Football Focus

[Jah Lush]

We've conceded far too many goals this season. It doesn't help when you don't have a consistent pairing at the back. At one time or another we've had three or four centre-halves out. Dawson and Woodgate long term and Ledley King with his persistent knee problems. Eleven different pairings in 13 games. It doesn't help. Monsieur Wenger was correct not to give William Gallas another contract at Arsenal. I think Harry could have looked elsewhere. He's definitely not the player he was five or even six years ago.

[Mick Mac]

Second Arsenal goal tonight - should surely not have been given - Bentner, clearly coming back from an offside position bumps into the chasing defender, very unfortunate for Ncastle.

[SeanMacGabhann]

I read this on another forum and it captured exactly what I thought when it happened

"And Szczesny played brilliantly. That epic-punch at the end was like a big 'FUCK YEA' aimed at Almunia and Fabianski. "

Although with Fabianski playing well in the last 4 or 5 games we might be seeing an end to Arsenal's goalkeeping problem

Bendtner was out of order for that second goal and should have been penalised.

That said, and I'm not condoning it, it shows that Arsenal are getting a bit grittier and aren't quite the pushovers they were a year or two back

And you can argue the goal changed the complexion of the game but overall the Arsenal win was right surely?

[Emerson Crane]

To be honest I thought it was a so so game, but we should have been ahead after 20 seconds had Vela put his scoring boots on, and Bendtner should have scored after 48 seconds but there you go. Barton reverted to type by clattering into Cesc and shame for Gibbs who went off injured yet again.

[Mick Mac]

Arsenal win justified of course - but such poor decision making is hard to understand. Arsenal look good.

[Emerson Crane]

Poor decision making by refs is indeed hard to take, but has become the norm. During the same match Ranger went straight through Koscielny and the ref gave a corner against Arsenal. Consitently inconsistent and piss poor refereeing

[Emerson Crane]

Just seen these words on the front page of the Express "Collen finally forgives ?230,000 a week Wayne, "things are great" she says".

Reminded me of the Mrs Merton sketch when she said to Debbie McGee " So Debbie McGee, what was it that first attracted you to millionaire magician Paul Daniels?" Wonderful

[Mick Mac]

Emerson Crane Wrote:

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> Just seen these words on the front page of the

> Express "Collen finally forgives ?230,000 a week

> Wayne, "things are great" she says".

> Reminded me of the Mrs Merton sketch when she said

> to Debbie McGee " So Debbie McGee, what was it

> that first attracted you to millionaire magician

> Paul Daniels?" Wonderful

My recollection is more like:

"So Debbie, What was it that first attracted you to the short, bald ......multi millionaire, Paul Daniels?"

['bout now]

I know it's Fox but it does make sense of a very odd situation.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/football/premier-league/fergie-in-cohorts-with-rooney-bosnich/story-e6frf4a3-1225944327776

In other news WEST HAM IN FOOTBALL GAME WIN SHOCK.

['bout now]

No it doesn't does it? I mean, West Ham winning a game....

[Emerson Crane]

Arsenal 3 v West Ham 0

Blackburn 1 v Chelsea 2

Everton 2 v Stoke 0

Fulham 2 v Wigan 1

Wolverhampton 0 v Man City 2

Man Utd 2 v Tottenham 0

Aston Villa 1 v Birmingham 1

Newcastle 2 v Sunderland 1

Bolton 1 v Liverpool 1

[Mick Mac]

Celtic close gap. After the lord mayors show for rangers.

[ruffers]

Typical bloody City.

[Mick Mac]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Another big penalty call goes rangers way. You

> will not see a softer one than that. Shame because

> the referee was doing well - but you need to get

> the big calls right above all else.

FORMER FIFA Grade One referee Kenny Clark believes the wrong man has been fingered for the penalty error that gifted Rangers a spot-kick in last week's 3-1 Old Firm win over Celtic.

The furore over referees' performances in the SPL has been kept on the boil after a seemingly unsighted Willie Collum adjudged Rangers' Kirk Broadfoot to have been felled by Celtic's Daniel Majstorovic. But Clark believes that should not "be the star

"The root of the problem here was Kirk Broadfoot taking a dive," the retired official said. "How many people have asked difficult questions of Kirk Broadfoot for taking a dive?

Enough said....Referee condemns rangers dive.::o

[Jah Lush]

Talking of referees, Mark Clattenburgh's comedy of errors at Old Trafford yesterday takes some beating. No wait. Pedro Mendez's last minute winning 'goal' that was a yard over the line at where? Old Trafford. Referee = Mark Clattenburg. Do those sort of decisions happen anywhere else and is he a Man Utd supporter?

