The 2017-2018 Football Thread

[bmac4]

I do believe Liverpool were good enough to win last night had Salah not gone off. That was the turning point in the game for us. It can’t be changed and this is football so I wouldn’t get bitter over it. Gifting 2 goals away was shocking and I hope that’s his last game in a Liverpool shirt personally. The whole event was an anti climax in the end for me and being English I’ve learned that’s the norm in football lol.

I just have to unsubscribe from Wales Online now to avoid the Bale celebrations now.

Do you think Real don’t score more goals? That second half was all Real. We didn’t even need Ronaldo.

 

[bmac4]

Not Salah personally no. I fancied him to score a couple of goals though and think he would have done. It would have been a better match all round rather than damage limitation and relying solely on Mane after that. I do think it’ll give us a boost going into the off season though. We can’t afford to dwell on the events last night too long. We’ve got the best team in years and it’s been an awesome season and champions league.

I agree it gives you a better chance. No doubt about that. I just don’t know that it would have been enough. Real didn’t have to hit the gear that we have in the past 3 CL games.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Do you think Real don’t score more goals? That second half was all Real. We didn’t even need Ronaldo.

It wasn’t the Liverpool I’m used to seeing of late either. The whole game plan was out of the window in the 25th minute and I knew the game was effectively over when Salah went off. I felt Liverpool played well after that but lacked the winning momentum. I have no doubt at all we were good enough going into that game to beat Real. Proud of the effort though and at least we weren’t thrashed.

Well done to Real though. We’ll be back next year no doubt.

 

[bmac4]

It wasn’t the Liverpool I’m used to seeing of late either. The whole game plan was out of the window in the 25th minute and I knew the game was effectively over when Salah went off. I felt Liverpool played well after that but lacked the winning momentum. I have no doubt at all we were good enough going into that game to beat Real. Proud of the effort though and at least we weren’t thrashed.

Well done to Real though. We’ll be back next year no doubt.

Yes you had enough to play with Real. The problem was, you guys didn’t take over the game from the beginning like you did with City. After 30 minutes had gone you still hadn’t scored. This was not going the same way your previous big wins had. Salah leaving removed all hope for that. I just think people though you guys were going to run up and down the pitch on Real like they had previously. That was never going to happen though.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Yes you had enough to play with Real. The problem was, you guys didn’t take over the game from the beginning like you did with City. After 30 minutes had gone you still hadn’t scored. This was not going the same way your previous big wins had. Salah leaving removed all hope for that. I just think people though you guys were going to run up and down the pitch on Real like they had previously. That was never going to happen though.

Well we’ll never know.

Time to forget about it for me. No amount of going over it will change the result. The World Cup is the next focus and the Grand Prix this afternoon lol.

 

[bmac4]

Well we’ll never know.

Time to forget about it for me. No amount of going over it will change the result. The World Cup is the next focus and the Grand Prix this afternoon lol.

I got you. Look I know heartbreak all too well. I am a University of Georgia fan in college football. I know that means nothing to you, but we lost the Championship game in a terrible fashion this year.

Time to move on. Will England do something special this year?

 

[Apple fanboy]

I got you. Look I know heartbreak all too well. I am a University of Georgia fan in college football. I know that means nothing to you, but we lost the Championship game in a terrible fashion this year.

Time to move on. Will England do something special this year?

No. Not a chance. Be lucky to get out of the group.

 

[bmac4]

No. Not a chance. Be lucky to get out of the group.

Haha, well I will be rooting for them. As many of you know, US sucks, so what else do we have. Also be rooting for Spain.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I got you. Look I know heartbreak all too well. I am a University of Georgia fan in college football. I know that means nothing to you, but we lost the Championship game in a terrible fashion this year.

Time to move on. Will England do something special this year?

God no, i’ll be happy if we go beyond the group games to be honest. Every match feels like a hell of a lot of effort with 11 men who have met for the first time.

 

[bmac4]

God no, i’ll be happy if we go beyond the group games to be honest. Every match feels like a hell of a lot of effort with 11 men who have met for the first time.

Haha, I do like the squad. Can’t count out Kane doing something special. Also Sterling is growing into a real solid player. Unlike club football, international you can win with one or two great players.

