What is it about all these things being thrown at players? This used to be something that only happened abroad. I can remember the odd plastic bottle at SMS, but this was usually frustration at Saints...not aimed at an opposition player. Rio could have lost an eye yesterday...fortunately we all have a powerful avoidance reflex to protect the eye (faster than thought). Luckily for us, Nicola has tried to make sure that we have no spare cash after buying our ticket
Serious issue Fran - but i laughed at your comment about having no spare money left to throw at players ! This used to happen here years ago too - in fact i met up with my two brothers last night for the first time in ages and we were talking all things Saints and mentioned a mad occassion at the Dell in a game v Leeds when their supporters were throwing coins at us on the Archers Road terrace and a few lads were slightly hurt similar to Ferdinand - in those days the real lunatics used to sharpen a few coins to take with them ! We remembered one of the Leeds fans scaling the fence from their 'cage' and jumping in amongst us to prove how hard he was ! We agreed that football is generally much better these days - but also we agreed that we did miss the tribal intense atmosphere of the terraces from back then.
You could see it even before the United winner in yesterdays derby. Like when Rooney was about to take a corner and he just kept calling the ref, picking up the odd thing to prove it, then put his arms in the air as if to say 'What can I do...?'
I distinctly remember coins being thrown at Stephen Henderson not long after you scored in the derby at Fratton Park last year. Also in QPR's promotion season at Loftus Road someone threw an empty plastic coke bottle onto the pitch after they scored but like Fran says, that was probably frustration and it landed nowhere near anyone. Then on a different end to the spectrum, at the England v Belgium friendly I was at back in June, the pitch was bombarded with paper airplanes made from the A4 sheets which were provided for each seat (in order to hold up and make a St George's Cross just before kick off). It was ridiculous, a constant barrage of paper airplanes, most of them not flying well but some were quite good and even made it to the centre circle. That wasn't malevolent, that was just a bit of fun. Either way, throwing something with intent to cause harm is incredible stupid. It's just a game people!
Remember a couple of years ago a fan (can't remember team) threw his mobile phone onto the pitch. Truly worthy of
Remember, earlier this season a lump of lead being thrown at one of our own, still no arrest. I can also remember some years back a dart hitting a spectator, moronic behaviour isn't new.
One disappointing thing about the Ferdinand incident yesterday was that i was half watching the match on my pc whilst playing a game on the other screen and it initially looked like he had poked himself in the eye while lifting his shirt to celebrate! Sadly it was just some mong throwing a coin :-(
Considering it was aimed at Henderson, I would say it was more of a 'take down' bid than a 'take over' bid.
Throwing coins (or any other device) at players is a dumb thing to do. Hope they catch the scumbags that did it. I'd force the next game to be played behind closed doors. Fans would quickly police themselves when they know that they couldn't see their beloved team.
Don't condone the throwing of the coin, but come on Rio didn't help himself celebraring like that infront of City fans .
I didn't see the incident in question but if players are going to celebrate in front of opposition fans, then they should be yellow-carded for ungentlemanly conduct as they are now for ripping off their shirt. And if the goal happens to be scored away, then do the celebrations in the middle of the pitch, out of harms way!
they should put nets up in the stadia where it happens so man city should have nets put up. I dont think every ground should be punished though because of a few manc twats
