Topic: Champions League, Europa League, Conference League SF 2nd leg 7th-9th May

[KC7]

Annoying that every time we play Madrid in recent memory, we’ve made them look like the best club side ever.

Granted this is a different version of them, but we really should have beaten them at least once with that side we had.

Karius in goal, plus a workmanlike midfield (Milner, Hendo and Gini). Really we did remarkably well to reach the final.

The Paris debacle, when it did finally start we had so many chances. The midfield was goosed though. Should have been Hendo's last game for us as his closing down numbers had been on the decline. Fabinho and Thiago both barely fit. The midfield rebuild should have started straight after that but it was completely neglected. It was a massive oversight. The next two exits were pretty terrible in losing comprehensively at home 5-2 to Madrid and 3-0 to Atalanta.

Realistically it was just the Paris game where we should have won.

[rushyman]

So, we're all supporting Dortmund in the final?

Oh yeah. For all the good it'll do

[stjohns]

So, we're all supporting Dortmund in the final?

Yep.

[Avens]

Karius in goal, plus a workmanlike midfield (Milner, Hendo and Gini). Really we did remarkably well to reach the final.

The Paris debacle, when it did finally start we had so many chances. The midfield was goosed though. Should have been Hendo's last game for us as his closing down numbers had been on the decline. Fabinho and Thiago both barely fit. The midfield rebuild should have started straight after that but it was completely neglected. It was a massive oversight. The next two exits were pretty terrible in losing comprehensively at home 5-2 to Madrid and 3-0 to Atalanta.

Realistically it was just the Paris game where we should have won.

Are you capable of making a single post that doesn't include the subtext "I want new owners"? 

Real Madrid have some kind of hoodoo on this competition. Even ignoring the first 5, or whatever it is that shouldn't actually count, they've won so many without even being that good. Anyway, let's go Dortmund. For the good of football.

[rushyman]

Really fucking hate Madrid btw

Something about the club make my flesh crawl.

[disgraced cake]

Unreal goalscorer but it's another one to the lengthy collection of Kane's big games where he has completely failed to show. I can't think of a single thing he's ever done when the chips are fully down, for any side in any tournament. There's the penalty in the Euros semi final but he almost ballsed that up too. He's got to be the worst big game player there ever was.

[Caligula?]

Dortmund can do it. Real aren't incredibly good. It won't be like the mismatch last season where City were clearly a much, much better side than Inter. And even then Inter shouldn't have lost and probably should have taken it to extra time.

If they can defend well like they did against PSG, they can nick one off a set piece or a penalty or something.

[disgraced cake]

Dortmund can do it. Real aren't incredibly good. It won't be like the mismatch last season where City were clearly a much, much better side than Inter. And even then Inter shouldn't have lost and probably should have taken it to extra time.

If they can defend well like they did against PSG, they can nick one off a set piece or a penalty or something.

I think given Madrid's obvious record in the competition and genuinely top side all jokes aside it does feel like the most mismatched final for a good number of years. You could point to us being similarly inexperienced in comparison in 2018 but we were a genuine force in attack. It's obviously some achievement from Dortmund to go this far but there's no area of the pitch where I think they have a player who's among the elite few in their respective positions. They'll need to ride their luck similar to how they did against PSG but they're playing the kings of riding their luck in the tournament.

Madrid, honestly, they'll probably bring Satan himself of the bench in the final if needed.

[Sammy5IsAlive]

Unreal goalscorer but it's another one to the lengthy collection of Kane's big games where he has completely failed to show. I can't think of a single thing he's ever done when the chips are fully down, for any side in any tournament. There's the penalty in the Euros semi final but he almost ballsed that up too. He's got to be the worst big game player there ever was.

to be honest I think his ankle issues mean that by the time he gets to the business end of the domestic season/international summer tournaments he is always half fit.

I think a similar thing happened to Rooney's career after that Bayern tie when he was rushed back.

[LFCEmpire]

Insert Mbappe into that madrid team… they are not fucking off in the forseeable.

[kesey]

Karius in goal, plus a workmanlike midfield (Milner, Hendo and Gini). Really we did remarkably well to reach the final.

