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#460181 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
Pundits struggled to see Fabian Delph's challenge as a red card. So they probably can't see them slipping up...
Useless stat of the day: we're the first top-flight team to lose 6 games in the month of December since ourselves (1950). Special level of useless, that. Can't say we deserved to lose all of them but even so. We have lost all of them. Saturday v Fulham is a biggie. Winner... probably goes down, let's be honest.
#458380 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
#457729 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUB-wjXUREE
Yeah I'm not even going to bother debating your other points mate
#457694 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
Best official of the season. Only complaint is that he missed the foul on Pritchard at 0-0 - penalty, 1-0, different game. But I thought live Pritchard slipped, so can't complain much there! Perhaps a little lucky with the offside by the modern abortion of a law, but at the same time he's a fair way off and pressing when the ball is played from his offside position, so the linesman deserves praise for being prepared to apply common sense - if Lacazette isn't offside in the first place, Zanka doesn't make the error. Rightly booked ours when we were over-zealous with tackles (minor quibble with the Pritchard booking, which did look soft if truth be told). 9 bookings tells its own story about the battle the game became, a proper scrap with a referee who was in charge and taking no shit. Loved that. First time I've felt coming out of a game with the top 6 that the officials weren't a bunch of blinkered idiots who were star-struck by the superstars on show and they were genuinely even-handed. I can deal with mistakes if it's clear they're honest oversights.
Incidentally, three bookings for diving for Arsenal. Never seen anything like it, to be honest. Not least because the ref, having seen them all again, was absolutely spot on each time. Shows how utterly desperate they were, against a side assembled for a fraction of the cost of the two strikers. The FA should be looking into that and severely disciplining Emery - clearly his tactics, clearly his instruction.
#457174 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
Still, should have won that. Enough chances to batter them 5 or 6. Bournemouth will feel incredibly lucky.
#456741 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
Comfortable, cruising without playing particularly well at 1-0. Innocuous 50-50 between Mounié and their no.8. Inexplicably, a red is produced. I've seen it again - it's a staggering decision. Mounié is pulling out of the challenge. There's no force behind it. His leg is bent as he tries to get out of the way. There's a still which doesn't look great, but it doesn't tell the whole story. It's a foul, no question, but it's not serious foul play - there's no excessive force, his leg isn't straight, it doesn't endanger the Brighton lad's safety in any way, shape or form. It's just a 50-50 for a bouncing ball that you see dozens of times a season. We'll be successful with the appeal, but that doesn't compensate us for the points it's cost us today.
That's bad enough, but you can get a duff one from any referee. Five minutes later, we get two in a pop. Pritchard, four yards out and about to get a clear shot away, is hauled down. Not sure who by if truth be told. But there's no doubt that it's a penalty and a red card for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity without an attempt to play the ball. There's a tremendous photo that just shows how blatant it was - the lad has an arm around Pritchard's throat and another pulling him down with a knee in his back. It's as stonewall as a penalty can get. Not given. To be honest, I'm more irritated about that - 10 v 10 with us 1-0 up (and probably 2-0) is a different game. It's an inexplicable decision.
Of course, he added just enough time for them to score. 4 minutes seemed long at the time to add. There are also questions about whether the ball had gone out of play before they recycled it for their corner - of course, the unfit linesman was 10 yards behind play and in no position to make a decision. We can't complain too much, though, as we switched off.
They then went ahead - can't say it wasn't coming, but at the same time the game was completely changed by earlier decisions. Brighton played against 10 well, and credit to them for that, but it can't be denied by anyone that they were fortunate to be in that position and we were desperately unlucky not to be more up as a result of the officials. Most Brighton fans have said they'd have got nowhere near us with 11, which is a fair enough reflection.
