Well then the law is down right stupid. Regardless whether Lingard could have stayed on his feet or not he was prevented from reaching a ball he otherwise would have because someone held his shirt.
It's very easy to stress test this: no shirt pull makes some of the most coordinated people on earth spontaneously fall over. Therefore, shirt pulling is now part of the game.
shirt/shorts pulling has always been "part of the game" - most if the time it doesnt draw a foul. Football is a contact sport, it's not rugby but there is always going to be some form of contact. Refs allowing some contact is better for the game as it discourages the "cheating/diving" which has ruined the game.
You're not seriously claiming that what Noble did is part of the game? If it is, then no defender should ever be beaten ever again. Just grab the attacker, easy.
Ironically, Noble holding Lingard back (if Lingard didn't have the ball) is a foul in Rugby as well.
not at all, you'll notice I stepped away from citing that particular incident, Noble was beaten, fell over himself and held onto Lingard's shirt, clearly it was to disrupt him. Lingard went over like he'd been shoved violently when he probably should have made more of an attempt to play on. What I'm saying is that players pulling/holding shirts etc has been and will be part of the game on and off the ball. What players need to do is stop falling over every time someone touches you.
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
The first steps would be to have referees call fouls without requiring players to fall over. Lingard was clearly fouled. Would Moss have given the foul if he didn't fall over? No he would not have under the guise that it "wasn't enough contact to cause him to fall over". End result, players continue falling over.
The first steps would be to have referees call fouls without requiring players to fall over.
from my point of view this is a reaction to decades of history. starts of with little to no calls when contact is made, so players begin to dive and flop and grab the ball when contact is made so refs have to make a call. Then you end up with refs making calls when players make these elaborate dives etc when no contact has been made, so what do refs do? pull back and make an adjustment. It's a two way street, if players stop diving to force a decision then the refs will be more able to make decisions on the tackles/fouls that need decision to be made.
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
I understand what you're saying but that just leads itself to more ridiculous decisions. Next week Shaw is going to grab someones shirt and the referee is going to give the penalty, and so you get yet another layer of inconsistency and frustration.
We have much better ways to deal with diving like retrospective punishment, VAR, fines, even point deductions. Referees being excused for not rewarding fouls because a player went down more easily than they should is not it.
I understand what you're saying but that just leads itself to more ridiculous decisions. Next week Shaw is going to grab someones shirt and the referee is going to give the penalty, and so you get yet another layer of inconsistency and frustration.
We have much better ways to deal with diving like retrospective punishment, VAR, fines, even point deductions. Referees being excused for not rewarding fouls because a player went down more easily than they should is not it.
but do we, a few seasons ago FIFA said it was going to instruct refs to card diving etc and for about half a season they were really tough on perceived dives. Then the fans got all pissy about inconsistencies, the players complained along with managers and cards stopped being issued for dives and they got ignired, fines dont work unless they are stupidly large and that assumes someone is reviewing game tape for those incidents. VAR creates just as many issues as refs not blowing their whistle. The problem we have is the inconstancies, and there is no real easy way around that. Players are always going to try and stretch the rules to gain an advantage, and refs are always going top make mistakes or judgement calls that some disagree with. Dictating how things should be ruled is a tool that gets used when one or other party is getting away with something unchecked or the officials are missing something.
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
Well, that's why we bought Ronaldo.
Big issues in midfield and at the back - (although without 3 starters that was kinda expected). But goddamn, Ole absolutely nails it with the subs again - Cavani, Fred & Lingard all involved. Lingard has been so good this season, he has to be playing more.
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
Nelfoos
Well, that's why we bought Ronaldo.
Big issues in midfield and at the back - (although without 3 starters that was kinda expected). But goddamn, Ole absolutely nails it with the subs again - Cavani, Fred & Lingard all involved. Lingard has been so good this season, he has to be playing more.
I went for a walk but watched it on the Spark app - just crossing the road to my house, and Ronaldo sticks it in. I yelled out "yes", and I'm sure there were some neighbours twitching their curtains to see what was happening! My son was running around too (not that he knows, he just saw Dad was excited)
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
Has anyone downloaded the Ferguson interview from the Man Utd podcast? It was surprisingly good.
