Not having this...

[Kenneth]

Can't agree with you at all on on the first point - I think it needs to be a clear goal scoring chance and someone on the run from within their own half with plenty of people back doesn't count as that for me. To be frank that would change the shape of the game not only here but throughout Europe. That kind of foul is an instant yellow I think, but you can't red card someone for a cynical foul on the half way line.
Agree about Gilberto. They've lacked a Tony Adams for a long time I think.

Should have been red though as Mascher should have broken his legs.

[Chrono]

Where's that from mate? It looks like the quote from the BBC site, but slightly different.

"Arsenal were the better of the two sides in the initial stages and led through an Abou Diaby strike, only for Sami Hyypia to be left free at a corner to head the equaliser on the half-hour mark."

Sounds fair enough to me.

Ian.

It was from the BBC and I didn't edit it but as is quite often the case they may have updated the article.

[Exiled_red]

I've always accepted we won't get credit for the results we get, everyone still goes on about 2005 and how we were lucky in every round blah blah blah.

In a similar way to what Hansen said about winning the league - it's not about how you do when you play well it's how you do when you play badly.

Yeah Arsenal had the better of the first 20 mins or so they were all over us, but like we've failed to do many times over recent years they haven't made it count to the extent they perhaps should, and we dug deep and battled and stayed in the game.

I think the problem with Arsenal is they aren't great at holding 1 goal leads they play great football but when they go ahead particularly early on in games they stop playing with the same fluidity maybe thinking the game is won

[FatTony]

We were bar far the better team in the second half and after Hyypia equaliser. Fcuk em.

Anyway, who's to say the football is better? Its 2 different styles that's al, they're only saying its better because the media keep feeding them ****.

We're in the semi's, give them hell!

[Parr_Zee]

If it hadn't been our player if anyone had clipped Walcott unfairly on that run I would have wanted them sent off. Cynical play like that really pisses me off.

It may be cynical but sometimes its necessary. For me, Aurelio should have brought him down, they bumped into each other and Fabio could easily have taken him out, but made it look clumsy. We could then have reorganised, and would not have been caught short at the back.

[dww]

It may be cynical but sometimes its necessary. For me, Aurelio should have brought him down, they bumped into each other and Fabio could easily have taken him out, but made it look clumsy. We could then have reorganised, and would not have been caught short at the back.

I'm pragmatic enough to say that I think in a way you are right, in that you have to play the system as it is applied. However if I had control over referees/law making it would not be tolerated. If you make an attempt to tackle and get the ball I would let you off but in most cases it is clear what players are doing and I think it detracts from the quality of play seen.

[zimbo]

It may be cynical but sometimes its necessary. For me, Aurelio should have brought him down, they bumped into each other and Fabio could easily have taken him out, but made it look clumsy. We could then have reorganised, and would not have been caught short at the back.

Another booking would have meant him being suspended for the next round. That may have influenced his thinking. Then again, the little bugger may just have been too quick for anyone to catch.

[dom9]

I think Aurelio should have taken him out before he got anywhere near Mascher.

[barnes10]

I'm pragmatic enough to say that I think in a way you are right, in that you have to play the system as it is applied. However if I had control over referees/law making it would not be tolerated. If you make an attempt to tackle and get the ball I would let you off but in most cases it is clear what players are doing and I think it detracts from the quality of play seen.

dww, i think you'll have to loosen the 8 player in one side rule as you'll be sending about 5 players off in each match.

i agree with you its frustrating and basically cheating but like 'simulations' its very, very difficult to get a correct decision. what's the difference between a slightly mis timed tackle and one that was a well executed cynical bringing down of a player? its not always obvious or clear cut. hence why its a problelm that hasnt been tacked and i don't think ever can be. saying not tolerate it is one thing, but how can they accurately execute that?

[Parr_Zee]

Another booking would have meant him being suspended for the next round. That may have influenced his thinking.

Good point mate ... you're proabably right there.

[el matador]

I think Aurelio should have taken him out before he got anywhere near Mascher.

It might sound cynical but I would have to agree with that.

[dww]

dww, i think you'll have to loosen the 8 player in one side rule as you'll be sending about 5 players off in each match.

i agree with you its frustrating and basically cheating but like 'simulations' its very, very difficult to get a correct decision. what's the difference between a slightly mis timed tackle and one that was a well executed cynical bringing down of a player? its not always obvious or clear cut. hence why its a problelm that hasnt been tacked and i don't think ever can be. saying not tolerate it is one thing, but how can they accurately execute that?

I think it is much easier that the simulating thing to be honest. Many of the times you see it the player makes moves that are not even in the direction of the ball - it would be impossible to get it 100% right but the offside law is physically impossible to judge correctly (even in it's old form) and is still used happily enough most of the time.

Your assumption that player behaviour would remain the same is the flaw in your argument for me. It will take time to introduce but people were complaining about the introduction of the tackle from behind rule in terms not dissimilar to those you used when it was introduced and it is now accepted.

Obviously some border line decisions would be fudged but that is not IMO a huge problem the weight of sensible decisions will out weigh it and players will wise up. At the very least the attitude of the referee in the first 20 minutes of the referee in the Anfield game against United and the one we had against Inter has to be introduced - zero tolerance for cynical fouls and an instant yellow. This would probably be a more acceptable compromise to most but due to the number of cards it would generate for more players would actually be less effective IMO and have wider consequences.

[Vermilion]

Cynical play on the half way line is worth a yellow, but you can't have a sending off for that - clear goal scoring opportunities are, and that certainly wasn't. On the flaky side I think that if you have Gallas as your captain - a man who wanders off the pitch for a vital penalty - well, you takes your choices! But even before that they do have a track record on the emotional side, all that bollocks about injustice, and their games against united etc. Wenger seems to instill beautiful football, but it's a fragile thing...

Cynical play, like when Fabregas clearely grabbed Babels shirt when he was in on goal, luckily for him Babel scored, or he could have been red carded, late in the game yes, but none the less Cynical.

[Parm]

The possession was 51 - 49% in their favour. Yes they played some good one touch football but why the **** don't we get a mention when we do?

Funnily enough they started long balling it but no mention of that either. ****s.

thought it was 51% in our favour, all of the stats (excepts passes) were in our favour. Was a tight game, but think we edged it. I agree with the comment that Aresnal have no plan b, they did seem to revert to hoofing the ball after a very short while.

[el matador]

hoofing the ball seems to be our plan A.