The 2012/2013 Champions League Thread

[rhroyal]

Trying to control the ball at chest height when you're flying through the air at pace towards another player is definitely dangerous play, yes.

But then surely any 50/50 tackle is dangerous play, if you are going into a full blooded challenge? Football is a contact sport, things like tonight will happen by nature. Reckless is not trying to play the ball in a totally reasonable way.

But people do get sent off for going full blooded into 50-50s these days, and every time it happens in a high profile game, there is the same outcry from people who haven't learned.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I agree with the rule changes which take this element of contest and physicality out of the game. I'm just acknowledging that the rules have changed whether I agree with it or not, and the referee applied them correctly this evening.

[NTRoyal]

Whatever Adrian Durham says happened will confirm my opinion (i.e. the opposite).

TBF he is just going to troll United fans. He says whatever it takes to get people to call in.

[Anfield Kopite]

Sir A.F. is the biggest hypocrite football has ever known. Well done Real madrid. Made my night hahaha.

[sandman]

Intent has nothing to do with it - he was totally reckless.

I just don'tget this view. His eyes were on the ball the whole time, it was a ball he had to challenge for. He never caught Arbeloa in the chest as some people on here have said, he caught his arm and side, and Arbeloa did make a bit of a meal of it.

I used to always watch football and rugby in equal measure but soft decisions like this and te pathetic play acting mean i'm watching football less and less.

It's not a ''view'' it's the rule. You try getting booted in the chest and we'll see whether you still think he was ''play acting''.

[creative_username_1]

Whatever Adrian Durham says happened will confirm my opinion (i.e. the opposite).

TBF he is just going to troll United fans. He says whatever it takes to get people to call in.

Kind of what i thinking but if he says it wasn't a red then i'll have to hold my hands up and say it prolly was

[windermere_royal]

Mike Phelan taking the press conference. probably a wise decision

[Anfield Kopite]

Whatever Adrian Durham says happened will confirm my opinion (i.e. the opposite).

TBF he is just going to troll United fans. He says whatever it takes to get people to call in.

Kind of what i thinking but if he says it wasn't a red then i'll have to hold my hands up and say it prolly was

I think i agree. Hate Durham.

[ScottishRoyal]

Intent has nothing to do with it - he was totally reckless.

I just don'tget this view. His eyes were on the ball the whole time, it was a ball he had to challenge for. He never caught Arbeloa in the chest as some people on here have said, he caught his arm and side, and Arbeloa did make a bit of a meal of it.

I used to always watch football and rugby in equal measure but soft decisions like this and te pathetic play acting mean i'm watching football less and less.

It's not a ''view'' it's the rule. You try getting booted in the chest and we'll see whether you still think he was ''play acting''.

I meant I don't accept the view that it was reckless, I accept intent is irrelevant though.

He stayed down a lot loger than he needed to and the roll was unneccessary. I have taken a lot worse playing football, shaken it off and got on wih the game. Football is a contact sport and you must expect a few clasehes.

[NTRoyal]

But people do get sent off for going full blooded into 50-50s these days, and every time it happens in a high profile game, there is the same outcry from people who haven't learned.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I agree with the rule changes which take this element of contest and physicality out of the game. I'm just acknowledging that the rules have changed whether I agree with it or not, and the referee applied them correctly this evening.

I see your point, but like I said earlier it shouldn't be too much to ask for a bit of common sense and intelligence used when applying the rules. I guess it could be deemed a red card offence but anyone with any common sense would see that it never should have been one.

[Avon Royal]

During the war.................

[creative_username_1]

But people do get sent off for going full blooded into 50-50s these days, and every time it happens in a high profile game, there is the same outcry from people who haven't learned.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I agree with the rule changes which take this element of contest and physicality out of the game. I'm just acknowledging that the rules have changed whether I agree with it or not, and the referee applied them correctly this evening.

I see your point, but like I said earlier it shouldn't be too much to ask for a bit of common sense and intelligence

This makes it much more subjective

[ScottishRoyal]

During the war.................

I'm 29.

Now go and take your man pills...

[windermere_royal]

Makes a change for Arsenal to be the last English club standing..but only for a week

[sandman]

When he showed the red and sent him off I thought it was harsh but when you see it from the referee's angle and hear the rule being read out then I don't think he had much option. I'm shocked that a few on here think that a high boot to the chest is ''never, ever a red''.

[creative_username_1]

The keeper punched Vidic in the head after clearing the ball. I just think there are a lot of decisions that are down to randomness as anything else

I don't really give a shit about Utd but just think it was harsh

[rhroyal]

But people do get sent off for going full blooded into 50-50s these days, and every time it happens in a high profile game, there is the same outcry from people who haven't learned.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I agree with the rule changes which take this element of contest and physicality out of the game. I'm just acknowledging that the rules have changed whether I agree with it or not, and the referee applied them correctly this evening.

I see your point, but like I said earlier it shouldn't be too much to ask for a bit of common sense and intelligence

This makes it much more subjective

Exactly. 1 week people ask for consistency, the next it's common sense and intelligence. Can't have it both ways I'm afraid.

[creative_username_1]

Exactly. 1 week people ask for consistency, the next it's common sense and intelligence. Can't have it both ways I'm afraid.

'greed

[NTRoyal]

Every game, every incident is different. To me common sense and subjectivity is much more important. And TBF the rules can't really be applied objectively, they are too vague.

[Man Friday]

When he showed the red and sent him off I thought it was harsh but when you see it from the referee's angle and hear the rule being read out then I don't think he had much option. I'm shocked that a few on here think that a high boot to the chest is ''never, ever a red''.

not never, ever. But this one shouldn't have been. It's called "football". He's got every right to try to play the ball. Just like World Class Wooney tried to do when he skied hs shot.

[parky]

I'd like to point people to the last WC when people berated Howard Webb for not sending De Jong off.