Well reds have been given for less, and there woud have been no argument if he had been sent off. But these days it seems its a two footed challenge that draws the red.
Bale was definitely caught by Gibbs - it wasn't a dive. I think the ref thought that Szczesny was going to cover so didn't think it was a goalscoring opportunity. That decision changed the game - Arsenal would have had no hope down to ten men. Spurs deserved to lose and lose badly because Arsenal were superior in every way, but we should still finish well ahead of you and no-one should judge on one match or even half a season. Since Redknapp arrived we've averaged about 0.1 points per match less than Arsenal and it has been gradually moving in our favour. Over the last year I think we've got about 0.2 per match more. It would therefore be a real surprise if you could make up 7 points in 12 matches. Stranger things have happened though.
Frequently wrong - like most people I guess, just a little less frequently than some others on here I could mention, and a LOT less frequently than your good self
Pull the other one. Come on mate, I know you got tonked, but don't make a fool of yourself. Bale is a cheat, he dived for the pen - the ref was 20 yards behind the play and totally bought the dive.
How in the world did that decision change the game??? There were 2 defenders around Bale - neither did anything wong, but Bale is now an expert cheat and went over very convincingly - until the replay show he cheated.
Excessive force is the criterion for a red. Reckless for a yellow. A few years ago the tackle he got the first card for wouldn't have even been a foul - he got a huge chunk of the ball but bounced over it to land on Van Persie's foot. I think the current rules are right though - stops injuries.
Come off it, Piskie. It was nowhere near as bad as you make it sound. Take off your red tinted specs for a while, eh! I'vevseen it several times, and I still can't decide if there was contact, or not. Yes, Bale went down easily, but please don't try and tell us that your whiter than white players wouldn't have done exactly the same thing. They spent the early part of the match desperately trying to claim penalties that blatantly never were!
The replay showed nothing of the sort. It showed that Gibbs clipped his ankle. All the 'experts' were too busy looking at Sczesney's arm to notice that. NONE of the three Arsenal players touched the ball. I actually think the ref got it exactly right because Bale would probably not have scored - I was simply pointing out how different the outcome might have been if the ref had seen it differently. Actually if he had booked Bale for diving we might have been riled enough to play better and win.
Wrong again, as usual. If you were so superior, it would be reflected in the table - it isn't! There have been a lot of freak results this year. You got demolished 8-2 by Man utd, who in turn lost 6-1 to City at home. We lost badly to City at home, but the away game we could, and should have won, if Webb had done his job properly. The truth is, we didn't' show up on the day and we paid the price or it. Anything else you want to see through your red tinted specs - you go right ahead. You're only kidding yourself, certainly nobody on here.
I dont have red tinted specs (no one could ever accuse me of it). Bale cheated blatantly. Stop making excuses about being demolished yesterday. Move on and wait till the next NLD / or big moment (like final league position). Bleating about getting hammered now is just making you look bitter.
I'm not saying that we're whiter than white. But Bale dived and cheated the ref into giving a pen. Anyone who saw it would tell you the same.
Exactly! As I said earlier, we failed to match your intensity, work rate, and will to win. Unforgivable, in a NLD. I'm glad you can finally see what I've been saying all along!
Like I've said, I've seen it in slow motion several times and I still can't tell. The Ref doesn't have that luxury. He consulted with the linesman, and then still gave the Pen. Maybe Bale went down very easily. It happens, not the first time - won't be the last. I've certainly seen far more dubious penalties awarded than that one.
Actually I'm right. We've certainly been superior over the last 17 years and you just answered the reason why the table looks different this year, there have been a lot of freak results. You showed up yesterday, but you got beaten by the better team, pure and simple
If you actually watch the replay you can see one of Bale's feet knock into the other one as Gibbs crosses behind him. That was why he fell down. If he did this on purpose when there was no contact it would be a miracle.
No replay shows any contact. None whatsoever. Bale hung out a leg and caught nothing .. then fell over !
I don't think Dean did consult the linesman with regards to the pen.It would appear the linesman was only telling Dean he'd been hit by an object thrown from the crowd
