Who will win the Premiership 2007/8?

[Katie Marsden]

Fulham had 1 real chance and that was the Kuqi header. Tevez, Rooney, Saha and Ronaldo all missed absolute sitters.

[Silver Fox]

A couple of things I noticed from tonights game

Where the OT faithful protestign against the Glazers again? It was awfully quiet.
Should the song now be, that boy Ronaldo makes Tevez and Rooney look shite?
In a pro-United shock, I was very impressed with Fergie's non-whingeing about the Ronaldo booking
However, yound spud face could do with checking whether he was actually onside before getting over excited on the telly

[cmonurz]

Suprisingly Liverpool aren't above Chelsea. Considering Chelsea are in a re-building phase.

Since when have Chelsea been in a re-building phase?
BTW Chelsea are ahead of Liverpool because they have played one more game and, unless you didn't know,by the end of the season all teams will have played the same number of games.
IMHO Chelsea and Man Utd will fight out the 3rd and 4th spots.

Of course they are rebuilding, in the summer they sold Glen Johnson don't you know.

[Platypuss]

However, yound spud face could do with checking whether he was actually onside before getting over excited on the telly

Indeed - Giggs too.

Strange how only Davies got a yellow for later doing pretty much the same thing.

As Ronaldo got a yellow for the (non-existent) dive, then why didn't he get a second one for sarcastically applauding the decision in Wiley's face?

Fergie may not have been so calm then!

[Vision]

As Ronaldo got a yellow for the (non-existent) dive, then why didn't he get a second one for sarcastically applauding the decision in Wiley's face?

Spacey Mode On>>> because Rob Styles was reffing<<<Spacey Mode Off

[Scylla]

Today's Indie refers to the (alleged) dive as a 'simulated dive'. Football is just too complicated nowadays.

[Platypuss]

As Ronaldo got a yellow for the (non-existent) dive, then why didn't he get a second one for sarcastically applauding the decision in Wiley's face?

Spacey Mode On>>> because Rob Styles was reffing<<<Spacey Mode Off

These crap refs just merge into one another!

[cmonurz]

I have had an argument with a referee before about a ‘simulation’ that he admitted, yet nevertheless gave as an opposition free-kick. The referee said that the opposition player had to dive to get out of the way of my late (ish) challenge. It was nothing spectacular, just an out-stretched leg that missed the ball. My argument was that if the player wants the foul, he should take the contact (obvious exceptions here, but I was hardly flying through the air). I guess I am wrong on that – am I?

[Platypuss]

I have had an argument with a referee before about a ‘simulation’ that he admitted, yet nevertheless gave as an opposition free-kick. The referee said that the opposition player had to dive to get out of the way of my late (ish) challenge. It was nothing spectacular, just an out-stretched leg that missed the ball. My argument was that if the player wants the foul, he should take the contact (obvious exceptions here, but I was hardly flying through the air). I guess I am wrong on that – am I?

If he had to react to your foul challenge, which offence was first?

[cmonurz]

I have had an argument with a referee before about a ‘simulation’ that he admitted, yet nevertheless gave as an opposition free-kick. The referee said that the opposition player had to dive to get out of the way of my late (ish) challenge. It was nothing spectacular, just an out-stretched leg that missed the ball. My argument was that if the player wants the foul, he should take the contact (obvious exceptions here, but I was hardly flying through the air). I guess I am wrong on that – am I?

If he had to react to your foul challenge, which offence was first?

Yes, I see that, that’s why I suspect I was wrong. Just seems strange giving a ‘foul’ when no actual ‘foul’ is committed.

I guess you can be sent off for throwing a punch that doesn’t connect (PauLOL SchoLOLes).

[Platypuss]

Law 12 is not really a secret:

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any of the following six offences in a manner considered by the referee to be careless, reckless or using excessive force:

kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
trips or attempts to trip an opponent
jumps at an opponent
charges an opponent
strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
pushes an opponent

[cmonurz]

But in ‘not fouling’ a player, I am neither attempting to kick, trip nor strike him.

[Stranded]

But if in the refs opinion the opposition player had to take evasive action to stop you fouling him then you have attempted to foul him.

[cmonurz]

But if in the refs opinion the opposition player had to take evasive action to stop you fouling him then you have attempted to foul him.

Fair enough. Just attaching that to Ronaldo’s ‘dive’ last night. Based on that interpretation of the law then, why is it not acceptable for an attacker to knock the ball past a goalkeeper and dive over him?

[SpaceCruiser]

But if in the refs opinion the opposition player had to take evasive action to stop you fouling him then you have attempted to foul him.

Fair enough. Just attaching that to Ronaldo’s ‘dive’ last night. Based on that interpretation of the law then, why is it not acceptable for an attacker to knock the ball past a goalkeeper and dive over him?

A la Andy Johnson over Marcus Hahnemann?

[Platypuss]

Ronaldo's not really a diver at all.

[cmonurz]

I have used alad logic for my updated view of the championship race.

Ahem.

"Having been unbeaten all season, Liverpool's defeat at Reading was affordable."

[Huntley & Palmer]

Arsenal getting spanked by Boro at the moment

[Garry Mann]

aLOLad spot on as the Arsenal choke begins.