Lyon (a) - Post Match Thread

[Vermilion]

Got to feel for Rafa, he got the tactics spot on tonight. Only two chances for Lyon and both as a result of a mistake.

On the Torres substitution I think it was fairly obvious why he took him off. He left on for so long because we needed a goal. Once we went one up he took him off so N'Gog could run around up front and put pressure on the centre backs like Ian Rush used to.

Torres is only about 60% fit and looked ****ed. If he would have injured himself rafa would have been riped to shreds for playing him. Dammed if you do and dammed if you dont i think?

Just one of them seasons i'm afraid, our first under Rafa's management tbf, and i can't help thinking who would have been up fornt with Torres had 20mill not been cut from the transfer kitty unexpectedly.

Ah well, onwards and upwards, for all the pressure Rafa's been under, i hope our owners feel a little too, might just make them realise that all the money we've made from europe under Rafa isn't neccessarily a gimme, certainly not without decent and consistant squad investment, and they need to think about theirs and the clubs future very carefully.

[TheElephantMan]

with no champs league we can concentrate on the league

Why not?! I know we're not technically out of the CL yet, but if we drop into the UEFA then we can use that competition to progress the youngsters and peripheral players like we did with the Carling Cup. I haven't given up on the league yet, there will be many twists and turns. At our best we're as good as any other team, we just need to find some consistency.

[FatTony]

I think we should all chip in and buy Rafa a nice big cake to show him we still love him.

I'm thinking Mr Kiplings or Sara Lee?

[DannyMan2006]

I aggree but there was signs we where back on track against United. I like the thought of our players havn good friends in the Lyon dressing room. Shame Claude Puel isnt lol Though he does hate Man Utd

I know mate, and believe me, I was majorly pissed off with the Fulham result and second half performance. But tonight we were by far the better team, nobody can say otherwise. We created chances by the bucket load and limited Lyon to shots from range, other than a couple of headless chicken moments that cost us.

We play Birmingham at Anfield where we have won 4 and lost only to Villa this season. I am confident of a win there. Then there is a ten day break for the international fixtures. Looking at our players injuries i would say all would be back after the break, only question mark for me is on Steven Gerrard - who we await further news on how he has reacted to treatment.

If the Mancs don't lose to Chelsea on Sunday we will only be seven points off the top with a win over Birmingham, with a fully fit squad after the break. Things would be looking better I'm sure you'll agree.

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Only sour note is that wins over Fulham and Lyon would have seen us right back in contention in both leagues. As it is we have to pick ourselves up and start again.

[cream]

Theyve also just lost at home to Napoli, had 5 goals put past them over 2 games by Debrecen and will be facing pressure they havent faced in a long time. I think its pretty clear Lyon have a better squad than Fiorentina, whether thats enough we'll see.

Will Lyon field a strong side though?

They're already through.

[wavydavy]

The other three English sides, Barca and Real, Bayern Munich, the milan clubs, Juventus and maybe add Valencia and at a push Bordeaux.

I'm not totally sure on the above list, but I can't think of any other clubs better than Lyon. Can you?

Yes I can. But, back to the original point. We haven't played "one of the best sides in Europe tonight" Just accept it. How many of their players would you want at Liverpool? For a start I'd give City, Villa and Spurs a shout at turning Lyon over home and away. Even if you're right and I'm wrong we've still been done over two games by Europe's 13th best team. Hardly a consolation is it?

[Chris]

Will Lyon field a strong side though?

They're already through.

Of course they will. Chelsea, Man Utd and Arsenal will win their groups, Lyon have the chance to avoid all 4 English teams in the next round. For them that will be a dream.

Imagine going into a CL draw knowing you cant get an English team? Anyone would love that.

[Leyton388]

Lyon will want to win the group to avoid the likes of united, chelsea barca act. So they will go for the win of that i have no doubt.

[red g]

Will Lyon field a strong side though?

They're already through.

yjey will wanna fimish top

[wavydavy]

Maybe once upon a time............but now We exist to pay the interest on the Yank loan.

Superb post. Mods, you might as well lock the thread now.

[Leyton388]

Maybe once upon a time............but now We exist to pay the interest on the Yank loan.

Which is why we need to stay in the CL and if not get as much prize money from the europa league as possible as without that i fear a summer sale is on the cards and i dont mean the club!

[DannyMan2006]

I think we should all chip in and buy Rafa a nice big cake to show him we still love him.

I'm thinking Mr Kiplings or Sara Lee?

I think Rafa knows he manages Liverpool, not Newcastle, so I doubt he needs a cake to know that.

[-V-]

What's even blaming Kyrgiakos for??

Poor ******* shouldn't be to blame, we attack as a team therefore should defend as a team, the blame can't be pinned on him ffs. He's hardly even played any matches for us.

It wasn't great defending all round but the performance was good I thought, we played with a bit of bite and more passion and were unlucky with the finishing.

It's going to be one of those season's guys so we need to get used to it.

Your right, Im not blaming Kyriagkos. Its not his fault he's an average defender. But he should never be in our team and so I blame whoever decided we had to sign this guy.

Its worrying when someone like myself can see clear as day that he isn't good enough yet the scouts and management at our club can't see that? He was at fault for Fulhams first goal on Saturday, he was at fault for their equaliser today and if it wasn't for Reina's magic he would have been at fault for another.
Top class defenders don't make these mistakes at crucial points, average defenders do.

Its tragic that players like Kyriagkos and Voronin are in our team and im getting to the point where I can't justify defending Rafa anymore. Its ****ing criminal that we brought on Ngog tonight when leading instead of a Ayala or Aqualani as we needed to defend and not keep attacking to get second goal.

[wavydavy]

Your right, Im not blaming Kyriagkos. Its not his fault he's an average defender. But he should never be in our team and so I blame whoever decided we had to sign this guy.

Its worrying when someone like myself can see clear as day that he isn't good enough yet the scouts and management at our club can't see that? He was at fault for Fulhams first goal on Saturday, he was at fault for their equaliser today and if it wasn't for Reina's magic he would have been at fault for another.
Top class defenders don't make these mistakes at crucial points, average defenders do.

Its tragic that players like Kyriagkos and Voronin are in our team and im getting to the point where I can't justify defending Rafa anymore. Its ****ing criminal that we brought on Ngog tonight when leading instead of a Ayala or Aqualani as we needed to defend and not keep attacking to get second goal.

When you've 1.5 M to spend?

[FatTony]

Theyve also just lost at home to Napoli, had 5 goals put past them over 2 games by Debrecen and will be facing pressure they havent faced in a long time. I think its pretty clear Lyon have a better squad than Fiorentina, whether thats enough we'll see.

I disagree, Fiorentina are playing in a far better league and facing better teams mosts weeks. Lyon had a right rogering by 14th placed Nice the other week...hardly a clearly better team than Fiorentina at all...

I think their problem with Debrecen is that they haven't been up for it as much as they would be against ourselves or Lyon.