FOOTBALL: Season 2006/07 Discussion Thread

fog · Post by **fog** » Thu Nov 16, 2006 2:19 pm 0

Dio wrote:err, Souness?

Nah, supporters of every other club thought that was a great appointment.

PaulEMoz · Post by **PaulEMoz** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:45 pm 0

Christ!

Corner turned? I certainly hope so.

fog · Post by **fog** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 7:08 pm 0

PaulEMoz wrote:Christ!

Corner turned? I certainly hope so.

Really enjoyed the game (ah the joys of the internet

) and it was a good hard working performance but we were battered for pretty much 90 minutes.

Two decent results in a row though (away to Man City & Arsenal) and I was well impressed with Martins today. Was a bit wasteful at times as he was upfront on his own and had few options but was still working hard in the 90 minute. And two bits of skill in particular from him were as good as you'll see anywhere.

Mat T · Post by **Mat T** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 9:59 pm 0

Well Leeds got smashed 3-0 at home to Southampton. I think we are destined for relegation.

Mat T · Post by **Mat T** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:10 am 0

Just watching Match Of The Day; Ronaldo (bar the crazy misses) and Rooney are the best players in the Premiership at the moment. Ronaldo is just amazing on the ball, despite obviously being a cock. Rooney is just special - creates and scores.

Any other votes for player of the season so far? Maybe Drogba?

Flabio · Post by **Flabio** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 8:58 am 0

Agbonlahor seems to be turning into something pretty special.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 10:45 am 0

Ronaldo's officially the Premiership's most wasteful player according to the stats I saw in one of the papers at the weekend; most balls given away, most missed shots. Personally I'd rather have Duff, who I still think was bargain of the century.

Governmentyard · Post by **Governmentyard** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:14 am 0

Mat T wrote:Ronaldo is just amazing on the ball, despite obviously being a cock

fog · Post by **fog** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 11:16 am 0

Dio wrote:Ronaldo's officially the Premiership's most wasteful player according to the stats I saw in one of the papers at the weekend; most balls given away, most missed shots. Personally I'd rather have Duff, who I still think was bargain of the century.

Unbelievably Duff is getting a lot of stick up here at the moment. People can't see that for the good of the team he's had to sacrifice his normal attacking game in favour of tracking back and filling in for our AWOL left-back. Get a decent fullback in behind him (Wayne Bridge) and he'd be a different player.

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 12:34 pm 0

I've not heard that in the circles I move in. But certainly there's a huge spectrum of opinion about this Newcastle team; one mate reckons Milner's been our best player this season by a mile, while I think he's a passably good midfielder, but doesn't really offer that much extra to the team we don't have elsewhere in spades...

On the subject of diving, Kuyt's a bit of a cheating bastard isn't he? At least two blatant chuck-meself-to-the-ground incidents.

fog · Post by **fog** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:31 pm 0

Dio wrote:I've not heard that in the circles I move in. But certainly there's a huge spectrum of opinion about this Newcastle team; one mate reckons Milner's been our best player this season by a mile, while I think he's a passably good midfielder, but doesn't really offer that much extra to the team we don't have elsewhere in spades...

I wouldn't say he's been our best player but I'd be disappointed if he went. People forget he's still only 20 and with an aging Nobby being our only real alternative we should definitely keep hold of him. Latest rumour in the Sunday rags was a swap for Villa's Davis. Decent player but yet another central midfielder.

Dio wrote:On the subject of diving, Kuyt's a bit of a cheating bastard isn't he? At least two blatant chuck-meself-to-the-ground incidents.

Probably learned that from Stevie Gerrard

Diving is ruining the game but really where's the deterrent? You might if you're dead unlucky get a yellow, but you have more chance of getting the penalty that wins you the game.

Governmentyard · Post by **Governmentyard** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 1:33 pm 0

Post-game red cards being awarded on review of video evidence for the most blatant dives might work.

Or letting defenders defend like they were allowed to in the Eighties could be an idea - give the buggers something to dive about!

Dio · Post by **Dio** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 2:54 pm 0

goatboy wrote:Post-game red cards being awarded on review of video evidence for the most blatant dives might work.

I still can't work out why they don't do this.

Flabio · Post by **Flabio** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:02 pm 0

Dio wrote:I still can't work out why they don't do this.

FIFA rules say that you can't retroactively increase the punishment after the match beyond the one given by the referee during it. So if he says it wasn't a dive during the game, thats what sticks, regardless of whatever replays you choose to throw at it.

Which does mean you could in theory penalise someone after the game if the referee knows nothing about it, but given that everyone goes up to the ref and goes 'oy look, he dived', the ref has to make a decision there and then.

aureole · Post by **aureole** » Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:03 pm 0

... worried about the on-pitch fiasco of the referee's having their authority eroded even further is my best guess.

Personally, if they're going to do post-match discipline in certain cases then simulation and diving definately class as worthwhile I reckon.