Lambert Simnel
One across
Actually, I don't buy it.
I also don't accept Mise's "Very dangerous play" view. That's just a post match Anyone But United view precluding a normally quite reasonable view. Mise would probably admit as much after he's thought about it.
It was a solid yellow card. The ref got it wrong, perhaps because of the perspective/viewpoint he had, perhaps just because he was overwhelmed by the occasion. But Man U aren't the first club to get an incorrect decision against them. Given the dynamics of the teams, the decision probably decided the game - United were only just holding on defensively against Real's possession football (and when did Mourinho start playing possession football?), and they were never going to hold on 11 vs 10.
But if there was a conspiracy, then the ref could have given a penalty and a red card when the ball came off Rafael's shoulder. He could have allowed Higuain's goal. This isn't like the Dundee United vs Roma game from the 80s, when you had to be blind not to think it likely there was something crooked going on.
The worst bit was it was a genuinely enthralling game of football at 1-0; the odds with Man U, but not by much. The decision ruined that - just as much as if the ref had sent off Diego Lopez for his two-fisted punch on Vidic in the first half (and can someone tell me why goalkeepers are regularly allowed to get away with a misjudgement on someone's head when punching, when a similar misjudgement on their legs would provoke a penalty?). Personally, I was really enjoying the drama of the game, and then the ref took centre stage.
The thought that refs and UEFA and FIFA are all in favour of big nations and clubs except England and English clubs - is a bit paranoid, honestly. There's probably some bias towards bigger countries and clubs. There's almost certainly still some corruption. But it's most likely a form of selection bias. English fans don't remember the Spanish goal wrongly ruled offside in the '96 Euros. Scottish fans don't tend to remember qualifying for the WC through a penalty awarded for the ball hitting Joe Jordan's arm in the Welsh penalty area. You get the idea - it's easy to pick out the times that your team has been wronged.
I am pissed off about the decision, and (if I'm honest) it's ruined the season for me. But that's what happens when a key decision goes against your team. It doesn't mean that it was completely asinine or inconceivable as a decision, nor that There Must Be A Plot!!! It's just that on this occasion the ref wasn't up to the mark, got it wrong, and that was the deciding factor in a very close tie.
I also don't accept Mise's "Very dangerous play" view. That's just a post match Anyone But United view precluding a normally quite reasonable view. Mise would probably admit as much after he's thought about it.
It was a solid yellow card. The ref got it wrong, perhaps because of the perspective/viewpoint he had, perhaps just because he was overwhelmed by the occasion. But Man U aren't the first club to get an incorrect decision against them. Given the dynamics of the teams, the decision probably decided the game - United were only just holding on defensively against Real's possession football (and when did Mourinho start playing possession football?), and they were never going to hold on 11 vs 10.
But if there was a conspiracy, then the ref could have given a penalty and a red card when the ball came off Rafael's shoulder. He could have allowed Higuain's goal. This isn't like the Dundee United vs Roma game from the 80s, when you had to be blind not to think it likely there was something crooked going on.
The worst bit was it was a genuinely enthralling game of football at 1-0; the odds with Man U, but not by much. The decision ruined that - just as much as if the ref had sent off Diego Lopez for his two-fisted punch on Vidic in the first half (and can someone tell me why goalkeepers are regularly allowed to get away with a misjudgement on someone's head when punching, when a similar misjudgement on their legs would provoke a penalty?). Personally, I was really enjoying the drama of the game, and then the ref took centre stage.
The thought that refs and UEFA and FIFA are all in favour of big nations and clubs except England and English clubs - is a bit paranoid, honestly. There's probably some bias towards bigger countries and clubs. There's almost certainly still some corruption. But it's most likely a form of selection bias. English fans don't remember the Spanish goal wrongly ruled offside in the '96 Euros. Scottish fans don't tend to remember qualifying for the WC through a penalty awarded for the ball hitting Joe Jordan's arm in the Welsh penalty area. You get the idea - it's easy to pick out the times that your team has been wronged.
I am pissed off about the decision, and (if I'm honest) it's ruined the season for me. But that's what happens when a key decision goes against your team. It doesn't mean that it was completely asinine or inconceivable as a decision, nor that There Must Be A Plot!!! It's just that on this occasion the ref wasn't up to the mark, got it wrong, and that was the deciding factor in a very close tie.
You obviously think there's a point since you responded with precisely the kind of argument you're objecting to. And you haven't actually specified any objection, just given some vague indication that you don't like what I've said. Since you are so keen in responding but don't know where to start, what about the naturalist argument relating to the structure of footballing organizations (see my post at the end of the last page too for evidence).
