Yossarian;2488611 said:
What pisses me off the most aside from that unjust and disgusting ejection is that we really didn't come into that match with the mindset and determination necessary to get the victory, you know?
Yoss, your passionate outburst ain't unjustified ... I reckon Inter came in thinking they'd already got the game in the bag ... then, when Liverpool took the attack to them, they were a bit shocked, and just sat back to absorb the pressure ...
but what changed the possibilities for the remainder of the game was the fact that Inter were reduced to 10 ... listen, people can say that Inter weren't doing much in that first half hour, and I completely agree ... but when has a match been decided in 30 minutes? Liverpool and Prem fans seem to have a fickle memory -- they were ripped to shreds in that UCL final in the first half ... but Rafa gave a stirring half-time talk, made the changes he wanted and needed to make, and the rest is history ... but do you think that could have been the case if Liverpool did not have XI on the field from the 30th minute?
I could easily see Mancini being able to shout some sense into his team at half time if he had his full team out there ... bringing on someone like a Figo to be a playmaker and connect the midfield and attack better could have seen a completely different story ... instead he had to bring on Vieira, to sure up the midfield, and took off Cruz to leave Zlatan completely isolated ... even Zlatan can't work that big a miracle without any service ... Vieira sucked, and Stankovic had a real off day and went missing -- which is doubly difficult when your team is playing with 10 ... can you blame the team for shutting up shop and trying to play on the counter? and when it became clear that counter was less likely to happen, why shouldn't they keep what they have and live to fight another day? that's exactly what Milan did in London ... but the luck did not last, as a brave Julio Cesar was finally beaten off a deflected effort ... that seemed to tangibly deflate the side ... then Gerrard's shot sneaked through a forest of flailing legs to find the far bottom corner ... once in a while those go in, and the final score flattered Liverpool ...
I don't blame your maudlin approach to the 2nd leg, but there's no need for doom and gloom just yet ... all these Prem fans here are criticizing any defensive attitude, but I doubt Liverpool will come to the San Siro with any different a plan (they did it before at the Delle Alpi) ... but that result will be a shock to Inter's system ... whatever anyone says, you can't remove the quality that these players possess, and they know it more than anyone ... I expect you'll see a hungrier Inter side, and if they play to just about 75% potential, I wouldn't put 4 or 5 goals out of their reach -- no matter what Liverpool do ... heck, Inter could even afford to concede 1 or 2 away goals by that point ...
so don't fret ... it's all still to play for ...
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RE: the bigger league v league argument
this discussion is becoming pointless ... you can throw up all the statistics you want, and people will find arguments to support it or to brush it away ...
i think the fundamental point is that comparing the type of football and style of football teams from different leagues is like comparing apples, oranges, and bananas ... ye, they're all fruits, but there's no way you can say one is "better" than the other ... you're going to get different opinions based on a taste standpoint, a nutrition standpoint, etc. ...
in football terms, some supporters will say that winning is everything no matter how you do it, some supporters say that entertainment along with winning is crucial, and others will point out that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so what's entertainment for one is boredom for another ...
you like the prem more than the serie a? fine ... you dislike the serie a? fine ... you're going to say the prem is better and the serie a sucks? that's offensive, but fine, if that's how you want to portray yourself ... just don't expect others to take it lying down ...
sure you can have an opinion, but just remember that you ain't going to convince anyone that you're right and they're wrong, especially if you remember the fact that you yourself aren't going to be swayed from the opinion you hold ...