Sport Liverpool Football Club

[Chewylegs]

Drogba is completely unplayable when you get a ref like that. He is so big and strong you cant get him off the ball and if you touch him its a foul. It is an unwinnable situation.

But many of them weren't fouls and for such a big and strong player he goes down sop easily. Its pathetic and cringeworthy to watch.

[Chewylegs]

I dont think anyone is looking for excuses, it was a good performance that would generally have resulted in a win.

I was just giving my comments on the game about the ref and would have done the same if we won, but I guess it wouldnt have been jumped on by someone else if we had have.

I was going to say that as well. I'm not looking for excuses or making excuses to justify us not winning I was just commenting on what I saw last night. Its IMO anyway.

[Graham S]

It didn't go in anyway.

But I do think we should stop looking for excuses. We didn't play until the final whistle but we'd played really well for 93 minutes. These things happen. If we do get to the final we won't be lucky Liverpool, and that will be cool.

I agree.

As RadioactiveMan would say " Up and at them".

That's the spirit. I agree. Still not roused just yet, but the seeds of a damn good rousing have been planted.

[Chewylegs]

Well you didn't call him out on it. Nor did I. Why? Because it was in the Liverpool thread and us fans stick together. If he'd said it in any other thread I would have said something. So, I don't think calling the rest of us out on it was harsh, no.

Right, because i didn't say anything about one persons post I must have been turning a blind eye to his racist/homophobic comments. Get a grip mate. Who said I even read the post properly? I just think its fine having a go at someone for saying something you don't agree with but don't 'lump' us all in the same boat for not picking up on it. Its got FUCK ALL to do with us being in a Liverpool thread.

[ras el hanout]

Right, because i didn't say anything about one persons post I must have been turning a blind eye to his racist/homophobic comments. Get a grip mate. Who said I even read the post properly? I just think its fine having a go at someone for saying something you don't agree with but don't 'lump' us all in the same boat for not picking up on it. Its got FUCK ALL to do with us being in a Liverpool thread.

FFS you are hard work.

It DID have something to do with us being in the Liverpool thread FOR ME. I'd be surprised if others in this thread hadn't also turned a blind eye. I think he called it correctly, fair play to him. Of course there might be the odd one who doesn't read posts for whatever reason, ie YOU. But I think Deputy Nick was correct in posting what he did.

[Chewylegs]

I'm hard work! You and me both mate!

He apologised, thats good enough for me.

[CJ.]

From a neutral point of view (I can't stand both Liverpool and Chelsea):

Liverpool deserved to be leading in the game at Stamford Bridge. They had the more chances, were the most threatening and seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Chelsea's gameplan was to frustrate the hell out of Liverpool. Niggling and falling and tumbling and trying to edge as much of an advantage on the small decisions.

Riise, for a pro, should be clearing that with his weak foot. Millwall had a player who was so one footed it was painful (David Livermore, now playing for promotion-chasing Hull *groan*). All in all, he was unlucky, Chelsea have an advantage and Liverpool have it all to play for.

And please, the racist, homophobic stuff is disgusting. Can't we just agree, regardless of colour or creed, that Drogba is a knob. Full stop. Nothing to do with the fact he's black or questioning his sexuality.

[Warszawa]

You'll have to excuse me if I don't put this in a sufficiently convincing way, as previously mentioned I'm in a black (!) mood this morning.

Describing someone as black is fine. Describing someone as black + a pejorative term ("black cunt", for instance) is racist abuse.

Repeatedly referring to someone as a rent boy, as a Graham Norton, or whatever else in that way is homophobic abuse.

Calling someone a black rent-boy is racist, homophobic abuse.

I'm not calling you a racist. You might not even be an actual homophobe. Calling someone a poofter for falling over in football matches has a long inglorious tradition behind it. But it would be great if you could cut it out in this thread. We don't need a big argument about it this morning, we're all sufficiently miserable already.

