The football thread!

[mangaman74]

The fact that Man Utd's first goal today was a penalty which resulted in a red card for QPR when the Man Utd player was offside shows that the standard of officals is as poor in the Premier League as it is in the lower leagues. I watched the Reading vs Leeds match the other day on TV and Leeds could (and should) have had 3 players sent off as opposed to the 1 player that did get a red card (the worst challenge was by Danny Pugh).

I think this week specifically has really shown off the level of ineptness of officials, although this could be because my club were in the middle of it. I don't want to quickly blame the refs though, because whilst shocking I've noticed far more time and time again that the linesmen are actually more at fault. Not for actually calling wrong offside decisions, but because they don't have the spines to actually MAKE decisions. Far too often I see them wait for the referees decision before raising their flags. I think Ref's need some protection yes, but I feel that they vastly need more help from their other officials because linesmen do such a poor job at the moment.

The Newcastle vs Liverpool match also saw a poor linesman's decision. While it was nil-nil a Newcastle player cleared a goalbound shot off the line with his arm and avoided giving away a penalty and getting sent off. The linesman had a clear view of it as it was on his side of the pitch with no other players in his line of sight.

On the other hand not all poor decisions are the fault of linesmen as some referees prefer to make all the decisions (they like to be the centre of attention) which is why you sometimes see linesmen follow the referees decision rather than make the decision themselves.

 

[mangaman74]

I see Leeds have had another player sent off today playing against my local team. Neil Warnock is working wonders on team discipline (3 red cards in their last 3 games and it could have been more).

 

[Ian Wolf]

Following on from our recent losses a doubt Middlesbrough will reach the play-off places now.

 

[Ath]

Gaagh, Fulham totally deserved that point. We had some good spells but Fulham really came into the match and put the Chelsea defence under the cosh. Have to step it up for the remaining fixtures.

 

[MercenaryRaiden]

Confession time: I bet against us tonight. I bet that Lambert would score first.

Guess I should have always kept the faith huh? This is all rather exciting! I'm also surprisingly calm considering what's at stake here. I didn't actually think we'd be able to keep up such high tempo defending after doing it against Brighton for 90 minutes, but our first half so far is going brilliantly. Another goal for us to seal things please!

 

[MaxonTreik]

Chelsea fan coming in peace here!

I think Chelsea fans can go a lot more places in peace these days, while everyone's hatred has shifted towards Man City. ^^;

I hate Man City fans more than the club. At every game I've seen at their own ground when a player goes down there's a massive roar of anger. This happens even when it's a clean tackle. Makes me wonder if Man City fans have ever seen a game of football before. Then again, I wouldn't expect bandwagon fans to have seen one.

 

[Max Takeshi]

Confession time: I bet against us tonight. I bet that Lambert would score first.

Guess I should have always kept the faith huh? This is all rather exciting! I'm also surprisingly calm considering what's at stake here. I didn't actually think we'd be able to keep up such high tempo defending after doing it against Brighton for 90 minutes, but our first half so far is going brilliantly. Another goal for us to seal things please!

I bet against us, too :lol:

1-3. Unbelievable.

Lots of fans on KUMB are getting rather foul with their language!

Calm down, dears, it's just The Football League.

EDIT:

Either stats lie, or Reading really are the luckest team in the league this season

 

[MercenaryRaiden]

Either stats lie, or Reading really are the luckest team in the league this season

Nope, they're right. It's just like the Brighton game - they dominated, but our counter attacking play is just so good. I did bet we'd win the game 3-2 but I just thought Lambert would score first. Still, such a good feeling. It really feels like we've got this.

Then I remembered that next season I won't actually have a season ticket. Such a shame...Still, despite being an evening game, tuesday is going to be a fantastic atmosphere!

 

[MaxonTreik]

So, who is everyone supporting today? Everton or Liverpool?

Going to go with Everton. They've been putting together solid performances lately and really deserve something from this season. Also, Everton have my team's (Rangers) ex-striker Jelavic.

 

[Ian Wolf]

So, who is everyone supporting today? Everton or Liverpool?

I don't know, but I think I can guess which side Alan Davies is supporting.

 

[MrLaserSharkKH]

Going for the reds today unsurprisingly!

Both teams will turn up today, form will be thrown completely out the window!

 

[VoxPhantom]

I'm a toffee for a day.

 

[Ryo Chan]

tell me ma me ma, go put the champagne on ice, we're going to Wembley twice, tell me ma, me ma

COYB!

 

[MrLaserSharkKH]

Like the good old days, got the buffet on for this, curry and sandwiches all round!

EDIT: Quite happy I guess, took a while to get going though, a situation could possibly occur in that me new Nephew could be born on cup final weekend! :O

 

[mangaman74]

tell me ma me ma, go put the champagne on ice, we're going to Wembley twice, tell me ma, me ma

COYB!

we're going to Wembley three times....

 

[Max Takeshi]

Splendid, Reading.

Very splendid indeed.

 

[MercenaryRaiden]

That's twice i've been on the pitch.

Horrendous videos (Both camera work and quality) coming tomorrow. Tonight? I'm getting out the celebratory rum!

 

[Cathe]

I was a bit nervous before tonights Champions League match, Bayern v Real. Everyone has been saying Real will progress easily and Bayern have been a bit out of form recently anyway.

Thankfully we won 2 - 1! And that was Real's away game so as long as Bayern can keep up the good work next leg, we're into the final! Wahey!

Good luck to Chelsea for tomorrow. I'll be watching that match and rooting for them even though I don't support either team. Basically if Bayern manage to progress, i'd rather we play Chelsea than Barca XD!

 

[Ath]

Good luck to Chelsea for tomorrow. I'll be watching that match and rooting for them even though I don't support either team. Basically if Bayern manage to progress, i'd rather we play Chelsea than Barca XD!

Haha, we're either going to be the plucky underdogs or the whipping boys

I do have faith that we can stifle them somehow thought it's going to take an ultra-disciplined performance to do it. I'm worried that if Mikel plays that he's going to be exposed big time. Still, nothing would give me greater pleasure than seeing us bring down Barcelona (except for maybe a spectacular Manchester United league collapse :wink: )

 

[ilmaestro]

I think Chelsea have got a fighting chance. They're a lot stronger in the middle of the park than, say, Man U in last year's final, and I think Ramirez will cause Barca problems. Need Drogba to play great in both games though, as he is the key outlet ball to relieve the pressure after Barca's inevitable long stretches of possession.

we won

Wait...