Rival watch

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Another last-gasp unconvincing win for the scum. How many of those this season? It's annoying that they keep picking up points but in all honesty they really aren't anything special. I can see them being torn to shreds at chelsea next week.
 
Another last-gasp unconvincing win for the scum. How many of those this season? It's annoying that they keep picking up points but in all honesty they really aren't anything special. I can see them being torn to shreds at chelsea next week.

I hate games when I should want 'them' to win. I'll spend the whole of that game wanting the stadium to explode...AGAIN.
 
Another last-gasp unconvincing win for the scum. How many of those this season? It's annoying that they keep picking up points but in all honesty they really aren't anything special. I can see them being torn to shreds at chelsea next week.
Whatever happens that match is a win win for us. We just have to win our match to make it count.
 
Another last-gasp unconvincing win for the scum. How many of those this season? It's annoying that they keep picking up points but in all honesty they really aren't anything special. I can see them being torn to shreds at chelsea next week.

The important thing is to understand the Goon method.
Match them in the bullying of the lower position PL sides, and our better performances
against the current top 7 should see us dispose of them as a top 4 rival.
 
At the risk of tootling my own horn, I said this would happen well over a year ago: their squad would be unable to compete on two fronts, and more often on not that means their league form will plummet - as evidenced time and time again over recent seasons, with Everton and Newcastle being obvious examples where they'd qualify for the Europa league one season then find themselves battling relegation the next. Considering how there's times where clubs can't handle extended runs in the domestic cups without their league form faltering, with Wigan being the most obvious example of this in recent seasons, it's no surprise to see European football become taxing to the clubs who qualify for it once in a blue moon as qualifying for European football requires the club to adjust their budget to improve their squads in a way that years of mid-table football doesn't.

There are different 'fitness' tiers for PL clubs.
To fight for the PL while involved in the CL requires more resources (finances, squad etc) than
what is needed for what the Goons do, Spurs do, and your "blue moon" clubs are faced with.

That aside, Leicester have still been truly shocking in the PL when fortune has given them a
good CL group (opponents, travel) + all home PL games after group ties.
 
Very good reaction from the ref to immediately call over the doctors after a nasty clash of heads. Hope Mason's treatment is mostly a precaution, he's been a key part of the new manager's plans.
 
Arsenal cheat their way to a win.
Offside for the penalty, while a dismissed Wenger refused to leave.
Typical.
If the lino doesn't give offside, I'm not entirely sure how you can claim it as cheating by arsenal. Are you expecting Koscielny to know he was off side, put his hands up and admit he was offside and stop playing???

And what about the Mustafi pen that wasn't given?
 
If the lino doesn't give offside, I'm not entirely sure how you can claim it as cheating by arsenal. Are you expecting Koscielny to know he was off side, put his hands up and admit he was offside and stop playing???

And what about the Mustafi pen that wasn't given?
If being offside isn't cheating then why is it punishable by a free kick?
 
If being offside isn't cheating then why is it punishable by a free kick?
Being offside isn't cheating <laugh>
The opposition can MAKE you offside by moving the line forward. It's a tactic.
An offside pass is a foul ball, but its not cheating.
Elbowing someone in the face is cheating, diving is cheating, a deliberate hand ball is cheating.
If you are stood level with a defender and he takes a step forward, that means you are cheating? <doh>
 
The standard of officialdom this weekend has seriously plumbed new depths. Shocking decisions in almost every game. When Mark Clattenburg is hailed as the best ref in your league, you know you are seriously ****ed. What is the solution? A similar set up to tennis where each team is granted 3 chances to 'challenge' a decision through replay?
 
The standard of officialdom this weekend has seriously plumbed new depths. Shocking decisions in almost every game. When Mark Clattenburg is hailed as the best ref in your league, you know you are seriously ****ed. What is the solution? A similar set up to tennis where each team is granted 3 chances to 'challenge' a decision through replay?

The senior ref should be in the stands with the video tech. This gives employment to the better refs who are not allowed to run around any more. He can overrule the ref on the pitch, but only has a short amount of time to do it. If the controversy isn't obvious after a few seconds with replays then clearly it's too tough to call so the video ref times out or doesn't overrule. Goal line technology has worked well, there should be more help for refs. I don't think it will ever happen because refs tend to favour the bigger teams, and they won't want to give up that inbuilt bias.
 
The standard of officialdom this weekend has seriously plumbed new depths. Shocking decisions in almost every game. When Mark Clattenburg is hailed as the best ref in your league, you know you are seriously ****ed. What is the solution? A similar set up to tennis where each team is granted 3 chances to 'challenge' a decision through replay?
That's so sensible there's no chance of Van Basten coming up with it...
Actually, think one would be sufficient - but allowing the officials to access video generally should also be on the agenda. Every other major sport has adopted it without issue - even the sometimes ridiculous number of different angle reviews in Rugby to determine whether a try was legit or not.
 
If the lino doesn't give offside, I'm not entirely sure how you can claim it as cheating by arsenal. Are you expecting Koscielny to know he was off side, put his hands up and admit he was offside and stop playing???

And what about the Mustafi pen that wasn't given?
The ridiculous reactions to every decision made against you and clear intimidation of the officials was cheating.
Wenger pushing the 4th official and refusing to leave was the clearest breach, in my opinion.

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The game should be awarded to Burnley, as Arsenal had a man sent off who didn't actually go. <whistle>
 
That's so sensible there's no chance of Van Basten coming up with it...
Actually, think one would be sufficient - but allowing the officials to access video generally should also be on the agenda. Every other major sport has adopted it without issue - even the sometimes ridiculous number of different angle reviews in Rugby to determine whether a try was legit or not.

It is becoming increasingly necessary as the pace of the modern game increases. Most pundits and commentators have picked up on the fact that the pace of the PL has become relentless - far more blood n thunder than the other big leagues nowadays. But you're quite right, Van Basten's notion of a solution is probably to have the officials wear blindfolds and earplugs at random 10 minute intervals.