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2008-09 Football Thread - The Second Half
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And Bendter too TBO.
He might be missing the target lately (A LOT..) but het kept going there.
But it's not over yet. One mistake at the back is all it takes!
Edit: GALLAS!!!!
Well....
Fortune favours the brave
Jaffa Cake will be cursing the second goal. Question is from which player did Gallas "get" the ball?
Fortune favours the brave
Jaffa Cake will be cursing the second goal. Question is from which player did Gallas "get" the ball?
It also favours offside former captains, it would seem. Gallas should have been flagged for the winner there, but there wasn't really the need for Myhill to come so far out for it.Well....
Fortune favours the brave
Never mind though, we've far more important matters to concern ourselves with. Well done to Arsenal and good luck for the Semi-Final against Chelsea.
It certainly wasn't that sort of game at all, no nasty challenges or owt. I remind you though as to the identity of the match official...
There were a couple of cards which I honestly couldn't tell you what they were for.
Well, no and no.
It wasn't a foul game, and the ref might have been a bit hasty in giving a card once or twice, but they were mostly given for time wasting, and the occasional lunge at a player.
Gallas clearly stood offside, but it wasn't clear whether he got the ball from an Arsenal player, or the missed punch from the goalie.
Cheers, Jaffa Cake.
If you keep playing like that, you'll survive easily. Good luck.
As far as I could tell, Myhill was the only player carded for timewasting, and that looked to be quite harsh on him as he ran up to take a free kick. God help Riley if he's given a QPR game to ref.
Manucho and Geovanni's bookings were the two I was most bemused with...
EDIT: Hmm... Brown's just been interviewed on the radio and apparently there was a bit of a spat in the tunnel after the match, with Fabregas spitting at City's assistant manager Brian Horton. Rather unpleasant if true.
Hmm, yet another dodgy game for Mr M Riley (West Yorkshire).
According to the latest, Phil Brown has had some harsh words for Wenger, Fabregas, the Arsenal fans and the club as a whole.
I hope either Chelsea or (preferably) Arsenal win the FA cup.
I agree, based on what I've read. And for as much money as this saga has cost West Ham, I think Sheffield United would have gladly paid the same money if it would have kept them up. At any rate, if Sheffield United really believed they were right, I think they would have gone to court rather than settled.
According to the latest, Phil Brown has had some harsh words for Wenger, Fabregas, the Arsenal fans and the club as a whole.
I hope either Chelsea or (preferably) Arsenal win the FA cup.
I agree, based on what I've read. And for as much money as this saga has cost West Ham, I think Sheffield United would have gladly paid the same money if it would have kept them up. At any rate, if Sheffield United really believed they were right, I think they would have gone to court rather than settled.
Hmm... Brian Horton has put an official complaint in to the LMA about the alleged spitting incident. We'll see if anything comes of it, but ultimately it's the word of the City staff and players against their Arsenal counterparts.
And onto other matters, the whole Tevez saga has dragged on way longer than it should have, and I'm not surprised Colin Wanker is trying to squeeze what he can out of it. Mind, say what you like about Leeds United at least they're not considering trying to cash in on this in some incredibly tenuous way.
Oh, hang on...
And onto other matters, the whole Tevez saga has dragged on way longer than it should have, and I'm not surprised Colin Wanker is trying to squeeze what he can out of it. Mind, say what you like about Leeds United at least they're not considering trying to cash in on this in some incredibly tenuous way.
Oh, hang on...
I heard Phil Brown being interviewed on Radio 5 this morning and, to be honest, I thought that he sounded like a petulant child.
He even complained about Fabregas' attire!
No, he wasn't a happy bunny that's for sure.
I've not heard the same interview as you (although I read on the BBC website him mentioning what Fabregas was wearing, so that was likely the source), the one I heard was the one he gave to the local radio station immediately after the match. Based on that and the comments I've read from him today in the press, he does have some valid grounds for complaint but he also ventures on to some quite daft stuff too which doesn't exactly look too good on him.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if the ball touches a Hull player last, then Gallas is onside - correct? I had had a few Guinesses, but I'm pretty sure when Setanta showed the slow-mo it came off the head then nicked off the keepers fists then fell to Gallas.
The spitting complaints are farcical. Fabregas immediately strenuously denies it. Why would he spit at the assistant manager?
That's good enough for me.
Phil Brown:
What this club is about..? What a ****ing idiot. Even if Fabregas did spit at him, which I very much doubt, it says nothing about what the club is about, just what Fabregas is about. And what does what Fabregas was wearing have to do with it? It's pretty pathetic, stinks of an angry bitter man.
EDIT: Phil Brown says Arsene didn't shake his hand after our 1-2 loss, 3-1 win or 2-1 win last night. Well... here's a video of him shaking his hand after the match at the KC Stadium. Good one Phil.
