The Football Thread

[Roger Allott]

Sam Alladyce has been pretty brutal about the proposal for retrospective action on diving, and I totally agree with him. He says that it wouldn't have any effect on a player who's been incorrectly booked or sent off for diving when a TV review shows that there was in fact contact made.

Simply introduce in situ video reviews immediately and all of the issues pertaining to diving (or not diving) can be cleared up on the spot, without having to waste anyone's time & money on committees.

.

[gordian_knot]

In-game reviews are being trialled in 2018 for the FA Cup only, so the earliest they could come in for the league would be 2018/19. If they work, this panel will only be an interim measure but (according to some referees) diving is on the increase and the FA probably felt they had to do something. It may be that they also wanted to test the water to gauge reactions.

I agree that some players are wrongly booked for diving, but that's a separate issue. The FA would have to change their policy on not reviewing yellow cards which they won't want to do because there are too many of them.

I still say that this measure is better than nothing until the VARs come in.

[snowy25]

A little bit of Spurs history tonight with their win against Leicester. Heung-min Son scored Spurs’ second goal at Leicester and with it made a little bit of club history. For the first time 3 players from the club have all scored 20 goals or more in the same season. Dele Alli (21) and Harry Kane (29) joining Son in that feat.

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by snowy25

I think Sanchez will leave this summer unless Arsenal let Wenger go and bring in someone who can tempt him to stay. I also think you are right and Arsenal fans may need to get used to EL football for at least the next few seasons unless they can turn things around very quickly post Wenger. If Wenger stays then they may not even be looking at EL football due to the number of sides competing for European places these days.

The money is there, the club have made that very clear over the last few seasons. They have the resources to match all but the biggest clubs in terms of what they can offer for transfers and wages. So with the right manager they could rebuild into a strong side. Sadly the name of the game these days is spending money and bringing in quality players. Arsenal for the most part choosing to try things differently is why they are now where they are. I appreciate what Wenger is doing and his philosophy as most fans want it to still be a sport and not a business. However at the end of the day its sadly no longer possible at the very top level. Mid table sides like Southampton can do things differently because their goals are different to those top tier sides. Their aim is firstly to stay in the league and then try to finish as high as possible. Arsenal's is to win the league or at the very least finish top 4. To do that you can no longer avoid splashing the cash because if you do this is what happens.

Having the money is nice but in reality Arsenal are not even close to the first choice for most notable players coming into the EPL.

Too many technically gifted attacking players and not enough
who are capable of doing the negating dirty work against quality opposition.

If Leicester can find 2 inexpensive defensive mid-fielders in 2 seasons surely a top 4 cashed up club team can do something similar.The last crop they tried post Arteta & Song have been lamentable.

Would be interesting to see who Arsenal have looked at and
rejected or been beaten to.

2014 - Recruitment not tactics is Arsenals biggest failure
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2...nt-not-tactics

[Devius]

Alisher Usmanov: Arsenal shareholder makes £1bn takeover bid to Stan Kroenke

Uzbek-born Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has made a £1bn bid to wrest control of Arsenal from majority shareholder Stan Kroenke.

But with Kroenke showing no interest, the bid has in effect been rejected, though Usmanov is yet to receive written confirmation of that.

The Financial Times reported Usmanov made the offer last month, and that Kroenke has yet to formally respond.

Metal magnate Usmanov owns 30% of Arsenal's shares.

He is, though, not part of the board or decision-making at the club.

Details:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39981841

[ginny76]

I want one of these, it would make me so happy;

http://www.bradford.co.uk/lfcmedallions.html

[footstep]

Terrible night.
Lens was 3rd when his match was over , road to 2 matches vs18th ligue1.
But Amiens scored at 95'.
4th finally, the worst place.

[victor meldrew]

Pretty bad here as well, rain and Millwall winning a trophy................

[buttsie]

Originally Posted by victor meldrew

Pretty bad here as well, rain and Millwall winning a trophy................

Every cloud has a silver lining

Their 1 step closer to being relegated again - next season fingers crossed



I've often wonder whether its better for a team to stay in a lower league where their a chance of winning a title or going up where a chance of being cannon fodder or a financial basket case
is very real

From league one to the championship leaves behind the relative safety (fruitcake owners aside)
60% of turn over maximum on wages

[snowy25]

Philipp Lahm has retired after a very successful career in the game. He won 8 league titles, 6 cups, 1 Champions League title a few other trophies and of course the World Cup with Germany. Arguably one of, if not the best full back of his generation he was able to play either side of the ptich and was blessed with pace, technique and great tackling. He was also someone who was as professional off the pitch as he was on it. He snubbed the limelight and kept a very low profile off the pitch. Unlike so many of today's players who seem to crave publicity. I am sure the club and Bayern's fans will miss him.