Group Hug?

[kurtangle01]

From a manc:

"Lets face it pool fans Rafa blew it ! Pennant and Zenden both starting in a champions league final , with Stevie G as centre forward !! You having a laugh Rafa ?"

Any suggestions for a good reply to that lads?

Tell him it's the same as Darren Fletcher starting in any match for them.

[kurtangle01]

no way, do you realise the flash image I just got in my head, some kunt in an LFC top with his balls hanging out the side of a leapord skin thong drinking a bottle of bud

[Red_Polo]

:grouphug:

Needed that.

[Marky]

Tell him it's the same as Darren Fletcher starting in any match for them.

That's good but i need more

[bazza76]

:grouphug:

Needed that.

how was Athens for you polo?

[bazza76]

That's good but i need more

seriously though, if he is slating Rafa for outplaying them for most of the game and a jammy enough goal chaning the game in favour of milan.
WTF was slur Alex doing in the San Siro, hardly a tactical genius is he? wether he admits it or not, Rafa showed how to play against Milan, If we have had the quality of attacking talent the United had, we would have beaten Milan IMO.

[disco]

seriously though, if he is slating Rafa for outplaying them for most of the game and a jammy enough goal chaning the game in favour of milan.
WTF was slur Alex doing in the San Siro, hardly a tactical genius is he? wether he admits it or not, Rafa showed how to play against Milan, If we have had the quality of attacking talent the United had, we would have beaten Milan IMO.

Yes. Just say "We lost to a deflected goal and a goal on the break after dominating the game, you got your arses handed to you"

[Marky]

That's more like it now lads

[alunevans]

That's more like it now lads

punch him in the neck and run away too

[Red_Polo]

how was Athens for you polo?

Well when you lose it's never going to be the same. But I think what still made the trip really worthwhile for people was being able to meet up with loads of other reds, soak up the atmosphere etc, which unfortunately for me was very limited. Our plane (was on same flight as DJS) got delayed and diverted to an airport about 120 miles from Athens. There were 45 taxis waiting to take us to the stadium, the idea being we would get the same taxis back. We asked if he could drop us in the square but we had to know where to meet to get us back to the airport from the stadium so it wasn't to be.

So anyway, DJS, myself, and some other bloke off our flight got into a taxi driven by some Olympiakos fan called Mike who spoke barely a word of English. Initially we had a police escort and our 45 strong convoy of taxis followed zipping through traffic at a pace which we though might get us there in time to get a metro to the square and have a drink for an hour or so at least. After half an hour or so the police escort ****ed off and I was sort of wondering exactly what the point of it was. Mike was constantly on his phone or radio and he was giving us all a ****ing headache. 'Neh, neh, Anayatop! Anayatop!' Never heard any talk so ****ing loud in my life! Who the **** was this bloke Anayatop, and what did he have to do with anything?

Mike's conversations over the phone and radio got increasingly frantic as we approached Athens, and then we went through a tunnel - the sign on entrance said anayatop, it's a ****ing tunnel not the bloke he's on the phone to! Suddenly he pulls onto the hard shoulder. So does every ****ing one of the taxis with us. Wtf was going on?! We had no idea. Everyone got out and all the drivers gathered together and had a massive argument shouting and gesticulating at each other. 'When we win this'll just be one of those funy stories where you think to yourself, ****ing hell the **** we had to go through just to get there', I thought to myself.

Half an hour later and we get going. We were never going to make it into town now so sent out a couple of texts saying I'd see people at the ground. They were on their way there anyway. Fair enough, all good. We could see the stadium, and could've just got out there and then, but again we had to know where he'd be waiting for us afterwards. About 7 missed exits, 5 u-turns, 3 stops to ask people for directions and close to an hour of driving around the stadium area we finally found some random place to get out. YES! We were there! The stadium looked impressive. Couldn't wait. Managed to find somewhere selling ale, so bought a bag full of tinnies, things were looking up.

DJS had to meet someone by the metro station and I went with him, Red_Al and ScouserTommy had already headed over to their gate but Tomas was about. Somewhere. ****ed if I could find him though. In the end I just made my way in. Went our separate ways after the second checkpoint, which was a ****ing mess as is well documented. Saw some scals about and a fella running after one that nicked his ticket, he got it back thank ****. I had my ticket checked by eye, then by UV light, then by eye again, but it was really only because I was looking to get my ticket checked asap so I could put it away and just get through. I could see plenty getting through without any of the checks. Organisation was a complete mess. One proper line of checks is a million times better than a series of poor ones. Had no camera thanks to some ****ing bitch not keeping her word but took the odd pic on my phone camera and got some fella to take my pic on the concourse and e-mail it to me. No turnstiles to get in, how ****ing bizarre! Couldn't believe it. Could see people just walking through with no checks.

