So a draw in the end for us against Villa. We should have one it, but there you go. Keeps us away from the relegation pack. But three points would have been nice.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
The 2024-2025 Football Thread
- Thread starter Scepticalscribe
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Yes, I understand that, and agree with you.
However, - to my mind - a yellow card and a free kick awarded to Wolves would have been a more appropriate action.
In the end, I suppose, it didn't really matter all that much; Wolves also had a man dismissed, and we did win the match and claim the points.
Mind you, I have just read that the referee in yesterday's game, Michael Oliver (deemed, according to what I have read, to be one of the best referees in the Premier League) had received abuse, threats and death threats from some apparently aggrieved (and quite brainless) Arsenal fans.
This sort of stuff is outrageous, indefensible and utterly inexcusable - to threaten an individual (and his family) in such a manner is absolutely appalling, and some Arsenal fans (and fellow travellers of the keyboard warrior variety) really need to grow up and take a long, hard look at themselves.
This sort of stuff is outrageous, indefensible and utterly inexcusable - to threaten an individual (and his family) in such a manner is absolutely appalling, and some Arsenal fans (and fellow travellers of the keyboard warrior variety) really need to grow up and take a long, hard look at themselves.
Agreed. Just idiots. Especially when you consider you did still pick up all three points. There are certainly worse things to get worked up about going on in the world today.
I hope they find who ever made the threatening posts.
On a similar note it is good news that the person sending threating messages to Kai Havertz and his wife after Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup has been found and arrested. It was a 17 year old boy from St.Albans in the UK.
On a similar note it is good news that the person sending threating messages to Kai Havertz and his wife after Arsenal got knocked out of the FA Cup has been found and arrested. It was a 17 year old boy from St.Albans in the UK.
Kai Havertz: Teenage boy arrested on suspicion of sending online abuse to Arsenal striker and wife
A 17-year-old boy from St Albans is arrested on suspicion of sending online abuse to Arsenal striker Kai Havertz and his wife.
www.bbc.co.uk
No one should suffer personal abuse or vitriol. You can critique performance and effort and then move on.
Its probably not a a good idea for Oliver to ref an Arsenal match anytime soon. There's toxicity brewing between both sides and both are now more incentivised to figuratively 'see red'
Its probably not a a good idea for Oliver to ref an Arsenal match anytime soon. There's toxicity brewing between both sides and both are now more incentivised to figuratively 'see red'
Last edited:
Unfortunately I can see this happening more frequently due to all of the negative things that are going on in the UK right now. More and more people are getting angry at what is going on and that anger needs to be vented and when your a football fan that anger get's vented towards the players, the manager, the club and the match officials.
One of my elder nephews is a manager of a local community football club. The club has teams of boys, girls, men and women, starting from 5 all the way up to 50-70 (these teams are called 'walking football', it so elderly players can still play the game but at a very steady pace). Anyway, he's been telling me that over the past 2 years he has seen a gradual shift of attitudes of fans who come to watch the games. Basically the fan's have got angrier and angrier and this is just your local community teams and fans. It will be a thousand time worse with fans of professional teams.
Arsenal are appealing Lewis-Skelly red card. Having now looked at replays of the incident I have to say that as a neutral it is a red card, not for the studs challenge but for the fact the Wolves player was given a clear run potential towards Arsenal's goal (two Arsenal players either side of the wolves player would have intercepted him in my opinion) but was stopped from doing so due to the reckless challenge by Skelly.
It was a professional foul clear and simple because Skelly was not going for the ball because he was too far away to have been able to get a touch on the ball via a tackle.
Just my opinion, that's all.
It was a professional foul clear and simple because Skelly was not going for the ball because he was too far away to have been able to get a touch on the ball via a tackle.
Just my opinion, that's all.
I didn't see it as a red. A yellow for sure. It looked like a professional foul to stop the opposition breaking. You take one for the team. Also the fact that Wolves were still in their own half, 80yrds from goal mitigates the goal scoring opportunity argument
But above ankle is a grey area in contact sport. I've seen worse tackles not even carded
If anything the Joao Gomez one was more of a straight red, that was serious foul play.
Anyway, Arsenal's appeal has been successful, after an independent body found in their favour.
But above ankle is a grey area in contact sport. I've seen worse tackles not even carded
If anything the Joao Gomez one was more of a straight red, that was serious foul play.
Anyway, Arsenal's appeal has been successful, after an independent body found in their favour.
Last edited:
As a complete neutral (I'm not even British) I have to say that it seems an harsh red. I would probably go for yellow.
The player is centered but not alone and also too far from the goal.
Regarding the foul itself while it is a gross fault I don't see aggressive or violent play.
