you know what

[Nebraska Red]

24 hours later and I am still pi$$ed off with the overall result.

 

I never thought we could score 2 goals, but I reckoned we could get 1 and force a penalty shoot out.

 

I watched the game again and I am bitterley disappointed with our forward players for their lack of composure and ability to finish.

[fyds]

Pissed off with the overall result too - but not as despondent about the whole thing as I may have expected to be. We should have won the tie, but we can't expect everything to go as planned or to pull through everything against the odds - even when in better shape.

[realtarragona]

I wasn't really gutted at all last night.

 

Dunno whether that was partly down to expecting us to go out or the fact I was just proud of our fans at the end...

[floyd the barber]

didnt suprise me to be honest..

 

I had a bad feeling about the game, and once i saw the teamsheet.......i just couldnt see us getting the goals to beat them.

[Ostrich Man]

But I am not......I am proud

 

It just makes you realise what an acheivment last May was....We had no right to expect that, last night proved what a true miracle that was..

translation: f*** we fluked that last year

[fyds]

translation: f*** we fluked that last year

Praise from Caesar!

[tomski]

I had a nasty feeling that wouldn't go away about this match, so was mentally prepared for defeat. Despite what everyone thinks about the Mancs, Benfica knocked them out, they obviously have a team that plays with great heart and determination who were capable of holding out at anfield.

 

Good luck to em' I say.

 

Truth be told, I'm more worried about our morale coming out of the game than with actually missing out this year. We need to get over this very quickly, I'm feeling a bit queesy about the a*** on sunday and will be happy with a draw......

[David Hodgson]

But I am not......I am proud

 

It just makes you realise what an acheivment last May was....We had no right to expect that, last night proved what a true miracle that was..

 

As supporters we can also hold our heads high, we showed class and dignity in defeat

 

I can't help but sit back in awe, Anny, at your relentlessly positivity.

 

Personally, I'm sick as a chocolate frog.

 

It does put Istanbul in perspective, but that only increases the pain for me. I wanted us to prove to Europe, by going to at least the semis this year, that our win was no fluke.

 

I'm not seeing the glass as half empty, but I think the result is a wake up call (if one was needed). We have much work to do, as a club, and whilst that FACT remains it's worth questioning every aspect of LFC's work in progress.

[sutty]

not that you remember anything about it! And I didn't show any class or dignity in defeat. I went off in a huff! I can't explain why either. I didn't calm down until I got back to the pub and put another pint in me. I don't intend to ever feel like that again over a game of football.

 

 

I get in huffs all the time

 

I don't leave though. I sit there and shout at the linesman.

 

The flag carrying s***bag

Edited March 10, 2006 by sutty

[David Hodgson]

I get in huffs all the time

 

I don't leave though. I sit there and shout at the linesman.

 

The flag carrying s***bag

 

In times of dire trouble (when we need at least 2 goals) I always make a point of leaving early....it's a fate tempting thing. I do the same watching on telly. If we're two down with 5 minutes left, I turn the box off.

 

I long for the day when I get back to the car only to find out that I've missed 2 late Liverpool wonder goals, and a result turned round.

 

I also just can't bear the physical pain of defeat. It just hurts too much, and I can't be there at the point of our 'death' (as symbolised by the final whistle).

[matty]

I agree with Anny. Last year was something incredible, and expectations of doing it again were just too much to hope.

 

And let's face it, if it's too easy, it's just less fun.

[Tones]

Its s*** that we are out. But i wasnt angry about it. I sat back and thought what a great 18 months we have had in europe and we will be back next year for more. Its a tough competition but we have made out mark init over the last 2 years.

[johngibo YPC]

i listened to the first three callers on 909 on the way to the pub by ours. the first and last caller were all bitch and moan, but the second caller, and i don't think it was a coincidence that he was the only scouser, was alot more philisophical. He said that this proves what an unbelievable success last year was and whenever he is a bit down, he puts the DVD on and relives the glory. How many GREAT teams don't defend the European cup, or even win it in the first place. We are better than last year and it does my head it that people think they have to point out our problems. Rafa knows them, he just diesn't see the point in slagging players off in interviews.

I then turned 909 off because Spoony is an idiot

[Tetti]

 

 

Personally, I'm sick as a chocolate frog.

 

It does put Istanbul in perspective, but that only increases the pain for me. I wanted us to prove to Europe, by going to at least the semis this year, that our win was no fluke.

 

 

 

My thoughts too, but even though I relentlessly predicted that we were going out from the moment the draw was made, I'm not over it yet. Last year was like a shot of something I hadn't expect to experience again. And of course its addictive.

 

And today's draw has made it worse. Barca then either AC ( predictably ) or Lyon?

 

Dream draw for me personally. Not Juve, not Arsenal.

[Raj]

My thoughts too, but even though I relentlessly predicted that we were going out from the moment the draw was made, I'm not over it yet. Last year was like a shot of something I hadn't expect to experience again. And of course its addictive.

 

And today's draw has made it worse. Barca then either AC ( predictably ) or Lyon?

 

Dream draw for me personally. Not Juve, not Arsenal.

 

Totally agreed. i feel worse today then i did after the game, where i just felt deflated.

 

Would have loved to have taken on Barca. Might not have got through, but at least we would have been able to challenge the strongest team in the competition. Plus, it would have been a good away trip.

 

Raj

[Guest Kev]

On another day we'd of been 4-0 up at half-time, and looking forward to Barcelona.

[Coyler]

On another day we'd of been 4-0 up at half-time, and looking forward to Barcelona.

