Football Focus

[StraferJack]

I thought intent was main factor?

[Otta]

The point is the ref acted on the incident so as I understand it they can't take retrospective action. And intent is hard to prove.

But most of all it was such a monumental fuck up that I imagine they just want it forgotten.

[maxxi]

The offence would be deliberate handball or unsportsmanlike conduct - both are yellow cards.

Intent can't come into it because any time a player commits a deliberate offence (against an attacking side) he does so believing that if he doesn't the opposition may get an advantage which could/may (in his opinion) ultimately/eventually lead to a goal - so he intends to deny them a goal scoring opportunity by his offence or he wouldn't do it*. Simple.

Unless he is Roy Kean of course.

[Parkdrive]

Jah Lush Wrote:

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> How is Oxlade Chamerlain's diving save with his

> hand not a sending off? Poor decision by the FA.

> Surely, if the referee had got the right man in

> the first place the decision would have stood.

It should have been a sending off, and the FA in with their usual level of wisdom, have fcuked up royally. Ox also told ref twice it was him not Gibbs. Unbelievable. Ref obvioulsy couldn't tell them apart. Bell end.

[Otta]

A good piece about the psychology of footy fans getting used to winning / losing

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26704856

[Tommy1000]

I'm not saying the rule is right, but it should categorically not have been a sending off.

The general rule is denial of a clear goal-scoring opportunity. More specifically, the rule for this situation (i.e. a handball) is if "the unacceptable and unfair intervention prevented a goal being scored". The ball was not going in so there was no goal-scoring opportunity denied, and no goal prevented.

The more interesting question is why the ref gave any decision at all, considering he had already signalled for a goal kick and the linesman wasn't flagging. Arsenal were in enough trouble as it was (2-0 down, or 3-0 as it should have been with a penalty and a yellow card for Chamberlain) without wrongly going down to ten.

[????]

Interesting Otta - I always laugh I see journalists (normally columnists, not the sports bods) write or hear people say things like us "long suffering Arsenal/Liverpool fans"; they are benchmarking against success try supporting a team outside the big 6 or so. We'd dream of their failure.

I've said before, but down in Cardiff in 2006 I really did think "that's it for me - I can't do this hurt anymore"....grdaually it crept back and being at Wembley for the play offs final was cathartic for me

[????]

...and I am lucky, any West Ham under 40 presumambly can't remember us winning anything! (excluding play offs)

and of course, we are relatively priveliged compared to most smaller clubs (and Newcastle :))

[maxxi]

???? Wrote:

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> ...and I am lucky, any West Ham under 40

> presumambly can't remember us winning anything!

> (excluding play offs)

>

> and of course, we are relatively priveliged

> compared to most smaller clubs (and Newcastle :))

Agree - I think a lot hangs on your formative years. As a kid the 74-75 season was huge. Billy Jennings and Bobby Gould scoring hat-tricks for fun with Keith Robson scoring if they didn't; Mervyn Day before he lost it; results like 5-2, 5-3 and 6-2 and a memorable 1-1 at Anfield. Then the culmination in a proper 'fairy tale' Cup Final against St Bobby.

[Mick Mac]

???? Wrote:

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> I've said before, but down in Cardiff in 2006 I

> really did think "that's it for me - I can't do

> this hurt anymore"...

Awwwww Bless....

[Otta]

I reckon it's been a fair few moons since so many people have been hoping Manchester United can get a result!

Come on red devils, do it for your beloved neighbours Liverpool! ;-)

[Mick Mac]

What that man said! Cmon United.

[red devil]

Fook off!... :)

http://media.zenfs.com/en_uk/News/TheJournal.ie/bjkt2hocyaefgpq-752x501.jpg

[Otta]

Unbelievably, BBC don't seem to have a midweek MOTD tonight or tomorrow! That's shit, I can't afford the pub.

[red devil]

Bobbins!...

[Parkdrive]

Bugger, bugger and thrice bugger

[Parkdrive]

Bayern Munich are champions of Germany for a 24th time with a record seven games to spare after a 3-1 win in Berlin.

Scary.

[Otta]

Moyes has come out and taken responsibility for Man U's decline. Shielding his players I guess.

I think he knows that he is going to be given time, so I think the fans need to accept he'll be there at least another year.

Why the hell diod he bring a whole new coaching staff in with him?!?!?!? (and an unproven coaching staff at that)

[Otta]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> Bugger, bugger and thrice bugger

So what the Hell is going on with Arsenal at the moment? Is it as simple as injuries to key players, or something deeper?

[Ladygooner]

I think we are really missing Ramsey, Wilshire and Walcott. On the plus side Kallstrom came on for 15 mins last night and looked very good. Pass of the night to Giroud who then fluffed his lines as ususal!

[Parkdrive]

Otta Wrote:

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

> Parkdrive Wrote:

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

> -----

> > Bugger, bugger and thrice bugger

>

>

> So what the Hell is going on with Arsenal at the

> moment? Is it as simple as injuries to key

> players, or something deeper?

I wish I knew, the injuries certainly haven't helped, but in the last few games there have been too few players willing to give it their all for the cause. Failing to add to the squad in January didn't help when it was clear we needed fresh blood, so Wenger and the board should take the blame for that. Ah well, I've supported the buggers for 46 years so no turning back now.

I've seen a few reports today that SAF got abuse from the fans at yesterday evenings game for his selection of Moyes as his successor. And they say fans are fickle. ;)

[Otta]

Certainly not the best warm up for Man City coming to yours this weekend!

Just been looking at the remaining fixtures for the season. Not sure I can see many potential banana skins for Chelsea other than (hopefully) their trip to Anfield. City (as well as Arsenal this weekend) have to go to both Liverpool and Everton, other than those I can't see them dropping any points.

I think Liverpool are in with a shout, but they basically need to win every game thwey have left, possibly draws with Chelsea / City, but not sure that would be enough.

[Parkdrive]

To be honest I can't see beyonf City, I just think they have the squad and momentum with them. Can't see us getting anything from the game at the weekend if we play the way we have in the last 2 games. FA cup it is then.

[titch juicy]

Parkdrive Wrote:

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> Bayern Munich are champions of Germany for a 24th

> time with a record seven games to spare after a

> 3-1 win in Berlin.

> Scary.

Philip Lahm completed 134 passes out of 134 attempted last night.

Ausgezeichnet.

[Jah Lush]

From Nov 2nd - Prophetic or what?

Otta Wrote:

> That all said, I hadn't said a word against

> Arsenal this season, and after your typical

> reaction, I'm just going to sit back and enjoy

> watching them fade like a fart in a hurricane LIKE

> THEY DO EVERY YEAR.

;-)