Premier League Discussion 1st/2nd/3rd November 2008.

kas wrote:But then why do we hear arguments like "that was soft", or "he has a case", or "yeah sometimes it would be given".

The ref was far too rigid in applying the rules, as I posted yesterday.

The handball was near the halfway line...if it was a 1st yellow, ok, no problem IMO. But for 2nd yellow, then it's harsh.

Same with the penalty. In the Everton game, Fellaini was fouled, but the penalty was not given. In this game, the ref gave it, even though the striker was in the corner of the box with his back to goal, and the ball in front of him. No goal threat.
(incidentally, did the defender get a yellow? I don't remember if he did or not)

If all refs are going to go strictly by the rulebook and say "any foul in the penalty box is a penalty regardless of where the ball is or whether it's a goalscoring opportunity", then that's acceptable. If some refs are flexible, some are rigid, then it's a mess...and that's what causes managers to be outraged.

So are you complaining about the ref who failed to uphold the rule or the one who did. If the former it is justified if the latter it isn't.

It is a mess because of the refs who don't stick to the rules. Not the ones who do.

Managers will be outraged about anything to deflect the attention from their own deficiencies. Just look at Alex Ferguson after the Bolton game.

The location of the ball within the penalty area when a foul is made there is irrelevant; penalties aren't awarded only for fouls that prevent goalscoring opportunities, they're awarded for fouls in the penalty area that, anywhere else on the pitch, would result in direct free kicks being given. The sort of grey area involves what constitutes a direct free kick and what an indirect free kick - if a defender obstructs an attacker in the box, then an indirect free kick should be given, but I think it is sometimes tricky to determine what is obstruction and what is a foul, or dangerous play, or whatever.

Anyway, my problem with the penalty given against West Brom yesterday is that I don't think Donk really impeded Roberts by pulling his shirt. Donk was stupid to pull Robert's shirt in that position, because he wasn't going anywhere - but the fact that he wasn't going anywhere meant that he wasn't really pulled away from the ball or impeded in any way. Is a shirt pull still a foul if it doesn't impede the opponent at all? I think it's difficult.

I think McCarthy deserved to go - I think his handball was deliberate, so the second yellow was fair enough.

Bashmachkin wrote:Anyway, my problem with the penalty given against West Brom yesterday is that I don't think Donk really impeded Roberts by pulling his shirt.

He didn't impede him at all which makes him even more stupid.

Pierre Littbarski wrote:

Bashmachkin wrote:Anyway, my problem with the penalty given against West Brom yesterday is that I don't think Donk really impeded Roberts by pulling his shirt.

He didn't impede him at all which makes him even more stupid.

That's only reason preventing me from saying, that referee was totally wrong giving a penalty, I like to see players to be punished for being stupid. So it was 50-50 IMHO, similar to Fellaini against Fulham.

But I still don't like this second booking for McCarthy, IMHO he tried to control his body in mid-air and use his chest to touch the ball, also he was slightly pushed. It was a handlball, but not for booking, especially not for 2nd one (I know it shouldn't be a difference, but there is in reality)...

The Bolton - City is so

What are all these rave reviews for Kompany. He is anonymous and Bolton are bossing the midfield. If they had players with a bit of craft they would be ahead. This is where they miss players like Okocha.

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan SHITY!

Hughes out!

Loads of money, new owner, new coach, new signings...still they're $h!t away from home

Nice goal, Robinho screwed up in the middle and gave the ball away for the move to start.

Man City on a bad run if they lose this...1 win in 6. Hughes might start to get a bit of heat if they don't pick up soon.

The table's looking v tight now. Only 6pts from 7th to 20th.

if it stays like this Bolton will move onto 11 points along with West Brom, Wigan and Fulham meaning 3 points will separate 18th and 8th.

Nice.

debaser wrote:Man City on a bad run if they lose this...1 win in 6. Hughes might start to get a bit of heat if they don't pick up soon.

The table's looking v tight now. Only 6pts from 7th to 20th.

So he should be

Theres more than enough talent in that City team to finish in the top 7. Hull would cut their right arm off for players like Richards, Ireland, Robinho, SWP, Kompany, Dunne... or on this display perhaps not.

Oooh! Richard Dunne has lost it.

Sack Hughes we want Redknapp

Behead Hughes!

Dunne scores lots of own goals. Or at least seems to.

debaser wrote:Dunne scores lots of own goals. Or at least seems to.

Yup, he's brain-body connection has to be really slow and his overall coordination is average at best.

Hughes OUT

Ramos IN

If they had Brabin as their manager, they would be winning

The Easter Bunny wrote:If they had Brabin as their manager, they would be winning

He is one of the hardest men to ever walk God's green earth and that's a fact

Hip Hip Heurelho wrote:

L.r.d wrote:

Hip Hip Heurelho wrote:5 of our 9 pts have come against the top 4

Which shows you need more muscle men

What do you mean?

-------------------------------------------------------
@ Everyone.

If you had been told exactly 7 days ago that Harry Redknapp would be our manager and we would get 7 points from our next 3 games....what would you have said?

I would've said possible, a lot more possible than with useless Spanish c**t you had in charge.

EMP wrote:

borocooper wrote:

Hip Hip Heurelho wrote:

borocooper wrote:Good riddance to Ramos Comolli Ramos

Ramos couldnt get these same players to fight, Harry has done it straight away..Ramos wouldnt have had Bentley playing..he's contributed loads..Ramos probably wouldnt have played Fat Tom either, and you needed someone like him in midfield.

Harry

Boro, does your Ramos hate have anything to do with the result of a UEFA Cup final where Ramos outwitted your team and your master-tactician Steve McClaren?

Not at all..in fact, after the Sevilla game loads of Boro fans started looking out for Sevilla results treating them almost like a second team after the way they outplayed us so easily. Lets be honest though, is outwitting Steve "oh $h!t, we're down by 3 goals, 4 strikers is the only way" McClaren really that big an achievement? He was abysmal as Spurs manager, and it annoys me to see it ignored..he had the players there but he refused to use them correctly..or some he refused to even use at all.

The tactics of an idiot

Fair enough if you don't rate Ramos' time at Spurs, but to minimise his achievements at Sevilla to "he didn't do much, was just not as stupid as Mclaren" is The Sun-esque spin at best.

I didnt do that.

I said outwitting McClaren in the UEFA Cup final was no massive achievement...pretty sure he managed them in other games too.

Yes, their entire UEFA cup campaign was just fantastic.

So was ours

Im not saying he was $h!t at Sevilla..im saying he obviously did well there and alot of Boro fans..myself included had a lot of respect for them and their fans were great too. It just didnt take much to outclass McClaren, and he failed big time with Spurs. It wasnt like he was picking his best side..getting them to fight and then they were just losing by an unlucky chance..they were just fucking rubbish..and he couldnt inspire them in the slightest. Then starts leaving out the likes of Bentley, when he's a player who knows this league and had a brilliant season last season..and clearly he's made a big difference since he started playing again..goal against Arsenal, pretty much made two goals yesterday. Ramos also left out the only midfielder capable of playing the holding role. Then he moans about not having a player to play the holding role. Idiot.

A link for the N'castle v Villa game.

http://www.ustream.tv/videoplayerpopup/channel/335313

MacManaman saying Jonas never scored for Mallorca last season

f@ck, Steve Bennett is the ref.

Kimbo wrote:f@ck, Steve Bennett is the ref.

No pressure, but if you lose this, we're on level points. Fancy a wager on who'll finish higher this season, or still burnin' from last?