Re: Season 2017/2018
 

That's one of the easiest red cards you couldve handed out this year and to absolutely nobody's surprise he gets it wrong. Another week in the EPL... :erm:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Didn’t look great on second viewing for sure.:(

Toons keeper had a great debut game, Martial could have had three or four on another day. Newcastle hung on well at the end.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

First half penalty is a pretty easy one too looking back at it. It's an easy foul anyway, the penalty although is a penalty I'm not sure about, we've seen them given as free kicks outside the box. You assume Smalling gets a yellow and naturally he picks up a second one for diving later in the match. Doesn't work out like that though so there's no real argument there. Justice is that Smalling dives, gets booked and Newcastle score from the resulting free-kick.

Valencia pulls off the extreme fortune of not walking down the tunnel early. Newcastle fans aren't going to be too annoyed now, but I can imagine a few teams are miffed they've seen their own players serving bans for exactly this.

Two big decisions, both completely wrong.

Firmino doesn't get a penalty? But hold up, we were literally punished against Palace because Clark put his arms around the forward in the box from a corner, which is it please, it can't be a foul and not a foul. So Palace get one, it's a foul, Lamela for Spurs, foul and lastly Firmino, no foul, majority of other games over the week, no foul. I mean what? What are the purpose of rules if we're just going to skate either side of the rule rather than straight down the middle.

It's not about Newcastle, Man United or Liverpool here, it's once again about the shocking amount of decisions that are wrong each weekend now. How far backwards have we actually gone. I can't recall another season where this was a weekly problem now. I remember it being once a month or so. We're not talking about daft free kicks here either that they get wrong every game, we're talking about game changing decisions.

At least we're training refs right at the lower levels.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

No better in La Liga, watching Valencia v Levante. Levante have just had a perfectly good goal, scored from a corner disallowed because a Valencia defender was pushed to the ground. Only problem with that, it was a Valencia team mate who quite clearly pushed him over.

To compound the felony Valencia go straight up the other end and score. :(

---------- Post added at 21:32 ---------- Previous post was at 21:16 ----------

And to make things even worse an appalling penalty decision against Levante, unbelievable that he has given that.:shocked:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I'm looking forward to gooner baiting at work tomorrow :D

COYS

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

What happened yesterday Jim or was it not as we know it.;):D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Good grief Michael Dawson as a pundit makes Michael Owen sound good.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

BBC spent a good 5 minutes lapping up Buffon only to see him get Harry Kaned.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

BBC......?

Flicking between games, Basel had a clear pen not given before City scored.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Do l sense a sense of perceived bias in that comment.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Not at all, did you see Otamendi flatten the Basel player whilst making no attempt to play the ball?

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yes l did.:td::(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Spurs are giving it to the Old Lady, and a few old men as well in Juve.

---------- Post added at 21:19 ---------- Previous post was at 21:16 ----------

Dembele MOM for me.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Last time they mentioned that Spurs were in the ascendancy the Old Lady scored.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Aye, their live text feed, at work :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

:cool:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The English are back.

Fancy Spurs to scalp Juventus at home, Man City flattened Basel, Liverpool have all but already knocked Porto out.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Just need United and Chelsea to bring us back down to earth next week.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Less of your pessimism Jim.;)

---------- Post added at 04:57 ---------- Previous post was at 04:56 ----------

If only Liverpool could defend...

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The mind boggles.:rolleyes:

Not fresh faced kids but possibly the oldest players in the squad, what a set of plonkers.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43092534

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

No excuses when you consider many of them take home more in a week then many workers take home on a yearly basis.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Cue Julian complaining about the FA Cup draw again. ;)

United, City, Spurs and Chelsea all kept apart. :)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

No point anymore......

An imbecile can tell it's fixed.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Come on, your at home, Wigan should be easy for you. :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

?

We have an away draw???

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It can't be normal if Julian does not complain.:D

---------- Post added at 06:00 ---------- Previous post was at 05:59 ----------

Now l wonder who you will be supporting..;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

DOH, missed that because I was so worried and upset about our draw.:)

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[/COLOR]Is does look a bit suss to say the least. :)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

At least the Dale fans should get to see Kane and Alli soon.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l bet some Spurs fans would much rather hide behind the sofa if the score line stays the same.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It would serve spurs right for disrespecting both Rochdale and the FA Cup by making 11 changes to their team.

