Karma. I will give Chelsea as much sympathy as they gave after the penalty wrongly given against us in the league fixture, i.e. **** All.
I agree. They will whine (as we did), but this is football and i still think luck balances out in the end.
Indeed it will, it wasn't United's fault the referee bottled it but its still game on and all to play for.
You can use the swings and roundabouts therory in the league as over the course of the season they probably do even themselves out, however in cup comps one bad decision can put you out. Yes the pen was soft in the league game but no more soft than the one you got against west ham at the weekend etc. The pen last night was nailed on and probably a sending off too. You will say you deserve a bit of luck at our place and maybe you asre right but it is horrible to be on the receiving end again. What do we have to do to get a penalty in this comp? Barca, Inter, United about 6-7 nailed on penalties over these ties and we've got nowt. What exactly is the job of the assistant behind the goal? Anyway, solid performance by your lot last night, will probably be enough to take you through.
Agree what was the official doing behind the touch line if he can't correctly call decisions like that? He was only 18 yards from the action and had a clear unobstructed view of the incident. The only reason I can think of is it isn't in these officials remit to call decisions like penalties. If this is the case why have them there at all? Better ask UEFA or eufa as Nolhman calls them.
It is in their remit to make calls on penalties, but I think it's still up to the ref whether or not to ask them. I doubt most of them will actively try to overrule the ref. I think referees generally want to make calls like that immediately whilst play is still continuing. It takes a brave ref to have a debate with his assistant whilst the ball is still in play is still ongoing and he is at risk of missing another critical decision. And takes an ever braver ref to pull the game back after potentially another minute of play. Had the ball gone straight out of play after the foul, the ref may well have asked the 5th official and given the penalty during the break in play. I think the value of having these extra assistants there can be somewhat negated by the fact that the ref now has to handle four assistants with no effective way to coordinate them. Arsenal had a similar complaint when they should have had a pen against Braga. Although to be honest I don't think Chelsea have grounds for blaming the ref for that defeat. You should have taken your chances - Torres and Ramires should both have scored. Also Essien could well have had two yellows for his tackles if the ref was strictly applying the rules. Also, credit to Nani for not taking a tumble when he got clipped when through on goal in the 87th minute. He could definitely have gotten Essien a second yellow had he gone to ground then.
Agreed Nani could have fallen down but credit to the lad for standing up looking for the goal. Something Torres needs to learn.
I thought you deserved the win on balance, can't understand why Ancellotti leaves it so late to change the game. 10 shots on target shows that VDS kept you in the game again, although may of them were half arsed attempts from distance, and to be fair Rio was outstanding Torres and Drogba should never play together, although both individually had moments of brilliance... Torres penalty claim - most strikers would go down under that challenge, ugly as it is to watch
Although to be honest I don't think Chelsea have grounds for blaming the ref for that defeat. You should have taken your chances - Torres and Ramires should both have scored. Also Essien could well have had two yellows for his tackles if the ref was strictly applying the rules. Also, credit to Nani for not taking a tumble when he got clipped when through on goal in the 87th minute. He could definitely have gotten Essien a second yellow had he gone to ground then.[/QUOTE] I agree we cant blame the ref for the defeat as over the 90 we should have been better. But at this level fine margins define success and failure and once again, we have failed to get a blatant penalty in the knockouts of the champions league which if scored, would have altered the balance of the tie.
True, but VDS was only really stretched twice - Torres/Lampard's combined effort in the 1st half and the save from Torres' header in the second half. Most of them went straight down his throat. And had Cech not just got his fingertips to Nani's cross, Hernandez would have made it 2-0. Maybe, but not all of them would have arched their back like they'd been shot and electrocuted simultaneously. I think it was the fact he made such a meal of it, combined with his earlier 'exaggerated stumble' that got him booked.
But ultimately, the bad decisions at Stamford Bridge and the points they cost us could cost United the league title. As was arguably the case last season. Which is more important than a place in the CL semis IMO.
Maybe, but not all of them would have arched their back like they'd been shot and electrocuted simultaneously. I think it was the fact he made such a meal of it, combined with his earlier 'exaggerated stumble' that got him booked. True, There's no room in the game for gamesmanship/simulation, have any United players ever done that?
Plenty of them have. As have numerous players from other teams. As long as the rewards for success are so great and the punishments for simulation so light, players will dive to try and win penalties. Doesn't mean we should condone it, particularly when it was such an obvious display. At least most simulation is a case of "I was running fast and got clipped" and not "I was standing still and someone nudged me".