 

[pachyderm]

I got you. Look I know heartbreak all too well. I am a University of Georgia fan in college football. I know that means nothing to you, but we lost the Championship game in a terrible fashion this year.

Time to move on. Will England do something special this year?

he he he.

yeah. I hate Bama.


As for the WC, I'm rooting for Belgium, or Portugal, and possibly Spain.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

If you think Real did that on purpose, you know nothing about them. They don’t do thinks like that. Your grasping for straws on this.

No, actually.

While Ramos may not have intended that Salah suffer an injury, Real and Ramos they certainly intended to neutralise him.

Cynical play at the very least, and yes, dirty, too.

Oddly enough, while I would have preferred a Liverpool victory, I don't 'hate' Real Madrid, and cheerfully Bale's goal was a thing of rare skill and much beauty.

However, to deny that removing Salah did not have a considerable subsequent impact on the game for Liverpool (not least in the kind of serious challenge that Liverpool could mount) is perhaps to view it through a smudged lens.

 

[bmac4]

he he he.

yeah. I hate Bama.


As for the WC, I'm rooting for Belgium, or Portugal, and possibly Spain.

Everyone should hate Bama lol. They have Satan as their coach lol.

Yeah I really like Spain, England, and Brazil. Spain just play football the way I like to see it played.

 

[bmac4]

No, actually.

While Ramos may not have intended that Salah suffer an injury, Real and Ramos they certainly intended to neutralise him.

Cynical play at the very least, and yes, dirty, too.

Oddly enough, while I would have preferred a Liverpool victory, I don't 'hate' Real Madrid, and cheerfully Bale's goal was a thing of rare skill and much beauty.

However, to deny that removing Salah did not have a considerable subsequent impact on the game for Liverpool (not least in the kind of serious challenge that Liverpool could mount) is perhaps to view it through a smudged lens.

I am not denying that this did have an impact on the match. It surely did. I just can’t see Liverpool winning even if he was on the pitch. This game was playing like every other Real match in the knockout stage. The other team dominated possession at the beginning, but either didn’t get a goal at all or just one. Real then take over the match, and that is when goals start falling.

This is all because Zidane went with the diamond again. He is stubborn about using it, and it has looked just like this. As soon as Bale comes on, it completely changes.

As for Ramos. I am done talking about this. You can choose to believe he did it on purpose, or you don’t. It doesn’t matter.

 

[pachyderm]

Everyone should hate Bama lol. They have Satan as their coach lol.

Yeah I really like Spain, England, and Brazil. Spain just play football the way I like to see it played.

I like Saban. I'm just tired of them winning all the time.
[doublepost=1527514444][/doublepost]

No, actually.

While Ramos may not have intended that Salah suffer an injury, Real and Ramos they certainly intended to neutralise him.

Cynical play at the very least, and yes, dirty, too.

Oddly enough, while I would have preferred a Liverpool victory, I don't 'hate' Real Madrid, and cheerfully Bale's goal was a thing of rare skill and much beauty.

However, to deny that removing Salah did not have a considerable subsequent impact on the game for Liverpool (not least in the kind of serious challenge that Liverpool could mount) is perhaps to view it through a smudged lens.

HIs injury changed the entire complexion of the match. 'Pool was pressing and dominating up until he got hurt.

 

[bmac4]

I like Saban. I'm just tired of them winning all the time.
[doublepost=1527514444][/doublepost]

HIs injury changed the entire complexion of the match. 'Pool was pressing and dominating up until he got hurt.

Like I said, this was the same thing that happened to Real every single time. This had more to do with Real formation then Salah leaving.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Like I said, this was the same thing that happened to Real every single time. This had more to do with Real formation then Salah leaving.

Real weren't that good to be honest. The first goal was an assist. The second was sublime.
The third was shocking goalkeeping.
I think you need to put your fan spectacles aside and see the game for what it was.

 

[bmac4]

Real weren't that good to be honest. The first goal was an assist. The second was sublime.
The third was shocking goalkeeping.
I think you need to put your fan spectacles aside and see the game for what it was.

I could say the same for you. How many Real Madrid games have you watched this season?

That second half Real took over the game. Yeah the goalkeeper made two mistakes, doesn’t mean Real wasn’t going to score.

