That's interesting Brian I really bought the idea that it was offside and therefore it was the wrong decision. As you say it was the only decision he got right in an awful refereeing display. It's clear the refs are probably under instruction (from the FA?) to let the game flow. The rules of the game seem to be taking second place to the desire to 'sell the product'. Every season it appears the refs have a new set of instructions to follow as the powers spoil the game in the name of money.
How many cardable fouls did Xhaka commit in that game.? The first on HK after 12 mins was a straight red - even Ian Wright conceded that! But there were at least 2 more that were at least yellow. Mind you, in pure MOTD style, they manage to avoid any memtion of Sissoko’s performance other than to mention.Ramswy getting away from him for their goal.
Macmanahan's lack of intelligence was always apparent when he played. He had plenty of skills but absolutely no idea what to do with them, he must have spent most of his career running into cul de sacs. I watched the NBC stream, Le Saux seriously get's on my nerves and Arlo was so excited when he thought Arsenal would win the commentary was outrageously one sided. As I said earlier Lee Dixon I have time for, he made his own bias clear by turning it into a joke but overall his comments are usually interesting and balanced. Even LeSaux called the Xhaka foul on Kane a red card. WE should have stuffed them that was the only thing that could have turned the game into an enjoyment. A draw was not enough. So many commentators seem to hate to see Spurs winning. **** them!
I wonder if,one day,they will write in a law that says...."passes must go forward or a free kick will be awarded!"
How many fouls does a player have to commit to get a card for persistent fouling. Is it in the laws or is it at the referee’s discretion. I think Xhaka got called for six including the one that got him a card. That of course doesn't include three he committed without punishment
Totting up of minor fouls is usually 5 and a card, that said the ref has to see a foul not just something you would like to be one.
Everything you mention here is all linked to one another, IMO. I mentioned several factors after the Chelsea game, and it was clear again. HK is now marked by 2. That’s a given. In addition, Son is often surrounded the moment he receives, often with his back to goal. Both try to play pretty central, until they are inevitably forced to receive from slightly wider or deeper. However, if that many opposing players are working as a tight unit to nullify arguably our two biggest threats (and remember it is only 2 players being potentially marked by 4 or 5), that exposes other areas on the pitch. Those being the wider areas away from goal, that our “wing backs” should be exploiting. The threat of wide players stretches a defence across the pitch. It’s not rocket science. And this is why fans are growing more and more frustration with Trippier, Davies, and Aurier to some extent. Other teams know their every move. So their defence can continue to double up and leave no spaces centrally for Kane and Son. With the way we set up, you have to let your opponents know that you possess the threat of wider players who will run at you and try to get in behind, if given the chance. Even if those wide players spend periods of the game without the ball, but hug the touch line, that’s enough on its own to create some space in the middle, especially if there’s any chance that they will make a run down the line if given the space. But we just don’t have that anymore. What we see, especially on the right hand side, is no one bothering to keep tight on Trippier, they just make sure they are pushing him far enough back so any attempted cross comes from too far out to be a genuine threat, whilst still positioning themselves close enough to the remaining members of their back 4/5 so the defence is still tight enough centrally. 2 birds killed with 1 stone. - Trippier negated. Kane and Son kept quiet. This also becomes frustrating for Eriksen. What kind of magic is he supposed to produce in his position when there’s no space for link up play? You’ll often see him have no choice but to play a wide pass to Trippier, who immediately stands still and passes it 5-10 yards backwards to a DM or CB. It’s no wonder Eriksen is dispossessed so often. He’s often crowded out with no outlet ball. I’d much rather see Moura over Lamela at the moment, simply because he’s more creative and direct, and doesn’t look like a rabbit caught in headlights. But I still not sure how he will be the solution with the existing problems. Once again, he’ll be picked up and attacks will break down. IMO nearly everything* stems from not having wing backs who are a genuine threat for our opponents. We rarely saw this with Rose and Walker. Granted, Walker had a ****e cross, but full backs couldn’t take their eyes off of him, otherwise he’d be sprinting into the penalty box (where you can’t touch him) or to the by line to play a cut back. With rose on the other side providing something similar, we saw a much more free flowing dangerous Tottenham on the attack. It’s no coincidence, IMO. *apart from brain farts.
I was at the match yesterday. I managed to blag a Club Wembley box seat via work. The prawn sandwiches were superb. The atmosphere incredible especially in the last 15. **** Arsenal and Sol Campbell. SPURS go Marching IN!
That is potentially a career ending foul as the damage to knee ligaments could have been catastrophic. It was deliberate beyond doubt and if not seen by Taylor should be the subject of a retrospective ban for Xhaka.
You haven't heard? He's already packed and off to Spain. He may have been out there in body but his mind was a long way away from Wembley.
I'm not sure how he could possibly have missed it, but he didn't think it was even worth a foul, so perhaps he did?
Anyone can run around for 90 minutes and look busy. I don't buy into that style over substance argument. He's scored 0 goals and has 1 assist in 14 games against Arsenal. He goes missing all too often in the bigger games. Running around doesn't compensate for that.
Eriksen has never liked a tackle but he`s even less likely to be putting his foot in if he is moving to Spain this summer.
