Jonjo Shelvey

[Shaggy]

Evans played the ball with the instep of his right foot; Shelvey caught Evans, studs first, half way up his shin.... If you acknowledge the above to be true you must at least see how the ref could decide its a red, no? Carragher got away with something v. similar on Nani a few years ago - at least Evans didn't start crying ffs.

There were decisions to debate in the game but imo this wasn't one of them.

It makes no difference whatsoever that Evans "played the ball". He jumped in two footed = red card. There have been countless examples of people winning the ball but going in two footed and receiving a red card - one example being Spearing at Fulham last season, who won the ball as clean as a whistle but because he lunged in with two feet, he got a red.

Evans leaves the ground, it's a two-footed tackle. No card. Laughable decision.

[Captain Stu]

It makes no difference whatsoever that Evans "played the ball". He jumped in two footed = red card. There have been countless examples of people winning the ball but going in two footed and receiving a red card - one example being Spearing at Fulham last season, who won the ball as clean as a whistle but because he lunged in with two feet, he got a red.

Evans leaves the ground, it's a two-footed tackle. No card. Laughable decision.

Exactly.

This notion of "winning the ball" is as ridiculous as when people instantly go to "contact" when there's a hint of a foul in the box.

Hey, here's an idea, let's see if Ferguson has recently said that two footed tackles are red card offences...

"It was a two-footed tackle," Ferguson told ITV Sport. "I think it was a red card, absolutely - I've seen him do it before.

"Maybe he's got off with it in the past, but we're lucky because if he makes contact with Nani, he's got a problem.

"It would have been a real bad one. I think the referee was right in that instance."

After Kompany was sent off against United last season.

[Reece]

Shelvey also played the ball - it was the follow-through that caught Evans.

[Shaggy]

Exactly.

This notion of "winning the ball" is as ridiculous as when people instantly go to "contact" when there's a hint of a foul in the box.

Hey, here's an idea, let's see if Ferguson has recently said that two footed tackles are red card offences...



After Kompany was sent off against United last season.

He is the biggest hypocrite in the game.

[Norbs]

It's the look of contempt on the refs face when he produces the red that gets me.

He was loving the occasion and wanted to be noticed. That shows him up for the cunt he is as the best refs should be as anonymous as possible

[Norbs]

Shelvey also played the ball - it was the follow-through that caught Evans.

Both Evans' feet were sliding along the ground. If Shelvey's had been on the ground then both would be nursing injuries today and neither would've finished the game. It's only Shelvey's foot being off the ground that saved them and also led to his red card. 3 games out is better than 15, that's the only silver lining I can take from this

[Captain Stu]

He is the biggest hypocrite in the game.

No arguments on that one... and yet he rarely ever gets called on it. Why? I fail to see why nobody has the plums to question him on this - it'd make for a great post-match interview:

"So Slur Alex, when Vincent Kompany was sent off against your side earlier this year you declared that his two footed tackle was a red card offence so do you agree that Jonny Evans should also have seen a red card along with Jonjo Shelvey after his two footed leap? Hmmmm?"

[Scotsdave]

TBF Shelvey does get his heel to the ball at about the same time as Evans. He's a little unlucky but that's the chance you take if you lunge at a challenge like that... Evans can count himself lucky as his tackle wasn't much better but at least he kept his feet at the level of the ball... Split second stuff; frankly I feel for the ref because he can't win. Everyone's an expert these days and he'll get abuse and death threats either way.

[Shaggy]

He can win. Make the right decision. It's either a yellow for both, a red for both or nothing. Evans' tackle was a clear red card - make the right decision and then he can 'win'.

[Norbs]

Also, Shelvey's left peg was no where near the challenge, Evans went in two footed. ****ing awful decision by the referee and cost us our most effective player up to that point

[red g]

Also, Shelvey's left peg was no where near the challenge, Evans went in two footed. ****ing awful decision by the referee and cost us our most effective player up to that point

And Halsey was in a perfect place to see that. It ****ing stinks. What chance do we have??

[Neil Young]

And Evans' right foot was off the ground when he made contact with the ball. The idea his foot was appreciably lower than Shelvey's is twaddle. It was a shockingly bad decision.

As for Lawrenson echoing Ferguson's claim about intent, that Evans was trying to play the ball, for some years now - a decade at least - intent is relevant only for handball decisions. I expect Ferguson to twist the truth to suit his own agenda. But Lawrenson is paid to provide objective, expert opinion. He doesn't do his f*cking job properly.

[Reece]

I suspect that Shelvey's intent was also to play the ball, especially considering he ****ing did play the ball.

[Captain Stu]

Lawro is an embarrassment to pundits, footballers and humanity itself.

[Kenneth]

at least Hansen occasionally gives some detail with his analysis of how **** defending was etc. Lawrenson offers nothing useful whatsoever.