Post match thread - Real Madrid

[tsb]

What? So "are you happy here", "do you want to stay" are now difficult questions to answer are they?

Didnt say they were difficult to answer, all i said was that he's possibly realised not to go on about it in the media. If he leaves, he leaves.

[Neil Young]

He could've said he was happy to be here though, but when given the opportunity he simply referred to winning games. He skirted around providing positive answers.

Let me make this clear, until I saw this interview I was 100% clear that Rafa was going nowhere, that this was all a load of ****, but they way he refused to answer straighforward questions as to whether he was happy here and wanted to stay did not inspire confidence. I' now 80% sure he's off at the end of the season. 80% sure he'll be at RM.

Re. your probability he will go to Real Madrid, is that 80% or 80% of 80%, i.e. 64%?

If it's the latter, that means:

• Real Madrid = 64%
• Liverpool = 20%
• Others = 16%

Would you mind breaking down the probability for 'Others' by club, please?

[brightred]

I was one of those who was distracted by the Rafa rumours before the game.

Now all I can think of is that we won against the most the successful club in Europe. Granted, things aren't perfect on our patch but tonight we should be happy and celebrate.

I'm on my second bottle of a very nice shiraz

[FatTony]

Didnt say they were difficult to answer, all i said was that he's possibly realised not to go on about it in the media. If he leaves, he leaves.

The points I made though were not the direct questions he was asked about his contract, he refused to answer those (which I can understand), but the other questions that were asked about his future at Liverpool. Obviously the two are linked, but you have two sides, the contract issues and the personal. Asked how the contract was going, I could answer "I'm concenrating on winning games". Asked "if I hoped to be here next season", "asked if I was happy here", I would happily answer yes. He chose not too. Like I said, I was 100% sure it was all crap today, now I'm not confident he will be here.

[rezaeos]

Good win.

I kind of agree with both Gray and Lawro when saying Real were poor today. Either they didn't perform or Benitez just blocked off their main threats (Robben and Higuain) I like to think it was a bit of both, Real in recent seasons don't go past the knockout stages and when push comes to shove against some of the better tactical sides i.e. Roma, Juve; they don't perform to the same standard as they have done in the league in recent weeks.

Well taken goal from Benayoun, didn't do a lot in the game as much of it was more containment rather than explosive attack but got us the vital away goal. Doesn't change much realistically but gives us a huge boost for the coming weeks.

Gray and Lawro are tossers. We won, they lost end of story. Besides, we had a below par Torres for an hour and were without SG for the majority of the game.

[Jack D Rips]

He could've said he was happy to be here though, but when given the opportunity he simply referred to winning games. He skirted around providing positive answers.

Let me make this clear, until I saw this interview I was 100% clear that Rafa was going nowhere, that this was all a load of ****, but they way he refused to answer straighforward questions as to whether he was happy here and wanted to stay did not inspire confidence. I' now 80% sure he's off at the end of the season. 80% sure he'll be at RM.

Which station did you see him interviewed on?

[Tee]

Once again Rafa works his magic. Love the man - it was HIS win tonight and the players did him and us proud!! YNWA

[tsb]

The points I made though were not the direct questions he was asked about his contract, he refused to answer those (which I can understand), but the other questions that were asked about his future at Liverpool. Obviously the two are linked, but you have two sides, the contract issues and the personal. Asked how the contract was going, I could answer "I'm concenrating on winning games". Asked "if I hoped to be here next season", "asked if I was happy here", I would happily answer yes. He chose not too. Like I said, I was 100% sure it was all crap today, now I'm not confident he will be here.

Cool. I'm just choosing not to read to much into it. I'm gonna have a Coke, put a smile on my face and play some Street fighter.

[FatTony]

Re. your probability he will go to Real Madrid, is that 80% or 80% of 80%, i.e. 64%?

If it's the latter, that means:

• Real Madrid = 64%
• Liverpool = 20%
• Others = 16%

Would you mind breaking down the probability for 'Others' by club, please?

Ha ha..feck off

Forget the percentages, hand on heart I sat there tonight watching the game confident that the rumours were bull****, completely happy. When watching that interview my heart sank and I suddenly felt like I was watching a politician programed not to confirm that the **** was about to hit the fan. It wasn't right, something is obviously up.

[Reece]

Good win.

I kind of agree with both Gray and Lawro when saying Real were poor today. Either they didn't perform or Benitez just blocked off their main threats (Robben and Higuain) I like to think it was a bit of both, Real in recent seasons don't go past the knockout stages and when push comes to shove against some of the better tactical sides i.e. Roma, Juve; they don't perform to the same standard as they have done in the league in recent weeks.

Well taken goal from Benayoun, didn't do a lot in the game as much of it was more containment rather than explosive attack but got us the vital away goal. Doesn't change much realistically but gives us a huge boost for the coming weeks.

Much better way of putting your point across mate

[Reece]

We'll be coming We'll be coming We'll be coming Down the Road !!!

GET IN!

Nicey!!!!!!!!!

[Neil Young]

Ha ha..feck off

Forget the percentages, hand on heart I sat there tonight watching the game confident that the rumours were bull****, completely happy. When watching that interview my heart sank and I suddenly felt like I was watching a politician programed not to confirm that the was about to hit the fan. It wasn't right, something is obviously up.

Yes, he clearly avoided answering the question but you never know, perhaps he's just playing the game of leaving his options open to put pressure on the owners to get what he wants.

As it happens I tend to agree with you but there's no point worrying about it since we have nothing to go on but our hopes and our anxieties.

[-V-]

Great result, well done reds, well done Rafa

People need to stop listening to sky and listen to Rafa's own words. When asked he clearly laughed and said he isn't leaving.

Ofcourse he can't say he is signing a contract because he can't do that till an agreement is reached on transfer policy. He made it fairly clear that he doesn't understand the rumours and that he won't be leaving mid-season. That much is clear

[Oberon]

Rafa refused to clear the air when asked 3 times in the post match interview. I really think he's off.

Was that the sky interview where he clearly said "Yes it's clear" when first asked if he wanted to stay?

He didn't say he wouldn't sign a new contract. This means he must be staying.

He mentioned that perhaps the build up to a CL match the thing to do was concentrate on the match and let the rumours take care of theirselves.

He also hinted he was unaware of the story and was told of it by Ian Cotton.

It's just tabloid reporting on tele IMO.

BTW I think Joe Cole likes us

Cracking result against an in-form team, I think Benny is getting better by the week, he seems to be the creative spark in most things at the moment.

[Jack D Rips]

On RTE he clearly stated that he would not be resigning.