I have no problems with the throw in decision yesterday. Having seen the incident it was a very easy mistake to make. But, this caused me to think back to the beginning of the season when we conceded 5 penalties in 5 games, 2 or 3 of which perhaps should not have been given. It was said many times that luck balances itself out throughout the season. Has it? In my opinion, it has. There have been a few minor incidents this season where I certainly thought luck was on our side. I can't name them off the top of my head because they were so small but they went a long way in helping us. Two examples I can think of are Johnson's deflected goal against, I think, Blackburn, that earned us a point against a team that were having a good day. Also, Barton's sending off was possibly a bit of luck for us (I don't want any arguments about this, I'm sure Dave and Maestro can keep things under control). Also, was there luck in Fletcher's last minute winner for Wolves being ruled out for offside? In my opinion, yes. Overall, I think the luck has balanced itself out throughout the season. We are in the top half of the table in our first season back in the Premier League. You don't get there without a bit of luck.
We're doing fine and have a great chance to kick on next week. If this is our "blip" then I'll take it with bow and ribbons, absolutely fine. The explosion of negativity on the pinkun boards because of all this is unreal. I sometimes despair at sections of our support and humanity in general. We are absolutely fine, we're going to have a great run in.
Pilks deflected Goal against the swans springs to mind as well We're doing fine- yesterday was a poor showing, but we've won what four games away this season . We tend to not do two poor ones in a row (eg Sunderland)0 Stokes approach is, well, effective I tend to not look at the pink un beef
I wouldn't touch the pink un with a 100 ft pole. There can be no complaints, if I was told we were going to be in this position by this time in the season, back in August, I would be checking you in for a place at a mental hospital.
I know that its easy to criticise the incorrect award of a Stoke throw in but Etherington still had plenty to do before he scored did he not? It looked like the team switched off and it allowed Etherington to get in behind to score. Ruddy must take his fair share of the blame because he shouldn't be beaten at his near post that easily. Loved the booing of Johnny Walters, Pure class!
JWM - I agree that we should have defended the attack that led from the throw-in better and not conceded. Yes, Ruddy was partly to blame, but he has made some incredible saves as well - the one in the last minute against Swansea is one that immediately springs to mind. Didn't hope for too much against Stoke on their home ground and I'm just glad I decided not to go to the actual match. Bring on Wigan and let's hope we play like we did against Man ure and pick up 3 points to edge us closer to a 2nd season in the Premier League.
I bet of the near 3000 following yesterday there wont be many returning next year to that ****hole if the football that is being dished up is of the same variety!!!
A few seasons ago a game against the likes of Wigan would be a guarenteed banana skin for us. The one thing that we must not do is let our high standards slip because Wigan are a Jeckyll and Hide team. When they are on song they can play some very good football. I feel a draw coming on next week, which wouldn't be the end of the world as every point in the Premier League is hard to get - there are no gimmes in the top division. We cannot expect a guarenteed 6 points like last year when we entertained 1p5wich One thing that concerns me about next week is Russel Martin at right back against Victor Moses - Moses ran him ragged back in August. We all know that Rusty cannot handle a pacy winger!
Ahhhh Poor little Chris! Did those nasty horrible Stoke boys stop you from winning because they wouldn't play the game to your liking...!
I don't feel deflected goals are lucky whether they are for a or against us. Luck is surely something that happens beyond a teams control, however a deflected shot occurs because of pressure on the oppositions goal, any shot may take a deflection that goes in, thats just the way it goes. In my opinion its only refs decisions that can be called luck if they are incorrectly given for or against you.
it annoyed me a little that lambert blamed the goal on the officials - it was the defensive errors which cost us the goal, not a difficult throw in call, although i'm sure lambert berated the players involved afterwards behind closed doors
I think we have to accept bad or poor refereeing decisions they don't cheat, they might be influenced by the crowd. Look at the way Suarez conned the ref on Saturday.
I had to laugh at the comments made by Shearer on MOTD about the Suarez "Dive". Of course Mr Shearer never ever fell over easily in the box when he played did he!
