Will we qualify out of the group? (Vote after Basel away game)

curious to know what it is so far this season that makes you think we will beat Madrid at home. personally I am shitting myself because if things go wrong it could be seriously painful for us.

I'm in the same boat mate. Madrid will F***ing destroy us judged on all the evidence so far.

We were underdogs against City, City weren't playing well and we got beaten easily. Think Bri is using some of that subjective bias we're all guilty of from time to time and is convincing himself things aren't as bad as they are. I hope he's spot on, the way I see it if we do carry on this form and then put a performance in against Madrid I'll be F***ing fuming.

Would show that the ability/determination is there when they want it but simply aren't when we need it.

I wouldn't be that surprised to see RM drop some points. They are a little too brillant actually, and usually have a bad patch when their results make them overconfident.

The unfortunate thing is Basel or Ludo are as likely as us to be the ones managing to get them.

I'm in the same boat mate. Madrid will f**king destroy us judged on all the evidence so far.

We were underdogs against City, City weren't playing well and we got beaten easily. Think Bri is using some of that subjective bias we're all guilty of from time to time and is convincing himself things aren't as bad as they are. I hope he's spot on, the way I see it if we do carry on this form and then put a performance in against Madrid I'll be f**king fuming.

Would show that the ability/determination is there when they want it but simply aren't when we need it.

My concern is if we do not do something this weekend with the Internationals coming up we will go into the Madrid game with ZERO confidence and that bothers me.But football can produce miracles can't it.

My concern is that RM might storm their games.
And then be in a position to throw their final games.
I haven't bothered to work out HOW they could do that.

But we could be in for a real lottery.

My concern is if we do not do something this weekend with the Internationals coming up we will go into the Madrid game with ZERO confidence and that bothers me.But football can produce miracles can't it.

Aye it can mate, but I never thought a West Brom game at home would hold such significance.

Every game is important but that one now feels like an enormous game for us right now.

Nothing more then we have to come out of our slump at some point and I think playing the European champions at home in a big tie which we will be underdogs might just be the tonic.

I thought the same thing before the Merseyside derby.

If Basel win both games against Ludogorets we will probably have needed to beat Madrid in at least one of the games - a point wouldn't really make much difference.

My concern is that RM might storm their games.
And then be in a position to throw their final games.

My reading of the situation too.

Possible they could have practically qualified after their 3rd game.

I think it will be very very tough. If we can get 1 point from the Madrid games its still in our hands, get nothing and its out of hands
after 4 games the table could read:

R Madrid 12
Basel 9
Liverpool 3
Ludo 0

It would still be possible to qualify, but we can't be relying on Madrid who would have already qualified winning away at Basel in the final game.

I'm in the same boat mate. Madrid will f**king destroy us judged on all the evidence so far.

We were underdogs against City, City weren't playing well and we got beaten easily. Think Bri is using some of that subjective bias we're all guilty of from time to time and is convincing himself things aren't as bad as they are. I hope he's spot on, the way I see it if we do carry on this form and then put a performance in against Madrid I'll be f**king fuming.

Would show that the ability/determination is there when they want it but simply aren't when we need it.

Worst part is,that for most of our past, Madrid were never anything to be scared of. They had a dominat era in the 50s, and again more recently. But it was never "oh we will lose all our stars to Spain", until Owen and McManaman etc started being linked with them. England has a popular league, high ticket prices, large corporate and commercial revenues and more. If we invested like Madrid, we could EASILY instill fear like the current Madrid.

We'd regularly slaughter Madrid AND Barca in our past, and not even think anything of it.

Having said all that, we are currently sh*te vs Madrid.

fu**ed if I know.

 

R Madrid 12
Basel 9
Liverpool 3
Ludo 0

It would still be possible to qualify, but we can't be relying on Madrid who would have already qualified winning away at Basel in the final game.

And if it goes like that AND if Madrid could be arsed to go and beat Basel when they've already qualified we would probably have to kick a good bagful of goals past Basel - if they've beaten Ludo twice they'll likely have done better than +2 GD and we'll be at least -2.

What a ballache!

