Premiership Thread 2011/12

[BlueSi13]

Swap Arsenal for Tottenham and I like the look of the Premiership table.

I dislike Arsenal, alot (As people know) but find it funny to see Chelsea in that position and the money and expectations of that club are much higher than 5th, I know a club in the East Midlands that have failed in arguably a worse way in the Championship aswell, sure fans of other clubs are laughing at them aswell....

Liverpool in 8th is also very amusing, just need Tottenham to get 3rd place and I couldn't realistically ask for the Premiership to finish better. I could, but like I said realistically...

You don't fancy Newcastle United taking that 4th spot then?

For me they've been incredible this season and what a shot in the arm it would for the "normal" clubs if you like to see one of their "own" get a Champions League place

[Matt]

You don't fancy Newcastle United taking that 4th spot then?

For me they've been incredible this season and what a shot in the arm it would for the "normal" clubs if you like to see one of their "own" get a Champions League place

Well that would be even better Tottenham 3rd, Newcastle 4th, Arsenal/Chelsea 5th or 6th.

As well as Newcastle have done this season can't see them getting 4th simply because I can't see Tottenham or Arsenal letting that many points slip and Newcastle gain the points to overtake (Unless Newcastle still have to play Tottenham or Arsenal? I've not looked at the fixtures remaining)

[ScouseFox]

Doubt Newcastle will get 4th because their last 3 games are Chelsea (A), Man City (H) and Everton (A).

They'd do well to get anything out of them I reckon.

[EnderbyFox]

Carrolls dive was arguably worse than anything Perch did, the twat was already past the keeper and only had to slot it in an empty net

[Super_horns]

Carrolls dive was arguably worse than anything Perch did, the twat was already past the keeper and only had to slot it in an empty net

If nothing else the incidents today really put paid to the idea from pundits that the "cheating and diving" is just an overseas problem brought in from those signed abroad.

[ScouseFox]

Carroll's was worse because he tried to get a fellow professional sent off and did such a shit job of it he got booked himself. disabled.

[Corky]

I also don't think he went down deliberately to get a penalty. He said he never went down, he stumbled over.

Similar to the way Tom Daley stumbled over at the Olympics.

[leicesterisme]

That incident ruined a decent game of football. Hate seeing cheating tw4ts like that. Liverpool were outplayed but all the papers will report about is that incident - the game was already won.

It was pathetic by Perch yes, but if Reina hadn't have been so stupid in the first place there wouldn't have been an incident.

If Perch didn't go down like a twat Reina would still have been sent off though so the papers would still talk about it.

[Brown Fox]

Ba + Cisse + Santon + Cabaye = Carroll

To think those four combined cost less than that donkey is hilarious.

Krul, Coloccini, S Taylor, Santon, Marveaux, Tioté, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Ba and Papiss Cisse = £34.5m.

Carroll=£35m

[HEGGSY]

Krul, Coloccini, S Taylor, Santon, Marveaux, Tioté, Cabaye, Ben Arfa, Ba and Papiss Cisse = £34.5m.

Carroll=£35m

King Kenny - King of the transfer window.

[Haydos]

When are players going to start getting banned for diving like Perch did?

[HEGGSY]

When are players going to start getting banned for diving like Perch did?

Soon...hopefully.

[StanSP]

[Captain...]

That Liverpool Newcastle match was just everything that was wrong with modern football, Carroll's dive was just pathetic, a blatant handball on the line which everyone saw except the officials, it could have been dealt with in 2 seconds with a video replay, Cisse's goal, how is that not offside, I really hate this offside phases bollocks, the offside rule basically exists to stop goal hanging, but now it is ok to goal hang as long as you are onside when someone gets the slightest accidental touch on it, then the joke of an incident, firstly Perch trips Reina deliberately, a despicable act in itself, then, and I don't understand why footballers can't argue without jutting their head forwards like a chicken with a nervous tic, seriously has anyone here ever done that? Then Perch goes down clutching his face even though there was no contact. Absolutely pathetic, coupled with all the players arguing amongst themselves this week and some of the more distaateful elements to this season, the race rows and the off the field antics, the dodgy dealings and stupid tweets, I really am losing faith with football.

