Sadly this was one of our best performances of the season. Which is about all one needs to say.
Madrid - post game
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I think that a few people has said that here...
I disagree Real sat back most of the night daring us to break them down. If they had come out to play against us I doubt it we would have seen so much of the ball
Tough one to swallow, one of those chances goes in and I think we overrun them.
Hopefully we can scrap over the line in the league.
Hopefully we can scrap over the line in the league.
After Allison, Jota is the only transfer to have an impact and challenge for a first-team position. That is way too long of a gap. We also definitely need to revisit the way we purchase our midfielders.
Kabak, Thiago.
The tie also showed how important Henderson is.
He plays I think we go through.
He plays I think we go through.
I'm opening a 15yr old Redbreast.
I was not clear in the original post but the gap I was referring to was the gap between Allison and Jota. Two years without buying players who can either improve or provide credible competition to the first-team places.
I am with @Rosco on the impact of Thiago. Maybe I am not sophisticated enough to understand what he brings to the table but I would have rather we focused on the Salah, Mane, Gini type of signings - youngish, with a point to prove and loads of scope for immediate improvement.
Kabak has been decent but bought at least a month, if not six months, too late.
Fully agree. Never buy a player over 27 who has never played in this league. Add to it he wasn’t what we needed. Fuck, playing Jones, a kid with a Ket wig has better results.
I wasn't bothered about getting Thiago largely because it's been a long time since I've seen him play regularly (at Barca) and I wasn't sure what type of player we were getting in the here and now.
I don't think we'd have spent the money if we didn't sign him so in a way I get the gamble. He was available relatively cheaply and wanted to come here. I'm prepared to give him another season given the shitshow this one has been.
Ox was a stupid purchase that should never have been made - that ones been done to death - and Keita has unfortunately flopped.
As I said in another thread however, you can't expect a 100% success rate in the transfer market. There will always be duds and money wasted.
Our problem has been the inaction, complacency and failure to recitfy mistakes.
I don't think we'd have spent the money if we didn't sign him so in a way I get the gamble. He was available relatively cheaply and wanted to come here. I'm prepared to give him another season given the shitshow this one has been.
Ox was a stupid purchase that should never have been made - that ones been done to death - and Keita has unfortunately flopped.
As I said in another thread however, you can't expect a 100% success rate in the transfer market. There will always be duds and money wasted.
Our problem has been the inaction, complacency and failure to recitfy mistakes.
That’s what Prince Andrew would say...
Morning after:
We were unlucky not to at least win last night. When I think about the chances we missed (esp. Mo & Gini) then we had every chance, and that we done this with 4 potential first team players missing (even if Real were in the same boat) it says something about the heart some people on here were doubting. This was Real not Fulham. We played well (15:4 shots vs 6:2) and we didn't really give Real a sniff (a deflected pass onto the post and a Benzema header, that would have been given offside anyway, were all they had to show).
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane: "We were up against it and we knew we had to suffer tonight, but in the end we got what we wanted, which was to go through. I think we handled the game well, we rode the storm and can be proud of our display.
"We knew they'd start fast and they were really good in the opening 15 minutes, but that's normal. In the quarter-finals of the Champions League you have to dig in and we did that and got through."
We were unlucky not to at least win last night. When I think about the chances we missed (esp. Mo & Gini) then we had every chance, and that we done this with 4 potential first team players missing (even if Real were in the same boat) it says something about the heart some people on here were doubting. This was Real not Fulham. We played well (15:4 shots vs 6:2) and we didn't really give Real a sniff (a deflected pass onto the post and a Benzema header, that would have been given offside anyway, were all they had to show).
Real Madrid boss Zinedine Zidane: "We were up against it and we knew we had to suffer tonight, but in the end we got what we wanted, which was to go through. I think we handled the game well, we rode the storm and can be proud of our display.
"We knew they'd start fast and they were really good in the opening 15 minutes, but that's normal. In the quarter-finals of the Champions League you have to dig in and we did that and got through."
The ref blew his whistle once when Sadio was pushed in the back blatantly.
You could just see their players
Miltao - "But last week, when Vazquez pushed him for what should have been a red card, you ignored it?"
Modric - "Come on ref, it's Mane. You guys already decided this year that unless you break his leg, it's not a foul? How is a push in the back a foul then?"
You could just see their players
Miltao - "But last week, when Vazquez pushed him for what should have been a red card, you ignored it?"
Modric - "Come on ref, it's Mane. You guys already decided this year that unless you break his leg, it's not a foul? How is a push in the back a foul then?"
