Agree with this really, Oliver was awful. Was a great game, didn't expect to get a result, thought we'd go out on away goals, and happy to see we can play as we did over 2 games against the best side in the league given the first half of our season, that's the first game we've lost in a while, plus Ming was every bit as good as his compatriot last night and Coutinho was brilliant last night though he faded late on, for me him and Hazard were the best two players on the pitch and neither barely put a foot wrong. Matic is epic Good luck in the final.
Once, just once, I would like there to be a game where people aren't all "X Should have gotten a red, Y should have gotten a yellow for that challenge". Were refs always this **** or are people just absolute melts these days who take any perceived injustice so personally that they start crying and throw their toys out of the pram. I am not specifically talking about Liverpool fans btw Sisu, but all fans, even some of our own. There are some truly inept, ****tard ref performances (Ovrebo or whatever he was called springs to mind), but the crux of the matter is, 90% of the bookings players get these days wouldn't have even been looked at twice 25 years ago.....players these days are (in the word of Craigs dad) "Sissified! Scared to take an ass whooping"
I can agree with that, players get booked for little or nothing these days though Lucas' first yellow was certainly a yellow and by todays standards so was the second trip on Oscar, if you just take the player down intentionally, it has to be a yellow otherwise the attacking side of the game will be ruined. Thing is, with these little intentional fouls if they go unchecked the game gets ruined because all you have to do is foul someone to stop them playing and the quality of football these days is far greater than in the days you mention, it would not be so if players had license to disrupt by constant intentional fouling. Most refs are awful but they have too much to be watching. They don't get nearly enough help from the other officials, one man cannot watch 22 players, it's impossible. Am happy at least Oliver didn't ruin the spectacle. Costa's stamps have nothing to do with football, one was after the ball went out of play and the other also when the ball was out of play. The game can do without it. Guaranteed he'll be watched after last night. A 3 or 4 game ban for him during the run in could cost you the league.
Only 1 goal in a 120 minutes but what a great and entertaining game. The United melt above who said the standard was poor....really?!?! Really good end to end game, high intensity and both sides really wanted it. More goals would have been nice but what a great advert for the league cup. Liverpool were superb for the first 120 minutes of the tie but faded badly in the second half yesterday and in extra time. Still, Henderson should have scored his header and then we'd probably be talking about it being decided on pens. My brief take on the main incidents. I'm not convinced the Costa stamp on Can was deliberate. He could have hurdled the player perhaps but Costa's to interested in getting the ball back to worry about whether he walks over a player or not. The one on Skertal was more likely to be deliberate but you can never say 100% when someone is trying to get over a player. Don't expect a ban as hard to prove intent. Definite pen for us but much like with the 2nd yellows for Lucas and Henderson, I think the ref bottled the big decisions. However the ref keeping it 11 v 11 certainly made for a better cup tie so sometimes it's not a bad thing. Big shout out for BRod in bringing on that clown Balotelli and swung the tie in our favour. Awful marking for Ivan goal, awful. This guy is making Torres look like Pele. And fair play to Sisu in seeing what Willian brings that a lot of others are missing. The guys work rate is second to none, he's like the energiser bunny, keeps going. Football is just as much about what you do off the ball as on it.
It was great game of footy (other than the result) the moments of contraversy just added to the drama, all in all it was brilliant entertainment. Tis why I like footy.
Certainly bodes well for the remainder of the season for Liverpool as well, I thought you were very good over the 2 legs and looked like the Liverpool of the later stages of last year. With Sturridge back in the side, I think you can give the Mancs a run for their money for top 4 as well....just keep Balotelli away from the pitch!
That about sums it up. Also Agree with 100 that Liverpool look to have turned the corner. Would love to see them get top 4 at Uniteds expense, would be hilarious. I sort of flit back and forth over which of the two northern powerhouses that I favour (pool or United) Right now I am very much in the Liverpool camp (mainly because I want to see UiR have another meltdown, his anti-Moyes rants last season were a highlight)
I'm the same. I probably detest United less (sorry Luv!!) but equally, United's post Fegie demise is quite entertaining and it's about time their armchair brigade like Matth experienced a period of struggle like all other clubs go through. If United, Liverpool and Arsenal could all miss out on top 4, great but if not, I'll happily enjoy LVG failing Moyes style if that's how it works out!! (and enjoy the UIR meltdown and excuses )
Do you really think Balotelli has a future? I genuinely think the guy is a waste of space. There's a reason he hasn't stayed with any one club for more than 10 minutes. His attitude, form, application is immensely inconsistent and he is not that good even on a good day to be worth the money or aggravation. I fully expect him to be somewhere else next season baring a miraculous recovery. Probably in Italy where even he can get away with being average most weeks. He certainly doesn't suit Liverpool's high press and hard work ethic. I suspect he'll be another completely wasted talent like Ravel Morrison.
Exactly the same. Generally I have preferred United of the two, but due to the Pool fans on here being pretty cool (with the exception of 1, who is a class A bell end) has mellowed me to Pool somewhat. And its just fun to watch UiR cry and you know Matth will post up some really entertaining videos should United fail to reach top 4.
He just joined the wrong tean and BR signed the wrong player. he has a big ego and thinks he can do anything, but as jose said mario is kinda unmanageable. i think he can still do it, just on his own terms.
I can't stand him and was pissed off at his signing from the start, simply put he's just not a very good footballer.
I will admit, I thought he was worth a punt for BR at the price they got him, by all accounts the kid has talent in bundles, but possesses little work ethic or application. Now I think he is too old to really change. He reminds me of Anelka when he was 19/20 years old (only slightly more crazy) but Anelka matured and became a good player. I wouldn't be surprised to hear in a few years time that Balotelli has wrapped his Lambo round a tree at 160mph whilst getting head from an escort in the Italian mountains.
Sorry Luv, just realised I misread your earlier post as 'except' the bit about Balotelli rather than 'especially' . I can kind of see why Brendan went for him, big name forward at a knock down price having lost Suarez. However it was a massive gamble and one that looks not to have paid off. He'd have been better off just spending the 30 million plus it costs now to get a decent proven forward to replace Suarez, albeit he obviously did go for Sanchez (a much more obvious fit).
Tbf Sisu the ref was fair with both teams and we both could have seen red but a good cup tie all the same.
Does he? Never seen it myself, he hits the odd worldie (or used to) but imo he's just a poor footballer.
The Anelka comparison is probably a fair one and both have had their fair share of clubs and issues. I'm sure he'll find the right fit somewhere but like Anelka, will probably never reach the absolute heights his talent promised due to other factors. To think how good Anelka was yet spent a lot of his career at mid tier clubs like Bolton and City (as they were).