Oliver compounded his awful performance by failing to send off Leon Balogun late on for a dangerous challenge. As a challenge it was an order of magnitude worse than any other in the game (and most certainly a fair degree worse than the challenge which saw Mounié dismissed). It'd have been scant consolation, but it most certainly underlined just how awful and one-eyed Oliver's entire performance was.
We've not had a slice of luck at all this campaign. Generally officials have dropped a bollock against us once a game and it's been costing us. Oliver has taken us 3 times this season. The end outcome?
2 Town players sent off (one fairly);
No opposition players sent off (should be two);
No penalties awarded (should be two);
One perfectly good equaliser (v Liverpool) ruled out.
Total points he's cost us on his own: 6.
And the more I see the red, the more I just think about what an awful decision it is. He's gone to pass the ball - you can tell from the angle and the way he goes in. He actually gets to the ball, which hits the Brighton lad who is challenging at the same height. The follow-through scrapes the lad, but it's a shocker. It's an absolute shocker of a decision. Nobody could describe it as dangerous without having an agenda. Absolutely nobody.
Interesting stat, though (and one which questions should be asked about): Michael Oliver has refereed us 3 times this season. Chris Kavanagh has refereed us 3 times. Oliver has also been 4th official 3 times. Surely that's worth asking questions over. No referee should have a say over almost half of our fixtures this season unless it's the second game of the campaign.
#449835 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
#448532 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
It's not helped by the officials. Today we've been desperately unlucky. The Milner handball is a penalty - Michael Oliver plays advantage, presumably thinking that it's just outside. Firstly, there's no advantage there. Secondly, it's inside. It's stonewall. I do wonder whether officials are told not to give any kind of marginal call against the top six, because when you compare what we haven't got against the top six compared to what they have, it's a bit of a piss take. Sterling, Sanchez and Rose have dived - penalties, all. Identical challenges in the same game have been treated differently (Quaner nudged from behind in the Liverpool area - no penalty; Salah nudged from behind in the Town penalty area - penalty). Pritchard is flattened in the Chelsea box - nothing, and then Chelsea go down the other end and get a penalty when we've clearly won the ball. Löwe is wiped out in the Spurs box - nothing. And now Milner playing basketball in the area with nothing given. The other way around, I suspect that's given. And I suspect that's true for the majority of the rank and file against the top 6, just we've really suffered from it this season. At 0-0 v both Chelsea and Spurs, we should have had penalties, and at 1-0 v Liverpool we should have a penalty. Perhaps we don't go on to win games, but it's a damn sight easier to do that if the officials do their job properly. Perhaps it could have been worth 3 more points. Neither does it help when calls are going against us in every other game - Leicester's equaliser was marginally offside, Tarkowski should have been sent off for his stamp on Depoitre, Zaha should have been off before he scored a few weeks back, with the same going for Calvert-Lewin before he equalised at Goodison.
As for the offside, it isn't. Simple as. Van Dijk's body position is such that Pritchard is onside - daft as it is to say, Van Dijk's trailing leg means that all of Pritchard is on (despite what those utter morons on MOTD say). It's a brilliant little finish. 1-1. I can deal with the handball not being given if the goal stands. But as it is, we've not got the point we deserved from another very good performance. Can't ask for more from them at the moment - a little more composure, perhaps, but in terms of attitude and spirit we've been tremendous of late.
But I go to football to be entertained. At the moment, we're entertaining without end product. The first win is coming - hopefully next week v a very decent Watford side.
#446563 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
The officials settled the contest, there can be no doubt. They somehow contrived to miss clear fouls in the build-up to both goals, as well as an offside in the build-up to the first and Rose's spectacular dive for the penalty. They may as well have worn Spurs shirts all afternoon - they took the piss. We all know that you're not going to get a decision against the top six, but to also somehow miss Löwe being wiped out in the Spurs box inside the first five minutes on top of the other game-changers was an absolute joke. Their decisions robbed us of what would have been a well-earned point.
