On the Eve of the new Season...

[vansmack]

20K people sang an entire Depeche Mode song after a goal and left the sectarianism out of it.

That is pretty awesome to me.

[Frank Gallagher]

Smackie - if it's Celtic/Rangers there's always sectarianism.

I  chuckled when the kop singing happy birthday to Dalglish on Sunday.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12670175

[godsshoeshine]

i'm with frank here. awful people, i always play with hibs on fifa

[vansmack]

The RVP sending off was the worst call I've ever seen....

One second.  Really?

[Frank Gallagher]

Smackie - the problem is what he did is a yellow card offense. Because he's on a yellow already the ref is now forced to decide if a yellow card offense is actually a red card offense (if that makes sense) Which is really unfair on the ref. The player committed the offense, not the ref.

When I center ref a game I always tell captains at the pre-game my decisions are based on face value so if they're on a yellow and earn another yellow they're getting one. It happened last week. I officiated a team of Argentines v Good Ol' Muurcan boys. The Argies stood on the ball at every free kick to prevent a quick restart. I warned them after what had to be the 5th time of doing this I was going to start dishing out cards. The captain of the Argie team ended up with two yellows and was incensed because he was under the impression it's part of the game. I asked him, "you mean like diving?" He also thought that was part of the game...moron!

BTW I was hoping for extra time at Nou Camp to wear Arse down even more for the weekend but that's not going to happen now. United very vunerable at the moment so we need all the help we can get.

[vansmack]

Smackie - the problem is what he did is a yellow card offense. Because he's on a yellow already the ref is now forced to decide if a yellow card offense is actually a red card offense (if that makes sense) Which is really unfair on the ref. The player committed the offense, not the ref.

When I center ref a game I always tell captains at the pre-game my decisions are based on face value so if they're on a yellow and earn another yellow they're getting one. It happened last week. I officiated a team of Argentines v Good Ol' Muurcan boys. The Argies stood on the ball at every free kick to prevent a quick restart. I warned them after what had to be the 5th time of doing this I was going to start dishing out cards. The captain of the Argie team ended up with two yellows and was incensed because he was under the impression it's part of the game. I asked him, "you mean like diving?" He also thought that was part of the game...moron!

BTW I was hoping for extra time at Nou Camp to wear Arse down even more for the weekend but that's not going to happen now. United very vunerable at the moment so we need all the help we can get.

Were there 70K people in the stands whistling and yelling at the match you were officiating?

I've seen a lot of time wasting offenses in my day, and that was not one of them.  Ruined what was an otherwise entertaining match - I doubt he gets another match this tournament.

[Frank Gallagher]

I'm not watching the game so can't speak for the noise factor. Were the fans stood in the way of the AR with his flag up?

[vansmack]

I can't believe I've been having this conversation with you and you didn't even see the play.

Actually, yes I can, and that's why I love you.

[Frank Gallagher]

My initial point was simply that two yellows make a red, regardless of what the second offense is for. The two yellow card offenses are irrelevant. If you read my initial reply you will see I didn't mention anything about what RVP actually did.

I wasn't commenting on that actual incident, more on the fact that many players think because they're on a yellow they can get away with much more before receiving the second, which sometimes is, but never should be the case.

[Frank Gallagher]

I was just thinking....were Arsenal killing the clock a lot? The ref may have warned them collectively as a team to stop it and when RVP shot after the call was flagged offside just said "FUCK IT" and penalized that next time killing incident.

Sometimes a ref will show someone a yellow without realizing they were already on one. Once you've got the card out you can't put it back in your pocket.

[Barcelona]

Actually, Van Persie was facing the assistant referee when he got the ball. It was a stupid yellow card, but a yellow card, did he forget he had already a yellow card? Whether the main referee could have avoided it? Debatable, I think Van Persie was out of his mind in the first half and with 1-1 he delibertely went to lose time knowing the flag was up. Not a bright decision from Van Persie.

By the way, there was a penalty and an (unfarily) disallowed goal for Barcelona in the first game and I believe a penalty today in the first half. Guardiola did not complain after the first game, what Wenger did today is not good, Arsenal never shot to the goal today, to say that with Van Persie they would have won the game, sad comment, mourinho-style.

Intersting story about the game with the argentineans.

[Frank Gallagher]

Hi there Barcelona - Haven't seen you in this neighbourhood for a while. I think the Champions League is Barcas to lose at this point. There's no other team in the world right now that can come close to them in my opinion.

Getting back to the red....just what I suspected. RVP must've seen the flag up as he was facing the AR, plus he put no real effort into the 'shot on goal'. His body language after the fact is an admission of guilt. A tough yellow but a yellow offense nonetheless. If it was his first yellow then we wouldn't be having this discussion, but should he get away with it just because it's his second yellow card offense???

[godsshoeshine]

yes he should

ref could have easily given him a lecture and added an extra minute on. then its a nonstory

[Frank Gallagher]

*quote*
The referee is in charge. It is his responsibility to ensure that the game is played within the rules and without diminishing the competitiveness of the contest, i.e. that game is allowed to flow whenever possible. He should be fully aware of the rules of the game and be able to apply them wherever and whenever necessary.
*unquote*


RVP stopped the game from flowing by kicking the ball away after a stoppage in play. The player is responsible for the yellow card, not the official.

[Frank Gallagher]

Now this......

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/9419995.stm

....is fucking retarded.