As we're unlikely to see terraces again at football, this is the virtual equivalent where you can chat to your hearts content about all football matters and, obviously, Arsenal in particular. This forum encourages all Gooners to visit and contribute so please keep it respectful, clean and topical.
StuartL wrote:I only wathced the last half hour or so but form what I saw it was a queation of time before Madrid scored, and from then on only 1 winner.
Something that I did notice was just how hardworking Madrid were as a team, superstars included, all closed down, tackled, supported teammmates etc.
How come we do not bother
It's similar to The Whores over the last 3 or 4 years. Everyone in the media sucked their cocks about their beautiful tippy tappy passy pass pass game, but very few media crunts comment on the ammount of tackling, closing down, tracking and general honest work rate they put in when they don't have the ball - as was very ably demonstrated against us. No matter what quality players a team has only the manager can instill that work ethic and discipline in them.
Bradywasking wrote:Bad week for Rio, or bad week for football if he is not charged over the Torres incident yesterday.
did he get charged for clapping in the refs face?
no
Haha you couldn't make this shit up - not just an ironic clap but literally millimetres away from the ref's face whilst leaning into him menacingly. Bearing in mind the bollocks UEFA have had with banning Wenger several times recently and then Nasri as well for a nothing comment in a post-match interview. Big up to the RESPECT campaign though.
There is absolutely zero monitoring of UEFA refs. I know that the media spotlight on refs in the UK is criticised but one thing it does is provide some accountability for those who make poor decisions/favour teams - you don't have that in European competition and from what I can see there isn't any other (effective) performance review.
Refs are free to crumble to the pressure of home fans in big stadiums and we see this every year. How many times have Barcelona profited from ludicrous decisions at the Nou Camp? Even in the absence of any really shocking decisions Weds (no scope for any really), the referee gave them every fucking foul and let them get away with murder before getting booked (Laurence Dallaglio would have been proud to hold onto that ball in the melee like Neuer did after our second - no booking) whilst he was dishing cards out to our players in the second half for fun. Add to this the linesman in the second half who couldn't wait to stick his flag up when Feo was clear even though he was comfortably onside and who did the same to award them free-kicks, throw-ins and goal-kicks that should have gone the other way and you've got a typical refereeing performance when you go away to a European giant. I also watched the referee in the Chelsea game Thursday let them run riot and get away with so many fouls in the middle of the pitch that were launching counter-attacks. Fuck all gonna change.
but form what I saw it was a queation of time before Madrid scored, and from then on only 1 winner.
