Football Focus

[SCSB79]

Some of the grappling in the box was ridiculous, BUT, is it a foul if the ball isn't in play?? I stand to be corrected, but believe the ball has been kicked at a corner, no foul can be given. Maybe Juve were just very smart and knew this?? As the grappling seemed to stop right before the ball was kicked??

[Bluerevolution]

April Fixtures (subject to Cup runs)

Sat April 6: Reading v Southampton (12.45pm)

Sun April 7: QPR v Wigan (4.10pm)

Mon April 8: Man United v Man City (8pm)

Sat April 13: Newcastle v Sunderland (12.45pm)

Sun Apr 14: Stoke v Man United (1.30pm)

Sun Apr 14: Chelsea v Tottenham (4pm)

Mon Apr 15: Man City v West Brom (8pm)

Sun Apr 21: Tottenham v Man City (1.30pm)

Sun Apr 21: Liverpool v Chelsea (4pm)

Mon Apr 22: Man United v Aston Villa (8pm)

Sat Apr 27: Man City v West Ham (12.45pm)

[Jah Lush]

SCSB79 Wrote:

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> Some of the grappling in the box was ridiculous,

> BUT, is it a foul if the ball isn't in play?? I

> stand to be corrected, but believe the ball has

> been kicked at a corner, no foul can be given.

> Maybe Juve were just very smart and knew this?? As

> the grappling seemed to stop right before the ball

> was kicked??

Yes, the grappling was ridiculous but surely it's a foul? An off the ball incident perhaps? You're obstructing an opponent from movement. If it isn't considered a foul it bloody well should be. It's long overdue that this sort of impediment and was stamped out. As Gordon Strachan said last night if the referees were to give a penalty each time this happened it would soon put a stop to it.

[maxxi]

It IS about time it was tackled - and all the pundits who say (read in a Hansenesque accent) "If you gave a penalty for that you'd be giving them all the time!" would be proved wrong pretty quickly as players cottoned on to the fact that they could no longer get away with it - my guess is it would only take a week or two.

That's in an ideal world.

In the Premiership I suspect the incidences of 'simulation' would rocket as players fell about the penalty area with every corner.

[Mick Mac]

There were a number of penalties given for this in the world cup in South Korea (possibly when the corner kick had just been taken as opposed to the ball being out of play), but its obvioulsy not considered a foul by some referees.

[SCSB79]

Also, flip it another way... I've heard it described as 'good forward play' when a striker stands in front of the keeper, blocking his way to the flight of the ball. Surely obstruction in the same manner?

It'll come to a 'no-go' zone of a yard or two around the keeper at some point to tackle this part of the problem too.

[SCSB79]

Confirmed by Stuart Dougal on STV tonight that you can't give a foul when the balls not in play.

[red devil]

Champions League Last 16, Round 1 scores...

OT - 1 Correct Result + 2 Correct Scores = 7 pts

AM - 1 Correct Result + 1 Correct Score = 4 pts

SC - 1 Correct Result + 1 Correct Score = 4 pts

LG - 2 Correct Results + 0 Correct Scores = 2 pts

Mx - 1 Correct Result + 0 Correct Scores = 1 pt

JL - 0 Correct Results + 0 Correct Scores = 0 pts

MM - 0 Correct Results + 0 Correct Scores = 0 pts

RD - 0 Correct Results + 0 Correct Scores = 0 pts

RC - 0 Correct Results + 0 Correct Scores = 0 pts

Early doors yet, but OT has already built up a commanding lead.

On current standings one of JL, MM, RD and RC would be knocked-out at QF stage.

With so many low scores, any late comers would still have a good chance of European glory...

[red devil]

The Cup is back this weekend and it's crunch time...4 teams will be eliminated!

As there are only 8 ties this round, and one is still undecided, I've included the 4th Round replay between Chelsea and Brentford.

Can you therefore please make predictions for both of these teams against Middlesbro in the 5th Round...

Saturday 16th February 2013

Luton V Millwall

Arsenal V Blackburn

MK Dons V Barnsley

Oldham V Everton

Sunday 17th February 2013

Chelsea V Brentford

Man City V Leeds United

Huddersfield V Wigan

Monday 18th February 2013

Man Utd V Reading

Wednesday 27th February 2013

Middlesbrough V Brentford

or

Middlesrough V Chelsea

As a reminder of your current scores and position, I've attached the latest table...

[red devil]

STOP PRESS: Re. Cup Knock-out round...

I've worked out a way that doesn't involve next doors cats drawing the teams for the knock-out stage (FACup 6th Round).

When the FA Cup 6th Round draw is made, the numbers 1-8 will be allocated to the remaining 8 teams.

Whoever finishes in the top 8 of our league will be allocated the corresponding number, e.g. 1st place = Ball No. 1 and so on.

So if ball 5 is drawn against ball 2, on current standings Otta would go head to head against El Pibe in the 6th Round.

Let me know if there's a fatal flaw in my plan...

