Tiresias

Has anyone actually seen the evidence the FA are using, because as far as I'm concerned I've not seen it directly quoted anywhere in it's full extent, yes from what is reported it sounds shaky but tbh it is pure speculation unless the actual evidence is reprinted in full. (and as I've mentioned again and again, unlike criminal cases the FA does not require 'complete' proof, the burden of evidence is on the balance of probabilities (iirc) which trades off against potential punishments being much less severe than in criminal cases). It does all sound a bit tenuous I agree but give Shelvey the benefit of any doubt since he is denying it strenuously and there have been no smoking gun evidence that we've seen (and if there were probably would be picked up by match cams I guess and we'd know). We don't know if there is anything else that has caused the FA to press on though. I agree it's tough to take that we're losing an important player for 5 matchs on what seems dubious. However if the FA is serious about kicking racism out of the game, this doesn't mean just investigating the easy cases. If it is just Shelvey's word against theirs however not sure how this can be justified, but as said, that is pure speculation.

Yeah Perez has disappointed, probably ok with letting him go now, dunno what's happened to him

He's not shit at all but if he's not getting much game time in the championship have to question if he will have a role in premier league. I agree he has done well and think he does have the talent, doubt he'll want to stay on bench for much longer though.

Dear god

Bit worried about Clark in the premier league, and not sure Mbemba is going to come good so wouldn't mind a new tried and truster premier league centre back. Need some more creativity up front, Gouffran really doesn't cut it on wing in premier league too. If Mitrovic doesn't kick on maybe replace with a marquee striker, Perez same.

There is a lower burden of evidence (as has been copiously mentioned in this thread) than in say a criminal case (considerably), so the FA can say guilty if it's on the balance of probabilities rather than beyond reasonable doubt. It would be odd if it was just his word against Shelvey's (or team mate's word if I remember correctly), but knowing what exactly the evidence is is pure speculation at this point

Any insult can alight to someones insecurities, some don't have historical cultural weight to them, but we could all be kinder. Good insults can be funny cutting and not alight on anything cruel, or in general punch down. if the 'smelly arab' thing is true I'm amazed it was only 5 games. Obviously this is complicated by his insistence he did not say it, if he did though I don't want him at the club.

Newcastle Online has followed Fifa in solving racism forever i see

Very well done, but I still kinda prefer Mertesacker Emptiness

Have we any reliable source for what the FA asserts he has said? If not speculation is ridiculous. If a sunderland player had the same happen everyone would be calling him a racist twat. As a fan I am willing to extend to him the benefit of the doubt if he is appealing and if he does have to serve it, after he's served his suspension and hope none of this shit happens again. I won't lie I don't have Shelvey down as the smartest in the world would not surprise me if he did it and I'd rather we didn't play any racists, but since there is so much doubt

the merseyside derby is always always terrible. Sky should have advertising standards after them for hyping it

I hope these idiots try and sell their houses and don't bother paying off their mortgage soon, see how that works out

On being a chequebook manage, I don't think he's much interested in the compromise of being at a club that can't afford to get what he really wants, and why would you settle for that when the richest clubs are after you? People forget he turfed out a bunch of high profile highly paid players to focus on the academy gradautes when he first came in at Barcalona, and that was before he'd won anything. Admitably no way he would ever have got away with it without Messi but hey ho. I don't know if he will ever get teh chance to build a team in his image like that though.

I don't disagree that it's mad they didn't sign proper defenders, but Guardiola does deserve respect, as well as being needled for these cock ups. He'll get there in time.

Kolarov has hardly covered himself with glory either. The real fault is not doing a proper defensive clearout over summer. Still no excuse for suicidal set ups like that against Leicester

True, but also people tend to forget that his team misses sitters every single game. De Bruyne v Chelsea, Sterling today. It's ridiculous. But completely agree regarding the defenders. Picking Otamendi ahead of Stones is kind of weird since both are s***, but at least one is younger and might develop into a good player. I'm a fan but this and then the whole lets play really attacking wing backs against leicester that are decisions that are questionable.

Kinda agree but reckon they're probably going to score, they do look threatening going forward, just can't see them not conceding 1 or 2 more, especially the more desperate they get

Man City finally turning up, still fear for them on counter. Also SATANIC PAGE COUNT

Wouldn't be a wenger team without one of them though

Oh man Guardiola 'hmmmm my defence is old and shit what to do, I know drop the one young one and make the rest all play a comedy high line with only one defensive midfielder' really? I love him but people forget at Barca Busquets was the dirtiest fucker. He'll get there when he can sign some defenders with pace and who can pass but it's kinda embarrassing how bad the defenders City have spent so much on (not under Pep has to be said, think Stones will be fine but he needed a more major refit)

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/dec/17/oscar-china-chelsea

Rojo getting a yellow for nothing there, ref clearly reckoning bleh probably both at fault give em both a yellow

As with my previous flip flopping on that challenge, from one angle it looks like a two footed lunge that is a red, from closer angle it isn't but i don't think I think just the motion of it like it did for me instantly sent red card tackle alarm bells ringing in the ref

Actually the next replay made it look much better He hit the ball before the second foot swung round by which time momentum was gone anyway. I kinda understand why the ref straight away went to red but yeah actually not as bad as my first two impressions

I know I'm going to get a load of stick for this, but that was both feet off the floor, sorry but that's a red card