Not that I'm bitter...

[thfcsteff]

Sure, I just don't subscribe to it when we had the whole game to change it. And I don't buy that it enabled Liverpool to just conserve energy in the heat, the stats show they covered more distance than us.

There has been plenty of examples of teams who have had a shocking decision made against them and comeback to win. It was a poor game all round from both teams, but the onus was on us to come back into it and we didn't do enough.

Regardless, as always respect your opinion .....

Nah.
Robbery.
A disgrace.
Maybe the greatest disgrace in modern football history.
IDGA monkeys about others; we wuz robbed!!!!! Badly!!!!! And I am still (occasionally) angry!!!!!

(Seriously for a moment - seeing as we've gone there - they covered 1.7 kilometers more than us - not a huge difference. The stats to pay attention to IMO are possession - 61%, passes completed -428 to 189, passes attempted - 528 to 280, and saves -we made 1 to their 8...believe me, gamestate was everything thanks to that decision)...

Still, all good mate, I have finally realised that...it was all ANGE'S FAULT!!!!!

 

[spurspinter1]

Nah. It really isn't. I mean, if you want it can be. But 'different levels of teams'? Nope.

Not sure if you were there, but the temperature was insane and had a profound effect on the game state alongside the shocking decision.

That you did, amigo! You must surely have recognized that rationality was not the main purpose of the post!
Tell you what...I blame ANGE!!!!!!!

History will tell you that the Liverpool team we played was special at the top level of the game. Our team was special by our standards but

I wasn't there, but I can say with near enough absolute certainty that both teams played in the same climate.

I wouldn't blame Ange, he won us a trophy unlike many other managers that have tried their best but didn't have what it takes.

 

[Bishop]

Deart GHod man, let the last bit go and just join us in bitterland will you?????!!!!!!

I'm actually bitter about the pen, but I'm also really annoyed by our lack of performance and i largely blame that on Poch starting the clearly unfit Kane.

Yeah I'm bitter but I do think 88 minutes is enough minutes to do something about it.

 

[stratnumberone]

I’m with Steff here. Goals change games. And this one came incredibly early in the biggest game of all.

We DID also have 88 mins to score and we didn’t and we also didn’t play very well.

BUT that Liverpool side had the tightest defence that season and was exceptionally well drilled. After the ref lobbed one into the back of our net for them, they didn’t need to do anything except sit back and be tight. Which they did, and they did very well.

For the record, I also think that the Lampard ghost goal cost England. Going in at 2-2 having been dead and buried would’ve lead to a very different second half in my view. As it was, England conceded two more goals through pushing up chasing an equaliser.

 

[JerusalemMan]

Speaking of bitterness over goals, anyone remember an FA cup semifinal against Chelsea under Redknapp when we got done 5-1? Around 2011, 2012. Their second goal was an absolute travesty. Ball was in a huddle of players near our line and the ref simply guessed that it had crossed, replays showed there wasn't a chance. We made it 2-1 but they got 3 goals in the last 15 minutes.
I sometimes do wonder how that match would have played out if it had got to a stage where we levelled the scores up rather than always playing catch-up.

 

[Penwith Pete]

Speaking of bitterness over goals, anyone remember an FA cup semifinal against Chelsea under Redknapp when we got done 5-1? Around 2011, 2012. Their second goal was an absolute travesty. Ball was in a huddle of players near our line and the ref simply guessed that it had crossed, replays showed there wasn't a chance. We made it 2-1 but they got 3 goals in the last 15 minutes.
I sometimes do wonder how that match would have played out if it had got to a stage where we levelled the scores up rather than always playing catch-up.

Schoolboy error by Bale in that game when Cech took Adebayor out but Bale played on to score rather than taking the penalty and putting them down to ten men.

 

[thfcsteff]

History will tell you that the Liverpool team we played was special at the top level of the game. Our team was special by our standards but

I wasn't there, but I can say with near enough absolute certainty that both teams played in the same climate.

I wouldn't blame Ange, he won us a trophy unlike many other managers that have tried their best but didn't have what it takes.

You do know that the entire point of this post was to air a grudge/long-standing grievance without a micro-analysis of the game itself?

 

[Gazza]

Speaking of bitterness over goals, anyone remember an FA cup semifinal against Chelsea under Redknapp when we got done 5-1? Around 2011, 2012. Their second goal was an absolute travesty. Ball was in a huddle of players near our line and the ref simply guessed that it had crossed, replays showed there wasn't a chance. We made it 2-1 but they got 3 goals in the last 15 minutes.
I sometimes do wonder how that match would have played out if it had got to a stage where we levelled the scores up rather than always playing catch-up.

What about pedro Mendes goal at OT … don’t even

 

[spurspinter1]

You do know that the entire point of this post was to air a grudge/long-standing grievance without a micro-analysis of the game itself?

