Given the amount of clearly dodgy pens given against us I'm surprised this thread has got as much on it as it has. These things go for and against teams week in and week out. I've not watched it yet but I'll join in anyway. I'm in W2 and couldn't really see Longs well but the officials gave it, looked soft. Sagbo was a clear pen and right in front of me, the link and ref had a great view and didn't give it. Very poor officials all round. The best league in the world needs and deserves a better standard of officials.
Watched it on MOTD and just watched the extended highlights on Sky. Clear dive. A pathetic one too. Which is why he bounced back up. We cant bitch and moan about Ashley Young etc and then applaud it if one of ours does it. Boyd last week, Long this week. We dont need to cheat to beat these teams we're better than them. FACT
Can't agree. There was no cheating here. It was a tangle of legs. Long didn't even look towards the ref, let alone appeal for a penalty, he simply tried to regain his footing to keep playing. How anyone can slate him for this is unbelievable.
Unfortunately it's a new trend that players 'dive' but carry on playing. Players used to dive and look at the referee - but referees are not stupid and a false claim can sometimes be easily read by a facial expression. So now players continue cheating but neither look at the ref nor appeal. I've noticed it a few times recently and it's an increasing trend.
I'm sorry Chazz, but you're so wrong on this one. Despite what Chilton says, you don't see players diving but not even looking towards the ref. I agree with the second part though; Elmo can be ****ing embarrassing at times. Brucie needs to have a word.
Think it was Birtles on Sky who called it a clear case of cheating. He dived Polly and the ref bought it. If he had have still been playing for WBA and dived against us, they would have cheered him. Thats the premier league for you. I just dont like to see a City player do it.
Guess we've gotta disagree on that one then, Chazz. We see dives every week, and that was never one, for me. Moreover, if it had been on the other foot, and he'd been playing for West Brom against us, I would've said exactly the same thing. No dive.
No problem Polly, its only the internet, it means nothing we can just disagree and shake hands and move on............ [video=youtube;UceGF3M56bE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UceGF3M56bE[/video]
That is the point i'm making yes. And my comment above your last one, is I hate divers in general. Not just aimed at Long. Although, sometimes I wish he did stay on his feet.
Surely it's only a dive if there is intent? He fell to the floor, got back up and didn't appeal. What's the point in diving if you're not going to appeal. People can fall over without diving you know?
Agreed, and that can sometimes make it difficult for refs. Golacio, you seem to be saying Long didn't dive, but you hate him for diving. Sorry, maybe it's just me I hate divers as much as the next man.
No I said that incident was a soft penalty. But Long does fall over a lot though. And it may work against him when the refs cotton onto it. I don't hate him for it, I just dislike that sort of thing.
So if you dive ( or go down easily ) to win a penalty then what people are saying is that you are a cheat . So presumably when a defender makes a tackle in the box and gets nowhere near the ball and fouls the player but the referee gives play on does that mean that the defender is cheating.
Yes it does, that's why you are penalised for fouling. In your'e scenario, there is just a refereeing mistake. Just like yesterdays penalty decision.
