When Newcastle are bad they really are wretched. Don't think Carver's at fault, they've done this regularly for a number of years. Some great players in that side though I think they'll be going in the summer regardless of what happens between now and the end of the season.
Petulant children aren't they at Stamford Bridge,from the manager down. They seem to think they are entitled to be the choppers but other teams may not! Ok.Burnley did get away with it but......roundabout and swings.What comes around,comes around! Burnley may be the "unlucky receivers" in their next game and Chelsea will get the nod....with a few penalties given "to" them. Like Man City,Chelsea expect to be receivers after the money they've both spent over many seasons.
Watching the Chelsea game on match choice. No idea what the first one's about. Barnes slightly leads with a leg(not a knee as reported) and makes very little contact with Ivanovic, would've been a very harsh booking but I've no idea why Ivanovic shrieked like that he quite clearly wasn't hurt as he got straight up to have a go at Barnes. Handball should've been given really but referees have been more sympathetic to defenders this season and I think it doesn't get given because it's really fired in and the player had his back to the ball. The Costa penalty shout is a joke though, we all know how strong he can be and he goes down under very little contact. The same fans that played down Ivanovic pushing his head into McCarthy will be claiming that as a "shove" when it's little more than putting hands on him, there was absolutely no force in it. Rightly ignored by Atkinson in my opinion. Second half on now, I'm assuming that it's a really bad one from Barnes as there's been lots of criticism of it.
Ooof, Barnes on Matic could've done some real damage. I think Barnes has a case for it being accidental but it is reckless and could've ended Matic's season, the contact on his shin, just above the ankle really makes you wince. I don't see why it's described as being over the ball, he got the ball and his follow through catches the Chelsea player about as badly as it possibly could. Reminds me off the one Nasri(I think) put in on Walker at White Hart Lane a couple of seasons back, going for the ball but totally reckless. Should've been a red for both. Matic reacted like an idiot and Ivanovic got booked for taking the red card off the referee, another ridiculous case of trying to intimidate and influence the referees.
Also, Burnley should've had a penalty, especially by Mourinho's low standards of what constitutes a blatant penalty. The ball looped up into the air and Felipe Luis had plenty of time to judge it but it drops onto his arm. Difficult one for the ref to see for certain but definitely a lucky break for Chelsea.
And then once again we see Chelsea refuse to give the ball back after it was put out for Mee to receive treament. That club lacks class at every level, hopefully we'll beat them on Sunday and City pip them to the league.
Not saying that the first ManC goal wasn't a pen, because it was, but even still the City player I think left his leg behind to make sure he got the contact - just seemed something unnatural about it. It must be instinctive or they train for it! Missed the Arsenal highlights in the end so I don't know what the pundits made of the Arsenal penalty and "goal". Also did they show the bad challenge that was mentioned? Regardless of the great one's whining, I think they'll still comfortably win the league, in which case a couple of points lost yesterday won't matter. However I think the race for 3rd/4th will be very close, so that any points "awarded" by dodgy refereeing will have a significant impact on the final table.
Just watching MOTD and it occurred to me that if there was a "worst refereeing performance of the season" award, Atkinson would be in with a very good shot of winning it. How he managed to miss Barnes' disgusting over the top assault on Matic, beggars belief. In fact, there was next to nothing he got right in the whole game!...
In the space of a couple of days, the Chavs have condemned racist fans...then offered John Terry a new contract.
Well,we can wave goodbye to the top 4 now. IF,IF,we can pull off a miracle in Italy,I suggest we put out the strongest team in the Europa for the further games...after the Cup Final,of course! Looks like we will need a miracle at Wembley too.We just don't know what our Spurs will do next. Who's got the valium?
Chelsea aren't that hot at the moment so the final is up for grabs. Two draws today, who fancies a third?
How jammy are liverpool so far in this match...great goal in off the bar and 2 pen claims against them waved away...only 5 mins gone! Liverpool have hit real good form at a good time in the season.
