Man City CC post match

[Phoenix07]

A cup final at Wembley with a stunning chance of securing silverware and European football for next season after outplaying the current league leaders with great performances all round.

[cream]

Absolute fantastic win, great team spirit and performance. Bellamy was ****ing amazing, simply unplayable on that kind of form. Lucas, Gerrard, bellamy and Suarez, just a shame we won't see that this season.

[Shaggy]

Absolute fantastic win, great team spirit and performance. Bellamy was ****ing amazing, simply unplayable on that kind of form. Lucas, Gerrard, bellamy and Suarez, just a shame we won't see that this season.

Those 4 haven't played a single game together. It's galling.

[Mark79]

Yeah he's right he couldn't get his hand out of the way, but his hand still altered the flight of the ball, so it all depends how you want to look at it, maybe the ref thought the ball was still on target after hitting his foot and so thought his arm stopped it ? Don't think the ref thoght it was on purpose, or he'd maybe have sent him off no ?

Handball should only be penalised if its done deliberately. If the ref didn't think it was on purpose then he shouldn't have given it at all. Looking at his gestures with his arms raised in the air, he seemed to be saying he thought it was a deliberate block.

[Reece]

Handball should only be penalised if its done deliberately. If the ref didn't think it was on purpose then he shouldn't have given it at all. Looking at his gestures with his arms raised in the air, he seemed to be saying he thought it was a deliberate block.

I disagree. If a player raises his arms in the box and it alters the flight of the ball, stops a goal bound effort, then deliberate or not it should be handball. The problem is there are other factors such as how close the players was to where the ball was struck from etc which can confuse the matter, and the subsequently the referees decision. But generally speaking I think that's a fair rule. Of course that requires a level of consistency from the referees...

From the referees perspective last night, he would have seen Richards lunging forward with legs outstretched, but also with arms outstretched, and ending up blocking the ball with his arms (regardless of it deflecting off his leg first). Deliberate or not, when the ball then hits his arms in that scenario I'd say more often than not the referee would have given a penalty.

Anyway, that's a long-winded way of me saying I think the ref made the right call last night

[Lecter]

I disagree. If a player raises his arms in the box and it alters the flight of the ball, stops a goal bound effort, then deliberate or not it should be handball. The problem is there are other factors such as how close the players was to where the ball was struck from etc which can confuse the matter, and the subsequently the referees decision. But generally speaking I think that's a fair rule. Of course that requires a level of consistency from the referees...

From the referees perspective last night, he would have seen Richards lunging forward with legs outstretched, but also with arms outstretched, and ending up blocking the ball with his arms (regardless of it deflecting off his leg first). Deliberate or not, when the ball then hits his arms in that scenario I'd say more often than not the referee would have given a penalty.

Anyway, that's a long-winded way of me saying I think the ref made the right call last night

If you raise your arms you run a high risk of giving away a penalty whether that action is intentional or not

[Exiled_red]

If a player has his arms out like Richards did then he gives the referee the option to give a penalty when the ball hits his arm.

I guess you can say he was unlucky as the ball deflected off his leg onto his arm, but his arm was away from his body and affected the path of the ball so I think it was a penalty. Some may say it was a harsh one, but I thought it was consistent with the way the referee handled the game.

[Red_Polo]

I think it's right that it needs to be deliberate, however I think the benefit of any doubt should go to the attacking team. Only if it's clearly not deliberate should it be let slide.

[Assassin]

Richards was making himself as big as possible to cover as much of the goal as he could. Clear cut pelanty, end of.

[McDermotX]

How is Richards not intending to handle the ball ?

That's the question not being asked. You jump in with your arms clearly placed to prevent a goal bound shot. Doesn't really matter how the ball got there.....he intended to handle the ball (as well as put a tackle in), it hit his arm, peno given.....don't see the confusion.

Sure they were calling for a Jones peno in the FA Cup game when the cross coming in hit his foot and then hit his arm !

[RichC]

If it was given against us I'd be pissed off to be honest BUT you have to take the bits of luck that fall your way & you put your arms up you're always running the risk of giving a pen.

Mancini looks a man under serious strain at the moment, I worry he'll implode and it'll allow the Mancs to sneak the title AGAIN!!

[murder_inc]

ha, dickheads on sly sports news this morning had city at 63% possesion and we had 6 yellow cards. What a load of bollox. We had 2 yellows and probably closer to 50/50 possesion. What a joke they are.

[murder_inc]

oh, and the pen. Id be a bit pissed off if it was given against us but **** em'. Bout time we got a decision our way.

[Darkon]

Strictly by the rules there is no argument - it's a penalty and a 100% correct call by the ref last night. If the rules are suitable as they are now is another matter.

But I'm not compaining we are in our first final in 5 years!! Great to be back where it matters.

And Mancini is a whining cunt tbh. Can't stand listening to him.

[James P]

I think it's right that it needs to be deliberate, however I think the benefit of any doubt should go to the attacking team. Only if it's clearly not deliberate should it be let slide.

I think that the rule needs to be simplified, and to me there are only two options:

1. We adopt the primary school rule that it's only handball if you actually pick the ball up and run with it
2. Rush goalies