Yes Ross, I consistently see you use this same logic across all threads on the site 😵
We were talking whisky not whiskey.
Bradley typed it wrong (he also mistyped Jura), so maybe that is why you were confused, but I gave him the benefit of the doubt
It was going stale 5 minutes before those changes.
It was an encouraging performance, but when I think about it, only really encouraging in context of how we've been playing for large parts of the season. We looked like a team from maybe three or four years ago - promising and hard-working but without that extra quality to be a top team, which is a little depressing in a way.
It was the first game I've seen where I could buy into the idea of Nat being part of the squad when injuries aren't a factor. He has limitations (so do all our CBs bar Virgil) but what impressed me most was that he didn't look in any way overawed. He hasn't done, really. He sort of reminds me of Milner in a way; you don't necessarily expect great things but you don't worry he's going to make a huge mistake either. Plus he is brilliant in the air.
Talking of Milner, I think we'll miss him more than Gini. He's a brilliant footballer and his attitude is fantastic. He didn't look out of place in the midfield and I would have prefered he stayed on rather than Wijnaldum. I've never really thought Gini was consistently good in our team. He can stay fit, can work well in our system in a variety of roles but there are too many games where I don't really feel he's had enough of an impact.
I hope that a lot of our problems come down to form and not to players past their best. I'm confident that Trent will continue to develop but there is very little threat down our flanks at the moment. Sadio and Robbo are both struggling; hopefully this is just form or exhaustion. To tell the truth I'm not massively convinced about any of our front three at the moment. Salah is still scoring loads but missing loads as well. Bobby still links play relatively well but has almost no threat in the final third, and Sadio is just out of ideas and out of form. After getting dumped out of the European Cup it's always tempted to think wholesale changes are required, but I do think that in this case Klopp probably needs to fashion a new team - maybe four or five replacements for the established first choice 11. But I may be knee-jerking.
It was the first game I've seen where I could buy into the idea of Nat being part of the squad when injuries aren't a factor. He has limitations (so do all our CBs bar Virgil) but what impressed me most was that he didn't look in any way overawed. He hasn't done, really. He sort of reminds me of Milner in a way; you don't necessarily expect great things but you don't worry he's going to make a huge mistake either. Plus he is brilliant in the air.
Talking of Milner, I think we'll miss him more than Gini. He's a brilliant footballer and his attitude is fantastic. He didn't look out of place in the midfield and I would have prefered he stayed on rather than Wijnaldum. I've never really thought Gini was consistently good in our team. He can stay fit, can work well in our system in a variety of roles but there are too many games where I don't really feel he's had enough of an impact.
I hope that a lot of our problems come down to form and not to players past their best. I'm confident that Trent will continue to develop but there is very little threat down our flanks at the moment. Sadio and Robbo are both struggling; hopefully this is just form or exhaustion. To tell the truth I'm not massively convinced about any of our front three at the moment. Salah is still scoring loads but missing loads as well. Bobby still links play relatively well but has almost no threat in the final third, and Sadio is just out of ideas and out of form. After getting dumped out of the European Cup it's always tempted to think wholesale changes are required, but I do think that in this case Klopp probably needs to fashion a new team - maybe four or five replacements for the established first choice 11. But I may be knee-jerking.
Yes, maybe out of running themselves into the ground.
However, the changes also made us lose our shape and intent.
The most annoying thing for me is that in the last 3 years we've finally had the pulling power we always dreamed of - the Klopp factor, winning trophies etc - where we could attract some of the best young emerging talent around the world. And instead we just sat on our hands. Hell, we even let our 4th choice centre back leave and never replaced him.
And then, with the biggest centre back crisis in the club's history, we wait until transfer deadline day to make a signing or two - still not spending any money on them. Chelsea or City would have had a top notch centre back in on 1 January.
Massive lack of real ambition.
And then, with the biggest centre back crisis in the club's history, we wait until transfer deadline day to make a signing or two - still not spending any money on them. Chelsea or City would have had a top notch centre back in on 1 January.
Massive lack of real ambition.
The tie was decided by a woeful first half in Madrid, where we played the high line and refused to press, the inclusion of Keita in the away leg, and costly finishing in the second tie. Last night was a performance level was higher than we have seen throughout this calendar year.
Alisson - (8) - Didn't have much to do, but produced a world-class double save when we needed it. Can't ask for any more.
Trent - (9) - Ran his socks off, assured in defence, and made some great driving runs into the box. It was a Gerrard-esque performance mixing desire, quality and sheer bloody-mindedness. He really impressed. MOTM.
