Only got home from Madrid last night, a ton of posts on here that I doubt I've got time to read but will try to catch up on.
Great trip on the whole, going to sound corny but it really was a good crack between the two sets of supporters, before KO it was a carnival atmosphere and I preferred this to many of the European games I've been to where you can't relax too much without the fear of being stabbed in the arse. I really enjoyed sharing a few pints with some of the scousers, although this was away from the main Liverpool supporter areas where I refused to venture into. The only threat I felt was from the Spanish Old Bill, seriously not once did they smile, talk or try to engage with either Liverpool or Spurs fan, always left with the impression they were looking to bash you on the skull if you gave them that 2nd look, a Police presence should be there to make you feel protected but it's wrong to feel that they are where the threat is coming from, nasty cunts.
The other thing I didn't like was the whole UEFA set-up fan zone thing, the fan isn't catered for, they exist solely to cater for the corporate, not the fan.
We were outnumbered significantly in Madrid, away from the stadium but once inside the stadium our fans were class, Liverpool fans just didn't sing at all from about 10mins after the first goal right up to about 5mins before they got their 2nd. (It did go flat from both sets of supporters after the pen, Spurs fans got their voice back after about 30mins, but that pen did have a huge effect on who the game was played and how the fans were engaged in the game, it was odd). Best show from us was a defining "Oh When the Spurs" as the teams came out and even better version at the end of the game which made me well up whilst signing it. FUCKING LOVE THIS CLUB, LOVE THIS TEAM.
Sitting next to my mate as we kicked off, he said: "Just control and contain the first 10mins, lets' not concede a fuc.................." He didn't even finish the sentence before the pen was given. Didn't think it was a pen in real time, I've seen the replays and no way was it a pen, why didn't the ref at least to go to VAR, what the fuck is it there for???!
Disappointing night obviously and a crap game too. Let me tell you it was a very warm night, so don't think it was ever going to be a classic (finals rarely are anyway). Frustrating as we were the better of the two subdued sides.
I don't go along with the people saying Kane shouldn't have started, he may not have been on the ball anywhere as much as we or he would have liked (BTW he was more involved that Salah, Fermino and Mane were for Liverpool!!) but he was making a lot of runs off the ball which created a lot of space, we actually had numerous chances where we were 3 vs 3 or even overloaded them with 3 vs 2's and 4 vs 3's but our final ball was either poor or we chose the wrong option or Liverpool defended it very well. Our build-up play from the back was great, in fact, one of the best we've played and we drew Liverpool onto us well and passed through them and into Winks playing well from deep. We got into some terrific positions but didn't play that final ball.
Anyway, suspect this is all boring now as has been debated to death on here since the final whistle, so I will not bang on. Other than to surmise that I was disappointed with the performances of Son, Dele and Eriksen and of course Tripps. I thought everyone else was good, including Kane (can't blame him for not touching it if we can't find him). Our best player I thought was Winks before he came off but over the full 90 mins would say that would have to go to either of our two CB's or Rose.
Really exciting times for us ahead:
1. We are back home, in the best stadium in the Wolrd. Just being at home should be worth 6-10 points in the season. Then there are the new revenues with now over double the revenues we got from Old WHL, probably a lot more too when looking at the all the other commercial stuff that it can pull in via association.
2. Pre-Season. I would prefer our players not to be involved in the up and coming International's even if it is for a couple of games but feel our lads need to unplug and chill and then get back refreshed and ready to go again for the season. Anyway, whatever happens, we should be in a better place than last year with the number of players involved in the WC and consequently had zero pre-season.
3. I like the talk in the press about the players we are linked at getting rid of on the whole.
4. New players - I am also encouraged with the players we are currently linked with. A massive challenge to get them in however as we are not the only ones they are linked too. But more importantly, than individuals, it does appear we are targeting the obvious areas we need to address.
What a fantastic run we've had, a Champions League final was special for the club, there is no reason we can't repeat this again within the next three years. I look across Europe now and I only see Man City as the side who are better and look at what we did to them this season. Even though they beat us, we were better than Liverpool in the final, I DO NOT FEAR THEM! Seriously we are up there with everyone else, I do not fear any side in Europe other than City who I think are miles better than us and everyone else (but hey, they may not be playing in it next year!).
Up The Spurs!