I didn't go today ( and wont until sorted ) so it would be unfair for me to make any judgement of any player. But Quill is right, today was a learning game/ free hit. If we had taken anything to of it and I actually thought we would that would have been a bonus. Our season, this season is all about beating those around us. We mustn't go into panic mode, slating mode when we lose against these 'better' teams. We learn from playing them allowing us to beat those that will dictate how our season ends. Remember of all the teams that will be around us we had by far the hardest start and we are still ahead of many of the others. I think they may well appeal Jakes handball as Phelans interview suggests he feels it was not deliberate. One match??...
I don't think that was much to be ashamed of. Yeah Cazorla should have been sent off (didn't they just change the rules on goalkeepers so that's why Cech was a yellow?) but they were the better team for most of the game. We played most of the game with ten men and didn't do too badly. Bring on the next game.
If that is the case, then best not to appeal the decision. Although, it was incredibly harsh and even looked as if Jak had the shot covered (although it was at near point blank range). If that had happened to Arsenal, all hell would break loose throughout the media - droids like Keown et al would have never let the referee forget it. Spoilt the game.
Excuse my ignorance, but have the rules changed this season re suspensions.. I thought a straight red card meant an automatic 3 match ban ?
Far be it for me to quote Robbie Savage but in last half hour he said there was no way it should have been a sending off for Livermore. Anyway we'll see what MOTD opinion is on that. Upwards and onwards, even if we don't win it's still miles better then I expected 6 weeks ago.
A straight red for violent conduct is a three match ban, a red for anything else is one match, the rules haven't changed.
A straight red card has never always meant three match ban. The red card has to be awarded for something dangerous or violent to be three matches.
Glad Livermore should be back for our next prem game , I wouldn't want to watch 90mins of Harry against Liverpool , As for today , I thought we gave it a good go even when outnumbered and out paced .
I thought we played well overall, Jakes sending off spoilt the game as a spectacle, I think we would have given them a reasonable game 11 v 11. Clucas was excellent, was interesting that Hudd was replaced by Mason, may well be that Hudd will give way for Mason coming into the starting 11.
Come back seething after that, although afrer watching the replay I can see why he gave it. It wasn't just the red card, it was the fact how ref constantly favour the big sides, talking to the players etc. The bigger clubs are allowed to run the games, and I get tired of leaving games against the 'bigger clubs' with a sense of injustice. Cazola should of been off, how he didn't give a peno straight away or a free kick on Meyler later on is beyond, what game was he watching. To the team overall I though we played ok, we seem to look after the ball very well, however we will get caught out a few times giving the ball away in our half, mainly through Elmo or Robbo. I just think we missed a trick with the ball over the top or on the angle, it was obviously troubling Arsenal we just lack pace to exploit it up top. Next Prem game I would like to Mason for Huddlestone, Henrikson for Dio and maybe toy the idea with Mobkani for Hernandez. Maybe give Marshall ago although Jak made some excellent save. Hope Marshall is good with his feet because he will need to be!
I'm feeling quite sanguine. Sending off ****ed us regards getting anything out of the game, but we stuck at it and for a short while could dare to dream. What's boiling my piss is the refereeing. I'm normally a 'decisions even themselves out' sorta guy, but that **** might as well have worn a ****ing gay boys red top with ****ing stupid white ****ing arms. He was completely physiologically ****ing over their cheating, diving, weasel-faced, knob jockey, so called superstar, dick-****, **** chomping, glory seeking, walk it into the ****ing goal, butter wouldn't melt ****ing, ****ing ****, clown shoe mong players, that he forgot that he was refereeing a game of football. He's a ****ing disgrace. An inept, incompetent, imbecile. He should **** the ****ing **** off as far as it's humanly possible to **** the ****ing **** off to. As I say, I'm quite sanguine though.
There weren't really any poor performances today, but Mason made a noticeable difference when he came on, his ball across for Mbokani was superb. I'd like to see him paired with Abel for the next game. Mason for Meyler, although I don't think Meyler has done anything wrong, Mason is just a better player and is more effective it seems. We have a combatant midfielder in Clucas now, thought Huddlestone had one of his better games today so should stay in, but if he was dropped for Henriksen I wouldn't complain. Maguire looks like he will fill the Jake void pretty easily. I'm quite optimistic; even if we pick up nothing from Chelsea or Liverpool, it means we will have played last season's champions, Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool, going into the Xmas period with some very winnable fixtures.