Last week we can complain about the offside goal allowed to stand. Two weeks ago, we can rightly say Zaha should not have been on the pitch when he scored after his five-minute temper-tantrum featuring him spitting at Mooy, flattening Hadergjonaj and two clear shows of petulant dissent. To say we've been dealt a buff hand this season is an understatement. Decisions haven't gone our way at all. The bounce of the ball has just gone against us. We're working hard, doing the right things, and results haven't reflected performances. We do have a problem putting the ball in the net, but the last four games have seen us create plenty of chances and it's just not gone in. Deflections, fine goalkeeping, poor finishing and just plain bad luck have gone against us.
I do think we'll go down, but we're by no means as bad or as doomed as the press seem to paint us. We've had a hell of a tough start - barring Cardiff and Palace, all our our first 9 fixture are against last season's top 9 - and we've played OK. A bit more luck sees us walk away with a handful more points. Today's performance was good - intense, in their faces, showing no respect and getting into them and causing real problems - and it's a sign that if we do go down, we'll go down fighting. Can't ask for more.
#446381 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
Meanwhile, the man who provoked the storm hasn't been charged for his rant questioning the integrity of opponents, spitting at opponents, diving, dissent, actively abusing referees in the media and launching into reckless challenges.
Fucking hell, FA. I know you're useless, but this Zaha foul storm really has taken the absolute piss.
#443838 2018/19 Carabao Cup (League Cup)
terriersmad
#443467 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
The style of football that got us here has gone. We're not pressing, we're not quick in transition, and we're playing sideways passes with far too many touches. We've signed some decent wingers but on today's evidence we're going to struggle to play to their strengths because we're too slow when we do get the ball.
I'm actually not all that arsed. It was expected at some point. I just want to see us have more of a go and go down fighting and playing good football. I'm perfectly happy in the Championship (save this for my annoyance at a last-day relegation).
#442421 2018/19 Barclays Premier League
terriersmad
What, like Charlton?
Fact is Manchester City are the best side this country has produced possibly ever. Our makeshift side got a gubbing. So what?
#429519 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
Also, Carlos Carvalhal will be sick of us on Wednesday nights in May. Last season we kept him down, this season we've sent the poor sod down. Kinda feel sorry for the bloke.
#429188 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
A lot depends on today. If Everton win, Southampton face Swansea in midweek and then Manchester City. If we don't win another game, we need this combination:
Everton beat Southampton
Swansea beat or draw with Southampton
Southampton lose to Manchester City.
If Southampton beat Swansea, we need Stoke to beat Swansea to drag Swansea down (provided Swansea lose today). Not out of the realms of possibility, but all enough to make the head hurt. I'm paranoid about Saints after 2011 and them pipping us in a promotion race by pulling an unlikely 10 wins on the spin out of the bag (you just can't help but applaud that) to overtake us on the last day. I just have a feeling that history is going to repeat itself and they'll succeed at our expense.
#428640 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
Still, if we go down, we go down. I don't want to say I'm not fussed, but it's one of those where, as disappointed as I'd be, I'd also appreciate just how much we've achieved this season. We'd be in a great position to build, even if we lost Wagner, and I think we'll have plans for whatever division we're in. We're keeping Lössl and Hadergjonaj (one of the achievements of the fans this season has been getting his name into a coherent song), even if we lost players we'd have a massive war chest to rebuild again. The Championship is one hell of a league, mind you, and if this is goodbye then at least we're taking some incredible memories with us - particularly the day we outfought, outplayed and quite deservedly beat Manchester United.
#424076 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
As for the Ayew challenge - lucky he didn't break Hogg's leg. I've seen it again and it's an absolute shocker. Loses the ball, goes chasing, jumps in and goes studs-first into Hogg's knee. Quite how Carvalhal thinks it's appealable is beyond me. It's a terrible tackle.
