Lazar Markovic

[Kenneth]

This one is to McDermott & Kenneth.

Putting to one side the current rules and the way they are adhered to by referees, is this the way you both personally want the game of football to be?

Do you both think that in an ideal world challenges like Markovic's should result in a team being reduced to 10 and a game of football potentially ruined?


Really interested to know how you feel about it.

Maybe I'm overly sensitive about eyes, having had a number of eye operations in my life, but I think it was genuinely dangerous. Anything near the eyes risks impacting someone's quality of life. Bruises, cuts etc all heal and I have sympathy with the idea that football is shying too far away from physical contact. Just not the eyes, anything but the eyes.

[Kenneth]

Good thing he didn't. Surely trolling loses some of its allure by the 30000s.

Are you really keen to go down the personal abuse route, or just happy skirting around the edges?

[McDermotX]

This one is to McDermott & Kenneth.

Putting to one side the current rules and the way they are adhered to by referees, is this the way you both personally want the game of football to be?

Do you both think that in an ideal world challenges like Markovic's should result in a team being reduced to 10 and a game of football potentially ruined?


Really interested to know how you feel about it.

Far from it......in fact, I remember getting into discussions surrounding the whole 'whether or not Suarez should have won a peno' etc etc last season. With various people citing contact as the reason for a peno, which I would argue is not enough reason to award a peno. It has to be a foul. Contact happens all the time in the box, and yet some expect a peno for each instance.
Plenty of times I was shouted down by the hungry masses yearning for a Liverpool peno, but I'd never concede the point that contact automatically equals penalty. It's one of the most annoying aspects of the modern game, and it really irks me to see some of the penos awarded these days, where pundits will argue that players have every right to go down etc. Absolute bollocks.

Difference with Markovic's last night, is that everyone seems fixated on the whole 'barely scratched him' argument, and trying to justify reasons for the player 'fending' a challenge off. That is not the entire reason why the ref sent him off. You can argue that it was a harsh red considering some of what goes on, but raising the hand in such a manner with intent (I'm 100% on that) at head height demanded action from the ref, and Markovic should have ****ing known better.
But like most instances like that it can be both deliberate and instinctive. Twice he looked back at the player before swinging back his arm at head height.........in full view of the ref. He can have no arguments.

Was asked last night, but if it was an opposing player on Gerrard, or say Felliani doing it........what would people be demanding the ref do ?

[Myo]

Maybe football players should start wearing shoulder, knee pads and helmets... First time... Oh wait gridiron iron already does that? Come on ken..ffs that was not a red or with intent..

[Kenneth]

I think we've established that I disagree already.

Gridiron iron.

[Gibbo]

I think we can all agree this situation would have been a lot more lighthearted if it was Gashi that he fingered....



But yeah, Ive seen it multiple times now and still don't think it was a red, I reckon even a booking would've been harsh.

[Myo]

Lol..damm predictive text on the phone...my bad lol ��

[Tee]

Absolute joke sending off.

Should start on Sunday.

I like the kid and think he will do well for us. Great little cameo lady night, shame he had to go off.

[Kenneth]

I like the kid and think he will do well for us. Great little cameo lady night, shame he had to go off.

I don't get it, he did nothing of note other than run into space.

Lady night

[danperkins]

Player made an absolute meal of it no doubts but why on earth would he put his arm out like that? Asking for trouble, so unnecessary.

Performance wise, he was positive and progressive when everyone else wasn't, which was good to see. But he still does look a bit ****. Needs to show a lot more next season.

[Kenneth]

I just put that down to the fact that everyone else had been playing for three quarters of an hour by the time he came on.

[danperkins]

I just put that down to the fact that everyone else had been playing for three quarters of an hour by the time he came on.

[ChrisDR1968]

Maybe football players should start wearing shoulder, knee pads and helmets... First time... Oh wait gridiron iron already does that? Come on ken..ffs that was not a red or with intent..

They often need those shoulder pads. Sometimes quite badly...

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7mJB3U7BLs"]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B7mJB3U7BLs[/ame]

On Markovic I got the impression he was actually looking to swing his elbow at the Basel player but when he realised he was too far away he decided to extend his arm fully and try and hit him instead.

A moment of madness and a definite red in my book

[Keyser Soze]

Markovich is the one summer signing that baffles the most, £20m? why?
For all he's done thus far (sweet FA) Jordan Ibe could have done.

He's a lightweight and thick to boot, watch him get loaned out next season 'to get experience'.

[Chilts33]

What next? Ribbons attached to player's shirts and if you grab one it's a tackle? Making sure nobody gets hurt in the process, obviously!