Football (Soccer)

[admin]

It's not my opinion. It's the opinion of every non Man United football fan that actually knows what they're talking about. Non biased commentators and pundits (ie. anyone not associated with Sky or one of the Murdoch rags) also know this as a fact. Please don't quote Skysports as a factual source of unbiased information,

If the FA does charge Wenger for speaking the truth, then the world will know how biased the FA is towards Arsenal (remember that the only two players charged with swearing last year were Arsenal players, despite other players from other teams visibly/audibly swearing at refs during televised games). There is no FA crackdown on unruly behaviour in football. There is only a crackdown on Arsenal.

I actually hope the FA does charge Wenger - then the whole world will know the injustice that the FA is serving up now, and totally destroy the credibility of the other charges, rightly or wrongly.

[Oriphus]

then the world will know how biased the FA is towards Arsenal

Ha ha ha - Oh dear. Its a case of everyone else is out of step and we arent LOL. Ever thought that it might be Arsenal that is out of step and everyone else in step. Why would the FA chose to pick on Arsenal? What logic reasons could there be?

[Oriphus]

Ashley Cole - Charged with improper conduct (breach of FA Rule E1) for his involvement in a confrontation with Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo after the final whistle.

Martin Keown - Charged with improper conduct (E1) for confronting Manchester United player Ruud van Nistelrooy following the penalty miss, and with violent behaviour (breach of Rule E2) for striking van Nistelrooy on the back of the head following the final whistle

Lauren - Charged with two counts of improper conduct (E1), for confronting van Nistelrooy after Patrick Vieira's sending-off, and for confronting Manchester United player Ryan Giggs after the final whistle. He has also been charged with two counts of violent behaviour (E2), for kicking out at Manchester United player Quinton Fortune following the penalty award, and for forcibly pushing van Nistelrooy in the back following the final whistle

Jens Lehmann - Charged with improper conduct (E1) for confronting referee Steve Bennett after Patrick Vieira's second yellow card and for then persistently seeking to confront van Nistelrooy

Ray Parlour - Charged with improper conduct (E1) for confronting van Nistelrooy after the final whistle, and with violent behaviour (E2) for grabbing at Manchester United player Gary Neville from behind shortly afterwards

Patrick Vieira - Charged with improper conduct (E1) for failing to leave the field of play following his sending-off, and for instead seeking to confront van Nistelrooy and engaging in a verbal exchange with Fourth Official Neale Barry

Ryan Giggs - Charged with improper conduct (E1) for his involvement in a confrontation with Lauren after the match had ended

Cristiano Ronaldo - Charged with improper conduct (E1) for confronting Martin Keown at the conclusion of the match

Arsenal FC - Charged with misconduct for failing to ensure proper behaviour

[MPS]

thanx oriphus for those statements - nice job mate

this was a war indeed

[admin]

The only player that threw a punch in the fracas : Gary Neville - not punished

The player that bodychecked Lehmann : Fortune - not punished

The player that started all of this : RVN - not punished

The only player that actually got hurt (apart from Ruud's pride) : Vieira - punished

I am predicting that Keown and Lauren, and perhaps Parlour, will get bans, ranging from 1 game (for Parlour) to 3 games (Lauren). Parlour's not a regular, so he won't be missed much.

Lauren, apart from the own goal, hasn't done much, so perhaps Volz's loan can be recalled from Fulham and Arsenal will finally have a proper right back playing in the right back position (Lauren's a midfielder).

Kolo Toure's been the only good player at the back, and the way Campbell has been playing (and possibly being banned as well), Cygan (who I thought played great the last few games of last season - finally finding the form that made him player of the year in France) might just come in, or the numerous youth/reserver players that Arsenal can play there.

If Lehmann gets a ban, we still have 3 top level goal keepers (Taylor, Shabaan, Stack) that are itching to get a game.

