Sport Football Thread 2011/2012

[Dudley]

Woah. In that situation you probably get dads telling long-suffering sons that they've got to stay and watch the rest of the game 'to beat the traffic'.

Yeah there were, as always, a number of Chelsea fans leaving at 85mins (and thus missing a goal, the idiots) and we were thinking "Just what traffic do you think you're beating here, there's an entire Stamford Bridgeworth of Spurs fans ahead of you already".

I was walking home so it was easier anyway but we stayed until maybe 10 mins after the final whistle and we literally just strolled out of the stadium area.

[MrPogo]

I never get why vast numbers walk out early, week in week out. When I was a Norwich season ticket holder in the early 90s they used to publish all sorts of stats in the program, including one showing that something like 80% of home games that season had at least one goal scored in the 85th minute onwards. People still left in droves though, despite the knowledge there was a huge likelihood they'd miss a goal or two.

[Sng]

I didn't think it was miles in play when they were first going on about it. They didn't have much of a clear replay when watching on ITV so was surprised when everyone was on about how it was nowhere near the line. Looks pretty near to me!

Still can't really tell from that whether it was over or not though. Although if I had to say I'd say it was over the line.

[Fry Crayola]

In that image, it's fairly clear it's not (the post is vertical, so you can just drop the ball down to the line level with Terry and see). But it certainly does look a lot closer there than it did in any of the TV images.

[Rsdio]

Looks like the middle of the ball is about in the middle of the line to me but it shows how hard some of these decisions are when you get people disagreeing over a still.

[Dudley]

Looks like the middle of the ball is about in the middle of the line to me but it shows how hard some of these decisions are when you get people disagreeing over a still.

Yeah, which is why the ref should only give a goal if he's damned sure it did cross and in this case I can't honestly see how he could be.

EDIT: Oh I just remembered, in the stadium they never showed a replay of that goal at all, which always instantly makes you suspicious.

[Rocafella]

I think the angle of that picture is misleading. The ball is in the air for a start, which obviously makes it harder to tell, but I've watched it a few times now and it still doesn't look close to being over the line. In the clip, from the first replay you can't see the ball, but Assou Ekottos legs don't look anywhere near far enough behind the line for the whole ball to make it over.

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xq5cwo_tottenham-h-0-2-chelsea_sport#from=embed

[DC Lemon]

Whichever way you look at it, that's a very different picture to the one we were seeing yesterday when the decision looked scandalous. Video replays, pfft.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/9206369/Chelseas-ghost-goal-in-pictures.html?frame=2194426

[Sng]

In that image, it's fairly clear it's not (the post is vertical, so you can just drop the ball down to the line level with Terry and see). But it certainly does look a lot closer there than it did in any of the TV images.

You can't really do that unless you know the true position of the ball. 3D would finally have a meaningful purpose!

If you look at the guys right boot it, that looks behind the line, and the ball looks behind his foot. Without proper goal line technology (ie, not just some guy watching a replay) there'll still be dodgy decisions.

[Rsdio]

Some guy watching a replay would be fine if they put a camera on the byeline, zoomed in, rather than relying on these kinds of angles. I'm surprised the TV guys haven't started doing this at every big game already (I imagine Sky probably do).

[Girth Certificate]

clearly this is a job for fucking LASERs

[stefcha]

Whichever way you look at it, that's a very different picture to the one we were seeing yesterday when the decision looked scandalous. Video replays, pfft.

http://www.telegraph...l?frame=2194426

Caption on the last pic is "...and Spurs' outrage is justified because, from Atkinson's angle, he doesn't know with certainty the ball has crossed the line", to me it looks like he's in a decent spot to actually have a chance of seeing it. Whether he can be sure or not, who knows. Probably not. Who cares, they lost 5-1 anyway and the non-action against Cech was a worse, or at least stranger decision.

[Fry Crayola]

the non-action against Cech was a worse, or at least stranger decision.

Cech being booked wouldn't have made much difference. As discussed earlier, it wasn't a red card offence as he didn't prevent a goalscoring opportunity.

