2011/2012 English Premier League thread

[d_phaneuf]

I understand why they have to give a suspension for that, but I don't like

The argument that children shouldn't have to see that... if they were in the crowd they hear/see worse at every game

and the Fulham fans were giving it to him all game

as long as a player doesn't attack anyone in the stands I have no real problem with it

[Mightyfire89]

Agreed, but he has to know better than that. He has been a bit better of late with the diving and throwing tantrums, so I think he might be slowly starting to get it.

What a waste. That was pretty far from being a red and it really scuttled any chances of winning, but as Locke said, Liverpool had their chances and once again could not finish. CL hopes for next year are fading, but there's still time to go on a run.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Krack Korn

Agreed, but he has to know better than that. He has been a bit better of late with the diving and throwing tantrums, so I think he might be slowly starting to get it.

What a waste. That was pretty far from being a red and it really scuttled any chances of winning, but as Locke said, Liverpool had their chances and once again could not finish. CL hopes for next year are fading, but there's still time to go on a run.

Ya it has to be very difficult to keep emotions in check when opposing fans treat you like garbage and throw coins at you. Nonetheless, he still needs to learn how to tune it all out and not have reactions like that. That is just part of being a professional athlete.

He has gotten better with the diving issue, and I think that is partly due to the fact that he has had almost no calls go in his favor over the past few weeks. Refs are on to him and not giving him the calls. So hopefully he starts fighting through more contact and trying to stay on his feet. That will make him a better player and restore his reputation.

[Jagger]

Liverpool have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players after the Spearing sending off!

The FA are a complete joke of an organization. Where was the charge against Man U last week when they surrounded the ref in a much more intimidating fashion in the Newcastle match? Completely inconsistent or worse. After all Chelsea and Man U surround the ref in nearly every match and receive nothing.

Mind boggling.

Salt in wound is all I have to say.

edit: I read this comment on another site. Quite fitting I thought:

"Our player is sent off for tackling during a game and so the club is charged with failing to stop him making a tackle.

You just couldn't make it up."

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by Locke

Well, I shouldnt say that, Liverpool had every chance to win that game, its just wasteful and poor finishing. Again, still, however you want to look at it, they've just been wasting too many chances.

They did manage to score a perfectly good goal though, Locke, that was incorrectly ruled out for offside. They arguably should have had a pen or, at the very least, Fulham having a man sent off. The Spearing red was very very weak to say the least.

Yes they should have scored more but, I tell you, they simply are not getting the rub of the green right now, in any fashion.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by diane_phaneuf

Oh come on, that's a sign of affection in Uruguay!

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Jagger

Liverpool have been charged by the FA for failing to control their players after the Spearing sending off!

The FA are a complete joke of an organization. Where was the charge against Man U last week when they surrounded the ref in a much more intimidating fashion in the Newcastle match? Completely inconsistent or worse. After all Chelsea and Man U surround the ref in nearly every match and receive nothing.

Mind boggling.

Salt in wound is all I have to say.

edit: I read this comment on another site. Quite fitting I thought:

"Our player is sent off for tackling during a game and so the club is charged with failing to stop him making a tackle.

You just couldn't make it up."

This is ridiculous! That tackle was clean, and the only reason it could have been a foul at all was because he had his foot up on the follow through. Most refs probably wouldn't have even called it a foul, but at most it deserved a yellow.

Did Chelsea get charged when Torres got his red? That tackle was WAY worse.

Edit: I misinterpreted your post. I thought the charge was for the tackle itself, but it is for the players reaction after the tackle. Still ridiculous.

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

Edit: I misinterpreted your post. I thought the charge was for the tackle itself, but it is for the players reaction after the tackle. Still ridiculous.

Exactly. The players reaction really wasn't that bad. They were upset because it was a really poor decision by the ref. Any team would have done the same thing. Other teams do it on a consistent basis, usually much worse, with no recourse against them. The Liverpool players and officials did not surround the ref at the end of the match even though a number of key decisions went against them. The charge is as bogus as they come.

[Jagger]

Oh yeah, and I'm not condoning our Luiz's stupid reaction to the fans, far from it, but here is the inconsistency of the F.A. at work.

