Liverpool v Stoke - Post match anguish thread

[Craig_H]

We were a whisker away from a great win. What a fantastic move at the end. When your luck is out, it's out.

Spot on for me.

What did people expect us to do without Gerrard, Torres, Benayoun and Johnson? Stoke's a hard enough place to go for most sides, let alone with our depleted side.

We were the better side, Stoke couldnt get a shot on target until the 75th odd minute and we were cheated by a spineless cunt of a ref.

Two clear penos not given, very unlucky with Dirk's effort at the end.

Feel dreadfully sorry for Rafa, he got it right today and was bitten on the backside by a ****** of a ref and dreadful luck.

On the plus side, we've remained as we were in relation to Tottenham and we've gained a point on City.

If we can manage to get 3 points from Wednesday night, it'll be 3 wins a 1 draw in our last 4 league games. The lads showed fantastic fight and character today. It's when these things are missing, that i have a go. But today wasnt a day for slating anyone, other than that bald cunt Lee Mason.

Biggest concern is what that'll do to our already shaky confidence. But Rafa needs to get the boys to focus on how well they battled today. We should be able to take some kind of belief from it, even with the sucker punch at the end.

[Craig_H]

I'm not sure winning away at Stoke qualifies as "great". Good maybe, but really, there's no way you can seriously tell me you watched that game and thought it was anything other than dire. From both teams admittedly, but we really haven't got a clue in the opposition half, and after we scored started playing FAR too deep.

Its all just gone so wrong. I don't think Rafa's going to make the end of the month at this rate.

To be fair, Stoke away is a hard place to win. Very hard. So that makes any win there a good result.

With the players we're missing, it would've been a great result, so in the circumstances, i agree with pete. Yes, we lacked creativity and werent offering tonnes of threat, but with the kind of game Stoke made it, it was never going to be full of chances. Of course we're going to lack in the final third, with the players we were missing.

Our woeful season hasnt been down to performances like today, not by a long shot.

[Craig_H]

Well I'm totally gutted but I cannot believe the drivel being written on here.

We were never, ever, EVER gonna go there today and play champagne football. The performance IMO was just what the doctor ordered. FFS we showed heart, guts and some ****ing fight for once. I've been wondering if those players cared, especially after Reading, and now I know they do. They really do. So in that sense I'm pleased.

Reina was outstanding, as were Lucas and Kyrgiakos. Skrtel was much better, as was Insua.

We got back to basics and put some foundations in place to move forward. I had no confidence for the Spurs game and today has given me some. Should've won anyway after that utterly disgraceful decision from that CUNT LEE Mason...and how did Dirk miss that at the end (what a ball from Fabio too)?

The verb 'to shaggy it' should be invented, and it should mean to get something spot on.

The Greek lad was immense, as was Lucas. Reina was what we've come to expect from him, brilliant.

Torrid luck today, but as you say, the players actually battled out there and that's excellent to see, in our current plight. Just need to strengthen our mentality to a point where we stop getting mugged in the last minute.

[Shaggy]

The verb 'to shaggy it' should be invented, and it should mean to get something spot on.

There were times today when it felt like Lucas was one of our truly senior players, the way he took responsibility. I think the lad's got real ****ing guts - a lot of players would've completely crumbled and hid away after the fearful amount of stick he's taken, but he's got his head down and scrapped. I find that admirable.

[Craig_H]

Reading my mind there mate. I was thinking of starting a thread on Lucas, but i didnt think we needed all the usual back and forths with him

But yes, he played with a huge amount of maturity today, took responsibility and indeed play like a senior member of the squad. Looked so assured and much more confident, i was delighted with him today. Only outdone by the greek lad for MOTM, i felt.

When he next has a poor game (which everyone has at some point), i'm sure that if i criticise him, i'll be slated for it. People will say that i only see what i want to see and only criticise him because of who he is

Well, i've always maintained that i call it as i see it, regardless of who the player is. When they do well, i'll say so, and likewise for if they're poor. He was excellent today.

[SB]

My God, this is ****ing torture. It us like watching the slow death of someone you care about. It is affecting so much in my everyday life. I just wish I could forget about football forever. maybe not quite that long. just until we turn it around maybe

[Rich]

He was the only bright point against Reading too.

[SB]

How did Maxi do lads. I know he only got a short run out but did he do anything of note?

Also Degen at RM ?

[vonk]

How did Maxi do lads. I know he only got a short run out but did he do anything of note?

Also Degen at RM ?

Nice first touch. Absolutely no pace. Didn't get into the game really. Should start on Wednesday I would think.

[billd]

The verb 'to shaggy it' should be invented, and it should mean to get something spot on.

The Greek lad was immense, as was Lucas. Reina was what we've come to expect from him, brilliant.

Torrid luck today, but as you say, the players actually battled out there and that's excellent to see, in our current plight. Just need to strengthen our mentality to a point where we stop getting mugged in the last minute.