I am so tired of this narrative that Real got lucky. They were the better team, and had Salah played the entire 90 minutes, the results would have been the same. That is Real win. Seriously, look at the difference when we changed the formation. Unless you don’t pay attention to tactics that much. There was a clear shift in the game when Zidane made the switch.

I know I am out number here, but come on. Liverpool were good, but they weren’t the better team.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I could say the same for you. How many Real Madrid games have you watched this season?

That second half Real took over the game. Yeah the goalkeeper made two mistakes, doesn’t mean Real wasn’t going to score.

I am so tired of this narrative that Real got lucky. They were the better team, and had Salah played the entire 90 minutes, the results would have been the same. That is Real win. Seriously, look at the difference when we changed the formation. Unless you don’t pay attention to tactics that much. There was a clear shift in the game when Zidane made the switch.

I know I am out number here, but come on. Liverpool were good, but they weren’t the better team.

I'm not a Liverpool fan, so not really sure how that applies. Just look at your posts compared to the rest of us.

I'm not saying that Liverpool would have won. We can't know that. But it wasn't a forgone conclusion like you seem to think.

Bale was outstanding. Why he wasn't on from the start is a mystery to me (and others).
But without two blunders at the back, and their star man on the pitch it would have been a different game.

 

[pachyderm]

I'm not a Liverpool fan, so not really sure how that applies. Just look at your posts compared to the rest of us.

I'm not saying that Liverpool would have won. We can't know that. But it wasn't a forgone conclusion like you seem to think.

Bale was outstanding. Why he wasn't on from the start is a mystery to me (and others).
But without two blunders at the back, and their star man on the pitch it would have been a different game.

Yeah that was the joke I'd made on FB. "Cruddy, boring game won by a bench warmer.."

 

[bmac4]

I'm not a Liverpool fan, so not really sure how that applies. Just look at your posts compared to the rest of us.

I'm not saying that Liverpool would have won. We can't know that. But it wasn't a forgone conclusion like you seem to think.

Bale was outstanding. Why he wasn't on from the start is a mystery to me (and others).
But without two blunders at the back, and their star man on the pitch it would have been a different game.

Yeah look at others post here. Your all EPL fans of course your all saying the same thing. And yes it does apply to you. Being that your team is from the EPL, of course your looking at it from that point of view.

Yes we can all scratch our heads as to why Bale wasn’t on the starting 11, but as a super sub you can’t deny he completely changed the game.

To things like, their best player left, 2 blunders by the keeper, all lead to this is unfair. Yes did it play it’s part, absolutely but you have to look at a whole body of work. Liverpool wasn’t the best team Real faced this year and wasn’t even close to the best team they played in CL. Barcelona, PSG, and Bayern are all better team, and PSG has a much better attack then Liverpool. All teams Real defeated. Yes the game changed, but not simply because of Salah.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I could say the same for you. How many Real Madrid games have you watched this season?

That second half Real took over the game. Yeah the goalkeeper made two mistakes, doesn’t mean Real wasn’t going to score.

I am so tired of this narrative that Real got lucky. They were the better team, and had Salah played the entire 90 minutes, the results would have been the same. That is Real win. Seriously, look at the difference when we changed the formation. Unless you don’t pay attention to tactics that much. There was a clear shift in the game when Zidane made the switch.

I know I am out number here, but come on. Liverpool were good, but they weren’t the better team.

You’re not going to convince everyone here mate. I believe Liverpool had the ability to overturn Real and Salah going off changed the whole dynamic of the game. If you feel differently then that’s fine, but we don’t all have to believe Real were unbeatable because I don’t believe they were. The change in circumstances played into their favour and from the time Salah went off they were the marginally better team. Liverpool putting 2 goals in their own net gave the game away despite Bale scoring an amazing goal.

 

[bmac4]

You’re not going to convince everyone here mate. I believe Liverpool had the ability to overturn Real and Salah going off changed the whole dynamic of the game. If you feel differently then that’s fine, but we don’t all have to believe Real were unbeatable because I don’t believe they were. The change in circumstances played into their favour and from the time Salah went off they were the marginally better team. Liverpool putting 2 goals in their own net gave the game away despite Bale scoring an amazing goal.