#421858 2017/18 FA Cup
terriersmad
VAR most certainly doesn't work. The farce for their disallowed goal sums it up. To be fair to the linesman, I'd have flagged him on - his knee was off and for me the benefit goes to the forward. But the moment you get technology involved it becomes black and white. His knee is off, therefore the goal must be ruled out. I'm far more annoyed that we didn't get a penalty for Smalling's handball - where was the VAR for that? Pretty clear-cut decision, too.
The BBC's coverage was an embarrassment. Not a single mention of us after we put in that display. Remarkable.
#421490 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
It'll be 4 in 2 weeks. They play us at the Hawthorns next, and we have a habit of not turning up when we go away.
Add to that I've not seen us score away since the play-offs last season, and I'm going to the Hawthorns, and it looks very grim.
#421215 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
That performance has been coming for a while. We've lost 5 on the spin before today but not played too badly. Today we wanted it more than Bournemouth and it was an outstanding footballing performance. Beggars belief that the glorious third goal, Mounié's second, has been noted as an own goal, mind. More proof that the brain-dead idiots in charge of football haven't a fucking clue.
#420263 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
Liverpool were very good, but we sat back and just let them knock it about too much. That said, much of the criticism we've come in for has been unfair and unwarranted. What do people expect us to do against sides who regularly rip good sides to shreds with their pace and invention? Try and match them man for man? Because that's suicide.
#419684 2017/18 FA Cup
terriersmad
Also the worst piece of defending I've ever seen from Scott Malone. Waste of £5m. Utter shite.
#418914 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
#418709 The Lower League Thread
terriersmad
#416794 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
#416659 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
Our need for wingers with end product was exposed - the biggest difference was simply that Albrighton and Mahrez were excellent for Leicester, combining threat with actual results. We need a number 10 and a winger in this window.
#416456 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
#415888 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
I genuinely think the standard of refereeing is lower than it's ever been. I can count on one hand the number of times I've felt the officials haven't influenced the outcome of a match this season. Mr Atwell, for all his detractors, has been the best I've seen this season, v Southampton and v Brighton - very good both times. Can't really complain too much at the chap we had v Manchester United either, who got all the big calls right. Other than that, though, they've been woeful. I know I'm a broken record when it comes to officiating, but it's got so much worse the higher we've gone. Last season was largely dreadful and this year is topping it. It doesn't help that top clubs seem to operate by a different rule book to everyone else. Alli gets away with murder every other week. Niasse finds himself banned for diving, yet Alli survives to play another day. Tarkowski is banned for a petulant elbow, yet Lukaku is allowed to carry on despite kicking an opponent in the testicles. It's a completely different standard that's applied by referees and officials.
Agreed on all counts for the Bournemouth game. They seem to get quite a few dodgy decisions in their favour - two goals against us, blatant penalty not given v Stoke, yesterday's farcical decisions in their favour. I've never been someone who says they'll even out (never seen evidence of it) but if it's true they're in for a nightmarish second half of the campaign - they're probably plus about 6 points from officials, take those away and they're in serious bother. Wilson's interview also annoyed me - just own up and say you got lucky.
Not sure how Mr Taylor made a mess of yesterday yet. Allen's challenge on Mooy is a blatant penalty, no matter what rubbish Danny Murphy comes out with (couldn't believe what I was hearing on Match of the Day - they're making it up as they go along. He said Alli's dive at Burnley was a penalty the other day when it absolutely wasn't). Schindler's challenge on Diouf is also a penalty if we're being honest. Diouf was booked for having a ball cleared straight at his outstretched hand from about a yard away. Zanka was booked for an inch-perfect challenge. Zouma was booked for slipping, and then Smith had to go off in the same incident after receiving treatment because Taylor forgot the rules. He was hopeless, and had there been any malice in the game he'd have lost control. As it was both sides played in a good spirit and how 6 bookings came out of it I really haven't a clue.
#415756 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad
Hey ho. On we go.
#415478 2017/18 Barclays Premier League Thread
terriersmad