Worst part is,that for most of our past, Madrid were never anything to be scared of. They had a dominat era in the 50s, and again more recently. But it was never "oh we will lose all our stars to Spain", until Owen and McManaman etc started being linked with them. England has a popular league, high ticket prices, large corporate and commercial revenues and more. If we invested like Madrid, we could EASILY instill fear like the current Madrid.

We'd regularly slaughter Madrid AND Barca in our past, and not even think anything of it.

Having said all that, we are currently sh*te vs Madrid.

Agree.

It absolutely boils my piss that we sell our best players to anyone.

If we invested like Madrid, we could EASILY instill fear like the current Madrid.

We could never compete with them on finances.  Don't Madrid and Barca get about 60% of the TV money in Spain with the other 40% divided between the other 18 teams?

Correction - just under 50%

I voted yes but do I want them to go thru? Not sure. I want Liverpool to be in at least top 4 this season so that we can get better players for next season.

Perhaps, we would be better off with one game a week just to get into top 4.

I voted yes but do I want them to go thru? Not sure. I want Liverpool to be in at least top 4 this season so that we can get better players for next season.

Perhaps, we would be better off with one game a week just to get into top 4.

There won't be four places soon if Liverpool and City don't pull their fingers out and qualify for the next round. The number of places your country has is determined by your country's success in the competition.

We'll go through, not even worried about it to be honest.

I voted yes but do I want them to go thru? Not sure.

I thought smoking crack was against the law?

We'll go through, not even worried about it to be honest.

Seriously?

We'll go through, not even worried about it to be honest.

Umm.

I thought smoking crack was against the law?

Was about to ask you the same!

I voted yes but do I want them to go thru? Not sure. I want Liverpool to be in at least top 4 this season so that we can get better players for next season.

Perhaps, we would be better off with one game a week just to get into top 4.

Europa League!

We could never compete with them on finances.  Don't Madrid and Barca get about 60% of the TV money in Spain with the other 40% divided between the other 18 teams?

Correction - just under 50%

That is the reason why they are so far ahead of other clubs in Spain. But as I mention, we have things in our favour too. Commercial, better league, the history, the passionate stadia, the "home of football", higher gate and hospitality income. Even the being the English language clubs is a big issue. All of these translate to current revenue streams or streams that are currently underutilised (Jeez I'm sounding like a Henry parrot here but anyway..)

Spain has lower ticket and hospitality income per person, an incredibly weak local economy and a patchy domestic league.

My pt is that we'd slaughter Real 5-0 and noone would say "ah thats Real Madrid global aristocrats, 5 European Cups in a row". People would say "yeah thats Liverpool, 4 European Cups in x years".

The big difference between the current Madrid and earlier ones is that they made bold steps to invest in their identity as a 21st century global club. Profits are all retained, the stadium is treated like a cathedral rather than the piecemeal mess Anfield has been. But most of all, they paid the best wages and the biggest transfer fees. Yes that meant debt at some pts, but it paid off, because they are now held up again as the "ultimate football clubs".
And that means better income, and more players want to play for them.

If we did that, we could do atleast the same, and perhaps more.
In years gone by, Madrid were often nowhere near us.

did you not see the Ludo game which we escaped with a last minute penalty.?

Exactly Bulgarian no marks! Sh*te atmosphere

Bring on the biggest and the best, pure backs to the wall job. Crackling atmosphere

Kop will roar us on? Like they have done all season?

Presumably you haven't been to a Liverpool v Real Madrid game then.

I have 

Seriously?

I'm not too concerned, just like our great run that came to end last season, this bad run will come to an end as well and we'll turn things around. We should only get better. But you'll find I'm not a doom and despair, fear monger type.

Exactly Bulgarian no marks! Sh*te atmosphere

Bring on the biggest and the best, pure backs to the wall job. Crackling atmosphere

I know Anfield will be rocking and I know they will sing their hearts out for the 90mins. what we want to see is a bit of blood and guts from them ,show us they care and we can do anything. Pity we can't bring in Sami for the night he and Jamie were the best two CB's when the sh*t hit the fan they just came alive.Thats the spirit we need.