we lost the impetus.....did any of you see the second half? MIlan controlled it...their pace...their style of play...their niggly little cheating etc....

And I do not see how anyone can defend Alonso...he stunk the place out

[RedWolverine]

The only thing this game showed us up on is where we lack, up front for starters.

If we had Etoo/whoever up front, we would of won that, hands down.

We where the better team for most of that match, ONLY thing we lacked was the killer touch in front of goal, thats it.

[spud_gun]

wrong team i'm afraid, Kuyt and Gerrard both play similar roles, too deep no one truly upfront. Zenden well what's the point? and taking Mascherano off instead of Xabi.

dEFENSIVE CAPABILITES GIVEN THAT rIISE IS AN ATTACKING FULL BACK.

[Mr Tourette]

BULL****! 4-5-1 was the correct formation, we controlled the game from to finish. They scored a fluke goal for the first and with the options at Rafa's disposal the players he chose was spot.

NOW SHUT THE FCUK UP AND GIVE RAFA CREDIT WHEN IT'S DESERVED!

didnt create enough but more than them. jesus - i cant believe some people.

[Tom]

We were the better team but I think that's more to do with Milan being off colour, they made a lot of mistakes when not actually being pressed.

I think Rafa showed tonight one of his biggest flaws is that he picks teams to not lose matches rather than to win them. It's been obvious to anyone watching us in the league away from home this season. Far too often prior to the introduction of Crouch - after 78 minutes - we lacked bodies in the box so all our good play was never capitalised on.

I'm gutted we lost but we have only Rafa to blame on this particular night. I hope he wakens the **** up in the league next season or we're doomed to mediocrity there once more.

Credit to the fans too, were in good voice all evening and didn't give up. Unlike our manager.

dear, dear, dear. I suppose I should expect this from the Internet. That'll teach me to break bread with the dead.

[LFC1892]

Where did it go wrong? When Benitez decided to field Zenden. In the first half, we were all over Milan. At a time when we needed to push home our superiority, everything broke down at Zenden's feet. That's where it wrong - own goal for Benitez.

[SouthAfricaRed]

WUM?

Wind Up Merchant

To say that it was Rafa's fault and that the Crowd was in Good Voice is just deluded

[bigfooty]

What a WUM

You know our record with Kuyt starting this season, when not with Crouch?

Won 9, drawn 5, lost 9.

That's hardly stellar stuff.

Now compare that to Crouch, when starting without Kuyt.

Won 10, Drawn 3, lost 2

If we go 4-5-1 then Crouch has to start. I must have been the only person to see us beat Arsenal, whilst the rest of you must have missed the two games away to the Manchester sides.

Kuyt can work hard all day but it's only when he's in the middle, up front with a target man that he is really effective.

[Imy]

dEFENSIVE CAPABILITES GIVEN THAT rIISE IS AN ATTACKING FULL BACK.

we would have been better off with Riise in Midfield and Arbeloa at full back