Damn.......

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Take that. :D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Get in there The Dales.:cleader::cleader:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Absolutely fantastic

Screws up the bbc and their kane lovefest

A massive money spinner for Dale too.

You going to Wembly Jim?

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It'll be a big payday for Rochdale when they play at Wembley

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Will try, nearly had two tickets for this game but my AV stopped my card details from being transmitted. By the time I had disabled the AV temporarily and tried again they had all gone.:(

My first ever visit to the new Wembley was to watch Rochdale in the league 2 play offs some years ago now, they lost to Stockport County that day.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

This could get tasty at the DW stadium, stupid challenge from Delph, marginal but more a red than a yellow challenge.

Pep really losing it big time, if he doesn’t cool down this could spill over into the second half.

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Not on sale yet but very reasonable prices.:cool:

Level 1
Adults - £10
U18s/ 65 and over - £5
Family Package (2 adults & 2 juniors) - £20

Level 2 (Club Wembley Level)
Adults - £15
U18s/ 65 and over - £7.50
Family Package (2 adults & 2 juniors) - £30

---------- Post added at 21:50 ---------- Previous post was at 20:54 ----------

As I was saying.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It's a great result for football Jim.

The deliberate fixing of the draw has backfired on the FA *******s.

Well done Wigan....

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

And sad to see the City fans taking the stadium apart at the end, not very classy.:(


Must be worth having a fiver on a Wigan v Rochdale final.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Sadly they will be at it again Julian just like their international cohorts FiFA and UEFA.

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Do l sense a big smile for once.:D:D

---------- Post added at 04:45 ---------- Previous post was at 04:43 ----------

Typical of a small minority who cannot cope with losing.:td::(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Let's not forget Wigan's own, pitch invasion with some chav looking teen starting a scuffle with Aguero. A lot have it as Aguero lashing out but I've seen it as the fan raises his arm, unsure what his intentions are, could've been to put his arm around aguero from his mates filming but either way it put Aguero in a very uncomfortable position and this is one of the rare times I'd defend him.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

As I said......;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Twitchy bum time l believe.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

When I saw the team sheet it was obvious Jose had gone for the draw, stunning save from the boy David all the same.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

De Gea was certainly a very fine signing by United as he is worth his weight in gold to them.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Oh dear Arsene this could be quite a embarrassment..:Yikes::eeek:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Leave it to Arsenal to find a way to trump themselves even without the Champions League.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

They are playing as though they wished they where back at home, like most of their supporters.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

You mean park the Bus;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Seems like Arsenal will always find a way to lower the bar in whatever competition they're in. Was hoping to see them reverse it in the second half, overall an embarrassing lazy performance from a decent arsenal lineup even though you'd be expecting an Arsenal reserve side to beat these.

The Europa League may be Arsenal's only route back into the Champions League to be fair.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Looking at several of the teams left in the competition that will be a very big ask, a much stronger line up than last season IMHO.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

:mad: Just found out that United v Brighton FA cup game is scheduled for 7.45 pm kick off on 17th March,.......7.45pm on a Saturday night, bloody ridiculous.:(

Have any FA Cup games been played at 7.45 pm on Saturday this season?

PS. Still trying to get a couple of tickets to Spurs v Dale replay, unfortunately Spurs have now informed Rochdale that they will not be allocated seats in tier 2 as first promised, allocation now limited to 7,500 tickets.

Will have to be up very early on Sunday morning to go and queue up at the ground as no online sales are allowed.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

That's crazy Jim. I thought a greater % of tickets went to the away side in the FA cup. 8% is a joke and it's not even their ground.:mad:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

We have a plan B, my brother who I will hopefully be going with lives in Woking and although it would mean sitting with the Spuds fans he thinks he would be able to get a couple of tickets down there.