Atmosphere seemed to be particularly good in my section, although maybe that was just a perspective thing. Was quite near the gate and could hear a siren wailing but was engrossed in the game and didn't think much of it. Gave it everything all game, no matter what the time the score etc. Could tell it was handball for their first goal. We didn't deserve to be behind but we'd done nothing to deserve a goal either. Too prosaic. Second half their superior passing really really tired us out. Their first goal may have been a joke but Inzaghi's second was beautifully taken. That said it had come out of our tiredness and poor defending rather than their creativity. Neither team had been playing well. Kewell couldn't make the difference, he was too well marshalled, but when Crouch came on we finally looked threatening. 2-0 I still believed we could do it, and after getting a goal back the chance was definitely there but this wasn't Istanbul where we had energy to expend searching for another goal. The players were already knackered and it's difficult to chase the game in that position. Voices were becoming hoarse but sang on, and even after the final whistle went there were only short periods where I could hear something other than Liverpool fans.

Stayed to give all the players and Rafa a sing, and thank them for everything. They'd given their all. Felt a tear in my eye as I realised the oneness of the fans and players we have that is just not there with other clubs. Mutual emotions of pain and appreciation as we sang for them and they applauded us. It was over for this year but we will be back and we will be stronger.

Leaving the ground was even more of a mess. Ended up squeezing through a gap between riot police vans as the driver revved his engine to make out he was closing the tiny gap. ****ing prick, we just wanted to leave. Having got into the ground reasonably early I hadn't realised the problems outside just before KO but anyone with half a brain knew they had seriously ****ed up the organisation and had no idea what they were doing. Journey back was a nightmare again, more Mike shouting down his phone, stopping to talk to people on the roadside for no apparent reason, delayed flight etc. To take the biscuit it took 1hr45mins once we'd landed just to get the staircar up to the plane! If I hadn't been so tired I might've lost it. There were a lot of seriously pissed off people. The cabin crew were good with us though. Especially the nice blonde Czech minx

Tired as I was, to then get online here this morning to these reports, that Gaillard ****'s statement, and the odd person automatically agreeing it was all the fans fault was ****ing depressing. The whole trip had gone wrong form start to finish. But would I go again? Of course. It was worth the effort, time, and money. Even in retrospect. It wasn't the great night in our history it could've been but it was part of our history nevertheless and every fan wants to be part of that if they can be. Sorry not to have been able to meet up with everyone, but hopefully I'll see you all in Moscow.

Edit: ****, that's a lot longer than I thought and largely depressing, sorry

[bazza76]

Well when you lose it's never going to be the same. But I think what still made the trip really worthwhile for people was being able to meet up with loads of other reds, soak up the atmosphere etc, which unfortunately for me was very limited. Our plane (was on same flight as DJS) got delayed and diverted to an airport about 120 miles from Athens. There were 45 taxis waiting to take us to the stadium, the idea being we would get the same taxis back. We asked if he could drop us in the square but we had to know where to meet to get us back to the airport from the stadium so it wasn't to be.

So anyway, DJS, myself, and some other bloke off our flight got into a taxi driven by some Olympiakos fan called Mike who spoke barely a word of English. Initially we had a police escort and our 45 strong convoy of taxis followed zipping through traffic at a pace which we though might get us there in time to get a metro to the square and have a drink for an hour or so at least. After half an hour or so the police escort ****ed off and I was sort of wondering exactly what the point of it was. Mike was constantly on his phone or radio and he was giving us all a ****ing headache. 'Neh, neh, Anayatop! Anayatop!' Never heard any talk so ****ing loud in my life! Who the **** was this bloke Anayatop, and what did he have to do with anything?

Mike's conversations over the phone and radio got increasingly frantic as we approached Athens, and then we went through a tunnel - the sign on entrance said anayatop, it's a ****ing tunnel not the bloke he's on the phone to! Suddenly he pulls onto the hard shoulder. So does every ****ing one of the taxis with us. Wtf was going on?! We had no idea. Everyone got out and all the drivers gathered together and had a massive argument shouting and gesticulating at each other. 'When we win this'll just be one of those funy stories where you think to yourself, ****ing hell the **** we had to go through just to get there', I thought to myself.

