tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post4666165217932513640..comments2024-02-09T08:02:58.200-05:00Comments on Fantasy Premier League Blog: First Impressions and Second Thoughts - Super Bowl WeekendNeal Thurmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07585543708520268866noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post-35940432241061804422011-02-08T12:11:03.865-05:002011-02-08T12:11:03.865-05:00Can't teams refuse particular referees????
I&...Can't teams refuse particular referees????<br /><br />I've never ever been so upset with a football result as I was last Saturday. As an Arsenal fan I'm usually ready for anything... BUT to be 4 goals up into the 68th minute AND lose all your advantage is unthinkable for a side that was challenging for the EPL title - Mr. Stupid Dowd or not...Tayonoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post-86121096207980791982011-02-08T10:49:46.630-05:002011-02-08T10:49:46.630-05:00@josh: Merely suggesting that the French report wa...@josh: Merely suggesting that the French report was wrong in claiming that Arsenal 'threw' the game. If you are Arsenal you have to believe that "just because we are paranoid doesn't 'They' aren't picking on us". It is very well to castigate Diaby for "letting his team down" - which he undoubtedly did - but it was not solely his conduct that brought about the result. What would have been written about Nolan if he had squandered the advantage and had been sent of - as he so justly deserved? What would have been written about Diaby under the same circumstances? What separates Diaby's performance from that of Barton, Nolan, Dowd or Massey is that he is the only one held to account.... As far as the officials are concerned; never attribute to malice what can equally be explained by incompetence. You're right - if they were attempting to stage manage the outcome they nearly screwed that up too. If you want to start a conspiracy - Mr. Dowd has refereed four Arsenal games this season and Arsenal has not won any of them. (You heard it here first.) ;~)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post-45041031404608402522011-02-08T09:19:12.061-05:002011-02-08T09:19:12.061-05:00@ Anon 7.39PM: well one goal disallowed incorrectl...@ Anon 7.39PM: well one goal disallowed incorrectly was for newcastle, which sort of ruins your argument (and RVP was offside for his, incredible finish tho). I only wonder whether the officials were aware that they had incorrectly ruled out a goal incorrectly when deciding the 2nd penalty, cos that was the softest penalty I have ever seen. As for Newcastle finishing with eleven players...they managed it against spurs too, and Tiote made 5 (no exaggeration) clear yellow card fouls in the first half.joshtottenhamhttp://fantasyepl.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post-29110301040194681282011-02-08T00:59:58.657-05:002011-02-08T00:59:58.657-05:00Absolutely right about Diaby. For someone who rare...Absolutely right about Diaby. For someone who rarely gets a start, he sure let his team down last week and his contributions even when fit are marginal. Koscielny was poor as well. Wenger needs a couple of solid acquisitions to strengthen the spine of the team from central defense to holding midfield. The naivety of the squad is too painful to watch sometimes..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post-45432479127712979142011-02-07T19:39:15.392-05:002011-02-07T19:39:15.392-05:00It was indeed a game of two halves. In the first,...It was indeed a game of two halves. In the first, Newcastle showed that they couldn't play Association Football. In the second, Arse showed that they can't play Rugby Football. The officials proved that they can't enforce the rules for either. It is interesting that a report out of France is claiming a heavy betting pattern, mid-game, and is blaming Arse for throwing the game. Given two dodgy penalties, two disallowed goals, and Newcastle finishing the match with all eleven players, perhaps they are pointing the finger in the wrong direction. Oh, well. To paraphrase; it was magnificent entertainment but it was not football.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7984669.post-39077494186087176322011-02-07T17:11:18.716-05:002011-02-07T17:11:18.716-05:00Good stuff Neal; Joey the Dog was cheering as loud...Good stuff Neal; Joey the Dog was cheering as loud as I was at the final whistle! CJ.Chris Jonesnoreply@blogger.com