Back to that stupid FA Cup replay time, bad enough for me, a 7.45 pm Saturday night kick off, just imagine how pleased the Brighton fans will feel. :(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Sadly as we all know the last thing they think about is the poor football fan and that will not change sadly Jim.:td::(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Extra time and penalties would mean a 10.45pm finish. The last Manchester to Brighton train leaves at 8.35pm. :mad:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

My brothers who follow their team a lot have quite often had to stay in overnight accommodation due to no later trains available to get them back.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Jamaal Lascelles flattens the Bournemouth player in the box, the balls gone but still? :confused: It's surely still an easy penalty.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Nice to see you David , nice to see you David , nice.....:D:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yaay, after queuing for nearly two hours in sub zero temperatures I now have two tickets for Wednesday nights game at Wembley. 😎

Up The Dale.

Off to OT shortly, suspect a draw is on the cards.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

At least you did not have to queue next week Jim.:Yikes::eeek::omg:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Well your beloved better buck up their ideas up as they have been pretty poor so far..:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I think Jose borrowed a hairdryer at half time , much improved, Chelsea seemed to run out of steam in second half, just a pity Big Roms volley didn't go in, that would have been some goal.😎

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Just running the rule over Sevilla v ATM in La Liga, just hope they defend like this at OT in a couple of weeks.:shocked:

Have to say as well that there is no chance that Arsenal will beat ATM, let alone Dortmund in Europa League.

---------- Post added at 22:15 ---------- Previous post was at 21:11 ----------

Just perusing the Chelsea web site ( as you do ) and I found this snippet posted on the 24th of February. A prime example of how the people from 'the smoke' think the world ends at Watford and have little or no idea of what is going on in the rest of the world.

This was taken from a supposed run down on todays opponents, that is to say MUFC.

Mark Hughes has gone on to manage a number of Premier League clubs and is currently in charge at Stoke City.

Err no, he was sacked by Stoke on the 9th of January.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yes it was certainly a much improved second half performance coupled with the other side of Manchester winning as well made it quite a celebratory day for the Mancunians.;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Saves taking the trophy out of Manchester.:cool:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Back safe at my brothers in Woking after a VARy interesting game. At least Rochdale did better than United for the first 45 minutes. Swamped in the second half though.

It was bloody freezing but we enjoyed ourselves. Hopefully I will be back at Wembley in a few weeks following my other team.😇

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l bet you must have had 5 layers on given that harsh wind chill Jim.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Three layers, but a very heavy duty coat, but I am a Northerner. :)
Question is do I return north this lunchtime as planned.

Heavy snow overnight here in Surrey but nothing like as bad as it is at home in Shaw, Oldham.

This is CCTV from my home cameras just now. :(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

You might need a snowmobile to get through that Jim.:)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Home safe and sound, can't beat good quality winter tyres, sailed up the drive without a hint of wheelspin.:cool:

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The end is nigh for Arsene l fear as Man City pile the pressure on their beleaguered manager again tonight.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

City must feel like they are playing at home with all the empty seats, TBH this turnout is far worse than most at the Emptyedd. :(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yes there certainly are quite a few empty seats and there will be even more if Arsenal continue down this current path.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Some bare faced liars employed by Arsenal as well, quoting the attendance as 58,420, what a load of cobblers.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Aside from the weather the transport on Greater Anglia, the overhead out of North London, has been cancelling trains all day. It's worse than it was yesterday. The decision to go ahead with the game was clearly made by the tv companies.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

And yet the away section was packed, ;) I was at Wembley yesterday and it snowed far more than it did tonight.

Still doesn't explain how they can claim 58,420 attendance when the commentators said it looked more ike 28,000

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

It was but the away fans are always the most dedicated, the equivalent Arsenal fans would have been at home too.

Obviously the feeling around the club is quite bad at the moment which played into it but it wouldn't have been that low without the weather issues. Greater Anglia and TFL Overground heading north were running yesterday and today they're running a reduced service. In the end people can get home but it would have took longer and be less reliable so clearly many skipped a game they knew we would lose, that would be below freezing conditions and take them an age to get home.

Arsenal always announce who brought tickets, not the attendance, clearly because the latter makes it look bad.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

When was the last time they ever cared about the fans..

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Nothing like massaging statistics to make it look far better then it really is..

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Doesn't the reported attendance figure usually include the 'season ticket' sales . . whether they were there or not?

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l am not sure but l have always classed a attendance figure based on how many come through the turnstiles.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Arsenal have always used tickets sold, season tickets or not, to announce attendance.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Misleading really because how does one know whether their crowds are falling or rising if they won't give us the true turnstile figure rather then one that that makes the club look like its getting packed gates every time when there might be several thousand below that figure in reality..

