I think it's a very harsh decision by the F.A. And, one I suspect may well be predicated on reputation, as much as any wish to avoid making one of their top referees look incompetent. Having viewed it several times, I couldn't say with 100% certainty that it was intentional or unintentional! but there's clearly enough evidence to place a serious doubt over intent. Carroll should have been given the benefit of that doubt, IMO.
It's intentional. Carroll can't fail to know where Flores is. He's pissed off by the way that he's gone over him and he's having a dig back. Probably not a red, but it's borderline. Flores deserves one for his ****ty reaction, though.
I don't think it is intentional. He would need eyes in the back of his head. I'm sure he didn't mind if he caught Flores, he's not pulling his arms in to avoid him, but I can't see that he tried to catch him. And it was only a gentle swing of the arm, not a punch or a shove, but natural rotation of the arm. I see 2 fouls there. The way Flores held on to him in the jump was worthy of a yellow - was an armlock that could have caused damage. And then the simulation which was another yellow.
So Liverpool v Arsenal. I'll ask the question we don't want to think about. Do we want Arsenal to win and at least maintain their lead over us but give us a chance of reeling Liverpool in, or do we want Liverpool to win as we think we can still catch Arsenal if they lose form? Obviously a draw does both. I'd argue that Liverpool are our big rivals this year and the best result is for them to lose.
I can't see us catching Arsenal this year, so I hope they win. And I know it's sacrilege and has been debated already, but I'd rather see them win the league than either of the sugar daddy clubs.
YES! There was only a couple of us in agreement on the other thread. I find myself in the unenviable situation of now wanted Arsenal to win most weeks for one reason or another
Before we drew against Hull I thought it was win/win regardless of the result but 11 points is a lot and I don't think we're anywhere near organised enough to catch up on that kind of gap in just 14 games. Arsenal winning has to be looked upon as the best result now. At least matching Liverpool's result is important so if they lose, even if we lose too, it won't be the end of the World. I think Arsenal will win anyway but I'd accept a draw with Suarez, Mignolet, Koscielny and Mertesacker all getting sent off for racism and getting 10 game bans.
A draw for me. Arsenal have some very difficult games coming up over the next couple of months and could find themselves battling for 3rd/4th, rather than title challengers. I see it as 2 points dropped for both teams.
Under no circumstances would I want the goons to win the title! which they won't anyway but I'll give them credit when due yet I would rather the chavs took the title then have the goons crowned champions!
In hindsight you are correct sir. After all, there are other games for Liverpool to lose, and Spurs will beat Arsenal next month!
Agree with the above. No true Spurs fan can possibly want The Goons to win anything!...in this particular instance, I would be more than happy to see them kick seven colours of ****e out of each other - a few red cards would be an added bonus too!.
Me, too. I could bear to see either team win. A draw suits us better, any way, for our push for the title.
Regarding Vidic leaving United... Apparently, no captain of United has EVER left of his own free will. What with RVP saying he'll gladly go back to the team he spurned (ie. Arsenal) and Rooney being bribed to stay for a little while longer, one does sense that United could end up becoming the biggest joke in world football, when half the team hands in transfer requests at the start of next season.
Can you believe their arrogance? They have a thread running at the moment where most of them say they can win the title. Utterly unbelievable! They've had the easiest start to a league in the history of football, and they are all beginning to believe their own delusion. The title is £ity's to lose. Anyone with half a brain - not even a footballing brain - can see that, but not the Gooners. Oh, how I will laugh - and make it public - the day they all realise the dream is over.