The Paris debacle, when it did finally start we had so many chances. The midfield was goosed though. Should have been Hendo's last game for us as his closing down numbers had been on the decline. Fabinho and Thiago both barely fit. The midfield rebuild should have started straight after that but it was completely neglected. It was a massive oversight. The next two exits were pretty terrible in losing comprehensively at home 5-2 to Madrid and 3-0 to Atalanta.

Realistically it was just the Paris game where we should have won.

We had them rattled and should've won the Kyiv one .

[Bobinhood]

Karius in goal, plus a workmanlike midfield (Milner, Hendo and Gini). Really we did remarkably well to reach the final.

I remember prime Ageless Milner springing a beautiful trap on Messi and smashing him HARD. the unsmashable Messi. Smashed. Milner Hendo and Gini were all artists in their own way and they all had great engines also and near absolute total veteran understanding of wtf is going on right now, what's my best move. I dont hold the lack of pirlo comparisons against them.

[davidlpool1982]

Unreal goalscorer but it's another one to the lengthy collection of Kane's big games where he has completely failed to show. I can't think of a single thing he's ever done when the chips are fully down, for any side in any tournament. There's the penalty in the Euros semi final but he almost ballsed that up too. He's got to be the worst big game player there ever was.

He assisted the goal didn't he?  Not saying he played brilliantly but it was a good ball to Davies to set him on his way. Scored a good pen in the first game too.

[Tokyoite]

Dortmund can do it. Real aren't incredibly good. It won't be like the mismatch last season where City were clearly a much, much better side than Inter. And even then Inter shouldn't have lost and probably should have taken it to extra time.

If they can defend well like they did against PSG, they can nick one off a set piece or a penalty or something.

Not a chance imo. Madrid just don't lose CL finals, as we know very well.

Bayern - Dortmund would have been the more interesting game imo as Dortmund could have beat them. Doubt we see a very even game now to be honest.

[jillcwhomever]

So, we're all supporting Dortmund in the final?

Definitely.

[child-in-time]

Real just never give up. They wanted it more and as usual they got there in the end. Fairplay to Ancelotti for sticking to his formation and ideas, it paid off again. Tuchel being smart didn't obviously.

[Hazell]

'I feel so sorry for him' - No Kane, no gain for Bayern

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czvj5nddyj0o

Hate Real Madrid, but based on the pathetic piece above, kind of happy it won't be all about Kane in the final (thought it will be all about Bellingham).

[JRed]

Unreal goalscorer but it's another one to the lengthy collection of Kane's big games where he has completely failed to show. I can't think of a single thing he's ever done when the chips are fully down, for any side in any tournament. There's the penalty in the Euros semi final but he almost ballsed that up too. He's got to be the worst big game player there ever was.

He’s only 20! Cut him some slack!

[spider-neil]

I don't know who I hate more out of Real and City. Real funded by the city and City funded by the Saudis.

[Knight]

Are you capable of making a single post that doesn't include the subtext "I want new owners"? 

Real Madrid have some kind of hoodoo on this competition. Even ignoring the first 5, or whatever it is that shouldn't actually count, they've won so many without even being that good. Anyway, let's go Dortmund. For the good of football.

Does he? He might just want the owners to more consistently do what made us brilliant in the first place -ie bringing people (players and staff) into the club, recruiting absolutely brilliantly. Now that Klopp is going and it turns out we’ve wasted the last opportunity for 2 more seasons of top end success (top end because obviously we have won something in the last 2 years) with him by failing to buy any CMs and then forcing an entirely self inflicted midfield rebuild and transition year as a result it seems fair enough to lament some of that.

[LovelyCushionedHeader]

Does he? He might just want the owners to more consistently do what made us brilliant in the first place -ie bringing people (players and staff) into the club, recruiting absolutely brilliantly. Now that Klopp is going and it turns out we’ve wasted the last opportunity for 2 more seasons of top end success (top end because obviously we have won something in the last 2 years) with him by failing to buy any CMs and then forcing an entirely self inflicted midfield rebuild and transition year as a result it seems fair enough to lament some of that.