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Taken to the extreme . . . if only 1000 people turned up for a cup home game (Arsenal for example), with 250 away supporters included, would the 27,368 attendance quoted be the 'gate receipts' be shared with the away club?

. . . and is advertising at the ground paid out on an attendance figure?

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Yes, the revenue shared would be based on tickets sold and not actual attendance.

I don't know how Arsenal structure the deals with their in-ground advertising but I suspect it's the television cameras that they're interested in. The images of Arsenal playing get broadcast around the world to a number that makes the 60,000 capacity of the ground itself pointless.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Very sad and tragic news coming from Italy.:(

https://www.theguardian.com/football...dies?CMP=fb_gu

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

The perpetual crisis at Arsenal just goes on and on.:D

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

How many times is Otamendi going to get away with all the cynical blocks and fouls he does.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Italian defenders do that all the time Jim and get away with it.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

He's not Italian so he doesn't get a pass

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I'm honestly starting to believe that We'll never see the consistency Pogba reached at Juventus. Serie A, La Liga, Ligue 1 are all perfect molds for him. Raise the tempo and dump yourself in the premier league and you're left with minimal time on the ball to express yourself the way you can in those other leagues. He just hasn't got as much creative freedom here and he's suffering badly for it. To see people calling for Pogba to be subbed after 24 minutes says it all really. He'd be masterful back at Juventus or off to PSG, Barca, Real etc. Pogba is not out of sorts and the questionable decision to sell him years back is starting to look less and less silly.

Right now KDB is the best midfielder and arguably the best all round player in the league. Best form player being Salah ofc, gotta give Salah his due.

Been a long time supporter of Mourinho but United look as dire nowadays as they did under LVG and Moyes. Was so excited for them at the start of the season but its fizzled out. Remembering that their position now also reflects how bad Chelsea and Arsenal are holding up.

Edit: Just catching up and can agree with the calls to sub Pogba. He's having a stinker. It's been a shocking half from him.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Not much better from the rest, Sanchez for one, others losing possession when under no real pressure.:(

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Did that all the time at Arsenal then he would turn around and get a goal from nothing. He concedes possession a lot and scores a lot.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

He conceded possession more times than the rest put together tonight, him and Pogba very poor. I suppose that is what you call winning when not playing well. Stunning goal from Matic but a massive improvement needed against Liverpool.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

That's the player you got though. You put up with it because of what else he can do. Maybe you'll coach it out of his game but even at his best for us he gave the ball away. He likes to try things rather than play it safe.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Don't worry Jim as l am sure one of our Keystone cops defensive displays is just around the corner.;)

---------- Post added at 03:39 ---------- Previous post was at 03:36 ----------

Mourinho thus so far has not gotten he best out of the best midfield player in Italy when he was there.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

With Isco, Kroos, Modric and Bale on the bench I thought Zidane was looking to contain PSG but they have had more than double PSG,s attempts on goal.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

l have been pretty disappointed with PSG this season as they were being proclaimed as the next coming with Neymar on board.

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

Now now Jim don't chuckle too much..;)

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

I found out tonight watching the Spurs game, that European referees turn a blind eye to the amount of sickening fouls and Oscar winning fouls and feigning injuries.

Juventus should have had TWO players red carded.

When Son got fouled. The Juventus player then Stamped on SON not once BUT twice. Both RED CARDS.

Then when Dele Alli got fouled. Talk about a thunder push. I thought that he was going to be pushed into next week.

Then Spurs should have had a penalty, when the Juventus pushed the ball away with HIS HANDS.

There were talk from the bias commentators - including Hoodle who said that Juventus should have had a penalty. Where, the Juventus player was fouled OUTISDE the box. Then the Juventus player then runs into the box and falls over.

I thought that Spurs played very well. But we fell apart after the two goals.

I think Moura should have come on to replace Alli.


Spurs need to buy in the Summer. Without a doubt. We must hope we qualify for Europe next season

Re: Season 2017/2018
 

What happened, out all evening but from things I have read Spurs where out thought, out managed and ultimately outplayed. And Diva (diver) Alli got found out as well.

Will give them a few quid for Kane though, he is bound to be off somewhere soon.