2010-2011 Football Thread

[Kyffin]

Ugh! just because it's united and/or Rooney you lot have to pipe up, when it's Terry (who thinks he knows more than any ref) or Gerrard oooooh its different.

All i can say after this weekend: MWAHAHAHAHA!!! United's to loose now.

Do you honestly think that was appropriately dealt with by Clattenberg? Given he was looking elsewhere and didn't seem to see it I'd question his giving Rooney a nice 'ol hug is any substitute for the red card it was.

Banter aside, and in all seriousness, can I ask if you thought that was fair? really can't understand how that decision can be allowed to stand.

I'm actually looking forward to the title run-in too, the Arse to win and beat all your houses to 19!

 

[Fuzzy14]

Ugh! just because it's united and/or Rooney you lot have to pipe up, when it's Terry (who thinks he knows more than any ref) or Gerrard oooooh its different.

But when it's Duncan Ferguson he gets jailed for 3 months for assault? The law is clear on this, just because it happens on a football pitch doesn't mean common law doesn't apply. If Rooney did that to somebody in the street he'd be in court.

And it's not anti-Rooney thing, rewind a couple of weeks ago and we were full of praise (or warming to a slight ambivalence) about his overhead kick goal.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I accept the responsibility for Meireles, sorry! I just put him in my FF team so he was always doomed I seem to have also been responsible for Bale, Lampard, Jagielka, and a major loss of form for Bebatov, Torres & Drogba

'Concentrating on the league' are we?

If I concentrate too hard on anything pertaining to Liverpool it hurts my head. I've written off the league and I've written off a top four spot - barring some major slumping from teams above us. I would be pleased to win the Europa League, but it would be nothing more than a morale-booster, rather than serious silverware. I don't think we'll make it anyway.

The Miereles loss hurts, he really began to settle in and was scoring goals. The best Liverpool fans can hope for this season is that, by the end of the campaign, both Suarez and Carroll are settled in and scoring regularly.

Nah, we don't like Terry that much either. We tend to view him as a bit of a pillock.

Gerrard? Ambivalent, personally.

Yeah, I think Terry and Rooney are pretty equally unlikeable. They're never going to win any Nice Guy competitions. (unlike that cheeky yet lovable chap, Jimmy Bullard )

I wouldn't care who did it, it was thuggish behaviour and should be stamped out.

I'm very disappointed with Fergie and Phelan defending him like that, they must have borrowed some of Wenger's dodgy specs. Do you think Rooney was not in the wrong?

If that wasn't "violent conduct", I don't know what it was. That was a straight sending off to me. It baffles me that Clattenberg only saw a free kick offense. Also, Fergie's comments are simply idiotic. Sure, he's protecting his player, I expect that. But to blame the media? I didn't see any reporters out there elbowing James McCarthy in the head. It's Wayne Rooney's responsibility where he puts his elbows (or anything else for that matter).

The rules that prevent retrospective bans in cases like this are just as stupid as Rooney's thuggery and Fergie's verbal diarrhea. It puts too much responsibility in the hands of the ref. If he makes a bad call, the FA can't do anything about it.

 

[Fizzoid]

Ugh! just because it's united and/or Rooney you lot have to pipe up, when it's Terry (who thinks he knows more than any ref) or Gerrard oooooh its different.

Is it? Been following this thread much? Were you here last season when Gerrard got a LOT of stick over the assault that he got away with. And the only difference with Terry is down to the fact he's also known as JIH

It's only because it's Man U and Fergie's lovechild you're defending him because of him blaming the media. Clever words from Fergie, that's for sure. If any comments are made about Rooney's elbow he'll simply reply with 'See, it's a witch hunt'

If Rooney did that to somebody in the street he'd be in court.

But would be cleared of all charges if he uses Gerrard's lawyer

 

[oscillatewildly]

Could easily have gone the same way as the CL final with Lehman getting sent off in the first 0.3 nanoseconds. Same result anyway; 2-1.
...

Lehmann embraced having to be mad to be a keeper. I'm not sure Szczesny would have been sent off; if the Arsenal defender in the middle could close the gap, yellow, if not then the keeper sees red.

Rooney; it was part self-defence and part aggression. The aggression should have been punished, but my FF team is happy it wasn't. Scholes should have been booked, and McCarthy sent for multiple offences.

