"When I see a bird that walks like a duck and swims like a duck and quacks like a duck, I call that bird a duck." James Whitcomb Riley.
My grammar isn't perfect, but if you replace 'none of us' with 'not one of us' you will see it is singular.
Reflecting on yesterday, I think the big issue was Tadic. He didn't play woefully, but certainly not well, though the bigger issue was the change in system. With the wing backs, we were threatening and stretching the defence and with 4-3-3 we weren't. They were able to sit back and completely nullify our threat. I hope targett isn't properly injured because I thought we looked far better like that. Still want to see JRod, Austin and Mane as a front three though.
5 1-0 wins for them in their last 6 games, that's why they are going to win the league and good luck to them. Think they deserved the win. We were as we have been most of the season imo. Plenty of possession etc. but very poor in the final third. Can only think of one chance we made which was obviously Manes. Credit to Leicester though as this is the sort of game top sides win. I'd even go as far to say as this was the sort of game we won 1-0 last season but not this. I think we're missing someone 'special' up top, we can play nice football and have some decent players but we're very workmanlike most of the time and we're really missing that bit of star quality. Someone in the mould of Mahrez/Payet - I know it's easier said than done but that sort of player would of been worth another 10 points to us this year I reckon. As for a Leicester not being a very 'nice team' I think you will genuinely find that most Champions aren't nice teams. Chelsea last year? Many of Fergies? Even the last Arsenal side to win it were not what you'd call a nice team. I think jealousy accounts for a lot of that tbh. For me the top 6 is set in stone now, just order to be decided. Then us, Chelski, Pool & Stoke could finish in any order I reckon, I would include Everton but think they'll have eyes on the cup now. Top half would be a decent season in my eyes considering how mental it's been this year and how it's been a bit of a transitional season for us. Said it before and I'll say it again, we absolutely HAVE to get things right this Summer, arguably, the most important since getting back to the PL. First pen shout not a penalty for me, whereas the 2nd one certainly should have been judging by previous calls this season. I also subscribe to the 'deliberate' rule being bollocks. If a player was stood on the line and it hit his arm accidentally is it not a foul? Nonsense rule really. One more thing, Kante is a hell of a player, their Morgan if you like!
As far as the penalties are concerned it is the interpretation of the word "intent", Tom gave us a long lecture on how a defender that inadvertently brings down a forward in a goal scoring position, it is a penalty. A player apparently inadvertently elbowing a goal scoring shot isn't? Double standards. As far as the second one, I think nailed on, but the Referee couldn't have seen it, two Leicester players were obstructing his view, he can't give what he can't see, but the lino had a good view of it and didn't react. It is a wonder that Huth didn't suffer a broken wrist!
Indeed. Hence my desire for us to have more of an edge to our play and post match talk. Not an insane amount just a bit more. Also, the fact that Leicester are a niggly team with a few nasty surprises amongst them shouldn't detract from (1) that they are excellent footballers who are winning the league on merit and (2) they are much less dislikeable than the alternatives who feel they have a right to win the league every year or two. Vin
Just a thought on the penalties (not bitter about not getting them, so don't want to start that debate again!) - I wonder if either would have been given if they had been Leicester appeals and the match was reversed (0-0 for first and losing 1-0 for second)? I wonder how much 'pressure' is now on the officials not to derail such a momentous achievement is sporting terms as Leicester are on the verge of achieving. I certainly would not want to be the ref or lino making a judgement call like yesterdays - can you imagine the media outcry if they got it wrong! Far better to err on the side of caution - human nature.
Is it worth posting details of the vehicles and location of the incident in case anyone can spot the cars or supply information on what was stolen?
... some very balanced comments lads ... thanks. My own view is that neither penalty incident were deliberate handball ... if the ball doesn't hit Simpson's arm it hits his midriff / chest so why use you arm (Mane should have hit it hard and low) ... Austin hits the ball so hard that I don't think Huth has any chance of getting out the way ... Spurs fans obviously think both were nailed on pens and that there is now a conspiracy amongst officials to hand us the title .... interestingly the ones making the most noise are also convinced that they were not wrongly awarded a penalty at the Etihad Was worried about this game because I think you have a very talented squad that, on their day, can destroy just about any defence ... my solace is that we held you at bay when the likes of Arsenal and 'Pool couldn't ... now if you'd just go and beat the Spuds that will be much appreciated Forster made a couple of great stops btw .. although Danny Simpson really should have scored ... I had to wait to watch MOTD to fully understand how he hadn't
I dunno Fosse, I agree on the first one, but I think the 2nd one (Based on what has been given this season) Is a penalty 8/10 times. Had that been the other way round, you 1 down and had it not given for you, then you would have been absolutely seething imo. Either way, matters not now. Just make sure you finish the job.
Ok but the ball hit Huth's hand which was nowhere near his body making his area covered much bigger. That's three or four good shouts over the last couple of games for us now though, that's why Koeman was so pissed off.
... I'm not saying it couldn't have been given ... you are right that similar ones (or lesser ones) have been ... indeed, look at the one given against us in the last min of the FA Cup tie at Spurs that gave them a replay ... but I don't believe Huth had any intent to get his hand in the way of it ... human reaction is not that quick ... ... . I think the whole handball and indeed penalty aspects of the game need revisiting ... a week ago at Palace Huth actually had his shirt pulled over his head and off (the shirt not the head) yet no penalty given ... last season at Liverpool they went into a 2-0 lead with 2 pens .. the first hit a sliding Wes Morgan flush in the face ffs! I'm for CCTV on this ... don't buy the delays ruining the game argument etc because invariably such incidents end up with the ref surrounded by complaining players anyway ...
I think we'll agree to disagree The problem (as always) is consistency. I also agree with rule changes I said in earlier post that I think this deliberate thing is bollocks. What if a player was on the line n it accidentally hit his arm on it's way in, no foul? I do remember that pen given against you at Anfield last year though Still not sure on video refs...i have my doubts and nothing I have read has quelled them.
Make sure you finish the job now. We'll do our duty against Spurs but it's yours to lose. Don't choke. Vin
Forget the handballs for now, just wait until next weekend when pretty much identical incidents will occur but different ref, different day, diffrent decision. At the end of the day it's why we all watch football and love it so. Yes we complain at the time, get angry and lose our temper. But another day we laugh, smile,and shout with joy. It's the roller coaster of being a football fan, but I wouldn't change it for the world.
Generalised statement which doesn't include me. At the end of the day I watch football to see my team win. The fact that they don't is roller coaster enough for me. I don't need iffy decisions deciding whether my team ultimately don't make Europe at all, make Europa or even the CL. If I could I would change it all tomorrow. In fact I would have changed it years ago.
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/144...st_England_star_just_hours_after_Saints_game/ Good old Social Media...
