leffe186

Cole down, heehee.

Handball, frankly.

Hate that offside call, particularly as I used to be a left-back. So the ball is played right down the centre-forward's path, as he runs onto it, but he's not deemed offside until he touches it. As a left-back, having stepped up to play him (miles) offside I now have to turn and sprint back, under pressure from the winger, then when I get to the ball the centre-forward now cuts off my path inside and pressurizes the ball to the keeper. Harsh.

Glad to see Holden doing well, he's looked the real deal every time I've seen him play in the US.

Free-kick for the handball.

But how could he possibly have decided there was an advantage? Nani had the ball at his feet in our penalty area with the keeper 10 yards away. Call me naive, but I'd say the advantage was with Man U there. Ultimately, he either called advantage, in which case he should have pulled back play when Gomes misunderstood, or he didn't see the blatant handball, in which case the linesman gave him the opportunity to correct the decision. Or he saw the handball, was going to blow up and put the whistle in his mouth, saw that the keeper had the ball, let it go on without actually properly waving play on, then when Nani asked if he'd given a free kick said no, because his mind was already on its way home. He was then forced to consult the linesman because every Spurs player went "What the Fuck", had a think about it and decided he still wanted to go home and didn't really want to have Fergie on his case.

You get the point though. In football, the ref has to make a fairly quick decision as to whether an advantage has been gained. There's no time limit, but it's a lot quicker than rugby. I've no sympathy with Gomes here, because he should have anticipated that the ref would not have stopped play. Keepers are considered to have an advantage by already having the ball in their hands. Once a ref decides that an advantage has been gained, they can't take it back. So does he have to play to the whistle or anticipate the ref's decision? He can't do both. I have more sympathy with Gomes if it looks like Clattenburg put his whistle in his mouth. Ref's can take it back, that's one of the good things about playing advantage. The main thing that is annoying here though, is precisely that he didn't have to make a fairly quick decision. He had all the time in the world after he went to consult the linesman, and Rio, yet he still came up with the wrong decision.

He paid thousands for it as well. Hmmm

Yep he is a massive TIT. I actually like them, because they've held City back.

Shows that refs need to be stronger or more aware. If felipao was right, it looks like Gomes DID think he was playing to the whistle. Was it my imagination, or was the linesman doing that hand covering mouth thing, even though Ferdinand was right next to them and so could presumably hear everything he said?

I suspect you're not alone. The main thing that bugs me is that he had all the time in the world to make the right decision. I can deal (eventually) with refs making split-second mistakes. And why on earth did he let Ferdinand stand there and bawl at him?

But he still had the chance to make the right decision after he spoke to the lino. Gomes was standing there waiting for Nani to move away from the ball so he could take the free-kick.

Was just saying that. And after the Spurs players had been waved away. I wish one of them had gone up to Ferdinand and shouted in his face from 6 inches.

Nope. Still thought he was OK, apart from never booking Man U players and one poor, poor decision.

Pretty much. Gomes probably said it in Portuguese, but yeah. He still got a hand to the fucker.

Quite. Clearly the Spurs players thought that too, and that's why they were pretty happy when the ref agreed to consult the linesman. Presumably Clattenburg waved play on when Gomes had the ball in his hands, then was in a difficult position when Gomes thought he had given the freekick. The linesman then gave him an out, so Clattenburg could give a free-kick, pretend he didn't see the handball and maintain the spirit of the game by making the right decision. Except he didn't. Maybe he was scared of the roasting he'd get from Ferguson?

Commentators here saying (1) Well it was a penalty anyway and (2) Well it may not be the spirit of the game, but it's the letter of the law. Hedging their bets in favour of "United". Well fuck em. I'm off to watch American Football, where reviewing decisions means something.

Man U were getting nervous too. Pathetic.

Nani went down, claimed a penalty (amazing, but true) and handled the ball. Gomes picked the ball up, then thought that the ref had given the handball and put it down to take the free-kick. Nani got up, looked at the ref to see if he'd given the free-kick, presumably got the nod and scored.

Oh what's the point.

Eh?

Think Clattenburg's been pretty good today, generous to Man U on bookings, but good overall.

Does Clattenburg know he's allowed to book Man U players too?

How can they not have been aware that Hartlepool were paying them?? Edit: ignore me, I've just got in from dropping the baby off and I'm not entirely compos mentis.

Dave, any chance of adding options for those who are abroad and can't attend more than once or twice a year at best.....but not through choice? Or something?