It's so fucking easy to say in hindsight that we should have replaced the midfield after 21/22, but no one was calling for a mass overhaul at the time. And I'm sure that very much includes Klopp himself given that he went out of his way to get Henderson a new contract.

In an ideal world, Klopp would have signed Tchouameni that summer and that would have been that. Do you think that alone would have won us anything more than we have over the last two seasons? The answer is no.

[Fromola]

There's something odd going on with Madrid and this tournament

Some of their wins they weren't even 4th best team in the comp

This would be their 6th win in 10 years. I can barely remember them even playing well in that time, let alone being the best team. I'd say the year they beat Juve in the final was probably the one time they were the best team in it, but that was when the PL teams were in a rut (Leicester reigning champions) and Barca were starting to slide.

Mad how clustered their European Cup wins are. 6 out the first 10, 3 in 6 years around the turn of the century and 5 or 6 in the last 10 years.

[thejbs]

Didn’t want Madrid to win, but it’s kinda funny how Harry Kane moved to Bayern for trophies and they totally spursed it.

[Avens]

Does he? He might just want the owners to more consistently do what made us brilliant in the first place -ie bringing people (players and staff) into the club, recruiting absolutely brilliantly. Now that Klopp is going and it turns out we’ve wasted the last opportunity for 2 more seasons of top end success (top end because obviously we have won something in the last 2 years) with him by failing to buy any CMs and then forcing an entirely self inflicted midfield rebuild and transition year as a result it seems fair enough to lament some of that.

A fair point to debate in the appropriate locations, (I don't fully agree with it) I just don't see why KC7 needs to make the point in every single thread they visit.

[Fromola]

Karius in goal, plus a workmanlike midfield (Milner, Hendo and Gini). Really we did remarkably well to reach the final.

The Paris debacle, when it did finally start we had so many chances. The midfield was goosed though. Should have been Hendo's last game for us as his closing down numbers had been on the decline. Fabinho and Thiago both barely fit. The midfield rebuild should have started straight after that but it was completely neglected. It was a massive oversight. The next two exits were pretty terrible in losing comprehensively at home 5-2 to Madrid and 3-0 to Atalanta.

Realistically it was just the Paris game where we should have won.

We always got Madrid at the worst time. Last season we were shite and had no midfield - hardly a wonder they were able to dominate and we blew ourselves out after 20 minutes (where we were all over them and went 2-0 up). 20/21 we faced them with Kabak and Phillips at centre back and the midfield a mess as Fabinho and Henderson were both injured. Kiev final was a year too early as well. Inadequate goalkeeper and a midfield that was no match for Casemiro/Kroos/Modric at their peak which was a good blend of a midfield. We were great going forward at the time though but they crocked Salah early which stymied us further.

[TheFinalBoss]

Lol, Madrid are the ultimate villain never get there comeuppance, Mbappe with the likes of Rodrygo and Vinicius next season will be disgusting.

[Kalito]

So, we're all supporting Dortmund in the final?

Absolutely. 

[Boston Bosox]

So, we're all supporting Dortmund in the final?

Yep

[Bennett]

History will say 6 finals in 11 years. Likely 6 wins. But anyone who has watched it unfold is wondering what the fuck is going on? Honestly some hoodoo magic going down. That offside call is absolutely mental as well.

[Bennett]

In the final, if Dortmund can stop Vinicius they stand a good chance. They did a good job of nullifying Mbappe so who knows. I would say Vinicius is another level to Mbappe to be honest though. That run and stop he forced from Neuer was elite level stuff. He has a multiple Balon D'Or career ahead of him.

[Walshy nMe®]

Didn’t want Madrid to win, but it’s kinda funny how Harry Kane moved to Bayern for trophies and they totally spursed it.

Moved to Germany for an easy trophy and now a German side in the Champs League final and a German side in the hunt for an invincible treble.

