Yep. Fortunately we only have to face him twice a season. If I was being really critical we maybe shouldn't have let him cut inside for the goal but I'm not going to criticise anyone tonight. All the players worked so hard for that point. Play like that against Arsenal and we'll win.
Hazard is a fantastic player and would love to have him in our side. Everyone worked their socks off today and I can't wait to see us against Arsenal. Going to that game before heading back to Uni.
It was the only time in the first half someone dived in on him. All half, the players stood up and tight to him without being tempted to try and nick the ball; it worked and someone must have done their homework. Just the bloody one time in that first half.
Hazard is really some player....maybe the best player Chelsea has had since Zola? I thought our defence was immense today...kept Costa very quite, in fact Chelsea only had 1 shot on target. Is Morgan out for 1 or 3 games?
Watching Match Choice and the sumariser has said a couple of times, the Chelsea player "should have pressurised and won a Penalty", I was not aware that winning a Penalty was a fair tactic, especially with the use of simulation, which was the impression I got from the comments.
Really annoys me when pundits and the media say Mourinho is out of control/letting his emotions get the better of him, etc. He's not. He's a smart guy and he plays the media game perfectly. If he can deflect attention, influence decisions, take the heat off his team, build a siege mentality... he will.
Yeah, it was me, which I'm sure you're aware of, so there's no need to be sneaky. I stick to my opinion, I think it stands to reason. When you come out of the match full of praise for the way your team defended, that probably means you were thoroughly outplayed. It seems most people think that's ok when the opponent is a team like Chelsea, but I believe we can do better than that. In the end it was a great defensive effort by the lads and very good result so it's been a very good day.
Chelsea are better than us. They are better than any team in the league (by a fair way). If we'd gone after them with a purely attacking intent, we'd have a 5% chance of winning I'd guess. They'd have just picked us apart. As it is, we concentrated on nullifying their greater quality, and it worked.
I disagree, the player tripped over Matt, who didn't attempt to trip an opponent. Splitting hairs perhaps, but you should not penalise an accidental action. Arsenal were awarded one in similar circumstances today against West Ham, I don't think that was a genuine Penalty either. Just my opinion mind, I cannot claim to be in any way authorative. It is the way I interpret the Rules. Fouls and misconduct are penalised as follows: Direct free kick A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force: • kicks or attempts to kick an opponent • trips or attempts to trip an opponent • jumps at an opponent • charges an opponent • strikes or attempts to strike an opponent • pushes an opponent • tackles an opponent A direct free kick is also awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following three offences: • holds an opponent • spits at an opponent • handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area) A direct free kick is taken from the place where the offence occurred (see Law 13 – Position of free kick). Penalty kick A penalty kick is awarded if any of the above ten offences is committed by a player inside his own penalty area, irrespective of the position of the ball, provided it is in play.
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent A penalty under that rule. He may not have attempted to trip an opponent, but he did.
Whatever the result today, I've a feeling saints are going to give this a right good go. Indeed we did. Football officials get decision wrong shocker..! Not exactly a headline is it..? Chelsea have had decisions go for them and against them. Saints have had decisions go for them and against them. If we want incorrect decisions to be stamped out, we'll have to use technology and perhaps replays. If we don't want to lose the controversy, with perhaps teams winning a match, a promotion, a championship, or losing a match, or a relegation battle, we won't. I'm for technology, the correct decision, and that meant a penalty [imo]. Then we can debate every single decision right down to foul-throws [of which there are many that go unnoticed, by the way].
Going back to the diving debate, I always think it's worth posting this up from a couple of years ago:
For those at the game how necessary was Morgan's second yellow? Obviously they were breaking but on the TV it didn't seem like it was too dangerous.
