Sheaf Saint

BBC stats reckons 7 shots on goal from us so far.

This is embarrassingly one-sided. How the hell is it still 0-0!?

... wrong thread.

Yes it was Derby after they knocked us out of the play-offs to get promoted. They only managed one win and eight draws all season, and went down with a GD of -69.

That Gonzalez chap is a bit handy as well. I'd start with him. Or if he's not fit, stick with James Warp-Drowse.

Yeah, if you discount the two Mercs running away at the front, it's been a decent, entertaining race. Maldonado = c\/nt

There were a number of games during January-December where we had to start with 5 of our first choice back 7 injured, as well as being forced to play our 3rd choice keeper. Teams like Man City or Chelsea clearly have the depth in their squad to absorb that kind of hit, but not us. Not many teams will ever face an injury crisis of that severity, and the only way we can mitigate against it next season is if we go out and spend £150m on an entirely new second XI.

OK I've just seen the goals again on SSN. Watch Gazza in the build up to the 3rd goal - he took an ice age to decide he was going to come out for that cross, by which time it was far too late. If he had been decisive and come out sooner he would undoubtedly have got to it and prevented the goal. Very, very poor decision making.

I really, really hope not. It could be devastating if it is. We all saw what a shadow of his former self Michael Owen was after he suffered a similar injury. Both players rely heavily on pace for their game, and Owen was just never as quick or as effective ever again after his return from that.

Yes, he did. He stuck his leg out in a deliberate and cynical attempt to impede the attacking player, with no intention of trying to play the ball. Regardless of how much contact there was or whether or not the player stayed on his feet, according to the laws of the game that is a foul and worthy of direct free kick or a penalty. See my post #76. You can carry on bemoaning the refereeing as much as you like, but the simple fact is that there is only one person responsible for conceding that penalty and it is Fonte. If he had tried to play the ball and the attacker dived, then I would completely agree with you, but that is not what happened.

Purely semantics. Which is why I also highlighted the 'kicks or attempts to kick an opponent' bit as well.

I don't care whether you agree or not. It's in the rules...

It was the intent. Fonte deliberately stuck his leg out to try and impede the player, therefore it is a foul by the laws of the game. Doesn't matter how much or how little contact there actually was. Fonte was completely at fault for giving the ref a decision to make.

I actually think Foy had a good game. Got both the penalty decisions correct IMO.

So frustrating. We played so well in the first half but that incredible mistake from the lino for their second goal killed us. If he had made the right call there and we had gone into the break level the game would have been completely different. Fingers crossed for J-Rod. That looked bad, and he knew it.

There is just no way they could possibly know that yet.

OK - who is going to try and defend Gazza for that one then? Utterly unforgiveable and exactly the same point as I made for their third. If he's going to come for that he's got to get it, not fall over in nomansland and leave an open net. Edit: Credit where it is due - he made a very good save shortly afterwards.

Yaya Toure booked for diving. Well deserved as well.

Oh for f*ck's sake. I'm not 'attacking' him. I'm simply stating a fact - that he was not good enough to stop that goal. If he's going to come for that ball he needs to be sure he's going to get it. Otherwise he has to stay on his line and takes his chances. By flapping and missing by as much as he did, he left Dzeko an open goal. He made a bad choice. Simple as that. And please stop calling me a moron because I have a different opinion to you. It does your argument no favours if you have to resort to insults to make your point.

Dirty c*nt Garcia.

So I'm a retarded moron because I see things differently to you? Thanks for that. A PL level keeper should know when to come for a ball and when not to. He had no hope of getting to that ball and should have taken his chances on being able to save whatever shot came from it. A simple error of judgement.

He came for it, and missed by a mile. Therefore clearly his fault.

Indefensible really.

Co(k. Totally undeserved on the balance of play.

What the f*ck are you on about Owen? Offside decision certainly was close? It wasn't remotely close - it was so blatantly offside FFS!