Real Madrid vs Liverpool [Match Thread] CL Round 2, Leg 1 Wednesday 25 Feb 19.45

Raskolnikov

Scrappy game so far.

Robben is so infuriating. Beats his man, but instead of crossing, shoots into the side netting. Torres is clearly crocked and needs to be hauled off. Casilias showing why he's the best goalie in the world here.

redout

whatawaster wrote: »

ref is a c**t, not letting us take corner

Same happened with Man Utd in the league before Xmas. Corner in the 90th min and the ref just blew the whistle. Think we drew the game aswell. Seemingly the ref is within his right to do it anyway.

mike65

Intriguing half, the balance of the game shifting quietly from White to Red as time ticked on, only Robben looks like causing serious harm. Doubt Torres will see second half, so Babel and Kuyt with Benny going wide.

~Rebel~

PHB wrote: »

It does, but its no surprise that he's scored like once against them in all his games?

to be fair Torres is twice the player he was back with Atleti.

Its not Real's masterful defending of him keeping him quiet, anyone with 2 eyes can see he's not comfortable out there.

Guy:Incognito

spockety wrote: »

If it was Fergie maybe the ref would take notice.

He'd have sent them back on for another 5 mins.:pac:

LuckyLloyd

Sublime effort from Alonso to end the half. Would have been an absolute cracker.

Happy enough - but it certainly hasn't been easy. Madrid bossed the first and last 10 minutes; moving the ball crisply and putting us under pressure from a variety of angles. However, Torres probably went closest to scoring over the 45 minutes...in the middle 25 we managed to slow things down and make it ugly, which is exactly what we need to do for the rest of the game.

Torres is a huge concern obv, and Real do look as if they have goals in them. Everyone has worked hard, but Riera and Arbeloa have been poor with their distribution and Yossi had his pocket picked a bit too easy on a couple of occasions.

spockety

I love the way people are assuming it could be a straight swap Torres for Babel..!

Lucas is warming up too, etc.

Tusky

Riera has been awful and Benayoun almost as bad. Luckily, only Robben looks a threat for them...but what a threat he is. Hoping if Babel does come on for Torres he is played as a center forward rather than anywhere else. Kuyt as a center forward makes Tusky a sad panda.

ctrl-alt-delete

ntlbell wrote: »

exactly?

so i'm not sure of the real goal should of stood but from what i could see it looked on

torres was running back from the box when the keeper kicked it so he HAD to be off side

can't believe i'm even discussing this he didn't score!

Well you've informed me the first was off, so i'll accept that,

I got a good view of the 2nd, and he was off,

so we don't need to discuss it anyways.

coco06

i think its going well so far for us, they started well and if they got one they may have been a handfull.

i think we will defo get one good chance in the second half and i think we will score it too. prob kuyt

doesnt help the league situation that boro have found their scoring touch again.. typical!

Guy:Incognito

spockety wrote: »

Lucas is warming up too, etc.

SHUT.THE.****.UP. He might be listening.

opr

The only explanation is remember when they tip off had to be retaken the Ref must have started his watch on the original one and forgot to reset it.

God awful game of football to watch.

Opr

LuckyLloyd

Tusky wrote: »

Riera has been awful and Benayoun almost as bad. Luckily, only Robben looks a threat for them...but what a threat he is. Hoping if Babel does come on for Torres he is played as a center forward rather than anywhere else. Kuyt as a center forward makes Tusky a sad panda.

Babel on the pitch makes Lloyd a very sad panda.

Hank Scorpio

does anyone else think giles should be in a old folks home.

spockety

Stekelly wrote: »

SHUT.THE.****.UP. He might be listening.

*holds hands up*

Just saying , just saying..

Don't be too shocked/surprised/angry if it's not Babel who comes on for Torres..!

Guy:Incognito

spockety wrote: »

*holds hands up*

Just saying , just saying..

Don't be too shocked/surprised/angry if it's not Babel who comes on for Torres..!

Wont affect me. You'll be held accountable though.:)

MementoMori

Real started well but Liverpool held there nerve and showed their experience and really quitened them down. I think Real figured they were the better team and there seemed to be an element of them thinking they onld had to turn up. Probably realise they are in a battle at this stage.

That shot by Alonso would have been immense if it had gone in.

Ref definitely not great - no injury time and a couple of decisions wnet the wrong way on both sides

Torres looking isolated upront. Be surprised if we see him in the second half. Got no real protection from the ref with Madrid getting away with some of

Defence has been very solid - Higaun and Raul getting very little room from Carra and Skrtel.