Sooner or later we're going to get a bit of luck and a decent referee. Stoke must be one of the worst grounds to go to in the country. The crowd are a shower of ****e, but i suppose it makes a change to hear some vocal home support other than at Anfield. So fair play to them.

I actually thought most of the lads played well today and especially Kyrgiakos, he should start against Spurs. Yes Kuyt's miss was poor, the ref was a dick but we showed some guts and committment which we should be able to build on.

This is not a bad side. The team have been unlucky in some games this season, losing goals in the last few minutes of a game. When you analyse it 4 minutes of sloppy defending in the 3 Champions league games cost us.

I'm always surprised by the reaction of some people on this forum. I don't know why, but mabye it's because we've always been so succesfull in the past. Just think of all the teams, not only in England, but the whole of Europe, who cannot even get close to our record in Cups, League Titles and European wins. Do their supporters react like this when they go through a bad patch. I don't know, but sure as **** Sky News are not as interested as when the word Liverpool is in the frame. This is probably a back handed compliment and reflects our standing in the English game, built over 50 years by players and supporters, and not by calling players turds etc.

Even if they do, we are supposed to be the best, most knowledgeable supporters in the world. We love it when the Media go on about the Kop being the 12th man, but we don't like it when they (rightly) ctiticise us for poor performance. Secretly I think they are all as disapointerd as us, because they know that the EPL needs a strong Liverpool team to compete year in year out.

We should be above this. I'm not saying we should never question performance but some of the comments on here about players and the Manager are a disgrace, and some people should think about whether they are supporting the team or the history. When the team or management read the negative stuff in the media it must be hard, but if they ever read some of the "reaction from the hip" stuff from so called supporters on this and other sites, it must be really demoralising. The words are Fan and Supporter. Some people need to look those words up in the dictionary.

Sorry, bit pissed, but happy pissed because I genuinely think today is the "start" of better times.

[Shanks]

Sorry, bit pissed, but happy pissed because I genuinely think today is the "start" of better times.

Good post mate.

[Joe King]

The guy with the 50p head misses an easy chance at the end. Why's he still here?

[Craig_H]

The guy with the 50p head misses an easy chance at the end. Why's he still here?

Christ mate.

Most of us, while perhaps having criticisms, are feeling anguish at today and Kuyt's effort hitting the post.

You seem to revel in it.

[Shaggy]

Sooner or later we're going to get a bit of luck and a decent referee. Stoke must be one of the worst grounds to go to in the country. The crowd are a shower of ****e, but i suppose it makes a change to hear some vocal home support other than at Anfield. So fair play to them.

I actually thought most of the lads played well today and especially Kyrgiakos, he should start against Spurs. Yes Kuyt's miss was poor, the ref was a dick but we showed some guts and committment which we should be able to build on.

This is not a bad side. The team have been unlucky in some games this season, losing goals in the last few minutes of a game. When you analyse it 4 minutes of sloppy defending in the 3 Champions league games cost us.

I'm always surprised by the reaction of some people on this forum. I don't know why, but mabye it's because we've always been so succesfull in the past. Just think of all the teams, not only in England, but the whole of Europe, who cannot even get close to our record in Cups, League Titles and European wins. Do their supporters react like this when they go through a bad patch. I don't know, but sure as **** Sky News are not as interested as when the word Liverpool is in the frame. This is probably a back handed compliment and reflects our standing in the English game, built over 50 years by players and supporters, and not by calling players turds etc.

Even if they do, we are supposed to be the best, most knowledgeable supporters in the world. We love it when the Media go on about the Kop being the 12th man, but we don't like it when they (rightly) ctiticise us for poor performance. Secretly I think they are all as disapointerd as us, because they know that the EPL needs a strong Liverpool team to compete year in year out.

We should be above this. I'm not saying we should never question performance but some of the comments on here about players and the Manager are a disgrace, and some people should think about whether they are supporting the team or the history. When the team or management read the negative stuff in the media it must be hard, but if they ever read some of the "reaction from the hip" stuff from so called supporters on this and other sites, it must be really demoralising. The words are Fan and Supporter. Some people need to look those words up in the dictionary.

Sorry, bit pissed, but happy pissed because I genuinely think today is the "start" of better times.

Nice post mate.

Wouldn't start Krygiakos against Spurs though, no way. He's made for games like todays aerial bloodbath, but against quick, mobile forwards he gets taken apart. It'll be harsh to leave him out cos he was ****ing immense today. Defoe and Keane would run rings around him, and even if Crouch is likely to play I still wouldn't pick him.

[fah-q]

You see, the guy is a ****ing legend. It's about how we stick together during bad times AS WELL as good times mate. Fans not sticking with him during such times are a disgrace, no matter how bad it is and how hard it is for us at the moment.

Through the wind and rain.