Figures 1-0 Football

He was given a red card for "serious foul play"... Standing on someone's foot, unintentionally... I don't care if it was a NUFC player, Qatar player or Hayes and Yeading player - this year, 10 years ago or 50 years ago. It was never a red card.

But that is natural, that is rose-tinted goggles sort of thing. If that challenge occurred in a game that we had no interest in - we'd all say yellow. Referees are supposed to be neutral, so should have came to that conclusion.

'Possibly a yellow...' Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal Danny Mills BBC Radio 5 live at St James's Park "That is not a red card offence. He mistimes it, it's possibly a yellow card, but it's not particularly violent. Andre Marriner has had three big decisions to make so far and he's got all of them wrong." "People are saying on social media that the red card was a leg-breaking tackle. Never in a million years! Broken toenail maybe." --------------- Don't usually agree with Danny Mills and think he talks a lot of shit - but I think he's got that spot on.

One of the best signings we have made in years. With his physique, you'd expect him to be a big rough type player - but he is excellent with the football at his feet too. One of my favourite players at NUFC atm.

An excellent performance today imo. The image of a 6ft Arsenal player falling to the ground after being 'held' by Anita was quite possibly the most hilarious thing I have seen in a long time and summed their game up entirely.

I'm really starting to warm to McClaren. He's been unlucky in the fact that we've played four games, two of them with 10 men. All four games have been against decent teams too. Next two games are massive, both winnable and will give a much better indication of how we are.

Very good again today, very unlucky for the goal but is starting to look like a leader.

Arsenal were embarrassing today with their rolling around and inability to stay on their feet. I really liked Sanchez, but he went massively down in my books today. Several times he made the "card" gesture to the ref, at times it appeared that Marriner was not going to book someone until Sanchez went running over or flung his arms around - he then called the player back and carded him. Marriner was awful, made so many mistakes and should rightfully get strung up for it and not ref in the next round of games. The linesman were awful too, so many times the ball looked out and they either missed it or weren't even watching. Can anybody clear up the Colo yellow at the end? In our area none of us had any idea what on Earth the free kick and yellow were for? It looked like he ran off the pitch and fell into the dugout, then he gave a yellow and a free kick? We may have missed something... If this was Man Utd/Liverpool/Chelsea etc. it'd be all over the papers, media and pundits would be going mental - sadly, as it is us, we'll get a five second mention at the end of MOTD and excuses made for the awful display by the officials. Thought we defended well as a team again and were incredibly unlucky with the goal. Arsenal were poor, happy to have the ball but do nothing with it. The improvement in organisation in the team from last year is staggering, last year we'd have lost this 6-0.

Thought he ran himself ragged today, looked very tidy at times. I think he was desperate to make an impression today, which hampered him at times - but I agree that he looks an excellent player. His mrs is gorgeous too, which helps.

If it was any other player on the pitch, it would have been a yellow. I've watched it three or four times and I still think it was nothing more than a yellow. His leg imo makes a natural movement for the ball, his eyes were only on the ball. It's a bad challenge and mistimed, but not malicious. It also wasn't very high, he connected with his foot rather than his leg. If it was further up the leg, it'd be a dangerous challenge and a red - but it wasn't. I also don't believe the referee made the decision himself, he seemed to be talking on his mouthpiece before he pulled out the red. His angle was also blocked by Anita.

But that is not the argument, the argument is not about Obertan. Fact is, Aarons will not start for us this season - whether it is Obertan, Thauvin, Gareth Bale or the Queen in the team in front of him. McClaren has stated this in numerous interviews. Therefore the only practical and sensible solution to allow Aarons to develop is to send him out on loan to play football. He is not going to develop playing off the bench in shit games he needs full matches of competitive football. As has been said on this forum before, people get far too excited over players far too early. He is 19, he has played 5 competitive fixtures for us. He is not our best player and should not be starting week-in-week-out.

As opposed to sitting on the bench only playing 20 minutes here and there when we are 3-0 down away at Chelsea... or away at Scunthorpe in the 3rd round of the FA Cup.