The title is Manchester United's two loos, but they can easily flush their opportunity down the pan.

Don't forget tonight it's Air Rifle v Forearm.

Cheers,
OW

 

[garybUK]

Banter aside, and in all seriousness, can I ask if you thought that was fair? really can't understand how that decision can be allowed to stand.

I'm actually looking forward to the title run-in too, the Arse to win and beat all your houses to 19!

Personally, I think it should have been a red card and sending off.... but referee made his decision, if the FA were to step in and change it, it'd open the flood-gates to post-match changes, why not remove dubious goals away from teams?

After sunday's performance from the Arse + injury problems + Wenger's hissy fits, i'd be surprised in City didn't finish 2nd this season.

 

[Fizzoid]

Personally, I think it should have been a red card and sending off.... but referee made his decision, if the FA were to step in and change it, it'd open the flood-gates to post-match changes

Indeed, and that decision, in many peoples' opinions, was wrong. So of course people are going to discuss it. Despite what Fergie says, the ref got it wrong. But, because he already made a decision during the match, about the incident, post match action cannot be taken. That's fine, doesn't make it right though...

 

[daneoni]

So who thinks Chelsea can get a result against Utd? or is the general consesus that Utd will hold or brush them aside?

 

[Silencio]

So who thinks Chelsea can get a result against Utd? or is the general consesus that Utd will hold or brush them aside?

United can never take a result from Stamford Bridge for granted, and neither do I. I'd be happy enough with a draw.

Yeah, Rooney definitely got away with one, much like Gerrard did last season. They both should have been suspended. Even if there were some earlier extracurriculars between Rooney and McCarthy leading up to the elbow, Clattenberg should have dealt with it sooner and more firmly.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

I'm definitely not going to defend Gerrard, he's done some very stupid things off the pitch (and on it). It's as if the only way big players can get sent off is for absolutely flagrant fouls like Zidane's headbutt on that scumbag Materazzi (if I was ref I'd have given him a medal for that though, not a card ).

Personally, I think it should have been a red card and sending off.... but referee made his decision, if the FA were to step in and change it, it'd open the flood-gates to post-match changes, why not remove dubious goals away from teams?

Actually, I think the flood gates do need to be opened - goal line technology should be implemented and restrospective bans should be able to be imposed regardless of what the ref's call during the match may be. That still means some dubious calls will happen, but in my opinion goal line technology will not slow the game down and retrospective bans are necessary to make sure people don't get away with badly called dives, violent fouls and the like. Refs make mistakes sometimes, there needs to be a system for fixing mistakes. If players know that video evidence can be used against them, they will be less likely to cheat.

So who thinks Chelsea can get a result against Utd? or is the general consesus that Utd will hold or brush them aside?

Man Utd have been playing poorly - but everyone else is playing worse, and Utd continue to carry their Fergie-inspired and indomitable belief that they will always win. Chelsea, on the other hand, are not feeling very confident these days.

Utd goes into this match with a big advantage, and they are clear favorites to win. In my opinion, Arsenal will need a lot of help from other teams to win the title - if Chelsea don't win this match you can call the engraver.

 

[daneoni]

I was never really on the 'we're gonna win the league train' i only held out hope for the Carling Cup but thats gone now so now it's just about finishing second in the league and er...well nothing else...just that. Barca will knock us out in the CL and i don't see us winning the FA Cup either.

I was hoping Utd would at least drop 4 points between the Chelsea/Liverpool matches but Liverpool lost their last game because they played badly and Chelsea are still trying to figure out what formation to play with only one of their players looking up for it. So...even that dream is looking impossible.

I doubt Chelsea will win but you never know...it's been one of those seasons. Nothing is really impossible.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Arsenal's only chance at silverware now is the FA cup, unless Utd lose to Chelsea and draw or lose against Liverpool. I would have given them a small chance of going through against Barca except that they've now lost two of their best players to injury. Horrible luck.

I don't give Liverpool much hope against Utd unless our strikers & midfield play a blinder and score 3+ goals, because I think we will concede at least 2.

 

[daneoni]

...and given that we've been replaying almost every game thus far i don't see that happening. Unless Wenger starts fielding the first team for every game but even then the key players are currently injured. So...

Oh and Utd are 1 up thanks to a certain individual who arguably should not even be on the pitch.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

...and Chelsea get an equalizer from their newest big signing - no, the other one.

