Fulham match thread

[Wizardry]

It was hardly aimed at you specifically, Hal.

I generally think you're a good poster but you're so quick to see us failing it's unbelievable.

Your pessimism seems to be at such record levels I genuinely struggle to understand how you made it through the first half of Istanbul without offing yourself.

You're supposed to be supporting at team sitting fourth in the league, a team that has been scoring for fun almost all season and you've got them dead and buried after 30 minutes against the bottom team in the league. I - and obviously other posters - find that astonishing.

 

[Mersey86]

In Hal's defense I would say that's the first time we have come from behind to win this season, that the previous 5 performances have seen 3 tepid-at-best efforts (including Bournemouth) and 2 star-performances. At 35 minutes it was certainly in the former bracket, and it can be very frustrating when you see what we can produce. I'm hopeful that the turnaround yesterday will increase the belief-levels in the team when next they are not at their best.

 

[Halmeister]

It was hardly aimed at you specifically, Hal.

I generally think you're a good poster but you're so quick to see us failing it's unbelievable.

Your pessimism seems to be at such record levels I genuinely struggle to understand how you made it through the first half of Istanbul without offing yourself.

You're supposed to be supporting at team sitting fourth in the league, a team that has been scoring for fun almost all season and you've got them dead and buried after 30 minutes against the bottom team in the league. I - and obviously other posters - find that astonishing.

To be honest I am pessimistic(realistic?). It's mainly due to being a fan over the last 20ish years and never really seeing us have a great side, never seeing us have the bottle to win the league, always choking, always getting turned over by lesser teams. It's also a kind of defence mechanism to lessen the impact and hurt of a demoralising defeat. I tend not to get my hopes up.

Istanbul was madness. At half time I was gutted and fuming. I still watched and supported, though. I find it difficult believing people who say they "knew" we'd do it at half time against the best team in Europe at the time. You'd have to have been mental to think that.

With regards your last point, how often have we seen us embarrassed against lower opposition away from home in the league over the last few years? Even this season!? One could be forgiven to think that scenario would play out again - because we've seen it 100's of times over the years.

But yeah, to be honest, you're right. I could be more encouraging. However, it's different from behind the keyboard on the internet. I can assure you I would be, and have been, more supportive at live games when in attendance.

It just gets to me (this post is not aimed at you) when people say you're a shit fan because you fear a defeat and think we might not win. It doesn't mean I don't want us to win. It's not a point of view based on lesser admiration and desire for the players to do well, but more out of a need of self preservation after being let down too many times throughout my whole life as a Liverpool fan.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Istanbul was madness. At half time I was gutted and fuming. I still watched and supported, though. I find it difficult believing people who say they "knew" we'd do it at half time against the best team in Europe at the time. You'd have to have been mental to think that.

Anyone who says that is blowing right out of their arse.

 

[Halmeister]

Anyone who says that is blowing right out of their arse.

Think there's a couple on here who said it. One of my mates said the same as well. I also remember Phil Thompson saying it at half time too. I suspect it was more out of blind hope than anything, though.

 

[localny]

Yes, I also knew that a team with Smicer, baros, cisse, traore, et al could overturn a 3-0 deficit to one of Europes finest clubs. I mean it's obvious. Ok - east target I know.

 

[Wizardry]

Yep, I had no confidence that we'd win at half time. I believed we'd be better in 2nd half and thought we could win the last 45 minutes. Didn't think we could overturn 3 goals.



Sent from my HTC One XL

 

[Molbystwin]

I had not given up hope of winning at all at half time... I KNEW we were gonna win when Smicer exploded in celebration... Stevie's celebration after his header was half arsed IMO cos he wasn't going anywhere near mental enough.

 

[Halmeister]

My only thought was hoping it wouldn't be 5,6,7 and we'd go down as the worst finalists ever and Gerrard would get off.

 

[gene hughes]

At half time I was thinking 'I wonder how drunk I can get before full time'.

 

[Frogfish]

My only thought was hoping it wouldn't be 5,6,7 and we'd go down as the worst finalists ever and Gerrard would get off.

And mine. And I'm NOT a pessimist like some 😉

 

[juniormember]

Anyone who says that is blowing right out of their arse.

I went to Istanbul with my father back then and was saying 'remember Fulham! We did it then!' at half time. He said nothing to me at the time but later told me that he thought I was a complete dickhead talking out my arse.

 

[Wizardry]

I had not given up hope of winning at all at half time... I KNEW we were gonna win when Smicer exploded in celebration... Stevie's celebration after his header was half arsed IMO cos he wasn't going anywhere near mental enough.

Sorry, I'm not looking to argue anything but I so strongly disagree with the comments on Stevie there. I love your other sentiments but not that one.

I commented on how good it was to see Luis hustling everyone back for the kick-off after Coutinho equalised. That was Gerrard after he scored in Istanbul. The Liverpool captain had just scored in the final of the Champions League and there was no basking in front of the crowd. All he focused on was firing his teammates up - let's go, rip in. I loved his reaction - the reaction of someone determined to ensure we performed like Liverpool.

Make no mistake, Stevie was the driving force for is to win that game. He needed Didi there to make it happen but he did it. An awesome, passionate performance in possibly the biggest game of an incredible career.


Sent from my HTC One XL

 

[doctor_mac]

Sorry, I'm not looking to argue anything but I so strongly disagree with the comments on Stevie there. I love your other sentiments but not that one.

I commented on how good it was to see Luis hustling everyone back for the kick-off after Coutinho equalised. That was Gerrard after he scored in Istanbul. The Liverpool captain had just scored in the final of the Champions League and there was no basking in front of the crowd. All he focused on was firing his teammates up - let's go, rip in. I loved his reaction - the reaction of someone determined to ensure we performed like Liverpool.

Make no mistake, Stevie was the driving force for is to win that game. He needed Didi there to make it happen but he did it. An awesome, passionate performance in possibly the biggest game of an incredible career.


Sent from my HTC One XL

I agree with this. He also used it to whip the fans up. Come on, we can all do this!

 

[FoxForceFive]

I was stunned, went to the toilet in the pub & was loudly talking to myself. I talked myself into realising getting to the cl final was a miracle in itself & why not fucking enjoy it & get behind the team. I walked down the stairs singing YNWA at the top of my voice, another couple of lads joined in.

As we reached the second set of stairs you could hear the same thing booming out of the speakers as the fans in Istanbul did the same...

The rest, including an overturned fruit machine being danced on, me giving a taxi driver a £20 tip, shouting out slurred commentary of the goals & winning penalty as I fucked my then gf who was wearing only her skintight Liverpool top, & going on a week long drinking celebration around the city (I'd just been made redundant & had a couple of grand to burn through) is history.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

My only thought was hoping it wouldn't be 5,6,7 and we'd go down as the worst finalists ever and Gerrard would get off.

Same here really, the gulf in class was so huge in that first half i was just hoping it wouldn't be a complete thrashing.

Can understand blind hope and desperately clinging onto any type of positive but how anyone could know or have confidence we would end up winnning it, just can't buy that.

 

[LeTallecWiz]

Anyone who says that is blowing right out of their arse.

@dmishra knew - he said at half time on the match thread we'll win ... the only one too.

 

[Spaghetti Legs]

Fair enough, still can't buy that anyone genuinely felt that we would win though.