Liverpool Team Talk/Gossip/Rumours Thread 2014 Mod Warning Post #6378

GotTheTshirt wrote: »

This is magnificent leadership and had me jumping and fist pumping like a mad man. I could and might watch it all night on repeat.

GotTheTshirt wrote: »

This is more irrelevant and off topic than dancing panda gifs .

SlickRic wrote: »

so, i'm sitting here with the Masters in the background, emotionally drained, so i thought i'd throw up a few thoughts on today...

i watched the game in Sinnotts, Dublin. a great place to watch a match actually, always packed for the big games. i've learned over the years that you need to get there well in time to get a good vantage point, so met my mate at 1215; at which point, we both find out the place only opens at 1230. anyway, the doors open then, and 50/60 football fans funnel in at once. mental. if you were an onlooker not knowing there was a football match on, i assume you'd have thought we're all just desperate for an early pint, so you'd have thought the stereotype of Irish "loving a bit of drink" was being proven unequivocally true, en masse.

anyway, the hour before the game was torture. enough said.

the minute's silence before the game was awe-inspiring. i've never seen a pub quiet like that. nobody said a word. floor staff stopped. punters stopped. barmen didn't pour pints. they didn't open tills. absolutely incredible, and one of the most poignant things i've experienced watching sport on a stool. it just added to the whole day.

what a game of football. just brilliant. City were caught on the hop, thinking they could stroll through the first half. have they not watched us this season? all guns blazing from the start, that's kind of all we know. Suarez was wound up something fierce. Sterling was insanely good, even from the very start.

the goal was genius. Suarez strong, showing vision, then Sterling. my Christ, what composure. a superstar is being born in front of us.

after the goal, it was more of the same. wide open space in the centre, where Sterling was taking full advantage. he seems unable to dispossess these days. too strong, but can also turn on a sixpence with the ball stuck to his foot. awesome. he was even popping up on the wing, putting in a cross that Sturridge should've buried. why Danny smiled, i don't know. i wanted to punch him.

i'd have loved Gerrard to score that header. Skrtel getting one will do.

before the second half, i thought Aguero would be brought on. i was thankful he wasn't, as i thought that meant that Pellegrini was quite happy. i thought if we just stepped it back up at the start of the half, we might regain momentum, maybe even get a third if we played at a high enough tempo. my mate said to me, "it will all depend how we start the half, as to whether we throw this away or not". we started slowly, and too deep. and it cost us. Milner coming on was a good move, though why he didn't start i've no idea. Silva was just mesmerising for the entire second half. we could not get near the man, and that's not even talking about the goal and assist. he's just magical, and only Sterling came near him in terms of performance. the two absolute standouts on the day for me, with Coutinho in the next tier.

City's first goal was brilliant. not much could be done, although i was worried about how deep we were. the second was just comedic, as we just weren't getting at all close enough by that point. i thought we were done at 2-2. i thought a loss was inevitable. i would almost have been happy with a draw.

the 3rd goal took the whole pub by surprise. the 2 City fans in the place were still gloating, with their fingers over their lips, when Kompany made a bollocks of what should've been a routine clearance, and Coutinho proved he can actually shoot.

the entire place lost their shít.

i've never been in a pub atmosphere like it, 2005 included.

the last 15 minutes were utterly unbearable. Kim Jong Un should take note; a very effective form of torture all things considered. we showed some amount of balls to get through it. i feel sorry for Henderson. it wasn't malicious, he was just desperate not to let the team down, and after he missed control, he just wanted to redeem himself and lost his senses. he'll be missed, and Lucas now has a huge role to play in the run-in. no better man as he showed against West Ham.

i couldn't believe it when the final whistle had gone. i let out a ridiculous roar. my throat is still in bits from it. people were jumping, hugging, kissing, dancing, spilling pints, singing.

then Stevie. good God Almighty Stevie. I'm not sure I've ever seen a sportsman want something more than he wants this trophy. he believes. he has done since at least the Fulham game. he's intent on dragging us there. yes, the huddle can be seen as slight cringey by some. i don't agree. i think that sort of shít is important. re-focus. don't expend too much energy thinking anything's achieved, because nothing's been won. the role Stevie has taken on the last couple of years as the true leader of the team is astounding to see. those men, i think, we walk through fire for him right now. Rodgers may be setting us out well tactically, but Gerrard is dragging us along emotionally. what a man and captain. the interview with Shreeves was just the icing on the cake.

just a couple of things on a couple of other players...

i thought Sakho was great. some people seem to get worried about him on the ball, but i think he just looks awkward. he's actually a good footballer.

Skrtel had one of his dominant days.

Coutinho was tenacious, and again, that strike. brilliant. he's had a super second half of the season.

Sterling has the world at his feet. Silva had one of his best days, and Sterling was as good. says something.

Suarez was very lucky to be on the field for the 90. still box-office though, and made the first goal with a moment of genius. still irreplaceable.

Sturridge hasn't been right for a couple of games. should've had a couple, and the Danny of a few weeks ago would have. we'll still miss him if the injury is bad.

anyway, i'm absolutely wrecked. what a day. as I said in here this morning, today we really were back in the big time, and even with all the emotions we all went through today - many of which not at all healthy to be experiencing on a regular basis - i think you'll all agree we wouldn't swap it for anything.

4 more finals.