I understand where you're coming from. I just don't think it's that simple, but I understand....I just feel differently about it. I've been called a 'white boy' in London and the New York tri-state region on numerous occasions - and once or twice not so humourously - so I suppose that due to being a victim of racial abuse I should know to be more sensitive. I also know that a gay friend routinely points out apparently straight people who get his 'gaydar' going.

I might not prescribe to exactly the same mantra as everyone but I'm not Jim Davidson, and my friendships and actions over the years speak for themselves. And you know what? I don't think there's any great shame in occasionally making dodgy comments or phrasing things in a less sensitive manner than you'd like. I shouldn't, but I have before and I'm sure I'll liken more football players to camp/gay comedians / pop stars in years to come but there won't ever be any malice against real homosexuals, and I'll regret them afterwards but the chain will continue....I'll say silly things sometimes that I wish I hadn't. I wish I hadn't added the 'black' prefix because that adds a racial element that I should have known might be taken the wrong way, but that's not how it was intended.

[ras el hanout]

I'm hard work! You and me both mate!

He apologised, thats good enough for me.

He didn't really. And only when highlighted. By Deputy Nick. Jesus Chirst are you for real?

[ras el hanout]

ANYWAY.

Poor Aurelio, eh? He was looking good.

[rjpageuk]

From a neutral point of view (I can't stand both Liverpool and Chelsea):

Liverpool deserved to be leading in the game at Stamford Bridge. They had the more chances, were the most threatening and seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck.

Chelsea's gameplan was to frustrate the hell out of Liverpool. Niggling and falling and tumbling and trying to edge as much of an advantage on the small decisions.

Riise, for a pro, should be clearing that with his weak foot. Millwall had a player who was so one footed it was painful (David Livermore, now playing for promotion-chasing Hull *groan*). All in all, he was unlucky, Chelsea have an advantage and Liverpool have it all to play for.

And please, the racist, homophobic stuff is disgusting. Can't we just agree, regardless of colour or creed, that Drogba is a knob. Full stop. Nothing to do with the fact he's black or questioning his sexuality.

I agree.

[dan_tm]

Also the implication is that because he falls over easily under a challenge then he's gay?

Gays do have a scientifically proven lack of balance to be fair. There's no actual evidence to support it, but it is scientific fact.

[/Dr. Fox]

The Liverpool fans are being serious, and almost everyone else is taking the piss (which I thought wasnt allowed in here). That should clear it up.

I wasn't taking the piss (as much as I'd like to, silly Football-thread rules), I was answering a question on behalf of someone else. It was incredibly funny to I guess a lot of non-Liverpool supporters, sorry to break it to you.

[Spudulis]

For someone talking about 'fan blindness' there is a fair bit if Chelsea bias in there

Take a look at the amount of fouls conceded by Liverpool last night. 20? Really, was there 20 fouls by our players? No way. The ref was whistle happy and generally in favour of your boys.

Mascherano's theatrical fall? He was taken out cynically by Terry. It reminded me of watching Franco Baresi.

That 'foul' on Reina by Terry was silly but I couldn't believe the commentators being surprised by it. Goalies are always over protected. Look at Cech at the other end of the pitch when Torres supposedly fouled him just before we were going to get a corner.

So Liverpool conceded 20 fouls but Chelsea conceded 16. Hardly much difference there. All this vitriol against Drogba going down easily is harsh when just about every modern day footballer does. Torres and Gerrard especially for Liverpool. I don;t remeber Drogba going down from no contact and his battle with Skrtel was one of the most interesting battles last night. Skrtel got a number of fouls given against Drogba as well as the other way round. It was a proper battle between the two and Skrtel played Drogba better than most other centre backs I've seen. What gets my goat about Drogba is his theatrical injuries after he gets the foul. Thats so completely unnecessary.

[Warszawa]

What gets my goat about Drogba is his theatrical injuries after he gets the foul. Thats so completely unnecessary.

That's the thing. The way he prances around, not so much the fact that he goes down easily (Gerrard is an awful offender in that respect)...he's an arch thesp and would be well advised to join his local theatre group if he needs to give that aspect of his personality a regular work-out.

