Shamrock Rovers 0:4 Liverpool (Friendly) Pre, In game and Post match thread.

Just saw the highlights. Lovely last goal there with Brannagan and Dunn, was it?

Always like winning. Well done Reds.

That was a pretty special moment.

We were all on our feet singing stand up for the 96.

The young lads started an attack right as the song was starting to fade. The clapping quickened and people were roaring for Dunn before he got the ball.

 Special moment. Almost like the young lads were responding to the song. Place went nuts when Dunn scored. My lad jumped around like a lunatic and this auld cynical b***ard got all choked up.

How did Ryan play anyone?

Both fullbacks played well.
More like wingers in the second half.
At times the formation was 2-2-2-4.

One thing the game showed me was that we absolutely need youngsters at fullback.
Nevermind experience, it is essential that they have the energy of Henderson to perform.

Outstanding workrate.

I should say that 2-2-2-4 was when Lucas and Allen had come off.

Coady played as the deepest midfielder.
Brannagan and Teixeira came on for Lucas and Allen.
Randall came on for Macloughlan.
Peterson and Dunn came on for Borini and Aspas.

Lovely link up between Randall and Dunn for the final goal.


Almost forgot.
Ibe far and away the most impressive player on the pitch.
Two assists, should have had two goals.
He was everywhere in attack.

Played behind Borini and Aspas and just popped up all over the place.

I wasn't sure whether to post this on here as I wanted to keep my experience positive.
That was my mindset before the game, knowing that we probably wouldn't see the players
that my son actually wanted to see. It was a lot of money to watch the reserves and not
everyone took the same approach I did.

A lot of fans/parents around us were absolutely fuming in the first half of the match.
Somebody on RAWK complained about the atmosphere.
Maybe the parents were naive, I'm not going to judge them, but it wasn't until the 2nd
half and the intervention of Justice for the 96 when people actually got on their feet and sang.




Atmosphere was appalling in the first half.
Whoever organised it for 5.30 in Ballsbridge in the middle of the week needs a kick in the bollocks.

Took a half day in work and picked up my kid from school.
Normally traffic in is okay, but it was horrendous heading in.
I took every rat run I know and parked on the street in Ballsbridge.
Settled down with about 5 mins to go before the match.

A lot of people didn't make it in until 20-30 minutes during the first half.
We joined in with the songs when the lower section started and found it hard to get people interested.
Especially with the players songs. I think it was the Suarez song I had my kid singing when some grumpy
b***ard shouted "Why the F**k should I sing he's not F***ing here"

A lot of parents with kids. €110 euro for two tickets was expensive and I can understand their frustration
that the likes of Suarez, Gerrard and Sturridge didn't even get 20-30 minutes on the pitch.

Mind you, make the most of it anyway I would have thought but there you go.
Second half after they had a few pints the crowd seemed better and everyone
got on their feet for Justice for the 96. Think that went around twice.

But yeah at times it felt like a rugby fanbase watching a football match,
but that's what happens when the prices are a rip off I suppose.
Sets the tone for the game.

Oh and no amount of explanation will convince my lad anything other than that win has put us back top of the league.

Oh and no amount of explanation will convince my lad anything other than that win has put us back top of the league.

The innocence of youth eh Racer, I can't even think that far back !

The innocence of youth eh Racer, I can't even think that far back !

It's great.
Brilliant to see the joy it brought him.
Makes you change how you approach things too. I was the whole time making sure if
something pissed me off that I didn't let it affect his day. Meant mine ended up better
too.

It's great.
Brilliant to see the joy it brought him.
Makes you change how you approach things too. I was the whole time making sure if
something pissed me off that I didn't let it affect his day. Meant mine ended up better
too.

True mate, everyone's lives are better for having kids in them !

True mate, everyone's lives are better for having kids in them !

They make you realise you may have become too cynical.
Sometimes if you're in a sh*t mood all you meet are cu*ts.
Setting out to enjoy it despite the cost meant he had a great time.
When kids are buzzing with enjoyment during a game it catches on quickly.

Just saw the highlights now,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ThiRQ5oPaI
thought Jordan Ibe looked very good

It's great.
Brilliant to see the joy it brought him.
Makes you change how you approach things too. I was the whole time making sure if
something pissed me off that I didn't let it affect his day. Meant mine ended up better
too.

That's what it's all about

Glad for you, and him, that he had such a great time.

That's what it's all about

Glad for you, and him, that he had such a great time.

He was still waving his scarf around at breakfast this morning.
No half and half. You've got to teach them that early on.

He was still waving his flag around at breakfast this morning.
No half and half. You've got to teach them that early on.

