CL Semi Final - Post Match Musings

[Exiled_red]

I thought Chelsea deserved to win this game, just as we deserved to win the first game.

I think people miss the point when they say Gerrard doesn't show up against the best teams. In fact, the best teams have a plan to counter Gerrard and we do not have enough creativity elsewhere in the team to take advantage of a team that defensively is focussed on stopping two players (Torres and Gerrard).

I hope we will strengthen the squad in the summer, but rather than concentrate on defensive positions I would prefer the money to spent on making us offensively more of a handful so that it is more difficult for a team to nullify our threat. (I think that is the main reason why the gap between us and Manure seems so big.) Having said that we did score two and might perhaps have had a third.

Oh well. Another year, another chance.

Totally agree, no disrespect to players like Kuyt Benayoun and Pennant but they're not the type of players that turn big games and that is where we are behind Chelsea and Man Utd. And why when we play these games we have to make them tight as we don't have the attacking quality to out "football" them

[rage]

Yeah, why not.

Productive.

what??

what did pennant do? come on he's a big game no show...ever.

[Leyton388]

Well lads where do we go from here? We have been fantastic in the champions League over the last few years. Lets face it who would have thought we would be where we are now with the shower of **** Houllier left. Whats next for us?

[Leyton388]

Fair enough Rafa Torres injured.

[rage]

problems with his hamstrings, bollocks

[Nic83]

Did not appart from the penalty.

All proffesional players should score from a pen.


Utterly,utterly overrrated

I was talking over the last 5 years....

I think he's a very good player. One of only a few I hate playing against LFC. I used to **** my bricks whenever he got the ball anywhere near our box.

[BrooklynRed]

Xabi - Just not up to it anymore, added nothing tonight was a passenger.
Kuyt - OK as a squad player, but today he added a bit fat 0. Another passenger we can't afford to carry.
Riise - LB we can't afford to have someone that is so easily bypassed and adds nothing in the final 3rd.

Imagine if we actually had some production from those 3 positions, we would have won easily.

Is correct.

This match was all about matchups and we lost this match because we lost the battles between...

Alonso/Gerrard/Mascher vs. Ballack/Lampard/Makelele-- Makelele could afford to man mark Gerrard all night because Xabi posed no threat going forward at all. Xabi did nothing. The half-chance at the death that he scuffed for a goal kick says it all. He has no confidence. None. Meanwhile Ballack and Lampard traded runs forward all night and while one was patrolling the midfield, the other was attacking. Their interchangability limited Mascher's effectiveness (although he was still very good, considering) meanwhile Mascher's opposite, Makelele, had nothing to fear from Xabi at all and shut down Gerrard. Great tactics; Let Alonso beat you. And he couldn't even come close. Odds that we'd ever see Xabi in the box, fighting for a loose ball and winning a penalty? ZERO.

Riise/Arbeloa vs Essien/Cole-- Riise was second to every ball. Drogba punished him three times at least, came up with one goal, and then scored again when Riise got punished by Anelka a fourth time. All but one of Drogba's dangerous runs came against Riise (the first shot on goal he flashed wide). Time for a long look in the mirror. On the opposite side, Essien was immense and his mastery and control were world class. Is there nothing he can't do? Unbelievable, even his rightly disallowed goal was a unstoppable. The gulf in difference of passion and skill between their RB and our LB is immeasurable.

Kuyt vs Kalou-- One of them ran his socks off to no effect and the other had a shot parried that eventually ended up in the goal. I would have rather had the latter.

...add to that a single **** first touch followed by a slow tackle from Hyypia who unfortunately got punished for it, and we're heading home with no trophies.

PS- What a strike by Babel. Too little too late, but whoa. He starts next year with Lucas, end of.

[rage]

at least we lose with honour and class well done rafa

[Robster007]

what??

what did pennant do? come on he's a big game no show...ever.

Come on mate, what's it going to achieve. We ****ing gave it some, didn't we? There's no point doing this now. I'm gutted like you, but i'm not willing to point the finger. Red's get behind, and stay behind the team mate.

[bogsdollocks]

According to you lot - we should get rid of everyone except Reina and Carragher - or did I miss those posts. Lets just shut the club down and go support Everton.

Finally a sensible post - some real ****ing dickheads on here.

Just didn't have enough on the night. Be ****ing proud we actually got here given all the turmoil. Like the man said if you don't like it go support the ****e.

Miserable ****s.

[El Jefecito]

Is correct.

This match was all about matchups and we lost this match because we lost the battles between...

Alonso/Gerrard/Mascher vs. Ballack/Lampard/Makelele-- Makelele could afford to man mark Gerrard all night because Xabi posed no threat going forward at all. Xabi did nothing. The half-chance at the death that he scuffed for a goal kick says it all. He has no confidence. None. Meanwhile Ballack and Lampard traded runs forward all night and while one was patrolling the midfield, the other was attacking. Their interchangability limited Mascher's effectiveness (although he was still very good, considering) meanwhile Mascher's opposite, Makelele, had nothing to fear from Xabi at all and shut down Gerrard. Great tactics; Let Alonso beat you. And he couldn't even come close. Odds that we'd ever see Xabi in the box, fighting for a loose ball and winning a penalty? ZERO.

Riise/Arbeloa vs Essien/Cole-- Riise was second to every ball. Drogba punished him three times at least, came up with one goal, and then scored again when Riise got punished by Anelka a fourth time. All but one of Drogba's dangerous runs came against Riise (the first shot on goal he flashed wide). Time for a long look in the mirror. On the opposite side, Essien was immense and his mastery and control were world class. Is there nothing he can't do? Unbelievable, even his rightly disallowed goal was a unstoppable. The gulf in difference of passion and skill between their RB and our LB is immeasurable.

Kuyt vs Kalou-- One of them ran his socks off to no effect and the other had a shot parried that eventually ended up in the goal. I would have rather had the latter.

...add to that a single **** first touch followed by a slow tackle from Hyypia who unfortunately got punished for it, and we're heading home with no trophies.

PS- What a strike by Babel. Too little too late, but whoa. He starts next year with Lucas, end of.

You been to the Brooklyn Botanical Gardens?

[Leyton388]

Hopefully that is Hicks done and dusted as there is no more champions league money

[TheStig]

Well lads where do we go from here? We have been fantastic in the champions League over the last few years. Lets face it who would have thought we would be where we are now with the shower of **** Houllier left. Whats next for us?

I think we need to have a good shot at the league for anyone to take us seriously in that competition really. Been said a million times already.

I've no doubt that if Rafa stays we'll have some more success in the CL too.

[Danish_Pastry]

by the way - Pennant nearly go MOM last year in the CL FINAL against Milan......

.... but he never turns op at the big matches ;-)

[Leyton388]

Richard keys asking why torres was taken off even though he was injured!!! Apparently we are miles of the title race and out of the champions league