I don't usually watch MOTD (mainly because watching Spurs last season was exceedingly painful) but so far this season have made the effort. But after last nights effort I don't think I'll bother again. Didn't even make it to the Spurs highlights. The punditry and highlights was at it's worst last night, especially concerning the Arsenal game. You have the usual "balanced" paring of Hansen and Lawrenson, the two most deluded and partisan pundits the Beeb can come up with. But Hansen topped even his usually high levels of mindless drivel with this gem..... Hansen: "No-one likes to see Arsenal struggle." Lineker: "Well, I'm sure there are Spurs fans who do." Hansen: "I'm a neutral. I like to see Arsenal do well." What a muppet on so many levels! He's not neutral when it comes to Liverpool (which must be hard to be fair when you have spent so much of your career there but he is a pundit now and must leave loyalties behind). And obviously favouring Arsenal is not a neutral viewpoint. He may like how they play and have a soft spot for them but, again, he is a pundit paid for his unbalanced view. Then they totally ignore the sending off and were waxing lyrical about Van Persie. Fair enough. But I'm sure Bolton fans have TV's too and would like to see a bit more of their team. Yet the Beeb totally ignore what I thought was a dive by Walcott (at the very least made more of it than there was). Why can't the BBC just come out and say that a player does not fall over at the slightest touch and that a player has cheated to gain an advantage. This isn't solely a pop at Walcott (it just shows how poor a player he is to need to resort to cheating to win) as others do it too, like Lennon and Jenas to name two of our culprits. Also was there an off the ball incident involving Van Persie? Highlights seemed to indicate this but then no replay was then shown. MOTD is so piss-poor I don't think I'll bother again this season.
Hansen & Lawro are THE two worst so-called professional pundits on the planet! Their bias to the old so-called "top 4" is unbelievable, even though it no longer exists! They talk about LFC as though it is still a big club and can challenge for honours, and are pathologically unable to offer an unbiased view. Lawro has been predicting quite a few draws for LFC over the past weeks, but that's only because he was made to look such a fool last season when he persisted with predicting wins, even in the face of their average form. As regards their views on Spurs, they say and believe the same old tripe as they have done since the days of managers such as Gross. If we do well it's because we are punching above our weight. If we develop great players, they always question whether or not we can hold onto them. If we go on a run of good games, they question when the bubble will burst. Between them, they are far worse than Andy Gray. At least Lawro has had a shave and no longer looks like a wino. Mind you, I bet he still smells of piss
I thought Walcott dived too but then I remembered English players don't dive. The pundits don't really bother me as I rarely watch MOTD and when I do, I hardly ever listen to them.
I've only just watched it, but there was very minimal contact and I'm not even sure that Walcott would've got to the ball anyway. Very harsh.
Luckily i haven't watched MOTD since J.Motson was on there,not sure how long ago that was,but doesn't seem like i'm missing much.
[video=dailymotion;xlaa1n]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlaa1n_boltonredcard36_tech[/video] Here's the 'foul', for those that haven't seen it. Not a great clip, admittedly.
It was 1-0 at the time SNIAW and as Wheater was sent off in the 54th minute, I'd suggest that might have had something to do with why you were much better in the second half. You may well have won anyway, but that sending off looks exceptionally soft. Minimal contact, certainly not enough to send Walcott to the floor and I don't think that he was going to get to the ball, either. Any news on his injury, by the way?
1-0. A one goal lead is always precarious in this league, with a defence that's a bit shakey like yours is. I don't remember Wheater complaining much so perhaps he had more contact than we thought.
I was talking about players in general cheating to secure a win..... not just Walcott. Or the delightfully sympathetic Arsenal players running up to the ref waving imaginary cards at him. Nice. Anyway Walcotts body shape as he fell (sticking his pelvis out - who falls over like that!) suggests he made the most of it. Any player who has a modicum of talent would shrug off that kind of minimal contact and go on to score. Walcott (and plenty of overs like him) take the easy option. That's why some players never fulfil their potential. The game is made to easy for them. Why go round the keeper when you can collapse at the knees? Why play yourself out of trouble when you can throw yourself to the floor and roll around in agony? And Walcott wants to lead Arsenals front line this season! I think he should concentrate on getting the basics of his game right first.
That's the kind of thing that makes MOTD so poor. It was obviously a storm in a tea-cup, a bit of handbags and MOTD were trying to drum up some interest out of it. They just edited it in and made it look worse than it was. I don't like RVP but to make him look like he was stirring up trouble again is pretty poor.
You watched the game live and I didn't SNIAW, so you'll know how the game was progressing better than I would, but I'd suggest that you outplayed Blackburn for a lot of that game and lost, so who knows? You look quite vulnerable at the back, especially from set-pieces, so one Bolton free-kick or corner could've changed the whole game, especially if the crowd got on your back. Wheater got a straight red for denying a goalscoring opportunity. Nobody was booked in the first half and it's only a one match ban anyway, as you only get more than one for violent conduct or multiple bans.
SNIAW, what are the Arsenal fans views on the NLD next week? I only saw the MOTD highlights of your game yesterday but nevertheless 3-0 is an impressive result against Bolton, even if they haven't started the season too well. Would you be happy with a point? If it weren't for the chaotic nature of the NLD's over the past few years, I'd consider it 2 dropped points if we drew with you but as anything can happen and both sides tend to raise their game. Should be an excellent game as we saw last season, the tempo is astonishing for a over the 90 minutes, even if the quality of defence is a bit suspect.
Every match report would have to be wrong then, SNIAW. Steinson was Bolton's only booking and Wheater got a straight red. [video=dailymotion;xlah4d]http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xlah4d_arsenal-v-bolton-wanderers_sport[/video] Skip to 3.25 for the start of the incident. Straight red card from Clattenberg, no doubt.
I think they're struggling a bit anyway, SNIAW. When I heard Cahill was out for yesterday's game through illness I thought that they might get hammered. They've had a pretty hard start to the season and their confidence has probably taken a bit of a battering. Playing both Manchester sides, plus Liverpool and your lot was always going to have them on the back foot. Still, they've got a nice easy one next against Chelsea!
When's the last time we had pacey and more technical players than Arsenal? Must've been quite awhile I suspect. I agree with your Gooner friends that form doesn't usually count for all that much in these kinds of games. How's Gibbs been since he was back? I can see Bale being put on the right to test him as he may be the weak spot in your defence and Sagna is probably your best defender. How long is Vermaelen out for?
Good to chat to a realistic Arsenal fan. The otherday on JA, the Arsenal fans were claiming Wilshire was as good as, if not better than Modric. Gervinho and Arteta have started quite well though, haven't they? Not sure whether Gervinho and Wilshire(is he back?) will be able to keep their cool if it all gets a bit fiesty out there. It's interesting the polar opposites we have between the sticks with Friedel almost double Szczesny's age but I've been impressed with both so far this season, particularly the latter who's getting better every game from what I've seen.
Think next weeks NLD could be a very important point in the season for both teams,if Arsenal lose they will lose any impetus they have got atm and Spurs confidence will take take a bit if a beating.althougth on current form i must say i think Spurs can and should win.COYS
