Real Madrid (H) - CL Round of 16 1st leg, Tue 21st Feb 2023 (8:00pm)

[Mark M]

Mental game so far & nearly came in at HT 3-2 down! They look just as bad at the back as we do

[gkmacca]

Bobby could really wreck them if he comes on after the hour mark. Then again, he could wreck us. But he's the gamble if we need it.

[stringvest]

Bajcetic getting stick here is unbelievable.  He's involved in the game forward and back.  He's looking to play forward.  He's going to lose the ball occasionally, it comes with players who look to play forward.  There were plenty of chances subsequently to clear the ball.  Allison's fuck up was inexcusable really.

[Red_or_Dead]

Best we've played all season given the standard of the opposition, frustrating to be going in at 2-2 after being 2-0 up.  Bjectic's final passes just not coming off a few times in that half.  Henderson has been good.  Fab, well not a total clusterfuck apart from one foul.  Score more than them in the second half please redmen!

[magicrat]

19 minutes ago, waddy78 said:

Could be worse it could Tyler and Neville.

 

Never thought I would say this but there's not a lot to choose. Beglin just utters complete drivel every time he opens his mouth and Tiddley would be more suited to presenting the Chelsea Flower show

[Joey8FrogsLegs]

What a half! Started well enough, scored a great goal and had one handed to us. Then our defensive weaknesses was there for them to exploit. 
 

Our pressing has given us plenty of opportunities to punish them even more, but decision making and quality from our side haven’t always been quite good enough. 
 

Apart from Van Dijk whos been excellent, Gakpo has been our best player imo, he is key to our pressing and very intelligent movement and build up play. Henderson also good, apart from their first goal where running away from Vinicius wasn’t exactly what we needed. 

[ZonkoVille77]

We still have another goal in us. But Salah and Hendo are fucking around too much over on that side at times, slowing it down. Gakpo hasn't been in the game since the first 10 min spell. Can see Jota coming on at 60 for him.

But overall we look lively. We look like we've remembered how to battle and rattle the oppo. Need to keep the head up.

[stringvest]

3 minutes ago, Grinch said:

Henderson excellent again.  It’d stick in the throat of people to admit that one thought.  So in peak liverpoolway fashion they’ll pretend a kid who’s having a complete mare is our best midfielder.

 

Imagime hating the club captain, who’s won everything for the club.  Pitiful cunts

 

go and watch him for their first goal.  I challenge you not to laugh.  Then watch him for the chance that Robertson cleared.  I challenge you not to cry.  He's been shite.

[Planet Origi]

4 minutes ago, TheHowieLama said:

Mo Salah needs to earn his crust in the next 45 minutes. He has plenty of space and is up against a 35 year old right footed midfielder. Now or never.

Goal and an assist already in this game

[Bjornebye]

It doesn't get much better as a neutral that first half. Instead I'm not a neutral I'm fucking confused. 

 

Bobby for Gakpo on 60? We need a lead before we go over there. 

[etho]

Nothing wrong with Bajcetic trying that, he's just up against a different calibre of player. Was a bit of a bobbly backpass under no real pressure but that's just a terrible mistake from Ali. Hard to take but so many positives from that half and we'd be beating most sides.

 

[Heinze]

11 minutes ago, Shooter in the Motor said:

Real madrid look like they’re ripe for the picking.

And we won't pick them.

[bossy]

I think Fabhino has abdicated responsibility a bit. He’s asking Bajcetic to do all the hard work, or so it looks to me. Cluster fuck from Ali for their second. We look more like us though, which is a relief. Need to get on the front foot second half and try and get Nunes and Gakpo into the game more. 

[Grinch]

Just now, stringvest said:

 

go and watch him for their first goal.  I challenge you not to laugh.  Then watch him for the chance that Robertson cleared.  I challenge you not to cry.  He's been shite.

Go watch Stoke and your boy Joe Allen.  

[Manny]

Gakpo makes tonnes of sense now. He’s less fun than Bobby but he’s quicker than Bobby’s ever been and fucking massive. He does a bit of midfield and a bit of attack and makes the 4-3-3 work.

[Creator Supreme]

I'd take us going into the 2nd leg still in with a good shout of winning it. Real shame we didn't go for the throat at 2-0, but it us what it is.

 

If we can go there with a lead and be willing to scrap, that would be a pretty good outcome tonight.

[El Rojo]

Just now, Bjornebye said:

It doesn't get much better as a neutral that first half. Instead I'm not a neutral I'm fucking confused. 

It’s the best competition in football. Not even UEFA can destroy it.

[johnsusername]

Bajectic has been really good. Cant blame him for losing the ball 70 yards from goal on our own attack.

 

He is quite easily our best midfielder. 

[Elite]

That Madrid 2nd goal was lucky as fuck.

[niallers]

 I'd rather it be 1all than 2. Allison did that twice against wolves in the cup game and conceded 1, both on his right side. He obviously has a weakness in that area trying to pass out to the right. 

Fuck sake. 2 up and cruising. 

They're beating our press and countering well but when they bring it up the pitch, we're dropping way too deep. They muller us over there if we employ those tactics. 

[Red_or_Dead]

1 minute ago, stringvest said:

 

go and watch him for their first goal.  I challenge you not to laugh.  Then watch him for the chance that Robertson cleared.  I challenge you not to cry.  He's been shite.

Fuckin hell, I know you rate him worse than Ian Brady or Fred West, but he's not be shite at all today.

[TheHowieLama]

2 minutes ago, Planet Origi said:

Goal and an assist already in this game

Shite for both.

[stringvest]

1 minute ago, Manny said:

Gakpo makes tonnes of sense now. He’s less fun than Bobby but he’s quicker than Bobby’s ever been and fucking massive. He does a bit of midfield and a bit of attack and makes the 4-3-3 work.

 

He's growing into that role.  It's really good to see.

[Joey8FrogsLegs]

Just now, Manny said:

Gakpo makes tonnes of sense now. He’s less fun than Bobby but he’s quicker than Bobby’s ever been and fucking massive. He does a bit of midfield and a bit of attack and makes the 4-3-3 work.

Spot on this. 

[Red Shift]

5 minutes ago, Mark M said:

Mental game so far & nearly came in at HT 3-2 down! They look just as bad at the back as we do

Could have been 5-4 to be honest. Hell of a game.