[Takizawa]

That 'foul' on Reina by Terry was silly but I couldn't believe the commentators being surprised by it.

I personally coudn't believe they were defending this. Since when are you allowed to stand anywhere on the pitch with your arms up? That's obstruction. By stopping another player getting to the ball with the use of your arms.

[David Kenny]

For someone talking about 'fan blindness' there is a fair bit if Chelsea bias in there

Take a look at the amount of fouls conceded by Liverpool last night. 20? Really, was there 20 fouls by our players? No way. The ref was whistle happy and generally in favour of your boys.

Mascherano's theatrical fall? He was taken out cynically by Terry. It reminded me of watching Franco Baresi.

That 'foul' on Reina by Terry was silly but I couldn't believe the commentators being surprised by it. Goalies are always over protected. Look at Cech at the other end of the pitch when Torres supposedly fouled him just before we were going to get a corner.

Well perhaps I can't see the bias but I think I was pretty even handed. I don't think either team was worse than the other.

I don't personally think that most of the free kicks given were actually fouls, but once he'd set out his attitude the ref was at least consistent. It made me laugh actually when in the first couple of minutes Drogba won a free kick from Carragher and turned to complain assuming it was he who was being penalised. Of course he kept quiet when he saw which way the ref was pointing. That type of challenge though, jumping behind a player with arms raised was punished every single time regardless of the team committing the foul, even though in the premiership I doubt any of them would have been given. In fact I didn't think Ballack's challenge on Torres leading up to the goal was a foul but I'm not surprised that this particular referee gave it.

As for Mascherano, he was already grimacing in mock agony and going down before he made contact with Terry, he knew exactly what he was doing. Again I'm not complaining about it because it's just part of football.

[ras el hanout]

In fact I didn't think Ballack's challenge on Torres leading up to the goal was a foul but I'm not surprised that this particular referee gave it.

It was a clear foul. I was surprised they discussed it.

[David Kenny]

It was a clear foul. I was surprised they discussed it.

Well I can't say anything else but that I disagree. As far as I remember Ballack played the ball and then collided with Torres. In the premiership I doubt it would have been given.

It's of minimal importance anyway as there was still plenty of play in between that and the goal.

[rjpageuk]

I wasn't taking the piss (as much as I'd like to, silly Football-thread rules), I was answering a question on behalf of someone else. It was incredibly funny to I guess a lot of non-Liverpool supporters, sorry to break it to you.

Why though? That is what I asked which you didnt answer, you just repeated the point.

Is it because Liverpool have been so lucky they deserved some bad luck? Is it because Chelsea were so terrible the fact they got a draw is laughably bad? Is it because Riise made such an abysmal job of clearing it? I just dont get it because I dont agree with any of them.

Well I can't say anything else but that I disagree. As far as I remember Ballack played the ball and then collided with Torres. In the premiership I doubt it would have been given.

It's of minimal importance anyway as there was still plenty of play in between that and the goal.

When it happened I didnt think it was a foul either and thought it was just Torres falling over as usual but when I saw the replay he was definitely caught by Ballacks foot in the tackle nowhere near the ball so it was a foul although the ball had got away from Torres by then.

[Kelthink]

That type of challenge though, jumping behind a player with arms raised was punished every single time regardless of the team committing the foul, even though in the premiership I doubt any of them would have been given.

Really? I'm personally surprised your right-back (Ferrieoria whut) didn't get carded for throwing his hands over the face of an opposing player in two very similar situations. Dangerous play that, could have easily gouged someone's eye.

[Graham S]

Why though? That is what I asked which you didnt answer, you just repeated the point.

Is it because Liverpool have been so lucky they deserved some bad luck? Is it because Chelsea were so terrible the fact they got a draw is laughably bad? Is it because Riise made such an abysmal job of clearing it? I just dont get it because I dont agree with any of them.