Nat Phillips - (8) - Was caught out for the early cross for the Benzema chance, but was otherwise assured, looked neater on the ball, and won everything as per. For a player who was expecting to be in the second tier of German football this season, it's pretty ridiculous what he's achieving right now.
Kabak - (6) - Not an awful lot to do. Can't remember any mistakes. Delicious ball to Mane early on. Subbed early for the tactical shift.
Robertson (7) - Not at his very best, but worked extremely hard in the press in the first half. Would have liked to have seen Mane and Robertson exploit Valverde more, because it looked to be on all night.
Fabinho (7) - The high press enables Fabinho to just keep things simple and not have to break into destroyed mode. Decent performance in the middle and composed at CB when needed.
Wijnaldum -(7) - Much more like it. Silky on the ball, but also matched with attacking intent and energy. I wish we saw this every week.
Milner (8) - Set the tone with the tackle on Benzema early doors and getting everyone pumped up in the tunnel. Nobody else bar Henderson can match that level of competitiveness in the middle of the park. If Klopp wants his team to press as a unit, for me it's vital one of Henderson or Milner is on the pitch.
Salah - (5) - Wasted every opportunity with scuffed finishing and taking too many touches. Had little space in which to operate, but he could have won us the tie single-handedly and didn't. Night to forget.
Firmino (5) - Bright start with some excellent link-up play on the counter, but against a deep-lying defence his qualities are mostly redundant. He didn't stop trying to influence the game and got some shots off, which is better than some weeks, but yeah, it's not working, and it hasn't been for months.
Mane (5) - Electric start. He looked quicker, sharper and his build-up play was much improved. Faded badly and I can't remember him threatening Madrid in the second half.
Alisson - (8) - Didn't have much to do, but produced a world-class double save when we needed it. Can't ask for any more.
Trent - (9) - Ran his socks off, assured in defence, and made some great driving runs into the box. It was a Gerrard-esque performance mixing desire, quality and sheer bloody-mindedness. He really impressed. MOTM.
Nat Phillips - (8) - Was caught out for the early cross for the Benzema chance, but was otherwise assured, looked neater on the ball, and won everything as per. For a player who was expecting to be in the second tier of German football this season, it's pretty ridiculous what he's achieving right now.
Kabak - (6) - Not an awful lot to do. Can't remember any mistakes. Delicious ball to Mane early on. Subbed early for the tactical shift.
Robertson (7) - Not at his very best, but worked extremely hard in the press in the first half. Would have liked to have seen Mane and Robertson exploit Valverde more, because it looked to be on all night.
Fabinho (7) - The high press enables Fabinho to just keep things simple and not have to break into destroyed mode. Decent performance in the middle and composed at CB when needed.
Wijnaldum -(7) - Much more like it. Silky on the ball, but also matched with attacking intent and energy. I wish we saw this every week.
Milner (8) - Set the tone with the tackle on Benzema early doors and getting everyone pumped up in the tunnel. Nobody else bar Henderson can match that level of competitiveness in the middle of the park. If Klopp wants his team to press as a unit, for me it's vital one of Henderson or Milner is on the pitch.
Salah - (5) - Wasted every opportunity with scuffed finishing and taking too many touches. Had little space in which to operate, but he could have won us the tie single-handedly and didn't. Night to forget.
Firmino (5) - Bright start with some excellent link-up play on the counter, but against a deep-lying defence his qualities are mostly redundant. He didn't stop trying to influence the game and got some shots off, which is better than some weeks, but yeah, it's not working, and it hasn't been for months.
Mane (5) - Electric start. He looked quicker, sharper and his build-up play was much improved. Faded badly and I can't remember him threatening Madrid in the second half.
Still upsets me this result - we needed to get one over those c*nts. Unfortunately I actually see myself supporting them to win the CL now - not that I actually care, but the thought of Chelsea winning another CL, or a any of those other two state sponsored clubs winning it makes me feel shittier. But isn't it quite amazing that we now have the 4 richest clubs (and we all know they are the wealthiest - don't give a fuck about man u, or barca) are in the semi finals.
The same front three, and the same formation for 4 seasons now. This drop off was bound to happen.
Get Haaland or Kane, I'm tired of seeing these midgets we have upfront not being able to capitalise on the crosses from Trent and Robbo.
The subs were shite as well. Why sub Milner?
Also why not bring on Origi who would add some physicality in the box. Or temporarily move Philips to the forward position.
The subs were shite as well. Why sub Milner?
Also why not bring on Origi who would add some physicality in the box. Or temporarily move Philips to the forward position.
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