 

[pivo6]

...and Chelsea get an equalizer from their newest big signing - no, the other one.

And now taken the lead with a Lampard penalty.

 

[daneoni]

Vidic sent off too and will miss Anfield as a result. Could this day get any better.

Edit: Utd suffer a second defeat. Like i said...it's been one of those seasons.

To be fair though Chelsea were getting decisions that Utd weren't.

 

[Silencio]

United goes to the Bridge, gets screwed by the ref. What else is new.

 

[pivo6]

United goes to the Bridge, gets screwed by the ref. What else is new.

How so? If the referee didn't see the fouls on Rooney, then he can't call it, can he?

 

[daneoni]

United goes to the Bridge, gets screwed by the ref. What else is new.

Karma/penitence for the Rooney escape perhaps?

 

[Lord Blackadder]

Late drama at the bridge...unfortunately this robs Vidic of a chance to pick up his fourth red card against Liverpool.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

A bizarre story coming in from Colombia - Panamanian and Deportivo Pereira defender Luis Moreno may face jail time for kicking an owl during a match against Atlético Junior. The owl was the latter club's mascot.

For those too squeamish to watch the footage, which the Daily Mail warns constitutes animal cruelty, a Pereira defender chases a Junior attacker into the penalty box, wins the ball from him and clears it, poorly, hitting the owl that had landed on the field.

The referee stops play, and Moreno trots over and kicks the bird off the field, a distance of about three yards.

The incident was aired on national television and prompted widespread outrage, and not just from Junior fans. Environmental groups urged sanctions against Moreno and called for protests at the National Soccer building in Bogota.

Moreno apologized, saying it was not his intention to harm the bird.

"I did it to see if the owl could fly," the Daily Mail quoted him as saying.

The owl subsequently died. Apart from noting that it's completely shocking and nasty behavior, and apropos of nothing in particular, Luis Moreno is the fattest professional footballer I have ever seen judging by the picture in the link.

 

[Jaffa Cake]

...Luis Moreno is the fattest professional footballer I have ever seen judging by the picture in the link.

He has nothing on Jan Molby.

 

[Lord Blackadder]

He has nothing on Jan Molby.

Not fat, just big-boned. And he knew how to put away a penalty.

 

[awmazz]

So who thinks Chelsea can get a result against Utd? or is the general consesus that Utd will hold or brush them aside?

No thinking required. Called it a week ago. Utd *had* to lose against either Wigan or Chelsea before the month was out:

Because February is only 28 days, the Chelsea v Man Utd match on March 1 technically falls within a Lunar cycle period of the Manager of the Month award so Chelsea should win that one.

This is good, the destiny of the title is now officially for the first time in Arsenals' own hands. No more relying on other teams to beat Utd now. All other things being equal, win their own game in hand and against United at Ashburton Grove, they win the title.

And fancy Fergie complainign about poor refereeing decisions when he was quite okay with it not 10 hours ago..

I don't even want to look at that link of the fat Panamanian. It'll ruin my day I'm sure. I read the fotball section of the Mail Online so I'll have to avoid it if I see it there.

 

[Kyffin]

How so? If the referee didn't see the fouls on Rooney, then he can't call it, can he?

You know, when I saw the slow-mo replay I was sure that Clattenberg was looking at the ball at the time and would've saw Rooney peripherally at best. Had it in the back of my mind that there was a rule on an incident not seen by the ref at the time then retrospective action could be taken- but then again, Clattenberg says he did see (and surely wouldn't have awarded a free kick if he hadn't)

Admittedly on shaky ground as I don't find the minutiae as interesting as the game but found thought it worth finding out more about, and saw this this on the BBC news site:

One Fifa regulation which could be implemented to help the FA punish retrospectively but is not, is Article 77 (specific jurisdiction), which states: The Disciplinary Committee is responsible for:
a) sanctioning serious infringements which have escaped the match officials' attention;
b) rectifying obvious errors in the referee's disciplinary decisions;
c) extending the duration of a match suspension incurred automatically by an expulsion (cf. art 18, par. 4);
d) pronouncing additional sanctions, such as a fine.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/9409644.stm

Anyways, good result for Reading tonight but still gutted for the Toffees- think they've been short changed by this year's league and hope their luck changes soon.