Two clear 'two fingered salutes' by high profile players that went unpunished:



edit:
And here's a good pic of the Man U players having a friendly chat with the nice officials. At the time of posting we are still waiting to hear whether any charge of improper conduct will be levied against Manchester United for failing to control their players.

[Locke]

That was a bad call and a stupid charge.

How are United not getting fined, after the Newcastle match they didnt shake hands or leave the pitch, the whole 11 just surrounded the match officials.

Way to go FA.

[d_phaneuf]

"typical germans"

oh wait...

[united]

It sure must be tough having the officials, FA, weather, and schedule makers all in a giant conspiracy against your club every season!

[Locke]

Originally Posted by united

It sure must be tough having the officials, FA, weather, and schedule makers all in a giant conspiracy against your club every season!

Yeah, but what can you do? We get by....

[Jagger]

Originally Posted by united

It sure must be tough having the officials, FA, weather, and schedule makers all in a giant conspiracy against your club every season!

Ah that's alright. It's good to be downtrodden and the underdog all the time. Good for the siege mentality and all. Might not win anything but there's only so much you can do.

Now if we could only get one of our chief officials on the FA board then we might have a chance. At least he might be able to have the FA turn a blind eye to our obvious indiscretions on and off the pitch then. I believe another team has that avenue cornered though. Good for them. After all, they need all the help they can get.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by united

It sure must be tough having the officials, FA, weather, and schedule makers all in a giant conspiracy against your club every season!

While I have no sympathy for the Scousers, I have to admit that they have a point when it comes to United and dissent. It is staggering the way that United players feel every call has to go their way and if it doesn't this justifies mobbing the ref to ensure immediate rectification. I know that team unity is important but the way they constantly chase down refs as a team is rather disgusting.

[The Big Chill]

Originally Posted by Addick

While I have no sympathy for the Scousers, I have to admit that they have a point when it comes to United and dissent. It is staggering the way that United players feel every call has to go their way and if it doesn't this justifies mobbing the ref to ensure immediate rectification. I know that team unity is important but the way they constantly chase down refs as a team is rather disgusting.

I just wish they would do away with that stuff completely (as they claimed they were going to). I would be perfectly fine with Liverpool's punishment after the Spearing card if it was dealt with in the same manner in every situation.

It really isn't that hard to enforce either considering that there is always a captain on the field. Only the captain should be allowed to talk to the ref in that situation and everyone else should get a warning and/or a yellow card.

[Locke]

Originally Posted by The Big Chill

I just wish they would do away with that stuff completely (as they claimed they were going to). I would be perfectly fine with Liverpool's punishment after the Spearing card if it was dealt with in the same manner in every situation.

It really isn't that hard to enforce either considering that there is always a captain on the field. Only the captain should be allowed to talk to the ref in that situation and everyone else should get a warning and/or a yellow card.

I agree. I'm waiting for the day when, without warning, the ref just starts yellow carding every single player standing around him. They'd all leave in a hurry.

One ref, with support and the balls, does that and we see a serious change in how this game is officiated.

[Locke]

And I for one would love to see it happen. Right now the refs in this game face too much pressure. Theres too much money at stake that every decision costs a team money.

Watching the Rugby World Cup I was so impressed at the officiating. Say one word to the ref and he takes you aside and reprimands you, then he penalizes you. That was spectacular. The respect the referee commands was great, in soccer the refs get walked all over.

Also, seeing reports that Vidic is out for the remainder of the season.

[Addick]

Originally Posted by Locke

I agree. I'm waiting for the day when, without warning, the ref just starts yellow carding every single player standing around him. They'd all leave in a hurry.

In addition to crowding the ref, I'd also like to see shirt tugging and sexual harassment in the box be automatic yellows.

[NBC]

All of this flies directly in the face of the FA's Respect campaign, which was supposed to stamp out abuse towards officials throughout all levels of the game. They seem very reluctant to act on their own policy when the top-flight Premier league teams are involved. Chelsea and Manchester Utd seem to be consistently the principle offenders.

In other news...

Man Utd confirm Nemanja Vidic will miss rest of season

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/16079897.stm