wormy

That is a top drawer cameraman right there.

Fact. The delay argument is ridiculous, don't bring in a system that delays it too much then? If a system is created that is sensible, it won't do that, we'll barely notice the delay, it'll just become part of the game.

If the alternatives are Redknapp, Bruce and Allardyce then yes. God no, forgetting his qualities as a manager, the media will never allow it. What's the point if everyone's gonna be on his back from the off? He's never gonna be given a chance and he'll be forced to fail by all the pressure. Although, saying that I don't really care about England. So I'd love Allardyce to get the job and fuck it all up just for shits and giggles.

Agreed because that argument is technically flawed. It works on the assumption that the referee saw everything, and therefore made all their decisions based on total knowedge of each and every event. However, we know that referees either only see part of the incident, or at times don't see anything at all. Howard Webb said after the WC Final that had he seen what De Jong really did he would have used Red not Yellow card, but the alignment of the player meant that he only had a partial view, and could only summise what might really have happened. There is a huge difference between a situation where the referee waives off a call because he saw it and said "no foul" and one where he didn't see enough to call a foul. So, the FA and FIFA need to accept that the referee sees one view, in real time only and does not have the luxury of mutiple replays from all angles, and that they need to assist the referees in cleaning up the game and not rely on the referees to do all the work for them. And I would also only limit this to acts of misconduct (dangerous play, Unsporting behavious etc) and not attempt to get into reviews of Penalty claims or missed offside calls as there can be no post-game revision of the scores etc. nope, what it does is sticks to the idea that the outcome is decided as far as possible by the ref within the game time. it could (in the eyes of fifa, and i have a bit of sympathy with it) open up all sorts of trouble should decisions be enacted after the game ie a player is given a red card retrospectivly, we'd see court cases from teams saying that it altered the game etc so they shouldn't have been relegated and lost all that cash and bankrupted. Very good point madras, most solutions we are thinking of would cause massive problems in that respect. Hadn't thought of that at all.

Before West Ham, somehow I still seemed to come across random pointless soundbites even when they were in charge of Brum, unbelievable. Despised them even then and they're just getting worse.

How about as usual the newspapers have their facts wrong? Can't believe we've got 2 pages of this shite

Routledge off Carroll has actually got me thinking... I'm in agreement here, I'd give it a shot.

Sunderland, Liverpool, Stoke. First 2 were a shoo in for obvious reasons, had to think a bit harder about the 3rd. Pulis just seems to have not taken them any further, and I feel the potential was there. Was impressed at how they consolidated their place in the league and it seemed like he was building on it, turning them into a quality team. But as VI said on the first page, he leaves the players that actually have flair on the bench and keeps his team of bruisers. What's the point?

Fucking hell. Gold is one of the worst rent-a-quotes going in football. How does he not come under much more scrutiny? Such an annoying prick.

Like many others have effectively said, I'll believe it when I see it.

They've managed to get dispensation to punish retroactively before, surely they can do it again? Surely that should set a precedent in itself that retroactive punishment should be allowed?

Why hope that? Does my head in the way fans of other clubs fawn over them. They've made their bed so now they can lie in it like everyone else would have to. I'm not saying they don't deserve it :S, did you enjoy the slip from the top? Then eventually the premier league majoritly down to mis-management off the field? Can't say I like scousers like, seem to have more mongs than us :| But you did say "let's hope they come back stronger". Why exactly? It seems to be a common thing. The most annoying example being when people say "the league is better for a stronger [insert struggling big club]" which is total nonsense. IMO the more clubs struggling, the better for me & my team. Ok I understand you don't like Liverpool :/ If Blackpool were going through the motions I would say I hope they come back stronger after...oops I mean poor Liverpool, they are too big to struggle. Am I the only one that's completely confused by Colo Curls' posts here?

But it's not the FA Skirge, it's FIFA'. I've ripped into the FA for years for that rule, but like others have said on here since, it's FIFA's rule that a referee's decision can't be overturned. Which is why I agree with beardsleymagic.in one sense that if our referees actually punished players for reckless challenges, and a good point about set piece 'jostling' that has become an absolute joke, it'd go some way to helping. But also, it wouldn't have given De Jong a punishment on Sunday. Remember the referee saw it, he didn't deem it a reckless challenge. So it wouldn't have made a difference with this rule enforced, would it? So all in all, you'll still have twats risking it.

Put that in a national newspaper, so people from places other than Manchester reply with comments. I'm sure there won't be as many ridiculous 'Finally someone speaks some sense!' comments. Absolutely embarrassing. So the blue half of Manchester are the only people that see this tackle is hard, but fair? And the rest of the WORLD is blinded by stupidity? Of course

That special edition is quite simply horrific.

Only complaint I have in terms of excitement and interest is I feel like the title's wrapped up already with Chelsea. Can't complain, they're looking immense, just don't feel like that's going to drop off. But everything else makes me think, like Toon's Taylor, that this is gonna be the most interesting season for a while

Forget a higher level right now. That's the reason I love him, he's giving us stability. He's not dragging us down, and he's not building up our expectations for a massive fall, and that's why he's been so great in my opinion. We havn't got on his back, he hasn't been a monumental pig-headed fuck up, and it's worked well. In terms of us consolidating our position in the Premiership, I feel we're a perfect match

But I feel if/when they lose some of these players, they'll still be able to find a few out there that will be of a good Premiership standard. Look at us, even we were able to get HBA in, I'm sure Liverpool can find just as good, if not better, based on their history and general name value. Hell, half of them will probably be a step up, the quality of Liverpool's squad in general has been slipping for a few years now.

That sums up my feelings so far this season. the thing that's killing me is the 2 teams we thought were nailed on to be already slipping away are doing fantastic. This would be a lot less nerve-racking if they were up against it. But I've still got confidence, because as you say our team is the complete opposite to 08/09. The likes of Blackpool and West Brom can't keep this up forever. And we've got some fucking good quality for a promoted team, we can actually play good football with an occasional good end product. We're an improved version of West Brom so to speak, when Mowbray was determined to play football 'right'. Over the season, things will even themselves out, and I feel will get enough deserved points to make up for some of the disappointment we've faced already. With or without HBA. I felt he was the difference between being near the relegation spots and taking that step up to lower mid-table. But even still, we're very much the team at the bottom I feel that can make that step up.

Great bet to have. I hope it continues, pressure will be on but they'll get through it. Might not be with hodgy though My guess is Hodgson gone by christmas. Found it a risky appointment in the first place, good manager, certainly not right for the situation he was going into at Anfield. Signings didn't make me think quality, didn't make me think smart. They'll pull through, won't hit Europe but will be in the pack just behind, but it certainly won't be with Hodgson. I get the feeling that very soon we're going to hear of Hodgson 'losing' the players.

Just placed a bet with one of my regular drinkers at work. He thinks they'll be in a relegation fight all season, I think they'll get away with all the shit as usual, drag themselves up to the top half after ditching Hodgson. If they finish mid-table (we've agreed that's 11th-15th), neither of us win. Easy tenner

This ridiculous rule that they can't overrule referees has been a joke for years. Is everyone in the FA oblivious to the fact that referees need some of their power taken away? They can't handle todays game to be frank. People like Atkinson are of course a complete other fucking level of retarded incompetence. But just in general, when it's a fact more mistakes are being made in today's game by referees, decisions need to be allowed to be fucking retrospectively overturned.

Bright new start for the England squad indeed.

Replace Williamson? Still, has he really done enough wrong to warrent getting shoved out of the side? Still feel it'd be harsh on him.