He was asked "how would you explain Manchester United to someone who didn't know?", and Fergie replied about how the Club has romance.
And he's right, you know. It started with the Busby Babes, Munich, 1968, 1999......Cantona's return.....now Viva Ronaldo.
Other clubs may be punching above their weight more than us (the Bin Dippers), or have legitimate claims to be the biggest clubs in the world over us (Real, Barca), but none can match us for the sheer drama of it all.
(Shame Ronaldo probably did that thing that we're all trying to brush under the carpet, though.....)
Lingard should definitely get a start next week. Cavani had a great cameo as well.
The big challenge for Ole or any coach is finding a balanced midfield with this squad: Pogba spent the whole day in the wrong place. Not sure McT played the ball forward. Fred looked better at LB. Matic due for retirement but looked better than the formers. And who knows what the situation with VdB is.
Lingard should definitely get a start next week. Cavani had a great cameo as well.
The big challenge for Ole or any coach is finding a balanced midfield with this squad: Pogba spent the whole day in the wrong place. Not sure McT played the ball forward. Fred looked better at LB. Matic due for retirement but looked better than the formers. And who knows what the situation with VdB is.
The thing with Matic, is that he at least knows where he needs to be positioned, and he can play progressive passes.
Think this is the effect of Ronaldo unfortunately. A squad that doesn’t know what their top team is and doesn’t have combinations and interplay there because of that chop and change. Especially after Martial’s emphatic finish it all went a bit pear shaped. So much chop and change and that’s without the in form Jesse Lingard playing or Marcus Rashford who at times carried the team by himself when he had to. This was always going to be the test of this team, with a bunch of players who thrive on counter attacking- what to do when facing 10 players in a tight formation behind the ball.
If Everton want VdB, maybe they'd let us have Doucoure? A little scratch my back, and I'll scratch yours? He would add a lot of energy, power, and directness to the midfield. Like a not-quite-as-good-but-still-splendid-Yaya-Toure,
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
Every morning I wake up and hope Ole has been fired, and every morning I'm disappointed. It's like that scene in Office Space where Peter tells his psychiatrist that each day is worse than the one before.
Conte is not the answer. Does not suit the players we have. It will be an LVG 2.0 for us.
I'd rather take a stab at an up and coming manager with less plaudits.
I don't think Conte either - I would plump for either Graham Potter as the up and comer, or perhaps Luis Enrique once Spain has played in the World Cup.
Conte is not the answer. Does not suit the players we have. It will be an LVG 2.0 for us.
I'd rather take a stab at an up and coming manager with less plaudits.
I don't think Conte either - I would plump for either Graham Potter as the up and comer, or perhaps Luis Enrique once Spain has played in the World Cup.
As long as it is someone with tactical skills. Any EPL manager would be better than Ole. Of course the higher management at Utd have proved many times that they are also poor. Would not surprise me if nothing was done. Way back when he was appointed I voiced my opinion that Ole did not have the credentials to take over but a couple people on here shouted me down. He is a legend but a poor manager.
If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid
over 4 years ago· edited over 4 years ago· History
Interesting article from ESPNFC; https://www.espn.com/soccer/manchester-united-engman_utd/story/4497801/has-solskjaer-turned-man-united-around-and-is-he-the-right-person-to-take-the-club-forward
I am really not sure why anyone is surprised about this. It has been coming for a while. Ole is so far out of this depth it is embarrassing. In an interview last week he claimed that both he and his assistant Mike Phelan did not get involved at any training sessions. This morning he said my coaches are good very good, brilliant. He needs psychiatric treatment. Rusty Dunks
Lonegunmen
Rusty Dunks
alon222
Play like the first half against Liverpool on the weekend and it wil be a cricket score
We weren't actually too bad in the first half - too loose in defence and wayward with shots (Fred!!), but the bones were there.
Play like the second half against Liverpool on the weekend and it will be a cricket score - to us.
Oh dear. Fatal words spoken.
Ahh well, if you don't believe - then what's the point?
Having said that, I've cancelled my Spark account.......there's only so much you can take......
If you are old and wise you were probably young and stupid