Referee controversies aside
I thought Tomiyasu, White, Partey, Saka, Martinelli in particular were all brilliant yesterday. The two wingers especially - they had their full backs on toast for the majority of the game. They are only 20 years old
Tomi had Sterling on lock. Particularly impressive given he'd just returned from injury. White played really aggressively, won the ball back off de Bruyne for our goal, and nearly put saka in a couple of times with long passes into his channel. Partey bossed it in midfield, a shame he's facking off just when he's picked up form again.
Everyone else put in good performances too - Tierney with the relentless energy, as we've come to expect from him. Another assist to boot. Ramsdale barely had anything to do, but was so dangerous with his distribution. And yes, even Xhaka and Gabriel played well until they cost us the game.
I'm happy with our performance. There were periods in the first half where city were really penned in to their own half, with Pep looking very concerned on the touchline. Stroking that hairless dome of his of course, it's arsenal so we somehow managed to lose the game.
The club is headed in the right direction. The fans can see it, the Emirates has had great atmospheres for the majority of the season. We might make top 4, we might not. But that's why we need to take the cups seriously.
We put in a great performance yesterday
posted on 2/1/22
Don't disagree on retrospective yellow for a clear dive, but how do you define a clear dive? There are not many as clear as say Bale used to do. If retrospective then do you also card the 2 who scuffed up the penalty spot? What about handballs?
Rugby makes retrospective discipline work for foul play but not for gamesmanship
posted on 2/1/22
Don't disagree on retrospective yellow for a clear dive, but how do you define a clear dive? There are not many as clear as say Bale used to do. If retrospective then do you also card the 2 who scuffed up the penalty spot? What about handballs?
Rugby makes retrospective discipline work for foul play but not for gamesmanship
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I don't like to see any sort of gamesmanship whether it be players scuffing up penalty spots or goalkeepers trying to get in the penalty takers face to try and distract the taker for example. For deciding on if a player has intentionally dived a panel of ex players probably could make that determination, your not going to catch all of them but the really obvious ones will be caught and hopefully that discourages players from diving or feinging injury which is another problem.
posted on 2/1/22
Scuffing up the penalty spot is a yellow card offence if caught at the time, so why not retrospectively? That isn't making the most of contact or gamesmanship, it is foul play.
posted on 2/1/22
Scuffing up the penalty spot is a yellow card offence if caught at the time, so why not retrospectively? That isn't making the most of contact or gamesmanship, it is foul play.
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A yellow card or a ban retrospectively can be applied for that as well. In fact a retrospective ban wouldn't be required VAR can pick that up and be dealt within the game.
posted on 2/1/22
This was the first game I've genuinely thought Arteta might have what it takes... Will probably all go to shiiite now
posted on 3/1/22
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
This was the first game I've genuinely thought Arteta might have what it takes... Will probably all go to shiiite now
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This is my concern also. I
However, I'm buoyed by the fact these young lads look absolutely fearless. Heads won't drop, they are modern players capable of playing in a variety of different positions. It's totally different to last year imo.
But we'll have to wait and see.
posted on 3/1/22
comment by King TUt - I Need a Hiro (U3732)
posted 3 hours, 53 minutes ago
comment by Two Balls, One Saka (U19684)
posted 2 hours, 54 minutes ago
This was the first game I've genuinely thought Arteta might have what it takes... Will probably all go to shiiite now
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This is my concern also. I
However, I'm buoyed by the fact these young lads look absolutely fearless. Heads won't drop, they are modern players capable of playing in a variety of different positions. It's totally different to last year imo.
But we'll have to wait and see.
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To be fair the signs were there in the last few games too but there was a caveat of the opposition being not only awful in general but also injury ravaged. If we can play this way against half decent sides then that's brilliant and that's what we saw against a very good side in City, let alone half decent
posted on 4/1/22
Make Tomiyasu captain
posted on 4/1/22
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 1 day, 19 hours ago
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
Why is it so difficult for Paul to admit that the wrong team got the 3 p yesterday. Every other so called expert said so. No shame to admit it.
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I noted that Ian Wright said it when he said it was a clear trip on Silva and that Ederson cleared the ball cleanly. But he is a City fan and ex player, obviously....,Oh
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I normally agree with Ian Wright's comments but on this occasion I think he's wrong , to me both incidents were penalties
posted on 4/1/22
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 1 day, 18 hours ago
comment by bomdia (U13941)
posted 28 minutes ago
comment by Gunnerthru (U6675)
posted 2 hours, 34 minutes ago
Why is it so difficult for Paul to admit that the wrong team got the 3 p yesterday. Every other so called expert said so. No shame to admit it.
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I noted that Ian Wright said it when he said it was a clear trip on Silva and that Ederson cleared the ball cleanly. But he is a City fan and ex player, obviously....,Oh
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Ian is entitled to this opinion.
Most saying that was a dive. If that was a dive, then it can't be a foul. If there isnt a foul, there isnt a pen.
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It was a definite dive , but Xhaka gave him the opportunity to dive with a lazy tackle and a stupid shirt tug. Neither were enough to send the player flying but modern day players always go down at the slightest contact in the box and an experienced player like Xhaka should know better.