dockers_strike

Ha! Made me laugh that did.

Im pretty sure it will be like the NB black shirt. I really dont know what the issue is though, no one is forced to buy any shirt and in fact, it seems a lot of people dont want fans to wear colours to games anyway! I had a pair of Nike airtrap running shoes. They were rockhard and I always had pain in my knees running in them. Had to ditch them pronto.

We got 53,000 for what was effectively a re arranged midweek game against Shrewsbury with a team of kids. OK, 9000 of them were Shrewsbury fans but there wasnt an empty seat in the ground.

Well they did lose the cup final to Wigan. But I agree with the general premise. They're a club that just switched on to success because of the huge sums spent on them by the owner. Similarly, their fans are 'on board' like a load of tv viewers who've started watching a tv series that grows in popularity and is suddenly the must watch programme. But after a number of seasons, the plot lines get weak and viewing figures start to drop off then the show is canned. Similarly, although city had some success in the late 60s early 70s, the vast majority of their fans today are the instant success social media types who tend to get bored quickly and look to something else to poke their interest.

Yeah, yeah, we all know it's a myth but they can wallow in their belief they're better at a fans' level than us if they wish. It doesnt change the reality. I always get bloos saying to me about 'Norwegians' at Anfield. I say isnt that racist against Norwegians? I always point out actually, you find Germans, Swiss, Icelandic, Danish and fans from around the world in our ground. It's what you'd expect with a big, world famous club, same as you get at Juve, Milan, Real and a few others but, the essence of the support is from Liverpool. They can keep their parochial outlook and they'll always be seen as a small club, desparately trying to be seen as a big hitter on the world stage while their own inward looking approach will always hold them back.

So has the actual attendance for last night been published anywhere? Im not talking official attendance because as we know most clubs include ticket sales and no shows, even us. I dont think people stayed away for any other reason than they know they arent winning the title this year. And fickle fans are known for not turning out when there's nothing to play for, the oppos are shite no marks like west ham so the win is a given, it's a midweek fixture, the weather's a bit shit and the game is live on tv too.

Im pretty certain Jurgen would have played him a lot more if he'd been available. Unfortunately for him, injuries have seen him slip down the pecking order. Biggest dissapointment for me is we'll get nothing for him and even in this market, he'd be worth £15m-£20m.

I think Jurgen got the same vibes as me. And that was we werent getting anything out of that game. Plenty of times in the past when we've settled for a 1-0 away loss in Europe.

That Kante out of the chelsea FA Cup game. Maybe Fwank can play the kids?

Fucking cunt of a club president or whatever he calls himself saying Anfield wouldnt pass a UEFA technical test? Fuck me, they really are every bit as bad as Real and Barcelona.

Perhaps they thought tonight was a Champions League game and kick off was 8pm?

I think these cunts will rip west ham a new one tonight what with all this stuff going on about them and FFP.

They'll find a way to fuck up the offside rule, again, when or if they re write it. Id suggest it doesnt need a re write. The 'change' is already in the law but fuckwits like riley with their intransigence ignore it. And that is, you give the benefit to the striker. Is a toe or a tit or a nose or a knee that's 5 cm 'offside' never mind 5mm, really giving an advantage to the striker? The original basis of the offside rule was to stop what we as kids called 'goal hangers' standing yards behind the defensive line and waiting for the ball to come to him leaving just the keeper to beat. Nearly every attacking player will be leaning forward to some degree compared to the defender when a ball is played through so any line drawn through the body will likely show some part of the striker ahead of the last defender. So, if any part of the striker is level or behind the last defender you just say he's on side.

Massively disappointing. We had 85 minutes to get back on level terms at least. Instead we had to take Sadio off over concerns he'd get a second yellow, had some brutal crossing and throw ins by Trent in particular and had Gini slowing things down when we needed to be a lot quicker. I dont know what's going on with Mo, is he trying too hard and wanting two touches too many? Sure defenders have been coached how to nullify him but where's that instinctive finish from his first season gone? To be fair to Mo, almost every other player bar Ali, Joe and to a lesser extent Robbo didnt have good games. When we did put a decent ball into their box, there was often no one there to get on the end of it and when there was both Mo and Hendo nodded narrowly wide. It was just one of those games that comes along every so often where you get nothing and play poor. Inept officials, simeone and atletico shithousery aside, I hope we rediscover our touch for the 2nd leg. I think it will be tougher than may think. If we get an early goal like they did, that will really put them under pressure. But, the longer it goes without us scoring, I fear the crowd may get a little aggitated and that could transfer to the players even if we have been mentality monsters so far this season.