Only found too far away videos on YouTube. Perhaps with a closer angle I would change my mind.
The player is centered but not alone and also too far from the goal.
Regarding the foul itself while it is a gross fault I don't see aggressive or violent play.
Only found too far away videos on YouTube. Perhaps with a closer angle I would change my mind.
Wrong decision in my opinion. Skelly was too far away to have been able to play the ball so his only option to stop the wolves player making a dash for Arsenal's half was to take out the player instead. Where his foot made contact is irrelevant because the main focus should have been on Skelly taking the player out. The panel clearly failed to do this and just focused on the studs up contact instead and because of that focus it got the player off the red card.
Yes I read Arsenal had also made an enquiry for him and today a bid for Watkins.
However I’ve read Duran is going to Saudi for £64 million.
You’ll have no chance of signing Watkins if that happens.
Don't want Watkins personally (Don't want Cunha either). His (Watkins) performance tonight sums him up. He'll score one, miss a sitter, and miscue one. Good all round forward, but not clinical by any stretch. And not elite. Reminds me of Giroud.
He's also 29. He would be a side-grade at best
If anything i'd rather have Duran but he seems to want the retirement fund at Saudi.
My preference remains Osimehn or Gyokeres. Or Sesko since Arteta seems obsessed with him.
Its 29th of Jan. The season (and arguably window) is a write off anyway, might as well take our time to find a proper forward that moves the needle for us long term. Rather than panic buy.
He's also 29. He would be a side-grade at best
If anything i'd rather have Duran but he seems to want the retirement fund at Saudi.
My preference remains Osimehn or Gyokeres. Or Sesko since Arteta seems obsessed with him.
Its 29th of Jan. The season (and arguably window) is a write off anyway, might as well take our time to find a proper forward that moves the needle for us long term. Rather than panic buy.
Damnit Club Brugge..why? why?...going into this game on an unbeaten run of 19 games, a win or a draw to kick out City from the champions league and what happens? they lose!!!!.
Simon Jordan surprisingly sums up my feelings on Michael Oliver. The data doesn’t lie. No matter how rival fans or the media want to paint it
I’ll never take him or Taylor seriously.
I don’t consider any ref truly impartial. Especially in England. Webb and Clattenburg were ok but even they had their issues.
In Europe, Stephanie Frappart, Szymon Marciniak, and Felix Brych are notable.
But no one has topped Pierluigi Collina for me. Levels above.
I’ll never take him or Taylor seriously.
I don’t consider any ref truly impartial. Especially in England. Webb and Clattenburg were ok but even they had their issues.
In Europe, Stephanie Frappart, Szymon Marciniak, and Felix Brych are notable.
But no one has topped Pierluigi Collina for me. Levels above.
Stats do not lie BUT they can surely be manipulated to suit a person's agenda. Simon Jordan only picks one team and uses that ONE team as the whole basis for his argument. No no and no. For his argument to have any credibility he needs to put the stats up of 4-5 teams that Oliver has refereed and THEN make the comparison.
Brugge played an outstanding first half and deserved their lead, but two bad defensive breakdowns in the second half doomed them.
I didn't realize that's where Simon Mignolet went. It's been a minute.
Looks like city has to play Bayern or Real in the next round, though.
Nobody would want to catch City.
Yeah, not their best season in several years but in a regular day they will still be hard to beat and on a good day they will cut anyone to pieces.
Yeah, not their best season in several years but in a regular day they will still be hard to beat and on a good day they will cut anyone to pieces.
Forrest respond to their previous defeat by dismantling Brighton at home.
Brighton humiliated United. Forest absolutely annihilated Brighton.
Not looking forward to United's next visit to Forest in April!
Looks like Marcus Rashford is going out on loan to Aston Villa. While I preferred to see him go abroad, at least there will be one fewer distraction for Amorim to deal with, and perhaps a clean slate will do Rashford some good. However, Emory demands hard workers just as much as Amorim does, so we'll see if Rash is up to it. It's a sad saga, but I do wish him the best.
Not looking forward to United's next visit to Forest in April!
Looks like Marcus Rashford is going out on loan to Aston Villa. While I preferred to see him go abroad, at least there will be one fewer distraction for Amorim to deal with, and perhaps a clean slate will do Rashford some good. However, Emory demands hard workers just as much as Amorim does, so we'll see if Rash is up to it. It's a sad saga, but I do wish him the best.
If he plays well for Villa and United continue to struggle, the spotlight will be on Amorim more than it is now though.
Considering it was mentioned that both mangers demand their players to work hard, if Rashford were to go to Villa and does well then it would prove what people had been saying about Rashford in that he downed tools at United and could no longer be bothered. We will have to wait and see.