[kensei]

The thing with Garth Crookes is that he takes these huge intakes of breath. Once you notice it, it becomes impossible to ignore.

[Plissken]

Just before he delivers something that is crashingly obvious and banal, but in his own mind of the greatest import since Churchill delivered his "we shall fight them on the beaches" speech.

I'll never forget in the World Cup in Japan/Korea. England needed a draw in their last game to qualify for the knockout stages. Everyone knew it for days beforehand. England get the draw and Crooks walks up to Sven and says "Sven, I can confirm that England are through" because in his mind nothing is official until Garth Crooks fucking well says it is.

[Smoothy]

EDIT: Oh I just remembered, in the stadium they never showed a replay of that goal at all, which always instantly makes you suspicious.

Probably not to undermine the ref, especially seeing as they normally are not supposed to show other incidents either.

[DeadRussian]

A rather predictable list of players, I guess. I've no idea what Clint Dempsey had to do to get on the shortlist though. 22 goals in all competitions, often from a midfield position.

Nominees for Professional Footballers' Association Players' Player of the Year award 2011-12: Sergio Aguero (Man City), Joe Hart (Man City), Scott Parker (Tottenham), Robin van Persie (Arsenal), Wayne Rooney (Man Utd), David Silva (Man City).

Nominees for Young Player of the Year award: Sergio Aguero (Man City), Gareth Bale (Tottenham), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal), Daniel Sturridge (Chelsea), Kyle Walker (Tottenham), Danny Welbeck (Man Utd).

van Persie and Aguero, I guess, although it's a bit of a cop-out have Aguero in the Young Player category.

[exwhyzed]

ctrl + F Scholes

oh well

[Rocafella]

No idea what Parker's doing on that list.

[redbloodcell]

No idea what Parker's doing on that list.

It seems the players do though...

[exwhyzed]

Rooney, Silva and Hart to an extent (where's Krul?) are poor choices as well.

Easily RVP and Aguero.

When are these nominations taken?

[Naysonymous]

More votes for RVP and Aguero.

Oh, and that Neymar fellow, shit hair but he knows how to play:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKGIvag0bVI

Was it a red card though?

[Lucky]

Have been watching that QPR 4 year plan doc & watched up to part 4 and I just can't find it now on youtube to watch the last two parts.

Someone please help before I smash this computer to shit.

Thanks.

Oh, and that was never a red. Superb skill though.

RVP and Aguero all day long.

[Sirloin]

Watched a bit of the Independiente vs Racing derby on Saturday, enough to see Teo get sent off for Racing (Racing basically have 2 good players, Gio and Teo), and Independiente get two goals in stoppage time to make it a 4-1 battering. Turns out there was a massive rumble in the dressing rooms afterwards and Teo was running round threatening people with a paintball gun. Ah Argentina, don't ever change.

[Gotters]

Gary neville proving once again it is possible to do detailed intelligent analysis about footy issues with his 10m piece anout diving before the Arse game tonight.

Never thought he'd be as good as this but he is really the best on tv at the moment at this stuff

[Art Vandelay]

Neville is good because he doesn't seem interested in that whole cosy boy's club thing Sky have going on. He can be pretty spiky with the other presenters at times.

Imagine Neville and Jimbo Richardson together on telly. That'd be a formidable duo.

[PinkMoon]

EDIT: Oh I just remembered, in the stadium they never showed a replay of that goal at all, which always instantly makes you suspicious.

I might be completely wrong on this, but I don't think they're allowed to show replays of anything potentially deemed to be controversial in the ground for fear of it sparking trouble.

[neoELITE]

Wigan are 2-0 up.... WTF!?

I am relying upon Arsenal for four different accumulators. Arsene Wankers.

[DeadRussian]

Roberto Martinez, for all his faults, has got this one sussed.

[Liamness]

Imagine Neville and Jimbo Richardson together on telly. That'd be a formidable duo.

I've never seen AC do 'live' commentary before, or half-time/post-match reaction. Is he as good at that as he is with his more prepared/scripted stuff? I would've thought the puns would suffer.