[Narnia]

Ah come on, blame the ref because Gomez was a plonker.

[Sandperson]

Looks to me from the video I saw that he's waving play on. Also, there was no flag from the linesman and it should have been a penalty anyway. It's frustrating I know, but most comments I've heard over the last 24 hours have reiterated the rule we are taught from the year dot. Play to the whistle.

[Narnia]

That's not a rule SP.

[Mick Mac]

SCSB79 Wrote:

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the linesman

> who (rightly) told the ref to over turn a penalty

> decision for Celtic resigns because of threats

> following the game...

> TGFITW my arse.

Sorry SCSB - you need to accept when you are wrong - it was not the linesman changing the decision - No we know the truth on this one and its just another cover up of an incorrect decision against Celtic - then proof of lying to Celtic's management etc.

Hats off to the linesman who has been big enough to be open and honest - something a little bit short in the scottish game at the moment.

Steven Craven has revealed that he agreed to lie to Celtic manager Neil Lennon about a penalty incident at Tannadice two weeks ago. Craven resigned following the controversial decision and though the SFA cleared match referee Dougie McDonald of any wrongdoing they did warn him about inconsistencies in his match report.

McDonald had awarded Celtic a penalty during the game on October 17 but, following a discussion with assistant Craven, reversed his decision. Celtic manager Lennon was furious with the decision and Craven has told a newspaper that he and McDonald lied in the aftermath.

?Dougie ran towards me and said: 'I think I've f***** up.',? Craven told the Sunday Mail. ?After the game Dougie said we should tell the referee supervisor (Jim McBurnie) that I called him over to question the penalty award.

"I went along with it because I wanted to be supportive of Dougie. But then Neil Lennon came in after the game and asked Dougie why he hadn't given the penalty kick.

[Emerson Crane]

Narnia Wrote:

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> Ah come on, blame the ref because Gomez was a

> plonker.

And Nani's impression of a fish thats just been landed on a river bank, or a kid who has been told by his mum he can't have any sweets was hilarious. What the f**k was Ferdinand doing talking to the ref and linesman, why didn't the ref just tell him to sod off? Old trafforditis? Would the ref acted in the same way if it had been at the other end. What do you think? If it wasn't a penalty then it should have been handball to spurs, but this was Old Trafford.

[SCSB79]

> Sorry SCSB - you need to accept when you are wrong

> - it was not the linesman changing the decision -

> No we know the truth on this one and its just

> another cover up of an incorrect decision against

> Celtic - then proof of lying to Celtic's

> management etc.

>

> Hats off to the linesman who has been big enough

> to be open and honest - something a little bit

> short in the scottish game at the moment.

>

Ok - hands up that the main reason was wrong, but he did get threats.

And the only cover up was the explanation to TLB and Celtic.

IT WAS NOT AN INCORRECT DECISION... but hey, Celtic & Facts = Oil & water. The decision was 100% bang on. The way it's been explained as the ref/lino/SFA have now said, is where the problem lies.

[ratty]

>

> And Nani's impression of a fish thats just been

> landed on a river bank, or a kid who has been told

> by his mum he can't have any sweets was hilarious.

> What the f**k was Ferdinand doing talking to the

> ref and linesman, why didn't the ref just tell him

> to sod off? Old trafforditis? Would the ref acted

> in the same way if it had been at the other end.

> What do you think? If it wasn't a penalty then it

> should have been handball to spurs, but this was

> Old Trafford.

It was funny though!

[Emerson Crane]

Only if you're not a spurs fan. ;-)

[Sandperson]

Three points in the bag and there was no chance Spurs were going to win anyway. :))

[Mick Mac]

SCSB79 Wrote:

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>

The way it's been explained as the

> ref/lino/SFA have now said, is where the problem

> lies.

It was a referee and linesman agreeing to lie to a Manager about their decision. That is what it was.

Together with the former referee Kenny Clark stating openly that Kirk Broadfoot dived in the Old Firm match, and that the referee should not be blamed for the wrong decision, you wonder what we are supposed to expect of referees.

I'm not one to usually join in referee bashing to be honest and I can usually understand honest mistakes and how difficult ther job is, but its getting beyond a joke, both north and south of the border.

Penalty decisions generally and Clattenburg type decisions are key to results of games in that they result in goals to teams that don't deserve them based upon what has happended immediately beforehand. These decisions get people frustrated.