Football

[balne-wonderer]

Nobody has justified Rafael kicking out at Luiz. He deserved a red card for what he did but so did David Luiz and Ramires before him.

The fact is that if Luiz had been shown a second yellow for flipping out at the referee over his yellow card, or had been punished for the two elbows to Rafael he wouldn't have been on the pitch for Rafael to lash out at.

Had Ramires been sent off earlier for aiming kicks at Phil Jone's face he wouldn't have been on the pitch to foul Wayne Rooney on the edge of the Chelsea penalty area and start the break that resulted in the Chelsea goal.

To be fair Luiz was lucky not to get sent off a couple of years ago against Man Utd.

Jones has been lucky not to see a couple of reds this season himself. he seems to have joined the likes of Rooney, Giggs and Scholes as players that aren't allowed to be punished.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

The Chelsea goal came from a break mere seconds after Rooney should have had a free kick after being tackled on the edge of the Chelsea penalty box.

Having now seen it on MOTD2, there was nothing wrong with Ramires's tackle, he got the ball cleanly and if anything Rooney fell over himself. Perfectly legitimate challenge there and never in a million years a foul. If United had defended properly perhaps they wouldn't have conceded either!

 

[JoeH]

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Having now seen it on MOTD2, there was nothing wrong with Ramires's tackle, he got the ball cleanly and if anything Rooney fell over him. Perfectly legitimate challenge there.

Sky showed replays of it over and over, including close up shots showing he took the leg not the ball. They came to the exact opposite conclusion of you and the BBC. I haven't seen another replay of it since the live match, though, because my Sky box failed to record.

There can be no doubt that he shouldn't have been on the pitch to begin with. Or is trying to kick someone in the face twice a perfectly legitimate challenge?

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Having now seen the BBC coverage you have to ask why they deliberately picked an alternate camera angle that makes it hard to see Luiz's two elbows, and why they chose to completely ignore the Ramires kicks towards Jones' head?

 

[MidnightFlyer]

Sky showed replays of it over and over, including close up shots showing he took the leg not the ball. They came to the exact opposite conclusion of you and the BBC.

There can be no doubt that he shouldn't have been on the pitch to begin with. Or is trying to kick someone in the face twice a perfectly legitimate challenge?

Well from what I've seen on the BBC (multiple angles as per Sky) he got the ball cleanly, and if anything Rooney tripped up over his own leg. I don't see how you could even construed it to be a foul. You shouldn't need all this hypothetical 'he shouldn't have been on the pitch' anyway, how do you know if he had been dismissed that another Chelsea player wouldn't have assumed his position and done the exact same? Play to the whistle, that's what you do, cut out all the moaning and pitching a fit. MU also had plenty of chances to stop the counter (including one totally scuffed clearance), however they failed to do so and conceded. Simple.

 

[JoeH]

Well from what I've seen on the BBC (multiple angles as per Sky) he got the ball cleanly, and if anything Rooney tripped up over his own leg. I don't see how you could even construed it to be a foul. You shouldn't need all this hypothetical 'he shouldn't have been on the pitch' anyway, how do you know if he had been dismissed that another Chelsea player wouldn't have assumed his position and done the exact same? Play to the whistle, that's what you do, cut out all the moaning and pitching a fit. MU also had plenty of chances to stop the counter (including one totally scuffed clearance), however they failed to do so and conceded. Simple.

My comment on the Rooney thing was based on what Sky showed and Sky said during the coverage. As I explained I haven't seen it since so I was only going on what Sky said and what I saw during the broadcast. In all honesty I hadn't paid much attention to it during the live match and I only commented on it because Sky had made a point of bringing it up.

I'm not sure why the tackle/foul is being picked up on out of all I said because my main complaints are not even about that, but about the fact that Ramires clearly tried to kick Phil Jones in the head. Now that's simple.

 

[12CSVT]

Well done to Newport County, who have been promoted to the Football League after beating Wrexham 2-0 at Wembley in the play-off final this afternoon. Kiddie should still have gone up mind

Of course, those who've been around long enough will remember them in there originally, having been relegated to the non-league in 1988.

They spent the entire 1987-88 season (barring the first two games) in bottom position in division 4, finishing on 25 points (19 points behind the second bottom team).
I also remember they went bankrupt half way through the following season, when they were bottom of the conference. They managed to score 5 in their very last game before folding (a cup tournament against Kidderminster) but lost 6-5.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

All that I will say on the matter is that I have never seen a footballer knocked off his feet in a challenge having a reaction that keeps his shoulder-blade region on the floor, but then a same-move reaction that sees both legs suddenly rise upwards to such a height. Perhaps there has been a learned article published in The Lancet in the past which can explain this very unusual medical matter...:roll:

 

[balne-wonderer]

Just seen a replay on the Luiz/Rafael incident and the goal before that.l

Certainty no elbow at all. Luiz lent with the shoulder with force but no elbow. The goal was fine. Rooney fell over himself!

 

[JoeH]

Just seen a replay on the Luiz/Rafael incident and the goal before that.l

Certainty no elbow at all. Luiz lent with the shoulder with force but no elbow. The goal was fine. Rooney fell over himself!