[The North Bank]

In the final, if Dortmund can stop Vinicius they stand a good chance. They did a good job of nullifying Mbappe so who knows. I would say Vinicius is another level to Mbappe to be honest though. That run and stop he forced from Neuer was elite level stuff. He has a multiple Balon D'Or career ahead of him.

Real know exactly when to give Vinicius the ball, PSG midfield failed miserably in picking out Mbappe. Real will win the final comfortably.

[markmywords]

It's so fucking easy to say in hindsight that we should have replaced the midfield after 21/22, but no one was calling for a mass overhaul at the time. And I'm sure that very much includes Klopp himself given that he went out of his way to get Henderson a new contract.

In an ideal world, Klopp would have signed Tchouameni that summer and that would have been that. Do you think that alone would have won us anything more than we have over the last two seasons? The answer is no.

Tchouameni in this Liverpool team, would work wonders, there is no telling how many more trophies we would have with a world class DM.

[Caligula?]

That offside decision by the linesman/referee looks worse and worse every time you look at it. A truly shocking piece of refereeing. I'd be absolutely livid if it happened to us.

[Andy @ Allerton!]

says Andy, on a football forum 

Well I'm still arsed about Liverpool FC - which I don't count as football as it's my club..

[A Red Abroad]

Lol, Madrid are the ultimate villain never get there comeuppance, Mbappe with the likes of Rodrygo and Vinicius next season will be disgusting.

Indeed.

They've walked La Liga this season too.

[Knight]

It's so fucking easy to say in hindsight that we should have replaced the midfield after 21/22, but no one was calling for a mass overhaul at the time. And I'm sure that very much includes Klopp himself given that he went out of his way to get Henderson a new contract.

In an ideal world, Klopp would have signed Tchouameni that summer and that would have been that. Do you think that alone would have won us anything more than we have over the last two seasons? The answer is no.

No one is claiming we should have replaced the midfield after 21/22, the original post said the midfield rebuild should have started after 21/22. And yes, there were loads of people saying that. And yes, genuinely, Tchouameni at 6 in 22/23 would have made a colossal difference. We'd still have had Henderson in the team too often but it would have been night and day to have athleticism in the team at 6 that season. Remember, we've not actually changed the forward line or the defence this season and yet, for large portions of it, looked like a totally different team thanks to some extra midfielders, which shows the impact that a signing can have. Give us the elite athleticism and ball playing of a Tchouaemeni in 21/22 and who knows what would have happened. And of course this season put Tchouameni in this team alongside Mac and Szoboslai/Jones/Elliot/Grav and yes, we may well win the league.

For whatever reason there was an obsession, on here as much as with the club, with 'the right player'. It was the narrative in 20/21 with CBs and again in 21/22 with CMs. It ended up burning us badly with Bellingham last summer. For whatever reason we became so focussed on that that we left Klopp without the tools he needed on at least two occasions. The second time we were a genuinely mid table team in terms of results and performances for a significant part of the season until we pulled ourselves together for the last couple of months. How could a mid 80s team this season have been so bad last season? Because we fell asleep on the job and neglected the engine room for years.

[Mister Flip Flop]

History will say 6 finals in 11 years. Likely 6 wins. But anyone who has watched it unfold is wondering what the fuck is going on? Honestly some hoodoo magic going down. That offside call is absolutely mental as well.

Absolutely reeks that call. The linesman completely ignores the proper procedure.

[Andy82lfc]

That offside decision by the linesman/referee looks worse and worse every time you look at it. A truly shocking piece of refereeing. I'd be absolutely livid if it happened to us.

If it happened to us people would be screaming corruption, and you couldn't really blame them for it.

Problem with shit decisions and corruption is they are impossible to tell apart, this is why so much of it has happened in the game. Except for in England of course, those type of things don't go on here.

[Buster Gonad]

'I feel so sorry for him' - No Kane, no gain for Bayern

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/czvj5nddyj0o

Hate Real Madrid, but based on the pathetic piece above, kind of happy it won't be all about Kane in the final (thought it will be all about Bellingham).

Yea read that earlier and nearly spewed.  Taking off an injured striker caused Neuer to spill the ball and a lino to make a bad call. The absence of any logic is mental.