Half an hour later and we get going. We were never going to make it into town now so sent out a couple of texts saying I'd see people at the ground. They were on their way there anyway. Fair enough, all good. We could see the stadium, and could've just got out there and then, but again we had to know where he'd be waiting for us afterwards. About 7 missed exits, 5 u-turns, 3 stops to ask people for directions and close to an hour of driving around the stadium area we finally found some random place to get out. YES! We were there! The stadium looked impressive. Couldn't wait. Managed to find somewhere selling ale, so bought a bag full of tinnies, things were looking up.

DJS had to meet someone by the metro station and I went with him, Red_Al and ScouserTommy had already headed over to their gate but Tomas was about. Somewhere. ****ed if I could find him though. In the end I just made my way in. Went our separate ways after the second checkpoint, which was a ****ing mess as is well documented. Saw some scals about and a fella running after one that nicked his ticket, he got it back thank ****. I had my ticket checked by eye, then by UV light, then by eye again, but it was really only because I was looking to get my ticket checked asap so I could put it away and just get through. I could see plenty getting through without any of the checks. Organisation was a complete mess. One proper line of checks is a million times better than a series of poor ones. Had no camera thanks to some ****ing bitch not keeping her word but took the odd pic on my phone camera and got some fella to take my pic on the concourse and e-mail it to me. No turnstiles to get in, how ****ing bizarre! Couldn't believe it. Could see people just walking through with no checks.

Atmosphere seemed to be particularly good in my section, although maybe that was just a perspective thing. Was quite near the gate and could hear a siren wailing but was engrossed in the game and didn't think much of it. Gave it everything all game, no matter what the time the score etc. Could tell it was handball for their first goal. We didn't deserve to be behind but we'd done nothing to deserve a goal either. Too prosaic. Second half their superior passing really really tired us out. Their first goal may have been a joke but Inzaghi's second was beautifully taken. That said it had come out of our tiredness and poor defending rather than their creativity. Neither team had been playing well. Kewell couldn't make the difference, he was too well marshalled, but when Crouch came on we finally looked threatening. 2-0 I still believed we could do it, and after getting a goal back the chance was definitely there but this wasn't Istanbul where we had energy to expend searching for another goal. The players were already knackered and it's difficult to chase the game in that position. Voices were becoming hoarse but sang on, and even after the final whistle went there were only short periods where I could hear something other than Liverpool fans.

Stayed to give all the players and Rafa a sing, and thank them for everything. They'd given their all. Felt a tear in my eye as I realised the oneness of the fans and players we have that is just not there with other clubs. Mutual emotions of pain and appreciation as we sang for them and they applauded us. It was over for this year but we will be back and we will be stronger.

Leaving the ground was even more of a mess. Ended up squeezing through a gap between riot police vans as the driver revved his engine to make out he was closing the tiny gap. ****ing prick, we just wanted to leave. Having got into the ground reasonably early I hadn't realised the problems outside just before KO but anyone with half a brain knew they had seriously ****ed up the organisation and had no idea what they were doing. Journey back was a nightmare again, more Mike shouting down his phone, stopping to talk to people on the roadside for no apparent reason, delayed flight etc. To take the biscuit it took 1hr45mins once we'd landed just to get the staircar up to the plane! If I hadn't been so tired I might've lost it. There were a lot of seriously pissed off people. The cabin crew were good with us though. Especially the nice blonde Czech minx

Tired as I was, to then get online here this morning to these reports, that Gaillard ****'s statement, and the odd person automatically agreeing it was all the fans fault was ****ing depressing. The whole trip had gone wrong form start to finish. But would I go again? Of course. It was worth the effort, time, and money. Even in retrospect. It wasn't the great night in our history it could've been but it was part of our history nevertheless and every fan wants to be part of that if they can be. Sorry not to have been able to meet up with everyone, but hopefully I'll see you all in Moscow.

Edit: ****, that's a lot longer than I thought and largely depressing, sorry

excellent reply mate wish you and alot of othr reds could have had a handier time over in Athens, hopefully Moscow will be better organised and lessons will hav been learnt.

[IrishPaul]

What a lovely thread

See My Sig

[Guest]

we all have the same common bond, we all love this club and it comes in many many disguises

Well said mate.

Can I hug you Revo ?

[Pacman]

I love you all.

And yes that includes you Revo.

We all have our opinions but at the end of the day we all love the same thing and that's our beloved Liverpool Football Club.

[Guest]

I love you all.

And yes that includes you Revo.

We all have our opinions but at the end of the day we all love the same thing and that's our beloved Liverpool Football Club.

Well said but I think he ignored my pleas to 'bury the hatchet'.