One aspect of the "penalty or not" argument I haven't heard anyone explore is what happens if the ball hits the arm (naturally, not naturally, intentional or whatever you want to call it) when the defender is standing on the goal line? In other words hitting the arm stops the ball going in the net. I don't care what argument people use about angles or intentional, the ref's going to give a pen isn't he - maybe even send the defender off. So is there a different handball rule for the goal line? I don't think so. So if Sterling is on the goal line and does the same thing it's a pen, so anywhere else it's a pen. Not arguing of course that the rule couldn't do with clarification because it could. Also the bad news is that we have now conceded a league goal with Wimmer in defence. Spoils the record doesn't it!
He threw himself at the ball to stop the center and it hits his arm.enough said. Did I get the impression that Poch was over the moon at the end? Well done to the lads behind the goal.You derserved the victory!
Just watched MOTD. Not one mention of possible red card for Toure. A bit of " big team " bias perhaps. Also about four Arsenal players jumped into the crowd at the after Welbeck's goal. The laws are very specific that that is a bookable offence, but, of, course, that did not happen.
Did Eric Dier empty his pockets before he left the Etihad? He had their 3 midfielders in his pocket, good man. I thought Rose was awesome today. Ran them ragged on the flank, my MOTM. Found the first half to be a tense affair, but it was apparent Spurs had another few gears they could go up but they were biding their time wearing City down. 2nd half we picked our fluidity up, I thought as a whole our passing was not at its best, however it did improve. The penalty? Phaaa....I'll take it. When they equalized, there were no heads going down, apart from mine. Then Lamela came on for a tired Son and his fresh legs turned the screw on City. A special mention to Moussa who is a boss in our midfield. Sublime feet for a big man, the ball loves dancing with Moussa. We played like a team that thinks it can't be beaten. A young hungry team. The kind of performances I have seen past champions put in on their way to winning the damn thing. Away fans were superb, they managed to wum the City fans big style and certainly contributed to all the meltdowns I witnessed. We go again...COYS!
It was a great performance today - against a top side like City, probably as good as anything all season. And City didn't play badly - we were simply better! There were a few incidents that could be debated - the pen, (which if it had been given against us I would have been livid) or the fact that Toure didn't get sent off in the first 20 mins and Dier gets booked for his first clumsy foul - but at the end of the day the right side won the game. We went to Citeh and attacked from minute 1 to minute 93 (the last minute I should probably gloss over lol) and we had more possession than Citeh on their own turf. At least 3 or 4 of our players could have taken the MOTM award and not 1 of them had anything other than a great game. We might go on to win something this year, we might not - but, I am just proud to say that I support a team playing with such skill, belief and togetherness. My first game watching Spurs was in 1967 and its fair to say that its been a roller-coaster ride ever since. But this team fills me with an enthusiasm that I thought was beyond us. They might even just be starting to live up to Bill Nicks famous quote in my signature. Thanks lads!!
I accept today's penalty decision as the first step in Clattenburg's path to penitence for the Pedro Mendes 'goal that never was' incident.
It's all too bloody positive on here! It's supposed to be a Spurs board. Hugo's kicking was poor at times, Harry didn't get a sniff against Kompany, Chadli is no no.9 substitute, Dele Alli added once again to his nut meg counter, Dembele was magnificent, Dier was fanta- d'awh damnit!
Rushes to Heathrow underground at 5am just getting off a 12 hr flight. Could the back page of the Metro provide any more joy to a bleary-eyed fretting Yiddo ??
Sherwood backed Citeh. Wrong horse again Tim!! If I was thinking of employing him, the fact that he makes a ridiculous choice and backs against players whose careers he helped to develop would worry me. Does anyone else think Hugo got a touch to Yaya's free kick pushing it onto the bar? I swear he does! Love Christian's response to the question "Is there a better way to celebrate your birthday?" "It's in the top 1" - pure Cloughie!!
If the earlier Stirling volley that hit Rose in the six-pack and pole-axed him, had hit Rose on the arm (his arms were out-stretched) i'm sure the ref would have given a penalty despite Rose not knowing a lot about it. Just because Stirling turned his back what difference does it make? Naive defending to me. I know not all refs would have given that but in my mind they should. I didn'n think it was a penalty at the time but now I seen it a few times I think Clattenberg got it exactly right. Stirling was attempting to block a cross and had his arms out-stretched. What can be more delibirate than that?
If it hit his arm it is a penalty - he spread out to block it - no idea why he has to be facing the ball for it to be a foul. However, I'm not sure it hit his arm at all - it's unclear to me on replays.
Agreed. At first I thought it had hit his back, then when I saw the ref had stopped the game I thought 'he must be giving a free kick on the edge of the area for handball'. But then when I saw him pointing to the spot, especially the way in which he only seemed to point after Rose started pointing there, really did make me laugh. The whole thing would make much more sense if Rose was bellowing in deep baritones: "Remember Mendes! Remember Mendes!" And Clattenburg said, 'by the powers, you're right. This is my chance to redeem myself and get back into referees heaven!'
please log in to view this image Rose’s inability to clear the first man on his crosses is absolutely brilliant.
Definitely had a stroke of luck for the penalty but after a few seasons back when Balotelli got away with a stomp on Parker's head and managed to remain on the pitch to then take a penalty that won City the game, I think karma played it's part yesterday to say the least.
Not sure turning away is that great an excuse when handball occurs. If anything you make the ref think there is no chance of instinctively trying to cover your face etc, so they will be more inclined to give it.
That's just one of a huge list of decisions that have gone against us at Citeh and most of the other (previously called) "top" teams. Just to mention another, anyone remember when Rose got sent off (and penalty given) for making a perfectly good tackle in the area?
