Football Focus

[Keef]

We rode our luck, and maybe got lucky with the penalty shout, but we played well, and I'm happy with that. It's half time, and I expect next week to be very tight, but for now I'm happy.

[Annasfield]

I thought the ref did a great job and let the game flow. He let a lot of decisions ride and we could have had a pen shout. You win some you lose some.

[SimonM]

At least the return game is now a straightforward matter. Arsenal "simply" have to go out to win :)). Had they won the home leg 2-1 (which would probably have been a "fairer" outcome) then there'd have been all manner of complicated permutations to consider next week. Liverpool must be pretty pleased but the tie is clearly still very much a live one! :))

[SimonM]

Oh and well done Fenerbahce! Turkey's answer to Barnsley!!

[atila the gooner]

Torres? Torres who? Was he playing last night? Oh yes, thats was the blond bloke chucking himslef about a lot to try and con the ref. Cheating b**tard. Liverpool are a one man, one dimensional team and that was clear for all to see last night, ref had a mare, stonewall pen. Pool out singing our fans? I was there and that is nowhere near accurate. A few arguments/fights broke out in and around Holloway Road. My son has a row with four scousers who pushed into his back on purpose to force their way through the crowd and laughed at him when he complained, they didn't laugh when he squared up to them backed up by a mate of mine. Scousers celebrating like they'd won the world cup. Just shows you they know how unbelievably lucky they were. Can't wait to go to their place!!!!

[Keef]

So, not too pleased about the result then? Lets be clear, it should have been a penalty, fair enough, but dens the brakes, every team except Man U have missed out on good shouts. I think it's unfair to call Torres a cheat, he's a real hard worker who picks himself up and dusts himself down.

[atila the gooner]

Torres is a cheat, on last nights performance there is no other word for him. He was anonymous apart form throwing himself on the ground trying to con the ref, that's called cheating in my book.

[Annasfield]

Actually Atila, I'll think you'll find that Mr Torres was a rather fetching shade of ginger last night. I imagine that the highlights had gone a bit wrong. Maybe your eyes were deceiving you? ;-)

Cheat is not a word I would put in the same sentance as Nando. But hey like you - I'm biased.:)

[Sandperson]

Annasfield Wrote:

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> I reckon we'll be discussing Senor Torres quite a

> bit in the coming years, although I reckon we

> won't be knocking him for diving. What an amazing

> start to his first Premiership season. He's been

> hacked to bits, but just gets up and keeps on

> running.

I was keeping my I on the Senor last night and I have to say, I thought he was diving as much as any other Premiership forward. Not so squeaky clean after all.

[mockney piers]

How odd, I thought I watched a largely good tempered game last night with no more gamesmanship than you'd normally expect to see (ie too much, but that's the sad spectacle that is top level footie these days; give me a comedy Hamlets game and cheap beer any day of the week).

Torres was largely marked out the game, which of course opened up space a few times for the kuyt and gerrard to exploit.

It was an interesting game without being particularly exciting for a neutral. In fact I think I may have done a sudoku in the last 15 minutes.

As for diving, had Hleb not gone down like heifer in a slaughterhouse he might have actually been awarded the penalty. Ref had a very very good view of the incident!

Most encouraging thing for me was Walcott, he may yet become the player we hoped he might!

It must be tiring being quite so angry the whole time ;-)

[Sandperson]

I wasn't saying I thought it was a dirty game or any more diving than usual just that Torres isn't averse to a dive. As far as the Hleb incident was a stonewall penalty.

And as for the Hamlet, love it, Guiness, happy hour and a great view of the pitch from the bar.

[mockney piers]

*ahem* that was more aimed at Atila, I was rather surprised by the levels of indignation and invective for ultimately a comparatively tame and incident free game.

I guess when the stakes are high...

And yes, as I said last night it was a definite penalty, but the replay shows just how easily he went down and the ref must have had his reasons as there was no clearer viewpoint than his.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Ref had a good game until the penalty decision I thought - let a few things go after that almost as a guilt thing.

But Atila - it is only a game.. relax! You'll give yourself a heart attack

[atila the gooner]

Hleb was hauled to the ground, what was he supposed to do? Go down in a specific way to gain approval of the ref? Ref had a good view of the incident you say, so why didn't he give it then? Give me f**king strength. I can see now why Liverpool are miles off the top 3 in the league!

[Keef]

Edit for duplication

[mockney piers]

"Ref had a good view of the incident you say, so why didn't he give it then?"

Strangely you've answered your own question.

It's a subjective thing, but i watched the replay several times and I guarantee you that had I been in a normal environment and Kuyt had done the same thing to me I wouldn't lying prone, I'd be looking at him not a little nonplussed....on two feet.

Quite Keef quite. cool/book T9 syndrome?

[Keef]

Agree about Walcott, he was running Liverpool ragged, and caused my heart the most problems. Also agree that it was a clear penalty, but as Piers says, had he not made quite so much of it, the ref may well have given it. As for Torres Atila, if he's a cheat in your book then fine, but pot and kettle mate, every team, yours included has players who will take a tumble. Lets look on the bright side, we're set up for a good match next week with both teams still very much in it!

[atila the gooner]

Bollocks!! It was a stonewall penalty. Taking a tumble and turning into a stuntman are two different things. Torres was embarrasing last night. Twenty odd million quid?? You're 'avin' a laugh.

[Ladygooner]

So, which pub are the gooners and scousers going to meet in next tuesday to watch the final leg?

[Keef]

Oh and as for Liverpool and the top 3 (I can't believe I'm rising to this playground nonsense), we're actually not too far off you now if you look at the table. Oh, and you were 4th last year, so what are you on about? It is a bloody game man, we all like it, and we all support our teams, but come on!

[atila the gooner]

At the moment I have no wish to be within 50 miles of anyone from or associated with Liverpool.

[mockney piers]

That's a bit unfair on the lovely Colwyn Bay or the beautiful Roman walls of Chester isn't it?

[Annasfield]

Blimey, perhaps we ought to stop calling Everton "the bitters".....

[atila the gooner]

Keef Wrote:

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> Oh and as for Liverpool and the top 3 (I can't

> believe I'm rising to this playground nonsense),

> we're actually not too far off you now if you look

> at the table. Oh, and you were 4th last year, so

> what are you on about? It is a bloody game man, we

> all like it, and we all support our teams, but

> come on!

Not too far off us? In terms of style and content you are lights years behind us and we have spent a fraction of the money Liverpool have.

[Keef]

Well if Torres is a crap waste of money, then I'm glad Liverpool wasted it. I can't get my head around how someone can make a game of football in to such a personal thing. If it's on ITV next week I might actually watch it at home, my nerves were shot in the pub last night.