We wouldn't expect anything else from you Racer.

Nip that sh*te in the bud early on.

We wouldn't expect anything else from you Racer.

Nip that sh*te in the bud early on.

I had a chat with him about it when we were walking up.
Told him it's not a proper scarf. Said he could pick any scarf he wanted.

We got to the railings and a girl offered him one, a half and half.
He said no I want a real Liverpool scarf.

The laughs of her.
He didn't go for the red and white one, but that's ok.

He was still waving his flag around at breakfast this morning.
No half and half. You've got to teach them that early on.

haha, great stuff!

Well in on the halfy-halfy sh*te as well 

We got to the railings and a girl offered him one, a half and half.
He said no I want a real Liverpool scarf.

Is the right answer, sounds like a good young'un!

I had a chat with him about it when we were walking up.
Told him it's not a proper scarf. Said he could pick any scarf he wanted.

We got to the railings and a girl offered him one, a half and half.
He said no I want a real Liverpool scarf.

The laughs of her.
He didn't go for the red and white one, but that's ok.

Glad you had a sound day mate and the young un loved it.. Our kids are about the same age so I know exactly how it is with seeing them take it all in at that age

Next step is to get him over to Anfield

Glad you had a sound day mate and the young un loved it.. Our kids are about the same age so I know exactly how it is with seeing them take it all in at that age

Next step is to get him over to Anfield

You better believe it.
Nothing else will do now, he wants to see Suarez, Gerrard and Sturridge.
Not sure how the autographs thing would work out but he's on board now.

I wasn't sure whether to post this on here as I wanted to keep my experience positive.

Thanks for posting.  Yeah in hindsight people picked in a World Cup squad were never going to play - that should have been communicated - especially at those prices.

Now I also noticed the Chelsea-United U21 game was on last night.  If we had won the semi final at Anfield then last night's game would have seen even less of our 'reserves' surely?

On the whole there was a better turnout of players than I anticipated - although I had no idea it was nearly top dollar for the tickets.  Ludicrous kick off time and I was speaking to a lad after the game on Sunday who was a taxi driver there and said it would be chaos at that time.

I would imagine a later kick off would have been even better for atmosphere etc.

Anyway,

He was still waving his scarf around at breakfast this morning.

Makes it worth it.  In future years I'm sure he won't remember the game quite like you did!

One thing the game showed me was that we absolutely need youngsters at fullback.
Nevermind experience, it is essential that they have the energy of Henderson to perform.

Absolutely agree with this, I'd take energy and pace over experience and intelligence any day. Might be the only position I'd say that for.

Smith is one that interests me, he didn't stop all day and was constantly making runs ahead of the wide players. Would like to see him involved with the squad to some extent next season.

Thanks for posting.  Yeah in hindsight people picked in a World Cup squad were never going to play - that should have been communicated - especially at those prices.

Now I also noticed the Chelsea-United U21 game was on last night.  If we had won the semi final at Anfield then last night's game would have seen even less of our 'reserves' surely?

On the whole there was a better turnout of players than I anticipated - although I had no idea it was nearly top dollar for the tickets.  Ludicrous kick off time and I was speaking to a lad after the game on Sunday who was a taxi driver there and said it would be chaos at that time.

I would imagine a later kick off would have been even better for atmosphere etc.

Anyway,

Makes it worth it.  In future years I'm sure he won't remember the game quite like you did!

I was looking at that match when I got home. That thought did cross my mind.
Mother of God. There would have been a riot in the ground had the U21s been absent.

That or We'd have played the U18s at the Chelsea game.
Numbers were thin enough on the ground as it was.

I think they knew people were pissed off because they sent Coutinho, Skrtel and Agger
around the lower levels to sign autographs. Announcer was almost apologetic.

Note to self: Book early next time and get the lower levels.

42,500 at a poorly organised game.
No World Cup and a better time and that's easily 50,000.

Ludicrous kick off time and I was speaking to a lad after the game on Sunday who was a taxi driver there and said it would be chaos at that time.

I would imagine a later kick off would have been even better for atmosphere etc.

Anyway

The latest possible ko was 5.30pm, in order to satisfy UEFA's demands, re Benfica-Seville. As organisers, the FAI would have some explaining to do if it was found to be clashing with the UEFA Cup Final. The FA couldn't hold a division playoff last night for exactly the same reason.

With the European Cup Final now held on a weekend, there's no reason imo why the UEFA Cup Final must be 10 days beforehand anymore.

40,000 for a reserve squad game at 5:30 on a Wednesday, well done Ireland!