You have a point, but they aren't our problem. I was right behind Fergie & had a close up view of his intimidation of a ref the other day. That is why I found last night hilarious, him getting a taste!
They had a goal disallowed which could easily have been given and a handball on the line not given which is a pen and red card. So they got the benefit of 2 big decisions and were on the other end of 3 big decisions, the red card, a handball that could have been given and an injury time pen not given. Thats pretty balance but youd think the ref handed Real a 5 goal lead by the way theyve been banging on about it. I watched that game as a neutral because I never want Ronaldo to win and the same goes for Man U so Im not seeing it in a biased way.
I was watching it as 60/40 bias to ManU and certainly didn't lose any sleep because of the defeat. I was merely disappointed cos the good and excited match was partly spoiled for that unnecessarily red card.
Sure our enjoyment was spoiled but he had to go by the way things are reffed in Europe, intent doesnt matter there, even for handball. On the plus side, the raging Fergie was even more entertaining that the game could have been. He was whining that kicking a ball at someone could have killed his player so going by his logic Nani should be banged up for life! It gets better, they are going to be done for their behaviour, I reckon Fergie will explode when he heres the news! http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21691929
I believe Mourinho and co would have acted even worse. For us it is everyday business , that ref made mistakes which are totally against you. Those big clubs are not use to that in their own league. That Nanis sent off was just the kind of red card that could happen to us .
I know and no one cares that were on the wrong end of similar or worse incidents 10 times a season, theres a national outcry when it happens to Man U once every few years.
Also the pen Real should have had in the first leg and the corner Man U scored from at the Bernebeau which should have been a clear goal kick. From where I was sat Real edged it over the two legs and only one team was lucky, and it wasn't Real.
You can see the match so many ways...I bet sir alex can see it now and offer an apology to that turkish hawkeye
Why else do you think their record in Europe under him is so poor? If they got even a fraction of the favouritism in Europe as they do here in England I'd wager a bet they'd have won it as many times as Liverpool have now (at least).
the thing with you DL is you say Nanis was a red but say that Torres on Cleverley wasnt, and how did Clattenburg have a mere that day when it was the linesman that gave that goal.
Dave, referees interpretations of the rules are different on the continent. You have to put it into context. In the Premier League, Nani's foul is never a red card but in Europe it is. Had Torres committed that foul in a European game I'd 100% expect him to see red. Remember Drogba got sent off in the CL final for just a cheeky slap on the face to Vidic? I said then it was a red card and I stand by it because rules are rules. In England, referees allow you to get away with far more than in Europe. I can say with near certainty that if a non-British ref had refereed the last World Cup Final, that match would never have ended with 22 men on the field. In England = No red In Europe = Red Referees won't take **** off and pander to the likes of John Terry, Ashley Cole and Fergie/United players like they do in England. That's just the reality mate. All the best
I do find the general level of Man Utd hating quite bemusing. Jealousy? And Flyer.....you talk about Rafael's hand ball and that any hand ball is a pen in Europe, well by that token Man Utd should have had two themselves. Anyway, it's all water under the bridge now..........roll on Saturday.
I am with you on this one Col. I am even more bemused by Engllish QPR people outside of England still not supporting other English teams in the major European competitions. Rightly or wrongly these competitions are used as a barometer of how strong the differerent European leagues are now. As the PL probably won't have one team in the Quarters of the CL, everyone here is saying the English league is in decline and the Italian, French and German are on the up and well on the way to overtaking the PL, joining Spain as having the 4 best Leagues in Europe. Meaning not only are we bottom of the PL, the PL is arguably outside the top 4 Leagues in Europe. For me it is totally natural to support English teams in Europe, as mostly people from all the other different countries support their Country's teams regardless of which Club they support in that Country.
I think it would be fairer to judge the Premier League over a few seasons, rather than the one where we have no representatives in the quarters. If that happens for a couple more years on the trot, then it may be that the Premier League is worse than those you mention. Also, IMO, the Premier League is very attacking with lots of goals and entertaining games. However, European football, over two legs is generally cat and mouse and more tactical.
Yeh, I agree with that and there is no definete answer as to which Leagues are best anyway. English Clubs will argue that the English season is too long for them to make a major effort in the long Europa League. Nevertheles results are results and say more than anything else, and English Clubs, apart from Chelsea playing park the bus last two rounds, did badly in Europe last season as well as this.
You're right. But most Spanish and Italian league games I've watched lack the intensity and excitement of the Premier League for me. That may mean that British clubs fail to get to the latter stages of The Champions League, but I prefer our league from a spectator's point of view.
One penalty, the other guy had his arms behind his back which is not given, Rafaels arms were not by his side, the injury time pen was nailed on though but it had no effect on the game.