I apologise for having an offscript reaction, maybe pr0vide guidelines as to how you'd like people to respond next time, it's your party and you'll cry if you'll want to!

Still doesn't mean we weren't brick compared to our opposition, whether you want to go full on North Korea or not about it

 

[thfcsteff]

I apologise for having an offscript reaction, maybe pr0vide guidelines as to how you'd like people to respond next time, it's your party and you'll cry if you'll want to!

Still doesn't mean we weren't brick compared to our opposition, whether you want to go full on North Korea or not about it

WRONG!!!!! We were like peak Barca that night and had it not been for the absolutely disgusting, despicable THIEVERY which was obviously part of the continual decades-long conspiracy against this club, we'd have tiki-taka'd the scouse bahstahds to a sweaty death and won at least 3-0.

 

[johnola]

the worst decision in that game was to play Harry Kane.

Also it was 2-0 and we were rotten.

 

[Muttley]

the worst decision in that game was to play Harry Kane.

Also it was 2-0 and we were rotten.

I'm at peace with that campaign. We scraped through into the knockouts because Barca fielded a much weakened side. We were the lesser side versus both City and Ajax but somehow won. Then we get to the final and had not done the right prep for the heat and humidity, which could have meant starting Kane but holding Sonny back to give Moura his start (my choice). It could have been starting Kane and Sonny and putting Moura back on the bench or we could have played all three. Personally, I don't think there's any right or wrong in these choices, unless of course Harry was not being honest about his real fitness. I often wondered whether his heart wanted to play so much in that final that he said all the right things to convince the coaches he was sort of ready. In the back of his mind he absolutely wasn't as proven out on the day. Would it have been any different with Son, Llorente and Moura sharing duties?

As you say, we were pretty poor in that final and we never got to see what may have happened if Pool had gone a goal down or it had stayed at 0-0. We have no right to claim that we was robbed, at least in my mind. Liverpool deserved it based on the journey they had taken as a club in the preceding years. They built things well and then went on to win the league the following season. Hendo was captain fantastic.

 

[Bishop]

I'm at peace with that campaign. We scraped through into the knockouts because Barca fielded a much weakened side. We were the lesser side versus both City and Ajax but somehow won. Then we get to the final and had not done the right prep for the heat and humidity, which could have meant starting Kane but holding Sonny back to give Moura his start (my choice). It could have been starting Kane and Sonny and putting Moura back on the bench or we could have played all three. Personally, I don't think there's any right or wrong in these choices, unless of course Harry was not being honest about his real fitness. I often wondered whether his heart wanted to play so much in that final that he said all the right things to convince the coaches he was sort of ready. In the back of his mind he absolutely wasn't as proven out on the day. Would it have been any different with Son, Llorente and Moura sharing duties?

As you say, we were pretty poor in that final and we never got to see what may have happened if Pool had gone a goal down or it had stayed at 0-0. We have no right to claim that we was robbed, at least in my mind. Liverpool deserved it based on the journey they had taken as a club in the preceding years. They built things well and then went on to win the league the following season. Hendo was captain fantastic.

I think Liverpool would have likely beaten us anywhere. Like you note our route to the final was against all odds and our actual form leading up to the final itself was pretty awful, losing 5 of the previous 10 games whereas Liverpool were in very good form.

With regards to Kane he definitely lied, he hadn't played for a single minute for almost 2 months and would have had 0 actual match fitness (as we all saw). I do appreciate that was likely going to be his only chance at a CL final with Spurs but he's not first nor will he be the last legendary player who has been forced to miss a seminal game through injury, it happens and that is where you need your manager to be strong and make the decision that suits the club best and not an individual player. I would have had no issue if Kane had been included as a sub and brought on as a desperation action but alas that was not the case.

For me it was never a game I thought we would win but the Kane decision, along with the flimflam pen and then our abject performance just confirmed that it was never happening.

 

[thfcsteff]

I'm at peace with that campaign. We scraped through into the knockouts because Barca fielded a much weakened side. We were the lesser side versus both City and Ajax but somehow won. Then we get to the final and had not done the right prep for the heat and humidity, which could have meant starting Kane but holding Sonny back to give Moura his start (my choice). It could have been starting Kane and Sonny and putting Moura back on the bench or we could have played all three. Personally, I don't think there's any right or wrong in these choices, unless of course Harry was not being honest about his real fitness. I often wondered whether his heart wanted to play so much in that final that he said all the right things to convince the coaches he was sort of ready. In the back of his mind he absolutely wasn't as proven out on the day. Would it have been any different with Son, Llorente and Moura sharing duties?