I am not trying to convince anyone of Real being the better team. It’s way more of everyone here telling me that they were not. I am simply defending what I saw. You and everyone else can believe what you want to. You guys can join the Catalan press in trying to take something away from Real have done. I guess when your on top, there will always be people trying to take you down.

I watched every game Real played this season, and I had seen that same thing play out 10+ times. On the flip side, I have seen about 10 Liverpool games, and the big ones they won (Man City, and Roma) they exploded in the beginning and then let the other team back in. The key was negating that initial explosion. Well Real did. 30 minutes in (Salah still on the pitch), they had not broken through. At this point in the Man City game it was 3-0, but yet nothing from Liverpool. I am just telling you and everyone else what I saw. Liverpool has to have at least a goal or 2 in that first half to have a shot, and they didn’t get it. Real were the better team going in, and Liverpool were punching above their weight for the last 2 months. There were only 2 teams in the world that come into that game at the level or above Real. Barcelona being on the same level and Man City the best team in the world. I give you credit for winning the City matchup, but 9 out of 10 times you lose. Great season, but stop trying to take away from what Real accomplished.

Edit: this thread should be renamed, EPL football season 17/18. 90% of the people here support an EPL team, and were cheering for Liverpool.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

I am not trying to convince anyone of Real being the better team. It’s way more of everyone here telling me that they were not. I am simply defending what I saw. You and everyone else can believe what you want to. You guys can join the Catalan press in trying to take something away from Real have done. I guess when your on top, there will always be people trying to take you down.

I watched every game Real played this season, and I had seen that same thing play out 10+ times. On the flip side, I have seen about 10 Liverpool games, and the big ones they won (Man City, and Roma) they exploded in the beginning and then let the other team back in. The key was negating that initial explosion. Well Real did. 30 minutes in (Salah still on the pitch), they had not broken through. At this point in the Man City game it was 3-0, but yet nothing from Liverpool. I am just telling you and everyone else what I saw. Liverpool has to have at least a goal or 2 in that first half to have a shot, and they didn’t get it. Real were the better team going in, and Liverpool were punching above their weight for the last 2 months. There were only 2 teams in the world that come into that game at the level or above Real. Barcelona being on the same level and Man City the best team in the world. I give you credit for winning the City matchup, but 9 out of 10 times you lose. Great season, but stop trying to take away from what Real accomplished.

Liverpool do not consistently wrap every game up within the first 30 mins so I think it’s a bit of a reach to say they wouldn’t have done anything after that. I’ve congratulated Real on here so not taking anything from them, just annoyed that you are trying to say Liverpool were out of their depth. They really weren’t and have played well all tournament. I was happy with their start and I could see a goal was coming, which it did. If our playmaker had stayed on I think it would have been a final to remember whether we lost or not.

I’ll be honest I don’t watch Spanish football as it does nothing for me. Real and Barca stand out in the European stage and beating them is always a huge achievement.

 

[bmac4]

Liverpool do not consistently wrap every game up within the first 30 mins so I think it’s a bit of a reach to say they wouldn’t have done anything after that. I’ve congratulated Real on here so not taking anything from them, just annoyed that you are trying to say Liverpool were out of their depth. They really weren’t and have played well all tournament. I was happy with their start and I could see a goal was coming, which it did. If our playmaker had stayed on I think it would have been a final to remember whether we lost or not.

I’ll be honest I don’t watch Spanish football as it does nothing for me. Real and Barca stand out in the European stage and beating them is always a huge achievement.

Believe I don’t think Liverpool were out of their depth. Not in the least, but for people here to keep claiming Real isn’t as good as they appear is a trash take. Yes some unfortunate events happened, but that doesn’t take away from what Real did.

I will say Liverpool surprised the hell out me that they got to this point. To be go through Man City to get here is saying something. They gave us a hell of a match, and I won’t take anything away from them. I will say, they need Mane and another couple of world class players to keep this type of play up. Take for example if Ronaldo had gone off in this match. It would not have changed the out come. You guys need support for Salah. I think I told you this before, but Mane might be that in a couple of years, but they need it now.

I respect your thoughts, and I don’t think you get completely lost in the fandom of it all. You keep a level head, and appreciate that. Sorry if I came across as thinking no one can come close to Real. That is not what I meant.