9 times out of 10 when it is suggested that someone's hands weren't in a natural position they actually are. In this case you surely can't be suggesting that he somehow consciously manoeuvred his hands into that position in what, a decimal point of a second. It was a fluke, simple as that and seemingly very unfair. However, as much as it was a huge injustice it was still a fair goal.
Just seen that Arsenal goal. Thing is, would you award a penalty if the ball had hit Koscielny's hands in his own area like that. Yes you would, because he's had plenty of time to get them out of the way. Therefore, no goal. You stop the game for the same handball. And make no mistake, I don't say 'no goal' because it's Arsenal. If it had been a Southampton goal [that'll be the day a ref gives us the benefit of the doubt that blatantly] I'd say the same. Fact is, Koscielny had time to get his hands out of the way. However if he had, the ball would have bounced harmlessly over his head and away. So he was motivated to keep them where they were and to interfere with the flight of the ball.
I am surprised that no one has commented on the appointment of Bob Bradley at Swansea seeing that he is the first American manager in the Premier League. I think this is staggering enough especially when you consider that he has been poached from Le Harve who play in the French First Division where the quality of football is probably the equivalent of our Division One. If I was a Swans fan, I would be really concerned despite the experience that Bradley has at international level. For me, he seems a massive risk and I would have thought Swansea would have been better sticking by Guidolin. Getting rid of Garry Monk now seems a massive mistake. The other issue is that someone like Steve Bruce has been overlooked in favour of Bradley who appears to have been chosen because the new owners are American. I would not be too hopeful either is this is the kind of judgement call the owners will be making. I can understand why Giggs was not chosen as I think he is both unproven and too much of a marque appointment but even the American would be no more of a risk than the ex-Man Utd player. It is interesting that English managers are being squeezed out and I can appreciate why this is necessary because there simply are not enough English managers who are good enough. The likes of Wenger, Koeman, Pochettino, Klopp, Ranieri and Guardiola are far, far superior to their British counterparts. It is quite clear why so may clubs choose a continental manager yet the appointment of an American with no experience in the English game must be the biggest slap in the face yet. I personally think this appointment will end up relegating Swansea but we wait and see. I wonder may many people in the days of Roy Wegerle would have predicted an American coach at this level?
I prefer to keep my powder dry as criticising little known managers can come back to bite you. We often end up surprised, yet a manager we fancy can fail miserably in the EPL. However, this is undoubtedly a case of appointing a manager the owners probably know. May be a challenge for Bradley, but we could be surprised....or not.
Not sure how 'the Brad' will do, but FG should feel pretty hard done by. Losing his captain in the tug O war to that unsavoury lot, they seemed to go into the season a little under prepared, & I'm not too sure he was to blame entirely for that. Their last few games have been against Liverpool, ManC, ManC & Saints, and that's a tough run indeed. This week end they were unlucky to be on the losing end. They new guy better have some magic dust to sprinkle......and quick!
The one thing he didn't have was, "time to get his hands out of the way". He didn't even know where the ball was. If you try doing all the things he was doing in that one moment; jumping, twisting, kicking etc. you will find that his hands were in a very natural position. Amazing really how we can watch the same incident and have 2 completely opposing opinions. Just shows that even a TMO may not be the perfect solution as what appears to fairly straightforward and factual clearly isn't.
Big difference between real time and what we see in slo-mo. Human thought only has a certain speed. You sometimes hear people say...oh, the ref got it right, but he was lucky as he couldn't have seen it properly. I disagree....sometimes an experienced person just sees the whole picture and his back brain gives him an opinion before the frontal cortex even clicks in. One of the factors is fluidity of movement...an arm may be in the way but is obviously moving out of the way....therefore no intent. Also human balance is a complicated thing....arms are involved....try doing a range of movements and not involve your arms!
Of course he had time. Floated cross, glancing header onwards. No, I'm sorry. I've seen too many handballs given for penalties for that. It's the same when it happens at the other end. I can even remember an instance.
The whole handball rule needs looking at anyway to be honest. Think the 'must be deliberate' is bollocks imo, how many handballs are deliberate in the first place? Take the interpretation out of it and make it black and white. If it hits an arm, it's a foul, some will be unlucky but that's just tough ****. At least it's fair and you won't have refs giving different things. Haven't seen the Arsenal one btw...
Ignoring the handball incident, having watched the whole game and I've got to say if we don't best Burnley at home I will be dissapointed. They simply don't have a game plan with gray being banned. Can't see them defending like they did on Sunday for 90 mins away from home.
Just seen Payet's goal vs Boro, that's one of those where the skill from Payet is unbelievable and the defending from Boro is horrendous.
The time factor is from his foot to his hand, a fraction of a second. Anyway I'm beginning to agree with TLL in that handball is handball full stop.
If all handballs became penalties, I foresee a lot of injuries as balls are pounded at other players from a close distance.
If it hits the hand it is an indirect freekick. If it is clearly handled deliberately, the. Direct / penalty. I think that would work.
But even then it would still go back to the how can u say if it's "deliberate or not" , because only the player would truly know, it would still be down to the referees personal opinion, and that again would change week in week out.
There was a time when it used to be. As for the time factor between himself and himself, surely that's his problem. He got plenty of warning beforehand. As I said before, I have an example of a penalty being given not so long ago, so history says handball.