Look at Kevin De Bruyne, never played at Chelsea... Plays one full season at Wolfsburg - now look at him. Players need to play to excel. Whether we send him on loan to the Championship, Italy, Spain, Finland... the lad needs to play every week to succeed!

Aarons is not going to start competitively for us all season, so we're gonna stick a 19 year old on the bench all season. Yet, you think he'll get nothing out of playing regularly in the Championship? Playing in a team that will do well in the Championship will do him the absolute world of good. Or even, send him on loan to someone like Bournemouth! Where he will be guaranteed a start!

Thauvin and Perez are both ahead of Obertan. If you are saying Obertan is ahead of Aarons, then that makes Aarons 4th choice - even less playing time and even more reason to send him out on loan.

Dafuq did I just read? Why not? What will he achieve sitting on our bench and not playing regularly? I'm a firm believer that players need to play football to progress (ie, Armstrong). He's not good enough to start atm, so he will be limited to 20 minutes here and there. If we are keeping him long term, he will come back a better player - if we are going to sell him, then of course there is no point. Obertan. Case closed. Obertan is not going to start, is he? Perez is ahead of Aarons imo, as I believe he could play anywhere in a front four. ? Southampton (h) Krul Janmaat Mbemba Coloccini Haidara Anita Colback Sissoko Wijnaldum Obertan Cisse Swansea City (a) Krul Janmaat Mbemba Coloccini Haidara Anita Colback Sissoko Wijnaldum Obertan Cisse Manchester United (a) Krul Mbemba Coloccini Taylor Haidara Colback Anita Wijnaldum Obertan Perez Mitrovic "is not GOING to start" Thauvin is clearly ahead of Obertan, that argument is daft.

Just to add - we are talking about a 19 year old who has only played 5 competitive games for us, he's never been out on loan or played competitive football on a regular basis. He was out injured for a majority of last season, of course he needs to play regularly!

Dafuq did I just read? Why not? What will he achieve sitting on our bench and not playing regularly? I'm a firm believer that players need to play football to progress (ie, Armstrong). He's not good enough to start atm, so he will be limited to 20 minutes here and there. If we are keeping him long term, he will come back a better player - if we are going to sell him, then of course there is no point. Obertan. Case closed. Obertan is not going to start, is he? Perez is ahead of Aarons imo, as I believe he could play anywhere in a front four.

Dafuq did I just read? Why not? What will he achieve sitting on our bench and not playing regularly? I'm a firm believer that players need to play football to progress (ie, Armstrong). He's not good enough to start atm, so he will be limited to 20 minutes here and there. If we are keeping him long term, he will come back a better player - if we are going to sell him, then of course there is no point.

I'd send him on loan to a decent Championship team, where he will play every week. Getting kicked by the shit teams in the Championship will toughen him up a bit and the confidence gained from playing in a good team/doing well will also.

SDJ has looked very smart in the very small amount of time he's played for us. I'd definitely have him in the team as one of the first names on the teamsheet. I'd go with something like... ------Anita----Gini-------- -Thauvin--SDJ--Sissoko- ------Nutcase/Cisse------ Perez is excellent and would come in for any of the front four if/when they are out.

I'd be surprised (pleasantly) if we sign anyone else this summer. I doubt we'll see any signings in January either, unless someone is sold.

Glad he's not going to Sunderland - I think he'd do a job for anyone outside of the top 5 or 6. Bournemouth look like a good fit for him too, they seem to play quite nice football.

Arsenal's group is tougher than Man City's imo. They'll lose both games to Munich whereas Man City have a good chance against Juve in both games. If Arsenal slip up against either of the other teams, they're vulnerable. But I think all four English teams should comfortable qualify out of those groups, or they've fucked up big time.

Can see Dick leaving after this weekends game if they lose. Especially with the end of the transfer window around the corner. Hopefully, this year their quick fixes of loans and changing managers every time they are in trouble will catch up with them.