[Raw Dykes]

Well that would be even better Tottenham 3rd, Newcastle 4th, Arsenal/Chelsea 5th or 6th.

As well as Newcastle have done this season can't see them getting 4th simply because I can't see Tottenham or Arsenal letting that many points slip and Newcastle gain the points to overtake (Unless Newcastle still have to play Tottenham or Arsenal? I've not looked at the fixtures remaining)

I couldn't agree more! I'm really happy with the way the top of the PL table looks. Although it would be nice if Man City were above Man Utd, and even better if Newcastle could break into the top 4 as well.

[Aleksz]

Why did Enrique go in goal when they had a keeper on the bench....

Edit: just realised of the possibility they had ran out of subs, correct?

[m00nie]

Why did Enrique go in goal when they had a keeper on the bench....

used teh 3 subs already

• 33 Shelvey Booked (Downing - 75' )
  
• 07 Suarez
  
• 09 Carroll Booked (Kuyt - 79' )
  
• 39 Bellamy (Henderson - 79' )
  

81:57Dismissal

Dismissal

The referee shows Jose Reina a red card.

[davieG]

That Liverpool Newcastle match was just everything that was wrong with modern football, Carroll's dive was just pathetic, a blatant handball on the line which everyone saw except the officials, it could have been dealt with in 2 seconds with a video replay, Cisse's goal, how is that not offside, I really hate this offside phases bollocks, the offside rule basically exists to stop goal hanging, but now it is ok to goal hang as long as you are onside when someone gets the slightest accidental touch on it, then the joke of an incident, firstly Perch trips Reina deliberately, a despicable act in itself, then, and I don't understand why footballers can't argue without jutting their head forwards like a chicken with a nervous tic, seriously has anyone here ever done that? Then Perch goes down clutching his face even though there was no contact. Absolutely pathetic, coupled with all the players arguing amongst themselves this week and some of the more distaateful elements to this season, the race rows and the off the field antics, the dodgy dealings and stupid tweets, I really am losing faith with football.

I didn't manage to see the whole game only the Perch/Reina incident but I agree with all of that. I feel embarrassed these days to say I'm a football fan and my pride in being associated with LCFC is diminishing by the day.

[RedHux]

I'm of the opinion professional footballers, such as demonstrated by Perch t'other day, feel the need to exaggerate every slight infraction by the opposing team to get the maximum possible advantage. It's hardly surprising this is the case but it's pretty pathetic and shameful.

I think however attempting to gain an advantage even when the opposition has done nothing wrong by hoodwinking the ref is a different kettle of fish and wherever possibly should be punished retrospectively. Especially when it's shamefully obvious..

[accessory]

The behaviour of players in the Newcastle-Liverpool game was distasteful, but never reached the depths seen at the Tigers game on Friday.

Tottenham and Swansea played the game as it should be played - no cards, dives or bad challenges at all. Both sides were a credit to the sport.

[Captain...]

I'm of the opinion professional footballers, such as demonstrated by Perch t'other day, feel the need to exaggerate every slight infraction by the opposing team to get the maximum possible advantage. It's hardly surprising this is the case but it's pretty pathetic and shameful.

I think however attempting to gain an advantage even when the opposition has done nothing wrong by hoodwinking the ref is a different kettle of fish and wherever possibly should be punished retrospectively. Especially when it's shamefully obvious..

