Football 2013-2014

[eFestivals]

This is the way city should have played last night, arsenal playing there own game.

I think you spoke too soon.

They were flying til Ozil missed that penalty, the prat. And it looked like it was shaping up to be a fantastic game, then it went totally flat.

[5co77ie]

i felt a bit sorry for Wenger - he managed to get the zip working on his coat, and then...

[thetime]

Something like 3 on the trot he's missed. Why didn't Arteta take it?

[thetime]

Duncan Ferguson joining Everton first team as a coach, well you wouldn't step out of line would you?

[The Nal]

Was there not technically a high foot by Robben for the peno?

"Over waist height"?

Also there could be a bit of trouble about this. Or maybe he was just saying "Fuck it I'm off for a cheap w*nk"?

Edited February 20, 2014 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Was there not technically a high foot by Robben for the peno?

hmmm, a bit too much before the goalie got there I'd say. It was a fair penalty, and a fair red.

Also there could be a bit of trouble about this. Or maybe he was just saying "Fuck it I'm off for a cheap w*nk"?

lol ... who was it aimed at, do you kn ow? The BM bench?

[The Nal]

hmmm, a bit too much before the goalie got there I'd say. It was a fair penalty, and a fair red.

Edited February 20, 2014 by The Nal

[eFestivals]

Hmmmmm........

that was a fair red too, for different reasons.

Nani couldn't miss and didn't miss getting the other guy with his foot (while Robben missed by a mile and his foot didn't change anything about what the goalie did), and from another camera angle you can see that not only did Nani get him with his foot, Nani also gave a further action to kick into him as a completely different 2nd action*.

(* that might have been an unavoidable consequence of the first contact, but it's still there to be seen and makes the whole thing look worse).

Edited February 20, 2014 by eFestivals

[strummer77]

It was, but it's a shit rule.

Penalty should be punishment enough. IMO red card for last man defender/keeper if outside the box and in goal scoring position as free kick not punishment enough, but if it's in the area just give a penalty.

[eFestivals]

I think red is fair if it is deliberate/cynical. But yeah in most situations a pen is punishment enough.

I was saying "fair red" when referencing the rules as they stand, rather than what might be fair in a more general sense.

In that more general sense the red was harsh cos Robben wasn't going to be able to put the ball in the net if he'd not been fouled, the ball was going to go out of play.

[thetime]

Straight red.

Did the ball even go out? If it did it was going very slowly across the line, no doubt robben would of got it if he wasn't taken out.

http://youtu.be/tSh7-6g8WZc

Edited February 20, 2014 by thetime

[strummer77]

I was saying "fair red" when referencing the rules as they stand, rather than what might be fair in a more general sense.

[thetime]

Oh I know. Last night is a red in the rules just they are set to change them (or at least vote on it) next month so that is what I think the rule should become.

Edited February 20, 2014 by thetime

[eFestivals]

I'm not sure about a rule change to be honest, changing it to just a penalty favours the player making the foul.

For example.

A player is running past the goalkeeper to put the ball into an empty net, then the goalkeeper brings him down so the attacking teams get a penalty. Then the attacking team have to beat the goalkeeper all over again with no sending off.

I wouldn't give a red or a penalty, perhaps an automatic goal.

it's a difficult one to get the balance right for.

TBH, I think the only way it could work to a 'rule' would be for the ref to decide what the incident deserves, but that would create as many issues as already exist because there'd be a lot of inconsistencies between refs.

[thetime]

there'd be a lot of inconsistencies between refs.

[5co77ie]

Duncan Ferguson joining Everton first team as a coach, well you wouldn't step out of line would you?

[zahidf]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26287482

Rooney contract confirmed.

I wonder if he will start playing well now to justify it?

[kaosmark2]

I thought it was agreed back in January? Isn't all that's left to do signing it? Y'know, the actually important part.

[The Nal]

Either way I think hes next captain. Hopefully thats the love and responsibility he needs to start playing well consistently and leading on the pitch. Utd desperately need a leader at the moment.

Great news!

[thetime]

That contract is a bit strange and can't understand it.

Rooney is very hit and miss, goes a fair while out of form. I think I read a star yesterday he's scored one goal since Christmas, he's only scored one goal against a team in the top 9 this season.

Also if united do go a few years without Champions League football it's a big wage and a long contract to justify it.

Added that to wanting to leave twice, he's never going to be truly loved at united universally.

Although signing a long term contract means he will go for top dollar.

Although my personal wish is he would just leave.

[eFestivals]

That contract is a bit strange and can't understand it.

I'm guessing that Colon won't agree to move.

[pink_triangle]

It won't make the slightest difference to man u performances whether rooney is captain or not. The only benefactor will be rooney from the extra endorsements that comes from being a captain of a big name. The reality is that football is a sport where the captains don't really do anything.

[thetime]

The reality is that football is a sport where the captains don't really do anything.

[DomDom1984]

Rooney hasn't even been playing badly. The way United are playing leaves him and RVP in a pickle. Rooney needs to come back and do a load of the work that others aren't, and RVP becomes useless for much of the game. If they want to get the most out of players like that, they need a stronger midfield. I think he's a terrific player.

[eFestivals]

so, rooney earns twice as much every day 7 days a week as many people do for a whole year's work.

So which ones of you are helping fund such stupidity? I'm pleased to say that I fund it less than most cos I don't have any subscription TV, but even then I've not escaped it entirely because of the licence fee.

For the 1st time in my life I want all Prem footie to be on subscription channels only.