Hear, hear. The enormous width of a post or the unfathomable depth of a penalty-box divot in the general scheme of things can't be stressed enough in this case.

[IgPig]

On another day we'd of been 4-0 up at half-time, and looking forward to Barcelona.

 

That sounds almost optimistic!

[eljay]

But I am not......I am proud

 

It just makes you realise what an acheivment last May was....We had no right to expect that, last night proved what a true miracle that was..

 

As supporters we can also hold our heads high, we showed class and dignity in defeat

 

I know what you mean anny.

 

This will sound silly but it's almost (only almost!) a relief. Would have loved for us to win it again of course, but I look back on last season and realise that it's nights like last night that make you appreciate what we did then.

 

We had 3 nights at Anfield - Olympiakos, Juve and Chelsea - that the majority of clubs would kill to experience once in their history. Add to that superb nights (though I didn't go) in Leverkusen, Turin and London, and then topped off by what was truly the 'Miracle of Istanbul'.

 

By the way, has '5 times' ever been sung more proudly than when Benfica scored the second on Wednesday?

 

I don't normally like using words like class and dignity about supporters - but they are entirely appopriate for our performance on Wednesday.

 

F*****g PROUD is right!!

[Guest MarkN]

I've been watching the Reds since 1971 and I'll never EVER feel worse over a football result than when Arsenal won the League at Anfield.

 

Thank mate. Have spent nearly 17 years trying to forget that!

 

On a more seriousness note, I really don't understand the doom and gloom merchants. Even we have only managed to retain our trophy (as it is now dont forget ) once and I am sure I can remember going out in the last 16 or before at least once in '78 - '79, or '81 - '82 (havent got time or inclination to check).

 

Being realistic everything just seems to be a bit more knee jerk these days. Yes, we are having a ropey time in front of goal this season, but we are doing significantly better last season than this points wise and unless the rules have changed you dont get a Champions League place for scoring more goals (unless points are tied blah blah!)

 

Yes we need to improve, before everyone pipes up with we are Liverpool and only top is acceptable, but I think Senor Benitez has done enough so far to earn our support for a little bit longer. Two throw my two penneth in on the Real rumours, Real have not contacted Liverpool Benitez has not asked to move, Xabi reckons he is committed. When Rainhill closed did they send all the paranoid patients to YNWA? If it happens it happens let's not give it more momentum and credibility by going on about it.

 

So to do my Kev-antidote paragraph:

 

Still European Champions, the fact we wont be next season is all the more reason to make the most of it now.

Vastly improved League performance on last season.

Still in the FA Cup

Actually starting to believe that we could make more inroads into Chelsea next season and maybe even challenge.

And just about all the good luck we had last season has been balanced out with the bad luck we suffered against Benfica!

 

I seem to recall reading here in the closed season that we would be happy if we closed the gap on Chelsea, well barring an end of season catastrophe we will do that easily.

 

So to sum up, hugely disappointing night on Wednesday, but from my vantage in the Main Stand (one good point about the Main Stand - pushing 40 and still feel young!) great support as ever, great banter with the Benfica fans, applauded each other at the end, Benfica fans chanting Liverpool as Betis did. Proud that I cant think of another ground where that will happen - 100% passion and desire in 90 mins 100% sporting afterwards. But hey, life does go on really (been doing this for 30 odd years and the downs are always followed by the ups).

 

SO chin up lads and remember it could be so much worse and most of all...................No one is going ot make us start the flaming season at the beginning of JULY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[anny road]

MarkN

 

I think you are spot on

 

You cant win it every year, and retaining it is very very difficult.....Esp in the format we have now..

 

we are improving and you can identify the problem areas easily....two thirds of our team are ther already....we just need the sort the strikers out come summer and strengthen a bit and we wont be far away

 

People need to relax

 

Roll with the punches a bit more........

[David Hodgson]

i am not being funny but this wasnt a thread for the doomsday nay sayers....there are dozens of threads where you can carry on your hand wringing and head shaking

 

As for expecting us to win every game, youve got the wrong hobby mate

 

Sorry to crash your party, Anny, but what the f8ck are you on about ?

 

I predicted our entire 10 match winning sequence. I backed GH beyond everyone on this site. I've never been a doomsday merchant, but I'll equally never be a stick my head up my ar*e and pretend everythings brilliant (when it isn't) merchant, either.

 

..and whose expecting us to win every game ? Not me.

 

If you weren't interested in people's opinions then why bloody open a thread on a public forum ? If you want 'group hugs' go to evangelical christian churches.

[anny road]

Sorry to crash your party, Anny, but what the f8ck are you on about ?

 

I predicted our entire 10 match winning sequence. I backed GH beyond everyone on this site. I've never been a doomsday merchant, but I'll equally never be a stick my head up my ar*e and pretend everythings brilliant (when it isn't) merchant, either.

 

..and whose expecting us to win every game ? Not me.

 

If you weren't interested in people's opinions then why bloody open a thread on a public forum ? If you want 'group hugs' go to evangelical christian churches.

 

 

who said it was aimed at you?

 

I opened this thread to say how proud I was of the players........It wasnt meant to be a team bashing excercie..there are a squillion other threads for that....

[RP]

"Relief" is the word I used as well.

 

Much rather still be in it of course but I feel like some weight has been lifted from our shoulders - can't make any sense of it, but I feel very calm about our exit.

[David Hodgson]

who said it was aimed at you?

 

I opened this thread to say how proud I was of the players........It wasnt meant to be a team bashing excercie..there are a squillion other threads for that....

 

I don't see any 'team bashing' going on in this thread.