If AC3 (this name is somehow appropriate for this forum ) gets a ban, then we have Gael Clichy, who is described as the same as Cole except with better defending capabilities. He outshone Ash during pre season friendlies, and even kept him out of a few games.

Vieira is the captain, so he's hard to replace. But his form has only been average of late, and I really do like to see Edu come in (he looked very bright at the end of the ManU game).

So will these bans hurt Arsenal? Maybe, but not season ending, as some have predicted. In fact, this may be exactly what is needed to force Wenger to use some of the youth players he has been raving about.

Anyway, Arsenal have a game on Friday which I won't be able to watch live - it's shown here at 5AM. Why are they having games on Fridays now, and why so early (or late, in the UK)? It's all a conspiracy, I tell ya ...

[Oriphus]

It's all a conspiracy, I tell ya ...

LOL - it could be. The friday games are strange ones mind you. Newcastle are being disadvantage to though, so its not just Arsenal We are playing Leicester at 3.00pm on Saturday so i cant watch it live

[Oriphus]

Here's what Andy Gray thinks of Van the Man:

do have some sympathy for Vieira because his first booking was for his only three fouls in the game and none of them were serious, but once he kicked out at Van Nistelrooy, Steve Bennett had no option but to send him off.

Even if he didn't make contact, there is the word 'intent' in the rules, which makes the decision a right one. And I don't think for a moment that van Nistlerooy has done anything to be ashamed of.

[bold]He didn't go to ground as if he had been caught, all he did was step back and look around in amazement at Patrick's reaction. I think he was genuinely surprised by it and I thought he came out of the whole episode after the game with a great deal of credit for refusing to react.[/bold]

You expect the odd remark when you miss a penalty in such a big game as van Nistelrooy got, but what happened at the final whistle was absolutely un-called for.

People involved with Arsenal, including ex-players and supporters, have found it impossible to defend what we saw.

[bold]They clearly have a disciplinary problem and I just can't see how Arsene Wenger can claim the whole world is against his side after their actions after the whistle at Old Trafford.[/bold]

The bit i high-lighted in bold are the most important parts. Thats exactly what i think. Rudd doesnt try to milk it, he just looks very surprised at what has happened and looks round at the ref to say 'what the hell was that?' And, Arsenal think the whole worlds against them HA HA

[admin]

After looking at this series of pics, I'm not so surprised at Vieira's behaviour (probably would have done the same myself), although he should have had more self control and not play right into Ruud's hands ...

[Oriphus]

lol - dont u love the passion in this thread

'United United United'

'Keano Keano Keano'

'Diego, oh oh oh,
Diego, oh oh oh,
Diego's on the ball,
And Arsenal's got fu*k all,
Diego, oh oh oh,
Diego, oh oh oh!'

I think we have probably exhausted the Arsenal Man Utd debate from Sunday Roll on the next few matches till we have some more banter. We dont want to keep going on at Arsenal or Admin will get really pissed off and ban us all

[admin]

Admin will get really pissed off and ban us all

"Admin moves mouse cursor away from the Ban User button ... for now"

Can't wait for the return fixture though ...

[Oriphus]

LOL

Yeah, the next Arsenal v Man Utd fixture will be amazing. i just hope there isnt any of the violence at it that occured. I think we will see a far stronger performance from both sides and i hope Scholes, Ole Gunner and Wes brown will be playing in that match, with Ronaldo coming on as a second half bright spark. Your next match is tomorrow isnt it?

[admin]

It's top versus bottom Friday @ 20:00. Bring on Newcastle!!!!!!

[Oriphus]

Im looking forward to it too cuz i hope you lose, sorry but i do. Isnt it at 7.45pm?

[MPS]

go magpies

[Oriphus]

Well, listened to the match on the radio, well parts of it since the Chelsea one was the main match. It sounded good, the goals anyway. Final Score:
Leicester 1 - 4 Man Utd.
Looks like we are still behind Arsenal, but then i knew that would be the case anyway lol Cant comment on it as such, but will watch it on Sunday night and let you know