If the reports are true the two apparently exchanged words on the pitch after the final whistle, and things got a bit heated when their paths crossed again in the tunnel.
Indeed, a statement went up on the club website this morning from the Arsenal captain to protest his innocence.
I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?
Wasn't he involved in a spitting incident against Michael Ballack in the Champions League a few years back?
As I say, it boils down to being a case of City's word against Arsenal's – nowt will come of it. The press though are naturally stirring things up and looking at any angle they can to highlight hostilities, no matter how dubious – reading the reports I was amused slightly by this particular photo and caption...
Eyeball to eyeball: Cesc Fabregas confronts Craig Fagan after the match
Look at Fabregas' arm – Fagan is clearly stood behind him and the two aren't looking at each other. Move along cub reporter, nothing to see here.
To be fair, Wenger probably didn't see it either.
He was definitely upset, yet it was all a bit unbecoming.
As an old teacher of mine used to say: "Engage your brain before you open your mouth." Sound advice in a maths class, even more important to remember when you're being interviewed on the radio!
And don't I know it
. Wonders if the BBC archive recording of me as a ~12 year old singing "Staying Alive" on the radio will pop up at some embrassing point in my future. If the reports are true the two apparently exchanged words on the pitch after the final whistle, and things got a bit heated when their paths crossed again in the tunnel.
Indeed, a statement went up on the club website this morning from the Arsenal captain to protest his innocence.
I have never done this in my whole career on the pitch, so why would I do it when I am not even playing?
Wasn't he involved in a spitting incident against Michael Ballack in the Champions League a few years back?
As I say, it boils down to being a case of City's word against Arsenal's nowt will come of it. The press though are naturally stirring things up and looking at any angle they can to highlight hostilities, no matter how dubious reading the reports I was amused slightly by this particular photo and caption...
View attachment 163040
Eyeball to eyeball: Cesc Fabregas confronts Craig Fagan after the match
Look at Fabregas' arm Fagan is clearly stood behind him and the two aren't looking at each other. Move along cub reporter, nothing to see here.
To be fair, Wenger probably didn't see it either.
About shaking hands, Wenger says:
Seems like that's a meal been made of nothing too.
The Ballack spitting thing apparently he didn't actual spit at him, just shouted at him, or yelled something. The video doesn't show - but the reason the general consensus was he didn't spit was that the ref. was standing 3 metres away. If he spat, he wouldn't have only given him a yellow card (which was for the tackle). Ballack didn't mention it at all at the end of the game also, which he would've done if he was spat on. And finally, UEFA made a huge deal about Lehmann squirting water at someone during that game afterwards. They wouldn't have ignored a spit.
Thing is, he must surely have known full well Brown was on the pitch with his players at the time – and why not simply shake his hand there and then as managers do week in week out before tootling off down the tunnel? Obviously you see more of Wenger than I do, does he disappear immediately – with no interaction with his opposite number – after every home game?
To be fair, it should be mentioned that Brown said he did shake hands and talk to Pat Rice after the match and was perfectly complimentary about him.
If that's the case and no Spanish spittle was spilled on that occasion, fair enough. I'd just remembered there was a bit of fuss at the time, that was all.
EDIT: By the way, speaking of Spaniards who – allegedly – can't keep their gobs shut, Rafa Benitez has finally signed his new contract. He's agreed to stay at Anfield to 2014.
Yeah actually - I think it's just something he does, but he very rarely stays around, even after big wins when all the players are gone, he's pretty swift down the tunnel. Only times I've seen him milling around on the pitch are after some huge away wins, but only briefly then!
I've got to say, I think that's pretty unusual – you traditionally see managers shake each others hands immediately after the final whistle, whether or not they then go onto the pitch with the players or disappear straight down the tunnel. Ah well, if that's his way then that's his way.
I think the best way to resolve this once and for all is for Brown, Wenger, Horton and Fabregas to have a big group cuddle in the centre circle at half-time in the FA Cup Final. What a fantastic example that would set to all the youngsters watching.
I think the best way to resolve this once and for all is for Brown, Wenger, Horton and Fabregas to have a big group cuddle in the centre circle at half-time in the FA Cup Final. What a fantastic example that would set to all the youngsters watching.
Sorry, I forgot to comment on this last night with more important stuff to discuss like Fabregas' jacket.
FIFA's Laws of the Game would suggest that, in this instance, Gallas was offside (bold emphasis mine)...
Gallas was in an offside position and clearly gained an advantage by being so, even if the ball did take a slight deflection off Myhill after being headed by Djourou.
Sorry, I forgot to comment on this last night with more important stuff to discuss like Fabregas' jacket.
FIFA's Laws of the Game would suggest that, in this instance, Gallas was offside (bold emphasis mine)...
