This is the problem, players seem to work harder at creating a foul to get a penalty than trying to play on and get a shot/pass away. That is why I wish more were booked for it. Maybe they would focus on proper football rather than the dark arts of trying to create a foul, if they were punished for it.
I see your point, but the defender lunging in from behind with zero chance of getting to the ball is the key here. Alan Shearer and his ilk would say "he's got every right to go down!".
Defender didn't touch the ball, but didn't touch the man either. Sarr dragged his foot into him. That modern day line of "Every right to go down" is horrible and advocates cheating by the likes of Shearer and others.
Absolutely right. And then you get some fans so suckered into it they peddle the weak excuse "he had to exaggerate and go down or the ref wouldn't give it!".
There is this horrible grey area where there is contact but not enough contact to knock a player over. I hate this idea that you're allowed to fall over in that situation and legitimately claim a pen. I can't stand Shearer, Lineker, Murphy, Keown etc. They add nothing and irritate the pants off me. If I ever watch MotD, which is rare, I fwd though all the verbal drivel those guys spout.
I wondered after a clean sheet and a penalty in our favour that I would have to apologise to the delightful Gavin Ward for predicting his expected inabilities. In view of all the comments since it appears that my Mystic Meg efforts were more than fair on this occasion nonetheless. Good though to see that in the Prem with the added safety net of VAR our Gavin appeared to be merely hopeless unlike everyone's friend Stuart 'Ghost Goal' Attwell who earned the wrath of Pep with the offside goal. He still loves to be decisive when wrong and even some of his fellow refs defended him. Ten Hag knew different! And that inept Aussie import Jarred Gillett (as sharp as a razor!) gave Ivan T a stupid penalty. Don't get me wrong I detest Man City and the Cherries as much as anyone from SW Herts but similarly Man U and Brentford. On my next predictions I have some breaking news, I can confirm that the (still living) Pope is a Catholic and bears routinely defecate in the woods. Nothing to report on transfers sadly from my crystal ball.
I didn’t realise the assistant who gave offside originally was a World Cup final official so if he getting confused with the laws and calling that offside then you have to wonder how much uncertainty there is in the officials over this offside law .
But the assistant was right, wasn't he? It was the ref who made the stupid decision. In any event, I'm pretty much convinced that the various football authorities (the premier league ones as leaders) actually like the ambiguity of the laws because it generates controversy and that adds to the entertainment possibilities. Modern professional football is an entertainment AHEAD of it being a sport, in their eyes at least, and the entertainment is what draws in the money. A lot of people making unconscionable amounts of money out of football.
My impression of Blackpool, for what it's worth, is that they didn't do much wrong, but nor did they do anything right. They seemed organized, up to a point, and went through the proper motions; but I suspect the players just aren't good enough at Championship level. They certainly looked like relegation candidates. But I suspect changing the coach (who is was very experienced) may not get the results the owners will want. We shall see.
Hehe, I knew I had this discussion with someone and I’m petty enough to recall it. 5 in 16 starts do you still believe he couldn’t get 8-12 goals in a full season? And yes I am smug as hell right now.
Haven’t you literally just posted a reply to me elsewhere saying: ******* hell man this forum is so boring now. Sometimes there is no right or wrong answer. Or the words written are simply just the words written, 10 posts of analysis on every comment is boring!!! Yet here you are point scoring! I don’t really care either way - and I’m still not sure you’re proving any point considering it didn’t happen!
We can still do this. We have an easy run in and all our best players will be back soon. Let’s get ready to rumble. Luton, we are coming for you !!