Oh come on. If John Terry or Rio Ferdinand had done a similar thing in a similarly important context I'd be laughing about it all year long.

[Chewylegs]

He didn't really. And only when highlighted. By Deputy Nick. Jesus Chirst are you for real?

What the fuck are you on about now?! I was gonna leave it and was happy for deputy nick to understand he may have been harsh on some of us and say so (whether he believed it or not). But no, you come out with, "am I for real". For real about what exactly? Mate you post the biggest load of shit I've ever heard from a Liverpool fan. You annoy the fuck out of me. You decide that its fair that we should all be called racists and homophobes by someone soley because we didn't tell Warsawa to shut the fuck up and when I question that you reckon I'm in the wrong.

Seriously, just FUCK OFF!

[Nate Dogg III]

I'm glad you're dealing with all of this so well, Chewylegs.

[Chewylegs]

I don't personally think that most of the free kicks given were actually fouls, but once he'd set out his attitude the ref was at least consistent. It made me laugh actually when in the first couple of minutes Drogba won a free kick from Carragher and turned to complain assuming it was he who was being penalised. Of course he kept quiet when he saw which way the ref was pointing. That type of challenge though, jumping behind a player with arms raised was punished every single time regardless of the team committing the foul, even though in the premiership I doubt any of them would have been given. In fact I didn't think Ballack's challenge on Torres leading up to the goal was a foul but I'm not surprised that this particular referee gave it.

That seems fair enough.

[Chewylegs]

So Liverpool conceded 20 fouls but Chelsea conceded 16. Hardly much difference there. All this vitriol against Drogba going down easily is harsh when just about every modern day footballer does. Torres and Gerrard especially for Liverpool.

It goes back to what I was saying earlier though. Drogba wins free kicks from any bodily contact whether its a foul or not (this is football- a contact sport). I think Gerrard and Torres tend to win it by making it more dramatic. Annoying as fuck to watch but more times than not they are being fouled IMO (obviously bias).

And I would say a greater majority of those Chelsea fouls were actual fouls. (again I am biased towards Liverpool though)

I'm glad you're dealing with all of this so well, Chewylegs.

I know I shouldn't get irrate but with him I just can't help it

[ras el hanout]

What the fuck are you on about now?! I was gonna leave it and was happy for deputy nick to understand he may have been harsh on some of us and say so (whether he believed it or not). But no, you come out with, "am I for real". For real about what exactly? Mate you post the biggest load of shit I've ever heard from a Liverpool fan. You annoy the fuck out of me. You decide that its fair that we should all be called racists and homophobes by someone soley because we didn't tell Warsawa to shut the fuck up and when I question that you reckon I'm in the wrong.

Seriously, just FUCK OFF!

Are you winding me up? Or are you just really really thick? Which is it? I reckon you're really really thick. I mean, how many times do you need things explained to you? I generally get the gist of a point upon first hearing it, but you, I mean, you're incredible.

Are you really asking me what I am on about? I'll wager everybody else here who read our exchange understood what I was saying. So what's the problem specific to you? Blunt force trauma to the head?

I hope this isn't where you say "Yes, I am actually mentally retarded" because then I'd feel bad about mocking your poorly functioning brain.

[Graham S]

This used to be the best thread on the internet, and now we're calling each other racists, homophobes, and retards.

[Graham S]

And moaning all the time about everything.

[ras el hanout]

This used to be the best thread on the internet, and now we're calling each other racists, homophobes, and retards.

Blame Chewybrain and Hitler.

[dogsout]

This used to be the best thread on the internet, and now we're calling each other racists, homophobes, and retards.

I'm still completely gutted. I think ramone is right; it was the timing that has left me in this state. If that goal had gone in earlier in the game I think I'd be feeling quite positive now, knowing that we were much the better side and expecting us to go through. It happening when it did made it feel like a loss.

Ah well, I think we're capable of beating them down there, and if we're not we don't deserve to go trough. I do hope for a better ref, though. I was going to make a post in here before the game yesterday about how shit that one is.