On the Ball (new Football Focus)

[Mick Mac]

Just using the old FA Cup exit cliche (usually reserved for stronger teams I guess)

[????]

MP - I can still see Neil Orr slipping on that buggered up pitch when we were coasting at 1-0 against Chelsea to let them into score....now 3 points that night and it would have gone to the wire when I think we'd have beaten Everton on the last game of the season, as they'd have been out of it then...also we were just so knackered on the run in with the backlog

[mockney piers]

Ha ha, yes indeed.

I suppose we could just about get away with claiming an outside shot at a European spot.

Mind you we could just as easily say that we're concentrating on avoiding the drop.

It's been one of those seasons hasn't it!!

[mockney piers]

It still hurts doesn't it quids.

I dunno these supporters with their interminable comparative European title shot statistics, they don't know just how much a little success really means.

Spoilt they are, spoilt.

I wept at the end of the FA Cup defeat I did the stupid thing of actually daring to hope.

[????]

IMP sat numbed and then had scousers buying me drinks in a well meaning but slightly patronising manner all night in Cardiff...I still drank them! I presume you are older enough to remember 1980 but there are plenty of quite old fans who've never seen us win a thing....still that's the norm a lot of supporters..

[mockney piers]

Yep, just.

I celebrated the youth cup win like it was the real one, it was also my first exposure to a certain Joe Cole, so great night all round (6-0 on the night, 9-0 on aggregate didn't hurt either).

But you're right, we normal many simply roll our eyes to the so called big four less few than they should be, bleating on about what a terrible season they're having; plus I was very jealous of Ratty the other year!!

[Keef]

It's all relative though isn't it. 5 years ago Chelsea were a team that might win a cup, there was no big 4. Then they got rich, won a title, and suddenly fans had new expectations. Plus they suddenly got a lot of new fans who claimed to have supported for years, but that's another matter :-)

[Atila Reincarnate]

Keef Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> It's all relative though isn't it. 5 years ago

> Chelsea were a team that might win a cup, there

> was no big 4. Then they got rich, won a title, and

> suddenly fans had new expectations. Plus they

> suddenly got a lot of new fans who claimed to have

> supported for years, but that's another matter :-)

Glory hunters I think they are called Keef and I hate those types with all of my being!!!

[red devil]

Here you go Atila, an homage to Super Nick Bendtner

[Atila Reincarnate]

Good stuff & very funny, a bit like the stuff the guys who put the Arsenal fanzines do with players from other clubs. It's what makes following football so great.

[matthew123]

Well no one else is going to say it (I wonder why ;-), so I will, well done to Liverpool for beating Real Madrid last night at the Bernabau. Liverpool limited Real to scraps, and bossed the game, and can now look forward to the 2nd leg a bit more than the other Premiership teams.

The team most likely to struggle from the PL quartet is United.

[Sharon_H]

Aye, well done to Liverpool, very happy!

[red devil]

Did something happen last night?...

[Annasfield]

Pft.... You'd have all been on here laughing if we'd lost. ;-)

What an amazing night - the Bernabeu is a fantastic stadium.

YOSSI, YOSSI YOSSI, YOSSI YOSSI..... :)-D

[Sharon_H]

Lucky you Anna, the Kop on Sunday wasn't quite as good. Ah well.

[Annasfield]

Yeah it was shocking last week wasn't it? No one was up for it. Such a shame.

[red devil]

While you were sunning yourselves we all thought Rafa was quitting, a couple of bookies suspended bets on him leaving etc...

I'm (secretly) hoping all 4 sides go through to the semis, that would be press overhype central, and of course I'd laugh when you got knocked out then...;-)

[Sandperson]

matthew123 Wrote:

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> The team most likely to struggle from the PL

> quartet is United.

You think that? What a suprise. I'm sure you're right, we are shit after all, we couldn't boss a game like Liverpool.

[Mick Mac]

United will do a league and champions league double. I don't believe they will struggle in the second leg, I think they gave Inter a lesson in the first half in Italy that they will not have properly recovered from, to be treated like that at home is humiliating, and they will get a full 90 mins of that in Manchester. I don't think Sir Alex will allow Jose to do a "Porto" on him again. MU are in my opinion the best team in europe this year, they just have to prove it by winning the trophy.

[Keef]

I'm with Red devil, I want all 4 clubs in the semis. I'd love a Liverpool Vs United match up over 2 legs, I think it was an old wrestler or something who said "to be the best, you've got to beat the best". Very true in my book, and United are the best, simple as that.

[Sandperson]

Rick Parry is on his way and all is well at Liverpool. Rafa should sign his new deal and they'll win the league in 2010! ;-)

[matthew123]

Sandperson Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> matthew123 Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

>

> > The team most likely to struggle from the PL

> > quartet is United.

>

> You think that? What a suprise. I'm sure you're

> right, we are shit after all, we couldn't boss a

> game like Liverpool.

United are the top team in Europe - but it is arrogant to think you will steamroller anyone in your path; Inter Milan are a good team, very dangerous. They will pose a significant challenge in the 2nd leg, more so than any of the other teams playing PL sides so I will stand by my sober judgement.

[Sandperson]

I didn't say we'd steamroller anyone. In fact if you go back over the thread I said I thought we'd go out on an away goal. I also think that Real have a lot to play for and they are going to give you a game at Anfield. I would say that Chelsea and Arsenal - especially Arsenal - are in pole position. I think that Arsenal have the benefit of the weakest opposition (no offence to Arsenal) and I think that their progress might just kick start a bit of a resurrgence, in fact I wouldn't bet against them making the final...you heard it here first.

[matthew123]

LIVERPOOL are officially the top ranked club in Europe

UEFA's latest rankings (over last 5 years):

1 Liverpool FC (114.077)

2 Chelsea FC (110.077)

3 Barcelona (109.403)

4 AC Milan (109.306)

5 Arsenal (101.077)

6 Sevilla (100.403)

7 Man Utd (99.077)

8 Bayern Munich (93.664)

9 Lyon (90.576)

10 Inter Milan (87.306)

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-fc/liverpool-fc-news/2009/02/27/liverpool-are-officially-the-top-ranked-club-in-europe-100252-23026354/

[Sandperson]

There's a phrase, it's on the tip of my tongue, "there are lies, damn lies and statistics".