As you say, we were pretty poor in that final and we never got to see what may have happened if Pool had gone a goal down or it had stayed at 0-0. We have no right to claim that we was robbed, at least in my mind. Liverpool deserved it based on the journey they had taken as a club in the preceding years. They built things well and then went on to win the league the following season. Hendo was captain fantastic.

Yeah yeah, we were saying that to scousers later that night (who were -as I have always found them TBH, very decent)...I will never ever back down on that disgraceful penalty call. Never. I am a rational person, but it is absolutely my right to be irrational about that night and long may it continue.
And BTW, what about our journey over the preceding years? Extraordinary and worthy of reward!

 

[thfcsteff]

I think Liverpool would have likely beaten us anywhere. Like you note our route to the final was against all odds and our actual form leading up to the final itself was pretty awful, losing 5 of the previous 10 games whereas Liverpool were in very good form.

With regards to Kane he definitely lied, he hadn't played for a single minute for almost 2 months and would have had 0 actual match fitness (as we all saw). I do appreciate that was likely going to be his only chance at a CL final with Spurs but he's not first nor will he be the last legendary player who has been forced to miss a seminal game through injury, it happens and that is where you need your manager to be strong and make the decision that suits the club best and not an individual player. I would have had no issue if Kane had been included as a sub and brought on as a desperation action but alas that was not the case.

For me it was never a game I thought we would win but the Kane decision, along with the flimflam pen and then our abject performance just confirmed that it was never happening.

What did he specifically say?

 

[Bishop]

What did he specifically say?

I was being hyperbolic, I don't know what he actually said but I'd say he lied about being fit and ready for the final. You could argue that maybe it was actually Poch that forced him to play despite not being fit so maybe it wasn't on Kane, but I believe it was Kane claiming to be ready.

 

[thfcsteff]

I was being hyperbolic, I don't know what he actually said but I'd say he lied about being fit and ready for the final. You could argue that maybe it was actually Poch that forced him to play despite not being fit so maybe it wasn't on Kane, but I believe it was Kane claiming to be ready.

I see...a lot of stretching going on here mate...

 

[Bishop]

I see...a lot of stretching going on here mate...

Absolutely, but Kane either claimed he was fit and ready (and clearly wasn't) or Poch played him despite him not being fit and capable of playing. I'm not fussed at this point what the cause was, the end result was what we all saw, a ghost of Harry Kane.

 

[Muttley]

Yeah yeah, we were saying that to scousers later that night (who were -as I have always found them TBH, very decent)...I will never ever back down on that disgraceful penalty call. Never. I am a rational person, but it is absolutely my right to be irrational about that night and long may it continue.
And BTW, what about our journey over the preceding years? Extraordinary and worthy of reward!

I think Poch deserved a trophy, but not the biggest prize in domestic football. He should still be swinging for Anthony Taylor who never dealt with Valencia's thuggery in the Utd semi-final. We probably would have won the cup and definitely been in the final but for that prick.

Why did Pool deserve it? Because they made the right choices. They didn't buy 5-7 players every year. We bought Sissoko and a bunch of others. They bought Mane, Wijhnaldum etc. They run their club way better. We played in that final with Sissoko, Trippier and Winks who had replaced Wanyama, Dembele and Walker. We had regressed from 2017 as shown by our declining league points season after season. Pool were still going north.

I could never build an argument that we deserved to be hailed as the best team in Europe in 2019. Our trophy that season was our amazing stadium. We made the trade-offs that went with that journey. It wasn't our time.

What happened next though was shambolic leadership of a football club by everyone concerned, both previous and current board.

 

[Glenda's Legs]

I hate having this memory dragged up.
I didn’t have a ticket for the game but went out to Madrid anyway on the Sport Options same day in-out flights. Watched it in a bar near the fan zone but that almost didn’t happen because the bar decided the fans were being too loud so switched off the TVs about 15 mins before kickoff. Luckily (or not) they turned them back on. And after 2 minutes the noise ceased to be an issue anyway.
Wandering the streets after the game killing time before going back to the airport every Liverpool fan I came across was so, so nice and saying our time would come etc etc. Which I kind of appreciated and hated in equal measure - I wanted to be angry at them but they were so sympathetic I couldn’t even be annoyed.
At the airport - and I’ve told this before - it was just mega depressing. Flights delayed. Early hours of the morning so nothing open other than a coffee shop. Then someone got onto the tannoy/microphone and started singing “can’t smile without you” and for one or two minutes it was a brilliant moment of camaraderie with everyone singing together before we all went back to our depression.
Got back home early morning and watched the game that Mr GL had recorded for me before going to bed to get some sleep. Not watched it since or even wanted to.
Later on that year on a flight I was looking for something to watch to pass the last half hour or so before we landed and there was a programe about the Champions League. I watched it up to the semi final then turned it off.
Even thinking about it now makes me very very sad.