Gallas was in an offside position and clearly gained an advantage by being so, even if the ball did take a slight deflection off Myhill after being headed by Djourou.
Yep, I didn't realise that. Offside then.
Back to the handshake thing.. check this Yahoo link out with date, time and match. So that's both of the Premiership games he did shake Phil Brown's hand after the game. Just blatent lies! Why should anyone believe him about Fabregas spitting?
You have to admit it's pretty stupid to claim they didn't shake hands on all three meetings, and then it to be proven that they did on all but last night - where Wenger claims he just wasn't around. Stupid.
Sorry to bleat on about this, but listen to this 5 live interview. It's amazing! Very very funny, listen to it.
An Arsenal blog says about it:
"When asked who else witnessed the spitting incident he claims to have seen, his inability to answer, his spluttering and eventual retreat into accusing the presenters of questioning his integrity spoke absolute volumes to me."
He needs to stop digging I think.
It's Brian Horton who has claimed Fabregas spat at him, and Horton who has reported the matter to the LMA, not Brown. Whatever folk may think of Brown and I know he's not popular with many Horton is a very well-known and well-respected figure in the game, although obviously not enough for Fabregas to know who he is.
I'll say again, it boils down to being one word against another. None of the match officials were apparently present in the tunnel Riley wasn't there, nor were any of his assistants so it's not in their match report and if there was any footage available of the alleged incident I'm sure we'd have heard about it by now. We may never know for certain what happened in that tunnel, but I can tell you now Fabregas won't be punished and Brown is likely to be strongly censured for his comments.
I'm reasonably confident we won't get to see that Wembley group hug, either. Which is a shame.
It's Brian Horton who has claimed Fabregas spat at him, and Horton who has reported the matter to the LMA, not Brown. Whatever folk may think of Brown and I know he's not popular with many Horton is a very well-known and well-respected figure in the game, although obviously not enough for Fabregas to know who he is.
I'll say again, it boils down to being one word against another. None of the match officials were apparently present in the tunnel Riley wasn't there, nor were any of his assistants so it's not in their match report and if there was any footage available of the alleged incident I'm sure we'd have heard about it by now. We may never know for certain what happened in that tunnel, but I can tell you now Fabregas won't be punished and Brown is likely to be strongly censured for his comments.
I'm reasonably confident we won't get to see that Wembley group hug, either. Which is a shame.
Unlikely that the group hug will happen.
Phil Brown isn't reporting it, but says he saw it. When he was asked who else saw it he mumbled, ignored it, and claimed the reporter was questioning his integrity. So yes, I hope Fabregas isn't punished, as I don't believe he did anything.
Taking a break from the glamor of the Fabregas spitting controversy...
The MLS season kicked off today with a brand new side, Seattle Sounders FC, playing their first match as an MLS team. I say brand new, but there has been a Sounders team since 1974 on and off. Since 1994 they have played in the USL 1st Division (the second division of football in the US).
A few interesting facts: 20,000 season tickets have been sold, they've stolen 2008 championship-winning manager Sigi Schmidt away from us at Columbusmad, they have veteran USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller between the sticks and also will feature ex-Arsenal, ex-Aston Villa, ex-Sweden striker Freddy Ljungberg up front (he is not yet match fit, so didn't start the opening game).
Colombian Fredy Montero scored twice and ex-Columbusmad midfielder Brad Evans also scored, as Seattle routed a woeful New York 3-0.
I have to say, I want my manager and midfielder back, but nonetheless best of luck to Seattle. It's good to see the MLS expanding even amidst the current financial crisis, and Seattle's new team has a strong financial backing and good existing fan base.
I'm still fairly confident Columbus can repeat our title victory, though now we are in the (CONCACAF) Champions League as well, so fixture congestion becomes an issue.
The MLS season kicked off today with a brand new side, Seattle Sounders FC, playing their first match as an MLS team. I say brand new, but there has been a Sounders team since 1974 on and off. Since 1994 they have played in the USL 1st Division (the second division of football in the US).
A few interesting facts: 20,000 season tickets have been sold, they've stolen 2008 championship-winning manager Sigi Schmidt away from us at Columbus
mad, they have veteran USA goalkeeper Kasey Keller between the sticks and also will feature ex-Arsenal, ex-Aston Villa, ex-Sweden striker Freddy Ljungberg up front (he is not yet match fit, so didn't start the opening game).Colombian Fredy Montero scored twice and ex-Columbus
mad midfielder Brad Evans also scored, as Seattle routed a woeful New York 3-0.I have to say, I want my manager and midfielder back, but nonetheless best of luck to Seattle. It's good to see the MLS expanding even amidst the current financial crisis, and Seattle's new team has a strong financial backing and good existing fan base.
I'm still fairly confident Columbus can repeat our title victory, though now we are in the (CONCACAF) Champions League as well, so fixture congestion becomes an issue.
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