Champions League Games

[Baracus]

very decent, but do they click? Bit like chelsea with drogba, anelka, Torres. They lack pace in midfield, actually they have very little pace as a team. They take an age to build an attack to the front 3, spurs could soak up some of the attacks and just counter. Hope I am wrong but even if ac actually win, they will fail to progress futher.

[Baracus]

also milans front 3 do very little when they do not have the ball. They don't chase the opposition nor track back.

[Rudo]

I'm surprised Seedorf still starts for Milan, he's like 45 is he not lol

[Baracus]

he is still one of youngest players in the team

[Shaggy]

Spurs 3-0 I reckon.

Hope I'm way out. Come on Milan.

[RichC]

I do expect Spurs to go through, lack of pace from the MF backwards is going to hurt them tonight but if the front 3 did click it's a decent 3 - big man in the centre and 2 trickly smaller guys to create the chances - problem is for them that at least Robinho and Ibrah aren't exactly team players and hard workers!

[Neil Young]

I think we are coming at this from a different view point you are looking at both the interpretation of the decision and the rule/punishment, I am just considering the rule and punishment. Once the referee decided that van Persie kicked the ball away deliberately he had no alternative but to book him under the rules (as I understand them). I am saying that he should have the opportunity (under the rules) to say that yes he kicked the ball away, but did it affect the game (prevent a quick restart or allow his players to get back in position)? no, so no booking perhaps just a warning.

Obviously he has to decide whether it was delibertate or not, and if he decides it wasn't no offence has ben committed, but if an offence has been committed the seriousness or implications should determine whether or not it warrants a yellow card, rather than the card being mandatory

Oh right, I get you. You're right, we are approaching it from slightly different angles.

The punishment is mandatory because people don't want refs to have discretion, in the name of clarity and consistency. It's stupid I agree but not because I think it's wrong to limit the scope of interpretation but because it doesn't actually change the problem for the reasons I said in my last post. The ref can choose to interpret most things any way he wants.

Look at the way Clattenburg (I think) somehow failed to send off Hutton against Wolves. It was absolutely clear-cut but he still failed to impose the mandatory punishment, presumably because he could see it in another way than just as a professional foul/clear goalscoring opportunity.

Anyway, interesting chat.

[Rudo]

2-1 Milan.

[Rudo]

Clive Tyldesley talks some ****e.

[RichC]

that is a fact!!

Looks like Milan are going to have a good go early on

[Kenneth]

Remembered why I hate Milan. Anyone goes near them and they pretend they've been shot. Proper cunts.

[Rudo]

Valencia 1 up at Schalke. 2-1 Valencia on aggregate.

[PaddyPool]

what a ****in waste - milan

[Rudo]

Remembered why I hate Milan. Anyone goes near them and they pretend they've been shot. Proper cunts.

Robinho, Ibra and Boeteng are ****s.

[PaddyPool]

lucky spurs