Masch providing great cover for the defence, covering back and winning tackles.

Riera and Alonso started poorly enough. Kuyt hasnt added much going forward although has done well defensively

Benni been lively and popped up in a fair bit

Aurelio and Robben having a good battle.

Says it all that Casillas has been one of Real Madrid's best performers

Probabably not one for the casuals viewer but intriguing stuff

Bubs101

any streams?

raven136

Id bring on gerrard for torres.Stick kuyt up top and Stevie behind him.

Lucas coming on would just push Kuyt up on his own.

Torres looks to be very uncomfortable and i think we could sneak a goal if we attack them a bit.

Happy enough tbh

Tusky

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Babel on the pitch makes Lloyd a very sad panda.

Who comes on for Torres then ? N'Gog ?

opr

Too much to hope we might just see a straight swap for SG.

Opr

Headshot

Bubs101 wrote: »

any streams?

http://www.iraqgoals.com/en/ch3.html

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/soccerhd09a

spockety

Stekelly wrote: »

Wont affect me. You'll be held accountable though.:)

Haha

In all seriousness, if you think about it for a second, I actually reckon if Rafa is thinking of a drop in replacement for Torres without shifting things around he probably pictures David N'Gog in his head.

redout

"With the Torres injury and the other stoppages, how was there no added on time in which to take that corner?! Scandalous officiating."

A disgruntled Pool supporter

Raskolnikov

raven136 wrote: »

Id bring on gerrard for torres.Stick kuyt up top and Stevie behind him.

Lucas coming on would just push Kuyt up on his own.

Torres looks to be very uncomfortable and i think we could sneak a goal if we attack them a bit.

Happy enough tbh

Sounds like the best thing to do. Stevie G playing in the hole and getting a 30 yard strike to score sounds about right.

whatawaster

did dunphy just call Guti a registered cheat?

Guy:Incognito

What the **** is stuck to Guti's top lip?

Thats an 80's dole que tash if I've ever seen one.

coco06

haha Guti 'A registered Cheat' according to eamo.

torress to continue.

mike65

Torres is back out, Marciello subbed for Guti.

Apparently Gerrards problem is not the hamstring its that he is just feeling a bit poorly.

darkskol

2nd half, Torres still. on

Raskolnikov

Guti on.

Huge game for him.

ShaneU

coco06 wrote: »

haha Guti 'A registered Cheat' according to eamo.

torress to continue.

you'd never hear someone say that on BBC

Guy:Incognito

whatawaster wrote: »

did dunphy just call Guti a registered cheat?

He sure did.

mike65

Cannavaro yellow.

~Rebel~

interesting, torres back on, id say some serious pain blocking injections at work...

whatawaster

Stekelly wrote: »

He sure did.

he looks like a registered something anyway

Headshot

****ing rubbish cross

Guy:Incognito

Amazing that Alonso can ping a 50 yard shot almost perfectly but fecks up a cross from a stationary position 20 yards from where he wants to drop it.

mike65

So near!

coco06

benni has about as much power in his legs as a 10 year old school girl..

LuckyLloyd

Nights like this typify the worst of Yossi. He's trying so hard, he pops up in the right places - but the final execution just isn't there. It's frustrating, but what can you say as a fan? It isn't for the want of trying.

Dave!

Nice run by Robben.... side netting though That wasn't even close

Guy:Incognito

coco06 wrote: »

benni has about as much power in his legs as a 10 year old school girl..

He's harder to catch though.

MementoMori

Anyone else think we should haul Riera off for Babel?

MementoMori

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

Nights like this typify the worst of Yossi. He's trying so hard, he pops up in the right places - but the final execution just isn't there. It's frustrating, but what can you say as a fan? It isn't for the want of trying.

Yup spot on

Guy:Incognito

Looks like thats Torres' lot.

MementoMori wrote: »

Anyone else think we should haul Riera off for Babel?

He'll be on for torres though. I'd say Rafa was just seeing if the 15 min rest did Torres any good.

MementoMori

Go on Masch

Guy:Incognito

It's amazing how Carras hand hitting Robbens thigh managed to sweep his legs aswell.:rolleyes:



The gap seemed to open up for Yossi there. Thought he might have went himself.

MementoMori

Stekelly wrote: »

He'll be on for torres though. I'd say Rafa was just seeing if the 15 min rest did Torres any good.

Id nearly go
Babel for Riera
Ngog for Torres
Gerrard for Kuyt

just to see what happens

MementoMori

Come on get Torres off - he cant move at all