I was absolutely delighted to draw the scousers today. If we had drawn the likes of Brighton or Swindon, I would have been worried. We all know what Fergie is like in Cups against so called lower opposition. He plays the reserves. And against these teams this year, we have come up a cropper (in CC, ECL, premiership). Our less than full strength teams have not performed. I cannot believe he will dare put an under strength side against the scousers away.
I don't remember the Evans penalty claim, I remember the Giggs one but that shouldn't have been given because just before it Evans pushed Reina out the way when he was making a save (watch it again). Nah disagree. It was a yellow coz it was late, but it was never a straight red. Yes he two feet ended up in the tackle, but Rafael did a two footed standing tackle on Meireles just before the red and he didn't even get a yellow A picture can show anything you want it too really, I could justify the red card of Rodwell, Kompany, Spearing etc by using a picture, but when you watch the video its clear as day that none of them are actually red cards.
So you admit he was late, and that it was a two footed challenge, remind my why it shouldn't of been a straight red again? Because I'm pretty sure a late two footed challenge justifies a red card in today's game.
I didn't think the Giggs one should've been given cos I thought Shelvey (or Spearing?) got a bit on the ball. Just a touch, but enough for it not to be a penalty in the area. Evans was hauled down by Skrtel from behind - there was a covering defender but it was still a clear penalty imo. Sorry but I completely disagree - I've seen the Gerrard tackle on video a great many times. He jumps into the tackle from some way out, his feet are off the floor for a good couple of seconds, he has no control over his momentum, and all his weight goes through Carrick's ankle. A two footed jumping lunge that makes contact with the opponent is a red card in anyone's book. I don't clearly remember the Rafael one, but from what I recall he didn't make contact with Meireles? In which case the maximum penalty under the rules is a yellow card for playing in a dangerous manner.
Swarbs I recall the tackle by Rafael. I didn't think it merited a red card either. I thought there was no excessive force or malice in it. Coming to today's Kompany's tackle. I thought it WAS a red card. he was off the ground (for a short time), was excessively aggressive. I did not think you needed to have contact otherwise you would need to have an injury for an extremely bad tackle to be punished.
If we are talkin about refs decsions I agree Gerrards was a red But Kompanys certainly wasnt today,at least when we got a similar decision with Rodwell earlier in the season, the LFC fans were all sayin it was bad call.Rodwell went into the challenge exactly like Kompany did today,and like Spearing did against Fulham, none of them were sendings off, but some United fans are saying it was the right decision.BOLL**S.It was a stinker,and that one incident almost certainly decided the outcome of the match United fans are now saying,oh you cant go in two footed, he went in footed with his 2nd foot behind.YOU WERNT SAYIN THAT WHEN RODWELL DID EXACTLY THE SAME THING
It would if referees actually refereed by the rules, instead of doing what they like in games. Rafael has gone in twice two footed on Liverpool players and got a yellow card for one tackle that was extremely dangerous and we didn't even get a free kick in the other. Same with Carragher, by the rules he should've been sent off twice, but he wasn't either time. So I don't see why people keep citing the rules for sending offs, especially when they are only applied in some cases, and not others. A great example of a tackle that was frowned upon but I thought was fine was the Flamini tackle on Corluka, he got all of the ball and none of the man, yet most people were calling for red cards. People like that ruin football for me, trying to outlaw every type of tackle apart from the standing one. It will be a non-contact sport if these people keep saying every kind of tackle is dangerous.
How can you compare Rodwell's tackle to Kompany's? Kompany's was reckless and with excessive force and aggression. Rodwell's was a good tackle, no excessive force or aggression. Chalk and cheese.
No its wasnt, it was 2 footed , with both feet off the floor for a second exactly the same as Kompanys, both players got the ball.The only diiference was Rodwells was probably worse as he collided with Suarez on the follow thru,Kompany didnt
Fair play, I thought it was a pen if looked at in isolation, I didn't see Shelvey get a touch on the ball. Was it from a set piece? If so, then yeah it probably happened, but Skrtel is a master of the "defending dark arts" a la Carvalho & Samuel. The guy hauls someone down in our own box every game and he's never conceded a penalty for it as far as I recall. And no, not for me mate, I think it's fair to say we have much different ideals when it comes to tackling.
The only reason why there was no collison was because Nani jumped out of the way. He would have been severely injured if contact had been made. I do not agree with Swarbs that contact has to be made for a red card to be shown. If I set out to maliciously kick and injure a player and he manages to avoid contact I still deserve to be sent off.
Yet another manc who lives by 2 sets of rules , one for his own team, and one for every one else.Hypocrite, just like the manager
I disagree - I didn't think it was particularly aggressive or deserved a red. He had very little forward momentum, and made almost no contact with Nani. He was off the ground for a bit, but there's nothing in the rules about not leaving the ground, the rules just say you can't lunge at the opponent, so you're fine to leave the ground as long as you aren't throwing yourself directly at the player. I agree with that - the problem is that most managers, pundits, players and even refs seem to have no idea about what the rules actually say. The rules now clearly state there is no difference between a one footed and a two footed lunge if they are both dangerous, and that a red card can only be given if there's contact between the players. But I've never once heard a pundit or manager refer to that, even if it's a manager trying to defend their player! Can't be 100% sure, but I think Shelvey got a bit on the ball, although possibly after he came into contact with Giggs. It could probably have gone either way, and I guess the ref might have given it if he hadn't given the Berb one earlier. You're right about Skrtel - Ferdinand and Terry are very good at it too - giving those sly tugs and pulls on the arms that are so clear on the replays but very hard for the ref to spot. Fair enough. For me anything where studs go directly into players at any sort of pace, particularly when the player is off the floor and thus not in control of their movements, is a red card. The amount of pressure that exerts on bones is equivalent to having an elephant standing on your leg, and although it's only for a fraction of a second that can be long enough to break bones or tear ligaments. I said the same when Evans tackled Holden last season as well - that one looked fairly innocuous and Jonny kept his trailing leg on the floor, but the studs were still enough to put Holden out for the best part of a year.
I don't get why people say Spearing's wasn't a red, he was completely off the floor with both feet forward studs first and the lowest of those 2 feet went studs first into Dembele's ankle, for me it was a clear red, the Kompany one today may of been soft but I can see why it was given especially from the refs angle, the Rodwell red was also a soft one, the softest of them all in my opinion as he was on the floor with only one foot forward when he made the tackle, I think this one just looked worse than it was at first glance.
Nani's reaction alone, should have indicated to Foy no contact was made. Nani's one of the biggest play actors in the premiership. As for Rooney's performance, running to the ref..classy, really classy!!
Smith. I watched the match with Swarbs. Even he admitted it wasn't a red, so do one, and we'll **** you in the next round
