Athletico Madrid Post Match Discussion

[The Erectile Banana]

A game that we probably should have won but given the Athletico second half performance a draw is relatively satisfying.

Thoughts?

[JohnDoe]

We rested in the 2nd half, which let Atletico get back in the game.

Draw is a good result, we'll destroy them at Anfield.

[Shaggy]

Yep, no bother at all. Played well first half, should possibly have won the game but it's all about Sunday now. Hope Keane is fit and maybe even Nando could surprise us.

Thought Dossena was improved, Reina outstanding as usual and Mascherano bossed it in the middle.

[The Erectile Banana]

I thought Dossena was excellent in the first half - the best I've seen him play for us.

He didn't manage to get forward as much in the second half though.

[JohnDoe]

He didn't manage to get forward as much in the second half though.

He was told not to. That's what I think anyway.

[Chrono]

We never played at a tempo higher than our hosts. We could have won this one but fairs fair.

On a seperate note I hate Simao so much (regardless of the goal).

[The Erectile Banana]

He was told not to. That's what I think anyway.

I think you're right.

Neither full back really got over halfway much in the second half after bombing on for most of the opening period. A case of convserving as much enrgy as possible perhaps.

[Joe King]

What happened to Keane? I missed that part.

Should have killed the game off with chances from both Keane and Benayoun who was useless. A must win next Tuesday to kill the group off.

All eyes on Sunday now.

[The Erectile Banana]

What happened to Keane? I missed that part.

Should have killed the game off with chances from both Keane and Benayoun who was useless. A must win next Tuesday to kill the group off.

All eyes on Sunday now.

Groin strain apparantly.

Keane should have buried it with that chance when he tried to do the fancy flick from Gerrard's cross.

[stevie_gerrard_8]

Alonso was MOTM. Absolutely fantastic. Reina was a close second.

Decent result. A bit worried with how tired the players are looking.

[Joe King]

Groin strain apparantly.

Oh right. He should be fine.

[Zapater]

Even though he wasn't horrendous and he had his moments today I'm not really a fan of Dossena at this point in time. We need to give him more time, but his direct style of play always looking for the long ball, large number of misplaced crosses and suspect defending doesn't make me his biggest fan. He reminds me of an improved version of Riise. Unless he shows big improvements over this season, it's Aurelio all day for me.

[Joe King]

Surely for £3m more, we could have got Vargas who left Catania for Fiorentina?

[El Jefecito]

Have to say that is about the worst officiating crew I've seen. The offsides were obvious, but the ref must have been getting paid by the whistle, definitely killed the game.

[pondus]

This is what many of us have wanted, a shift in focus, it is good to see Rafa resting the players in the champions league instead of the league. A draw was a fair result, if we really wanted to I think we could have done much better tonight, but we would have suffered come Sunday.

Well played, Rafa, too bad we couldn't hold on to the lead.