Two elbows, one to the face and then a harder one to the chest, very clear. Was shown repeatedly in the post match coverage on Sky from the correct camera angle. Presumably you saw the replay on Match of the Day which showed from the reverse angle to make the elbows less visible.

Sky also showed many replays, from different angles in slow motion and zoomed in which clearly showed Ramires's leg made contact with Rooney before he touched the ball. BBC didn't even show it in detail.

BBC also completely cut out the part where Ramires tried to kick Phil Jones in the head. Ramires of course should have been sent off for that.

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[Xenophon PCDGS]

The Merseyside derby match must have been a very quiet and incidentless match considering the dearth of postings on this thread about it. How times have changed..:roll:
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Well done to Newport County, who have been promoted to the Football League after beating Wrexham 2-0 at Wembley in the play-off final this afternoon. Of course, those who've been around long enough will remember them in there originally, having been relegated to the non-league in 1988.

Being one of those "older forum members"..... Newport County were the representatives in 1980 in the European Cup Winners Cup and had some good wins in the very early stages that year.

 

[Butts]

When is Rafa Benitez going to get a bit of credit for what he has achieved this season......?

Is everyone behind them for The Europa Cup Final against Benfica in Amsterdam ?

I hope so

 

[richw]

Yeovil beat Sheffield United 2-0 to reach the play off final, their opposition will be decidedwhen Brentford and Swindon play at 1630

 

[SS4]

When is Rafa Benitez going to get a bit of credit for what he has achieved this season......?

Is everyone behind them for The Europa Cup Final against Benfica in Amsterdam ?

I hope so

I am behind them, especially if they rest their entire A-team for this weekend's league game

 

[familyguy99]

Well done to Yeovil making play off final, nice to see Sheff Utd still going to be in League One next season mean when the play Oldham at Boundary Park, Sheff Utd will probably bring 2 to 3,000 fans with them so aleast that be good for Oldham finances too.

Heartbreak for Brentford as Swindon score in final mins of match to send match in extra time (4-4 on agg) four of play offs so far have been very good to watch better then both Premiership matches yesterday too.

As for League Two play off final, I would love to see Bradford win that match as again they will probably bring quite lot of fans to Boundary Park and is only £6 on train to Bradford from Rochdale plus £2.80 from Oldham to Rochdale on Metrolink tram so is quite cheap to get there too.

 

[richw]

Do away goals not count in the playoffs?
Do they activate after Extra time?

 

[familyguy99]

Do away goals not count in the playoffs?
Do they activate after Extra time?

^^ Nope away goals not count in Play Offs mean if Brentford v Swindon still drawing on Agg after extra time, it will go into Penalty shootout.

 

[richw]

Swindon have just had Nathan Byrne given his marching orders. Delibrate handball

 

[SS4]

Penalty shoot-out at Brentford. Always exciting - as long as you're a neutral that is!
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Brentford win 5-4 on penalties

 

[familyguy99]

Brentford have won 5-4 on penalty shootout, so is Brentford v Yeovil in Play Off final, I think Yeovil could win that one but saying that I think it be very good football for League One.

 

[richw]

3rd vs 4th for play off final, I am not a supporter of a team in 6th for example getting promoted when they have finished quite some points behind 3rd.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

3rd vs 4th for play off final, I am not a supporter of a team in 6th for example getting promoted when they have finished quite some points behind 3rd.

The Conference Premiership play-off final was 3rd (Newport County) against 5th (Wrexham), so it would appear recent 2-match play offs can obviate a whole seasons results.

 

[richw]

League 2 is seeing 6th vs 7th in final. League 2 only saw a few points between 4th and 7th so not a massive gap there

 

[SS4]

Damn, could have done with Stoke getting all three points. At least Sunderland's team selection adds further woes
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Really though, we need Swansea to beat Wigan tomorrow

 

[richw]

If Wigan beat Swansea, 40 points may not be enough to be the safety marker this season

 

[Qwerty133]

3rd vs 4th for play off final, I am not a supporter of a team in 6th for example getting promoted when they have finished quite some points behind 3rd.

I (currently) am as a leicester fan, but even if we're promoted I want Pearson sacked.

 

[balne-wonderer]

big game tomorrow. I was unimpressed by Stoke tonight. The game was there for the taking but they allowed Sunderland to get back into it.

A Wigan win tomorrow and there will be plenty of sweaty bums in the North East.

 

[Butts]

I (currently) am as a leicester fan, but even if we're promoted I want Pearson sacked.

Yes Bring Sven back

 

[balne-wonderer]

Wolves have sacked Saunders. Dark times at Molinuex.
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Kenny Jackett leaves Millwall.

 

[Donny Dave]

Wolves have sacked Saunders. Dark times at Molinuex.

Daft decision. Both times he's managed in the Championship, he has only had 1 or 2 quality players. He re-jigged the Doncaster squad last summer and look what happened. Sadly, yet another manager pays the price for a boards ineptitude ....

Kenny Jackett leaves Millwall.

Shame really, although I think in the last season (FA Cup run aside), he's got stale at Milwall. That's probably because he's taken them as far as they can go without a major investor.

 

[gazzak]

I (currently) am as a leicester fan, but even if we're promoted I want Pearson sacked.

Watford went up in 99 from 6th place. It's very possible. Just out of interest, why do you want Pearson sacked?