EPL rant

[LeftyHoges]

Don't know how much support I will get here being the only Gooner on the board, but the refs in the EPL are really pi#@ing me off!

We've dropped a lot of points in the last 4 or 5 games that shouldn't have happened.

Firstly there was the so-called penalty against Birmingham where Clichy caught so much of the ball first it wasn't funny. Very dodgy penalty at best. Result = 2 dropped points.

Then we cop Aliadiere's offside against us to go a goal down, when Adebayor scored not 15 minutes before hand and was wrongly ruled offside. Then Eboue gets shoved over in the penalty area with no call. Instead of being 2-0 up at the half we're in fact 1-0 down. In the end we have to rely on Toure heading home with 6 minutes to go for a draw. Result = 2 dropped points.

Then the final insult. Didier Drogba scores an 'equalising' goal from offside for Chelsea. Both he and the other Chelsea player were offside when the ball was played in. So if Drogba doesn't score that goal there is no guarantee of a second goal and Arsenal may well have won that match with the 1-0 scoreline. Result = I'll be conservative and say 1 dropped point and now loss of 2nd place on the table.

Tie that in with the crappy pitch at the JJB stadium (my high school of 250 kids had a better pitch than that)playing Wigan for a 0-0 draw and it's fair to say in my opinion that Arsenal should still be at least level with Manchester Spewnited or maybe a point or two ahead.

My final words: Refs, pull you're heads out of your asses and stop giving the title to the team with the biggest bankroll.

Rant over!

[Youngun5]

i don't follow the EPL very close...but I actually caught that Chelsea-Arsenal game and Drogba just took that game over in the second half.... i thought i remember him being in line with the last defender...but didn't look at it very closely so you could be right who knows. that was easily one of the best games i've seen in some time regardless...

[SplooGe]

Thats what you get for watching a communist sport.

[LeftyHoges]

Originally Posted by Youngun5

i don't follow the EPL very close...but I actually caught that Chelsea-Arsenal game and Drogba just took that game over in the second half.... i thought i remember him being in line with the last defender...but didn't look at it very closely so you could be right who knows. that was easily one of the best games i've seen in some time regardless...

I was 50-50 when it actually happened, wasn't sure. And they showed one replay that wasn't great for it but ESPN showed it on the Monday and he and the other striker were both offside by about a body width.

Not saying that Chelsea wouldn't have gone on to win or at least draw anyway but this is the third time in five games we've been screwed by the offside (touchline) refs. Maybe time for video replays....... *ducks*

But you're right, it was a sensational game to watch. Much better than the Man U Vs. Liverpool farce that happened before it.

[usa1950]

Originally Posted by SplooGe

Thats what you get for watching a communist sport.

And a sport in which one match (the 2006 World Cup Final) had a worldwide viewership exceeding the worldwide viewership of TEN SUPER BOWLS... combined.

It's the greatest sport in the world, hands down. I am certain we won't hear from our Gooner friend... especially after the CL Quarters, and the referees... Hleb and then Babel.

Walk On!

[LeftyHoges]

Originally Posted by usa1950

I am certain we won't hear from our Gooner friend...

Oh yeah..?????

I've given up. I can't watch them get persecuted again and again, every game.

How can Babel's run be paid any more of a penalty than Hleb's? I'm not saying that it wasn't a penalty because it was very dicey and I feel for the second ref being put in that position after what happened the week before. Would the first ref have paid it? Interesting question....

But fact of the matter is it shouldn't have mattered anyway. Poor Bendtner blocking Fabregas' shot on the goal line in the first leg. I felt sorry for the poor bugger. Obviously not meant to be our year....

One final question though:
Whay is it that when Arsenal attack for the first half of the game and score a goal, while the opposing team sits back, defends and plays on the break and fluke a goal, the commentators say the other team has played well. Yet when we sit back (as little as we actually do) and play on the break its called very negative football and we get shitcanned for it? It annoys the hell out of me.

Sorry one more question, for those with footballing knowledge:

Why the hell does Wenger insist on playing Eboue? Do you guys have any idea why? Surely a man with his eye should notice that he is always in foul trouble, can't cross a ball to save himself, has scored only two goals in his FOUR seasons at the club and is very basically, CRAP. I just don't get it....

[Dannykos]

come on you mighty reds

[ualtim]

No use crying over spilled milk, Manchester United is going to take the league.

I am still kind of bummed I missed the Man U and Gunners match on Sunday because I had to work. That is probably the match that clinched the title.

I did enjoy watching Fulham take their first away victory in years and keep their hope of avoiding relegation alive. I only wish McBride could have played so well in the last Cup for the US side.

[Dannykos]

shame –*we're gonna tear fulham a new one this weekend...

[ualtim]

Originally Posted by Dannykos

shame –*we're gonna tear fulham a new one this weekend...

Its not a question of if, but by how much.

Fulham is going to have to win at least two of the final four and probably draw a third in order to stay in the EPL. Expecting anything other than a loss versus Liverpool is foolhardy, but stranger things have happened.

[usa1950]

Lefty....

No idea about Eboue.... Arsenal do not have a very deep squad, which of course has something to do with it. Oh for the days of Ray Parlour out wide... linking up with Bergkamp. Good teams.

Babel and Hleb. Babel did TRY to stay up, I think that was a major difference. That and the angle of the referee was different, as well as a different man holding the whistle, of course.

As for the announcers, I think Arsenal did not get too much credit for their first 30 minute domination at Anfield is due to the fact that Benitez screwed up his formation, sliding Gerrard out to the left side of midfield, and forcing the team into a traditional 4-4-2 to accomodate Crouch. It nearly cost us the tie.

Once Torres moved out wide left (not as a mid but a wide left striker) to provide attacking width while also threatening goal, allowing Gerrard came back to the middle of the park, Liverpool bossed the game, created chances, equalized through big Sami (brillliant header for a center back) and controlled the match until Walcott's mazy, brilliant counter-attack.

So... Arsenal's good spell was nice, but was perhaps due in part to Liverpool playing a 4-4-2 (with Gerrard wide left for f's sake) for the first time in about 15 matches.... Hence, the Arse get less credit for it than you would like? Just a thought....

Shame about Eduardo, he would have caused Hyypia and Skrtel problems for sure. I like him a lot. Anyone who's finishing can be compared to that of a young Robbie Fowler (still my favorite footballer of all time, and the name of the family dog) is a player I like automatically.

[Adam Pettman]

The mighty reds win the premiership, Arsenal fans moan because they haven't won anything in a while.

[Eracer]

Originally Posted by ualtim

No use crying over spilled milk, Manchester United is going to take the league.

I am still kind of bummed I missed the Man U and Gunners match on Sunday because I had to work. That is probably the match that clinched the title.

I did enjoy watching Fulham take their first away victory in years and keep their hope of avoiding relegation alive. I only wish McBride could have played so well in the last Cup for the US side.

Nice finish to the Man U - Blackburn match today. I thought Friedel hung tough, and the refs let them play. Just couldn't stop the big red machine.

[Adam Pettman]

Originally Posted by Eracer

I thought Friedel hung tough

Huge understatement, he was amazing. Bloody annoying though because it means Chelsea are in with a chance of catching us mighty reds.

[LeftyHoges]

Originally Posted by Adam Pettman

Huge understatement, he was amazing. Bloody annoying though because it means Chelsea are in with a chance of catching us mighty reds.

Yeah he was awesome.

But you boys better pull your fingers out. Only one thing worse than Man U winning the title and thats bloody Chelsea buying it. Sorry, i meant winning it.

Please beat them at the bridge and take their win streak at home off them.