[Ladygooner]

Luton 1 Millwall 2

Arsenal 1 Blackburn 0

MK Dons 1 Barnsley 2

Oldham 1 Everton 2

Chelsea 2 Brentford 0

Man City 2 Leeds United 0

Huddersfield 2 Wigan 1

Man Utd 3 Reading 2

Middlesbrough 2 Brentford 1

or

Middlesrough 1 Chelsea 2

[Alan Medic]

The fatal flaw RD would be if you didn't watch the draw, or record it. Oh, you might want to clarify what happens with those on equal points.

[Mick Mac]

Could replays cause a problem RD?

[El Pibe]

Luton Town Millwall 1985

(oh go on then Luton 1 Millwall 0)

Arsenal 2 Blackburn 1

MK Dons 1 Barnsley 1

Oldham 1 Everton 3

Chelsea 1 Brentford 0

Man City 3 Leeds United 1

Huddersfield 1 Wigan 2

Man Utd 3 Reading 1

Middlesbrough 1 Brentford 0

or

Middlesrough 1 Chelsea 2

[Jah Lush]

Luton 2 Millwall 2

Arsenal 3 Blackburn 1

MK Dons 1 Barnsley 3

Oldham 0 Everton 3

Chelsea 4 Brentford 0

Man City 3 Leeds United 0

Huddersfield 2 Wigan 3

Man Utd 4 Reading 2

Middlesbrough 2 Brentford 0

or

Middlesrough 1 Chelsea 3

[red devil]

Alan Medic Wrote:

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> The fatal flaw RD would be if you didn't watch the

> draw, or record it. Oh, you might want to clarify

> what happens with those on equal points.

If I do miss it, fortunately the draw is usually on YouTube within minutes of it being made.

In the event of equal points, the player that predicts the most Correct Scores will go through.

If it's still a tie then it's toss a coin time, if I'm involved someone else who isn't will have the honour...

[red devil]

Mick Mac Wrote:

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> Could replays cause a problem RD?

I don't think so Mick. I decided to include the Chelsea replay because there are only 8 fixtures in this round, whereas in previous rounds there have been 10. Future replays will probably be ignored, it's just that this particular replay is happening at the same time as the other games, I presume because Chelsea are in Europe tonight. Come to think of it, any future replay might be useful if 2 players are tied on points, acting as a decider rather than the spin of a coin...

[red devil]

Stop Press: In the event of the Chelsea v Brentford game going into extra time, the score at 90 minutes will be used.

[Otta]

Saturday 16th February 2013

Luton 1 V Millwall 3

Arsenal 3 V Blackburn 0

MK Dons 1 V Barnsley 1

Oldham 1 V Everton 2

Sunday 17th February 2013

Chelsea 3 V Brentford 0

Man City 2 V Leeds United 2

Huddersfield 1 V Wigan 2

Monday 18th February 2013

Man Utd 2 V Reading 0

Wednesday 27th February 2013

Middlesbrough 2 V Brentford 2

or

Middlesrough 1 V Chelsea 3

[Alan Medic]

red devil Wrote:

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> Stop Press: In the event of the Chelsea v

> Brentford game going into extra time, the score at

> 90 minutes + injury time will be used?

[maxxi]

Saturday 16th February 2013

Luton 2 V Millwall 1 (can't do it, sorry Miwaww)

Arsenal 3 V Blackburn 0

MK Dons 2 V Barnsley 0

Oldham 1 V Everton 3

Sunday 17th February 2013

Chelsea 4 V Brentford 0

Man City 3 V Leeds United 2

Huddersfield 2 V Wigan 1

Monday 18th February 2013

Man Utd 2 V Reading 0

Wednesday 27th February 2013

Middlesbrough 1 V Brentford 0

or

Middlesrough 1 V Chelsea 2

[red devil]

Alan Medic Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> red devil Wrote:

> --------------------------------------------------

> -----

> > Stop Press: In the event of the Chelsea v

> > Brentford game going into extra time, the score

> at

> > 90 minutes + injury time will be used?

No, I'm following what the bookies traditionally do, the score at 90 minutes, not extra time if played...

[bon3yard]

...looks like someones been practicing their freekicks in training.

[maxxi]

bon3yard Wrote:

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> ...looks like someones been practicing their

> freekicks in training.

He's been on shit-hot form recently too - tbh I thought he'd score from open play as he kept getting free when he looked boxed in.

Don't like to say it but I do like watching him and he's really looking the business. Spurs will have a job hanging on to him - and tonight has made it even harder.

[malumbu]

I thought that I was being quite jolly. You ARE a sensitive lot.

One of the most frightening matches of my life was seeing Forest Win 2-0 at Celtic in 83, 66,500 Celtic fans and 500 Forest hiding in one of the stands. Standing in the jungle with the lovely chants of IRA Irish Republican Army, and Argentina Argentina, it was quite nice for Forest to show how much stronger English football is. I did have to mouth the answer when someone asked me how long to go, as I was a big English scaredy cat.

I'll tell you how I lost the ticket stub another time.