The (darn) rain in Spain ..... But as a mate rightly say's, much quicker and easier to dry yer bare legs than dry yer kecks. Very mixed weather aside, brilliant little trip that. Valencia as boss as ever (Just HOW did you f that up Neville lad? Where better a place would yers want to live like?). And Villarreal was a quaint little place with real friendly locals. ***** away end like the ground. Seemed as many steps as Newcastle to climb to get up there and stuck right up the top with the roof coming down and big frigging perspex glass screens and stanchion's in the way. Disappointed in that as it's always been one I wanted to go but at least it's ticked off the list. So onto the semi .....
Honestly REAL surprised at the reaction to the game. Both in the bars after among friends and on social media the morning after. I thought it was a pretty good game of footie (from what I could tell behind the glass), that was almost the perfect European away performance were it not for Moreno's moment of base stupidity undoing all the earlier hard work. Seen our approach criticised but I'd take the opposite view and say it was a spot-on game plan that ultimately just wasn't quite executed at the end when we for some inexplicable reason went gun-ho to get a winner after an absolutely World class Mingolet save (credit where credit's due. We could well be looking back on that in 5 days as playing a MAJOR part in getting to yet another European final); which just played into the counter-attacking instincts of what Villarreal are all about and ultimately cost us a more than deserved draw. That will come with more experience and better players. The ability to stay disciplined to the last and completely shut the game down and take the draw home. But I love the fact we've now seen another facet of Klopp in Europe and his tactical nounce to change when appropriate to the strengths of the opposition. Fills you with real confidence for future European campaigns which was never there before his arrival. Had we gone out and really attacked, pushing men forward, it would of just played into Villarreal's hands and left us open for what they do best. Hitting quickly on the break. (Thought some of their interplay the back was fantastic BTW when we pressed. And the little number 18 was benefiting from how comfortable all their back 4 are at playing their way out of trouble/ around the press.). So to set up and counter/ nullify that almost worked to perfection until Moreno's costly mistake the death. That was about as easy a European away as you could wish for and we had arguably the better chances to win it. ****, if Allen had buried that early chance the game could of been so different and the tie over already. Another example of why I'm not big at all at extending him. Yeah, he's been doing real well recently. But when it counts, he just doesn't cut it in terms of production. Gerrard would of buried that for example. Free chance, unmarked, in the box. You HAVE to score.
Where I would criticise Klopp was in his changes. Benteke should of been on half-time for Phil. Clyne had acre's of space down the right all night but no presence in the middle. Ibe was just rank bad when he came on. No problem in not seeing Sturridge at all. He'd just had to play the full 90 against Newcastle and we know we're still having to manage him back to full health to be ready for the pre-season. Wouldn't play him at all tomorrow and have him raring to go and chomping at the bit for next Thursday.
Really not worried about next Thursday at all. (To the tune I bit the bullet Friday and booked both flights the final for £ 97 combined. And from up North too. RESULT!

. Yup, VERY confident of being in Basle in three weeks or so. (H).). Don't get me wrong, I can see it being harder than Dortmund in so much as these are a far more defensive side and real good on the counter attack. But the fourth best in Spain is a good ways short of what the fourth best side in England would be under normal circumstances and I didn't see much to fear from them at all. Either on the night or the game against Sociedad I watched last weekend. Rocking Anfield. Under the lights. In Europe. You know the script ..... Nothings changed. Even at 0-0 we'd still have to go out and win so the objective is the same.
Disappointing to get beat but not despondent by any means as regards the tie and it didn't put too much of a damper on a boss little trip. (The weather took care of that haha.). It's Spain. Great food and rioja. Great people who love their footie. What more could you want from a few days away from reality?
Roll on next Thursday and the next step to that record equalling 4th UEFA Cup.