arsenal

Karma - this season Arsenal have it and ManU don't.

Auric

would this be the same united who somehow neve concede penalties at home? Also its worth noting that the current controversy over the new ruling on offside can be traced to Arsenal v Chelsea when Hernan Crespo scored having left the pitch to tie his laces, snuck back on in a clearly offside position, then scored (an absolute belter it has to be said).

its worth bearing in mind the incidents surrounding the bigger teams are magnified and repeated in a way that bypasses most other teams, most of the time.

When an incident is shown that appears to be in favour of ,say, Arsenal, one is first alerted to the fact that they have secured a questionable advantage. It is natural to then connect this to their league position and leap to conclusions. A similar incident affecting wolves or Leeds will recieve far less attention and in any case will be dismissed owing to their league position. After all no one is going to suggest that Leeds or Wolves are lucky. It would be at odds with their predicament.

So...I think that probably these thing roughly even out over a season, though I often wonder why given the endless stats, camera angles and analysis, no one has ever compiled a comprehensive study of all contentious decisions in the prem.

roman

(gooner)

1. Henry was not offside - he was goal side of the nearest defender but not the other 3.

2. I heard Stan Collywobbles droning on about the Parlour elbow and feared the worst. When I saw it it looked very innocuous although perhaps a foul. Parlour showed uncharacteristic calm whilst being throttled by Strachan at the end.

3. Man U score far more offside goals than we do and Henry is constantly flagged when onside - much too quick for linemens' eye > brain coordination.

4. As an aside, poor Martin Keown must retire with immediate effect.

My two-penn'th:

(I am a ManU fan by the way)

* Arsenal are by far the best team this season.
* They were the best team last season also, but lost their bottle at the end.
* Arsenal have many players with a "nasty" streak.
* ManU's results this season have been through hard work rather than true style/entertainment.
* Other than Tim Howard, who has been a revelation, I'm not impressed with the other signings yet. Beckham is sorely missed.
* Defensively, Brown, Silvestre, and even O'Shea have been awful recently.
* Tinkering with the offside rule always seems to make things more confusing for everyone.

Steve D

Steve,

Its an unfortunate fact that teams who win things tend to have more than their fair share of 'nasty' players. I think Man U and Arsenal are about equal in that department but we're better at expressing ourselves.

I'm a United fan.


I think Arsenal have had more than their fair share of good luck in the league this season so far, but there's no conspiracy theory, that's just how it goes sometimes. Arsenal were unlucky in Europe for the first 3 games. I'm sure they'll have a bit of bad luck soon.

It's a shame that the likes of Pires is prone to cheating penalties, but he is far from alone, in fact I think ALL strikers in the premier league are prone to this, it's just that Arsenal and United have more opportunity than most. It's my opinion that contact in the box is not enough to give away a penalty, but it often seems to be interpreted that way. The contact should be such that it prevents the opponent getting the ball. A tap on the ankle and dive does not constitute this IMO.

I like the new offside rule, anything to help create goals is a good thing. The rule to give the attacking team the benefit in marginal offside decisions has not worked. How many incorrect offside desicions do you see, most of these are weighted to the defending side (aren't stats kept on this to rate linesmen, they should be). I haven't seen last night Henry Goal but defending sides should stop moaning about this sort of thing given how the rules should work.
As for all the pundits suggesting it's too complicated, I know footballers are thick, but for gods sake a 3 year old could understand it.


As for last year, Arsenal were clearly the best side before Xmas and United after. No one can even suggest Arsenal were close to United from Xmas onwards.


The Rio ban is ridiculas, but I don't think it will be overturned. When you see what bans footballers have actaully served for failing tests (6 months max), the City player who missed their test just got a fine, then 8 months is out of all proportion.
The 2 years bandied about has only really been applied in Athletics, you can look at many other sport where 2 year bans have not been used.

I woz born there, terrible as a Hammers man, but such is life (Islington actually).

Fritz Von Portsmouthwhere'sportsmouth ?

Re offside: greeny, did you watch the Leicester v Bolton game? It was a badly played out farce IMO

The last time Anya's parents visited, Arsenal started losing. They arrived yesterday and Henry and Campbell are injured already. . .

At 0-1 down I packed the inlaws off on a tour of Greenwich. Seemed to do the trick.

Jammy bastards

quote:

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Originally posted by Alex S.:
I think Man U and Arsenal are about equal in that department but we're better at expressing ourselves.

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This is wrong; Arsenal are the dirtiest team in the Premiership, in terms of sendings off ( 53 under Whinger? ) and yellow cards. Man U are about the cleanest.

Regards

Mike

( Man U )

On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy

A ManYoo fan in Reading? Fancy that!

Matthew

quote:

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Originally posted by Matthew Robinson:
A ManYoo fan in Reading? Fancy that!

Matthew

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The same one that was there to see Saha's goal on his debut.

If I knew how to post pictures I would show you a piccie of me there.

Regards

Mike

On the Yellow Brick Road and Happy

quote:

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Originally posted by alexgerrard:
I thought that Reyes was a winger?

ag

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And wasn't Henry a winger too?

Mike

Thanks Cleetus, further proof that teams at the bottom get done by refs every which way and that ginger haired lunatics can get away with anything.

Arsenal are clearly the best and most saintly team in the entire universe.

They would have won the quadruple this season had it not been for a blatantly biased decision not to give them a penalty in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.

I can't see them losing again all season, and the manager must then get an honorary knighthood (at least).

Chris

Never mind a knighthood - they should Name the new Stadium after him - or a least a stand - Arsene End... WengerRena... err mebbee not.

It's looking good for Arsenal now - Man U slipping up big time against City.

Mind you there will be a number of tough games over the next few weeks including Man U in the Premier, the FA Cup and Chelsea in the Champions League.

Other than a question over perhaps gentlemanly conduct, surely that goal against Blackburn should have stood?

Mike

quote:

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Other than a question over perhaps gentlemanly conduct, surely that goal against Blackburn should have stood?

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Humm. Strikers trying to block the Keeper from kicking the ball was outlawed a good few years ago now. This was essentially in the same class as that. If you did allow this it would just go back to Strikers standing on the Keeper the whole time. I believe this was banned as a safety measure (keepers get protected from anything it seems).

Of course putting your foot up to block anyone from kicking the ball, is totally acceptable outfield, and I wouldn't have thought much 'safer'.

[/QUOTE]

Strikers trying to block the Keeper from kicking the ball was outlawed a good few years ago now. .[/QUOTE]

Of course. But Thierry Henry is an exception to this and many other rules that were, lets face it, designed for 'normal' players.
Anyway, looks like I will not get my wish with the naming of the stadium. They've paid some company to milk it for sponsorship. Degrading or what.
Paul.

it is looking good for arsenal apart from man utd's poor show against city we have alan wiley giving the gunner's a daft free kick off which they score at blackburn, the same wiley refused man u a pen when saha was taken out by fulham's goalkeeper.
yes arsenal are the best team but they would still win the prem with the help of their friends down at f.a. hq.
if rio's ban is halfed so he can play for england i hope he tell's the f.a. to fuck themselves. why should he play for the very twats that banned him for a stupid length of time? play for the team that pay's your wages and don't miss any more tests soft lad.
utd will be back and someone will get a good hiding, a good team do not go bad and stay bad
unless your liverpool of course!

Talking about refs'.

That Riley bloke manages to give manure so many penalties when they're at home I'm surprised he somehow didn't manage it against Porto when he wasn't even the ref'.

Just my opinion, like.