Match Day Thread Spurs v Saints Sunday 19/3 at 02.15 pm

Well played yesterday, thought you deserved something from the game. I actually agree with alot of what has been written on this thread, it was definitely a soft penalty and I obviously like Dele more than you lot will but I do wish he would stay on his feet more. Eventually going down so often will result in him getting fewer decisions we saw that in the end with Bale.

We are definitely a strong side now and I like to think that we stay on the right of physical and as Spurs fan of many years standing I am pleased that we are no longer a soft touch. I was impressed with Romeu and with Redmond and Ward Prowse who all caused us problems and I hope you can keep hold of them as they continue to improve. Good luck for the rest of the season

 

Used to play against your avatar....where is he now?

 

Glad Ward-Prowse's position move is being noticed. He is absolutely one of our front four now and not a DM, in fact that is the main difference between us now and us a few games ago. Trying to work out what top level player he reminds me of, not sure yet.

 

L Suarez? He makes Alli a complete amateur.

 

it seemed in the second half the players were more in the Spurs players faces, led by Long who does unsettle players. Dembelle was quiet after his bust up with Long . On of the reason I like Reed and Classie ahead of Davis is that they are annoying little ****ers, always snapping at players and not letting them settle on the ball

 

I reckon the biggest improvement in JWP's game has been his physicality. I think it's something, like set pieces, that he identified that he could work on and through sheer graft improve upon. Like when he used to stay late and practice with Rickie and whatnot, I think he put a lot of effort into physical work over the summer. He tops our distance run nearly every game he plays, he doesn't seem to flag late in games, he's got much better at using his body and shielding the ball, and he really tries to throw himself about in winning the ball back. He used to be a lightweight with and without the ball, even once he'd basically finished growing. Now he's not exactly got more weight to throw about but he does his best to a nuisance anyway he can and has been doing it well.

Maybe the greatest feature JWP has is a determination to make the most of anything he can. You can practice shooting for weeks and still not be able to replicate it in an actual game because of the variables involved. But if you take 10,000 free kicks, you'll get better at them, and if you work-out until your faster, fitter and stronger, you'll be fitter, faster and stonger in games.

 

http://www.skysports.com/football/n...lestone-have-seen-red-saints-denied-a-penalty

Dermot says no pen for Saints.

 

Fats says Dermot is blind.

 

TBH, I didn't think there was anything wrong with the Davis/Dele Ali coming together either.

 

First viewing, I thought I was a penalty.

 

But second viewing shows the stiff left leg of Alli looking to make contact with Davis' leg, which was static.

 

He kind of curled his foot round his leg to get good purchase - can't blame the ref - but when they're a little bit wrong I wish it was for us

Whereas, Dusan just got whacked in the shin by a haymaker - dont know why the ref didnt see that - as above

We were good though and got bullied far less this time

 

Second viewing yes, but the ref didn't get that. Ali beat Davis to the ball and that was enough. I'd have been pissed if we hadn't been given that.

 

I don't disagree with you.
Players continue to make the referee's job more difficult than it should be, by their continuous "gamesmanship" (cheating), so I just hope that the refs, at their get togethers, actually review this type of thing, with a view to being better prepared to identify it when it does happen.
And then have the cojones to turn down a penalty appeal from a big team. They don't have that issue when dealing with the smaller teams.

 

OK, here is my solution to this kind of thing: video technology is used to determine whether a penalty offence has been committed, but play continues until either a decision is made by the TMO or until the ball goes dead naturally. In cases where the referee or his assistants fail to spot a potential offence, each manager is allowed one appeal per match which must be communicated immediately to the fourth official. In the meantime, play continues until the ball goes dead. If a player is found to have dived, he is shown a yellow card.

 

Like you have in tennis. I think that could work.

 

There is a distinct possibility that we would not have been given that.

 

For what it's worth, first viewing from 100 feet above the goal, was "that's never a pen". And I have to say, from their reaction, that the spurs fans standing a few yards to my right also seemed surprised.

 

An appeal system is way too open to abuse imo. Also I'm not sure about play carrying on, if a player commits a bookable offence in the time carried on and then a decision is overturned, do they then not have that yellow card? Also it could go for 5 or so minutes before ball is dead!

And everyone on here would be bitching about 'bias' and screaming blue murder about how we should have had a pen. It was a penalty, a soft one? Perhaps, still a pen though.

 

Could get heated if after a possible penalty, the defending side fly up the other end and score before the decision is made. Would the goal then have to be disallowed, and the penalty given at the other end? I suppose it would be the correct decision given the scenario but it would be horrible for the fans (well, half of them anyway)