Im not particularly bothered by Atletico's shithousery. Are we seriously saying we didnt expect it and they're the only side capable of playing like that? After all, it's not like they kicked shit out of our players so in my opinion, we should have been ready for it. Take Sadio for example. OK they targetted him once he got booked. So what does Sadio do shortly after? He goes all arms in a challenge again. Of course Atletico are going to go ale house and make the most and try and get him a second card. Inevitably, Jurgen saw that Sadio was going to continue so decided to hook him before he got sent off. Net result, Atletico got what they wanted and we lost Sadio for the second half. It might be a bit harsh to criticise Sadio here but if you dont fall into the shithouse trap, you arent rendered ineffective. As mentioned last night, I thought few players came out of it with any credit and too many had substandard performances. In some respects, the performance was every bit as bad as at Norwich. The defence, midfield and attack all seemed disjointed and on different wavelengths. The standards the boys have set this season have been extremely high and anything that slips below that is probably amplified more than it should. I dont think Ive ever seen so many balls bounce yards off Mo. Bobby looked to be running in treacle at times. It's inevitable we're going to have a dip in form at some time and Im not too sure, the winter 'break' is the reason for 2 poor performances. We've had international breaks and they havent affected us this season. I think the return will be tougher than many seem to think. Atletico will be quite used to playing in a raucous stadium and if we get shit house officials, they'll get away with most of their tricks. And we need to win by 2 clear goals although that in itself, isnt a mamouth task at home.

And the worst thing is, the fucking ref had a clear view of it and still gave it them. I actually thought we'd fucked up the throw in because the tv was showing a replay of the chance then quickly cut back to the play and van Dijk skying the ball out for a corner.

Alisson. Nothing he could do about the goal but a good block prevented a second.

They got the goal from a lucky bounce. Even the two atletico players didnt know where the ball was until it rolled to the feet of one of them. But they all count, well, except when VAR is involved. Yes, they played like shithouses but our play was pants from the 1st minute. Trent's first two deliveries immediately after the goal were into row S in the stand behind their goal. Some of his throw ins went straight to the oppos. He wasnt alone though. Why are we caught out when teams come at us strong in the first few minutes? This is how city have attacked us in the two CL games the other season and each of the league games home and away? Dont be surprised when city do it again in the upcoming league game and we look poor. Inside, I think Jurgen will be raging at that performance tonight. The boys have done us proud this season but you wonder if all the hard work may just about to catch up with us and the next 3 or 4 games are harder than they should be.

This is the night we were getting nothing. That was partly due to our poor play, the oppos shithouse tactics plus being aided and abetted by an utterly inept ref and linos. But still, we've been very, very poor. I think that was poorer than the performance at Napoli or at the very least, on a par. The only players to come out of that with any credit are Alisson and Gomez. Perhaps Robbo to although he didnt really pose a big threat in their half. Not sure if Jurgen took Sadio off over fitness issue or to prevent a sending off with this ref. But he too was like the rest of his teammates and very wasteful with the ball during the first half. I think the call to take Mo off was the right one, just, although to be fair, it could have been Bobby or any other player. The ball was bouncing yards off Mo, Bobby was getting pushed off the ball too easily. Divock wasnt any better when he came on to be honest. I know players have to be confident with the ball by why does everyone want that extra touch all the time? And Div is best played through the middle and just told to lace the ball, no fancy stuff. In my opinion. Hendo was desparately unlucky with that header. Gini and Fab continually gave the ball away with Gini in particular slowing down the fucking play every time. After he came on, Ox quickly got into the habit of giving the ball away like the rest of his teammates. And with Milner on for Hendo there was no opportunity to get Keita on. But the question is, would he have made a difference tonight? Im not sure. Probably the biggest joke of the night was the ref playing on for that late handball, no advantage to Liverpool, giving them a foul for nothing and booking Klopp after all simone's antics all night. Bizarre. Hopefully there's a stronger ref at Anfield because if you thought atletico's antics tonight were bad, you aint seen nothing yet. We've got to be really careful in the second leg because if we conceed one, we'll be in real trouble. We'll need to be on our game and far more clinical in front of goal.

Deliberate handball, then gives them a foul and Jurgen a yellow?

Gini losing the ball again.

Hendo off, Milner on, injury.

Mo off, Jurgen settling for the result? Hendo unlucky there.

Trent's last 2 throw ins have gone straight to one of their players.

That lad's head must be on his foot then?