I really can't wait for the day somebody throws themselves to the floor like that and actually hurt themselves. It is utter nonsense, we are teaching ourselves to break our natural instinct to stay on our feet and not fall over, I play football a lot and I get kicked, shoved, pushed all the time, never with any malice never enough to send me off my feet because if I feel myself falling I correct it and stay on my feet. Football is a contact sport, contact should not be the definition of a foul, that is what pisses me off, if Krul had done exactly the same thing and but had made the slightest contact with Carroll it would have been a penalty, or if Carroll had been a bit "smarter" and slowed down or turned into Krul rather than away. Andy Carroll is not to blame, he just did what all players do but not as well.

There is one exception to this rule, a player in Spain, you may have heard of him, a certain Lionel Messi, you watch him play, he rides tackles, avoids contact and ghosts past people, he is widely considered the greatest player in the world, becaus of this, but so many other players have the ability to do it but choose not to. (you can probably find footage of Messi diving if you want to, he is not perfect, but you watch him week in week out and you just judge how many times certain other players would go down under the same kind of contact.

There is one thing that stands out in my mind when I discuss diving a few season's ago Sheff United were in the prem, and in one of their early games they played Liverpool, I can't find a video of it, but Gerrard broke into the box knocked it past the keeper sliding out, but gets nothing of the ball, Gerrard has to hurdle the keepr quite quickly and overbalances and stumbles forward tries to keep on his feet but loses balance and misses the empty net. The ref brought it back for a penalty, it was brilliant, it was a great decision and Gerrard was able to stay on his feet and try and score and not get punished for doing so, but the only reason he didn't score was because Kenny had dived at his feet, not maliciously, but in a genuine yet unsuccessful attempt to get the ball. A penalty was rightly awarded and without the theatrics of players rolling around on the floor or leaving a trailing leg. I really hoped that this would be the dawn of a new era in football.

It wasn't, Gerrard got slammed for cheating and the ref got blamed for getting conned. Colin willy puller was obviously ranting and raging and if that is the attitude players feel they have to leave a leg in, they have to manufacture some contact otherwise it will never be given as a foul. Which is wrong. Like I said contact shouldn't be the definition of a foul, sometimes it is a foul when no contact is made, but no ref will ever give them because they are weak.

[Haydos]

There is one thing that stands out in my mind when I discuss diving a few season's ago Sheff United were in the prem, and in one of their early games they played Liverpool, I can't find a video of it, but Gerrard broke into the box knocked it past the keeper sliding out, but gets nothing of the ball, Gerrard has to hurdle the keepr quite quickly and overbalances and stumbles forward tries to keep on his feet but loses balance and misses the empty net. The ref brought it back for a penalty, it was brilliant, it was a great decision and Gerrard was able to stay on his feet and try and score and not get punished for doing so, but the only reason he didn't score was because Kenny had dived at his feet, not maliciously, but in a genuine yet unsuccessful attempt to get the ball. A penalty was rightly awarded and without the theatrics of players rolling around on the floor or leaving a trailing leg. I really hoped that this would be the dawn of a new era in football.

YES! Yes, yes yes. You're the only person I've ever heard mention this incident.

There was so much made of how he 'dived'. I have always believed that contact shouldn't have as much to do with it. You see players lunging in all the time and the dribbler has to jump out the way to avoid getting cropped. If there's no contact the commentators or people I'm watching it will say "Oh, there's no contact, it's a blatant dive." How do they not understand that it's obviously an infringement and the only reason they've had to do that is to stop getting hurt.

[RowlattsFox]

When are players going to start getting banned for diving like Perch did?

When a club, manager or fans takes a stand against one of their own players in my opinion. A manager dropping someone for a period of time rather than making excuses (yes you, Dalglish).

Would be refreshing to see a set of fans boo their own player after he has obviously died, will never happen though because most fans don't care aslong as its in their favour.

[Corky]

When a club, manager or fans takes a stand against one of their own players in my opinion. A manager dropping someone for a period of time rather than making excuses (yes you, Dalglish).

Would be refreshing to see a set of fans boo their own player after he has obviously died, will never happen though because most fans don't care aslong as its in their favour.

[RowlattsFox]

oops.......

Dived