World Soccer Thread IV

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
Liverpool were pretty crap too. Even though Morientes got 2 the other day in the CL id still play Cisse up front, even Baros looks sharper.

Morientes played up front on his own today and Gerrad had 4 of the best chances of the game...

Yeah I agree. Gerrad had to got off the wrong side of the bed Saturday. Though Liverpool could use some improvements on left and right sides. What's the matter with these dudes all jamming up the middle?

[Urban Ranger]

Is it just me or has the rule enforcing been tightened up a bit this season?

Also I am a bit confused on all this penalty business. Sometimes when a player body-checks another player and takes the ball it's all right, at other times it'd be a foul. What gives?

[Maquiladora]

They said theyd be tightening up on dissent, I havent noticed it too much yet.

The Arsenal penalty was dodgy, because the NC defender (cant remember who), put his hand on Ljungbergs shoulder and he fell over and rolled 3 times like an idiot.

It was a foul because of the hand, but what actually happened is the hand put him off (not forcefully) and he missed the ball, and so fell over and rolled like he'd be shot.

[Urban Ranger]

Originally posted by Maquiladora
The Arsenal penalty was dodgy, because the NC defender (cant remember who), put his hand on Ljungbergs shoulder and he fell over and rolled 3 times like an idiot.

Yeah, that looks like a bad call to me. Ljungberg dribbled the ball too fast so it got loose before he fell down and rolled about.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Absolutely!
I that tackle goes wrong, it could be end of career.

Yet Jenas got his foot on the ball. Yes, it deserves a card, but a yellow, not a red. Now if Jenas didn't touch the ball at all, perhaps a red. Unfortunetly, I think if Newcastle wasn't playing Arsenal (or any of the other Big 3), that would have just been a yellow.

[Urban Ranger]

Yeah, I agree with Imran. That should be a yellow card. After all, I don't think Jenas intended to injure Gilberto.

[Imran Siddiqui]

I think it is because of the BS 'cracking down' on dangerous tackles. They'll overcard for the first month and then settle down to what they've always done. Unfortunetly Jenas got his at the wrong time of season.

[alva]

[q=Urban]Yeah, I agree with Imran. That should be a yellow card. After all, I don't think Jenas intended to injure Gilberto.
[/q]

Err, if there's intent should'n it automatically be red???

He made a reckless tacle (with nothing to gain btw), if he get's the ball, fine...if not, it's a red card.

[q=imran]I think it is because of the BS 'cracking down' on dangerous tackles. They'll overcard for the first month and then settle down to what they've always done. Unfortunetly Jenas got his at the wrong time of season.
[/q]
Not on the continent where this kind of offense will get a send of even after the first month.
Don't get me wrong, I prefer the English flow of games but when going over the line...

[q=urban]
Also I am a bit confused on all this penalty business.[/q]
In all honesty, penalties are a bit "broken" in football, they should come up with something else.

[MikeH]

Originally posted by Imran Siddiqui
**** **** ****

I haven't seen the game yet, but everyone (supporters of other clubs included.. even some Arsenal fans!) said Newcastle got jobbed by a horrible ref . Not that I thought we'd win or anything.

You hardly had the ball. Was something like 70% posession to Arsenal in the second half. You defended for 70 minutes but it was desperate stuff, was always just going to be a matter of time until they scored. You can't keep making last ditch blocks and tackles like that eventually luck will run out.

[MikeH]

Chelsea were awful and still won. Lucky.

[MikeH]

Jenas' card downgraded to yellow:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newcastle_united/4153130.stm

Jermaine Jenas' red card in Newcastle's 2-0 loss at Arsenal has been downgraded to a yellow by referee Steve Bennett.

Jenas faced a three-game ban after his challenge on Gilberto Silva but he will not now be suspended.

"Steve Bennett has been in touch via letter to apologise for his error of judgement during Sunday's game," said a statement on the club website.

"He has requested that the Football Association downgrade the dismissal and this has been confirmed by the FA."

Oh and N'Zogbia was unlucky to be the one to give away the penalty, he'd been excellent since he came on but the way Arsenal were getting into the box again and again something was going to happen sooner or later.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Woot! Little too late, but at least Jenas doesn't get a 3 match ban.

Err, if there's intent should'n it automatically be red???

He made a reckless tacle (with nothing to gain btw), if he get's the ball, fine...if not, it's a red card.

That's why UR said there wasn't intent... and Jenas did get the ball.

You hardly had the ball. Was something like 70% posession to Arsenal in the second half. You defended for 70 minutes but it was desperate stuff, was always just going to be a matter of time until they scored. You can't keep making last ditch blocks and tackles like that eventually luck will run out

That's how a lot of clubs got 1 point last year while playing the 4-5-1. Negative football is the main part of the formation's strategy. And remember the entire second half was played with 10 men, and if it was called a yellow on the pitch, the entire 2nd half may have been different.

[reds4ever]

nice one Steve Bennet

[MikeH]

True. Emre and Parker are fantastic signings. You desperately need a striker though.

[Imran Siddiqui]

Originally posted by MikeH
True. Emre and Parker are fantastic signings. You desperately need a striker though.

You're telling me!

We've been yelling for a striker all offseason, but Fat Freddie and Souness haven't come with one. We were linked with Kuijt before the year and NOTHING came of that at all, just rumor. Then there were rumblings about Owen. Then we heard about Boa Morte and Robbie Keane (we thought, well at least we can sign one of them). Then, after failing on that front, we heard Anelka (and WTF?!). Now we are hearing about Owen again, and some rumblings about Boa Morte.

This club won't be signing a striker until the January window if at all this year. It's getting ridiculous. Two biggest problems in the offseason were striker and the left back. Haven't addressed either. Though Emre and Parker look great.

While I do like Milner, he isn't a world class striker to take up the reigns from Shearer. And Babayaro isn't the answer at left back.