I'd like to say it was all down to Wiley – and to a greater extent it was, but all credit goes to Hull for picking up on the refereeing bias as quickly as they did and exploiting it to their maximum advantage... all shame goes to the Arsenal squad for putting their heads down when it was obvious that the whistle was only blowing one way for this game. We have won games like this before – why give up, why panic?
The first goal was disallowed... I do not know why? There was no repaly on the screens and MOTD brushed over it as quickly as was possible with no replay/slow motion/camera angles or analysis. The talking head who was commentating said:
Did it? Was it? Huh? 3D virtual replay please... Nice to see Ronaldo won his 'nailed on penalty' to ensure a Manu win though; so it wasn't all bad ref decisions this w/e... wait – yes it was?!
Why is there absolutely no consistency in media reaction, referee decisions and punishment for on-pitch (and off-pitch) infringements?
For instance – Riley sends off Cahill for that 'shocker of a challenge' and 'disrespect' (?!?!) where as Clichy takes a leg-breaker last week and the fucker gets a yellow... also compare that with Pogatetz identical challenge on Possebon? Straight red - Hard but fair? Is Possebon a 'Jessey' – oh please, do tell as I'm confused?!
If this carries on then pretty soon the general football fan will reach such a state of bewilderment that he/she will be forced to start making up their own mind about this league, the people that run it, the people that officiate it and all their apologists.
I'm going to let you into a little secret, we were in a bad position playing Hull before the whistle even blew for kick off... I knew this and so did a lot of other disillusioned football fans. If fact we were in a bad position as soon as Liverpool beat Everton.
I laid Arsenal heavily (put money down on Arsenal not to win) as soon as Cahill got sent off against Liverpool. This is not because I thought Hull were the better team – this was because Everton beating Liverpool was our only chance of a fair game against Hull. It breaks down a little something like this:
The 'Big 4' multiple must not come home - the bookies' 'bottom line' must be protected.
If Arsenal had beaten Hull then that would mean that Liverpool, Manchester Utd, Chelsea and Arsenal would have won their respective matches. Where as Chelsea and Man-u were obviously going to win their games; so it became exceedingly good value to oppose Arsenal in the last match of the day. We have been stung by this before.
Remember last season, March 15th against Middlesbrough when we were the last to play after the 3 of the 'big 4' won? If you attended the match you will not forget how badly treated we were that day... Mark Halsey and his henchmen were booed off the pitch – although he's not the craftsman that Wiley is and lacks the subtlety to not make it so 'bleeding obvious' what he's up to... which leads us nicely to the game Saturday – how do you swing a match like this – and why were the only 'football-savvy' section of the crowed (Red Section) chanting:
by way of comment on Wiley's performance? For the record I thought that Wliey knew exactly what he was doing.
There are many areas in which an advantage can be given – in this game in particular; it was in the challenge, advantage play and the free kick.
- If the ref allows you to lead with the elbow in the air (I lost count how many times this happened without Hull being penalised for it) then as a 'route 1' team you are going to be doing an awful lot of it. The failure to penalise for strength, or recklessness, in the tackle is a randomiser in favour of the lesser team as it takes an element of skill out of the match.
- If one team can not win a free kick for love or money anywhere in a goal scoring position then it will give the opposing team's players and manager the tip off to get his defence to go in hard and with added confidence on the challenge.
- If one team is breaking forward and the other team throw in a foul only for the ref to pull play back, give a free kick and not give the advantage; then that tactic will be used repeatedly to the advantage of the defending team over the attacking team. Selective use of 'advantage' play is a very effective way to stop attacking teams who like to pass the ball by allowing an advantage when there is none and, conversely, stopping play where there is.
Look out for it next time why don't you... and here's another tip; if you are watching it on the telly - the bias is easier to see with the sound turned down.
There is one thing that disturbed my about Saturday... this is Hull and we only 'turned it on' when they got in the lead in a desperate effort to get a point back. We are good enough to win matches like these despite the 'tilted' playing surface. In my opinion we encouraged Hull further by giving up the fight far too easily - and it worries me as to our aspirations of actually winning anything this season... it really got to the players and that susception to 'mental frailty' needs to be learned from and now.
[29/09/2008 09:20:38] DogFace says: So.... did you win as much cash as me getting on Hull?
[29/09/2008 09:20:56] DogFace says: I quote: "[25/09/2008 14:23:30] DogFace says: Saturday
...
Arsenal v Hull - 17:30 - Arsenal (although depending on the Liverpool/Manu/Chelsea games - one of the big 4 will not win and liverpool seems the obvious target)"
[29/09/2008 09:21:26] DogFace says: Over £100... I'm still pissed off about it though.
[29/09/2008 09:21:43] dhjackal says: " liverpool seems the obvious target"?
[29/09/2008 09:21:54] DogFace says: yeah - that was earlier in the day
[29/09/2008 09:22:08] dhjackal says: you didn't win cos your rubbish
[29/09/2008 09:22:16] DogFace says: as soon as Liverpool beat Everton I was laying Arsenal heavily
[29/09/2008 09:22:28] dhjackal says: why?
[29/09/2008 09:22:31] dhjackal says: you weren't robbed
[29/09/2008 09:22:36] dhjackal says: you were beaten
[29/09/2008 09:22:40] DogFace says: Because Man-u and Chavski were obviously going to win their matches...
[29/09/2008 09:22:47] dhjackal says: so
[29/09/2008 09:22:48] DogFace says: ...which left Arsenal Vs Hull.
[29/09/2008 09:23:14] dhjackal says: yeah and Hull showed just why your not going to win the league
[29/09/2008 09:23:39] DogFace says: Look, I'm trying to give you a bit of advice on your betting here...
[29/09/2008 09:23:58] DogFace says: ...if you want to live in cloud fairy land then fine.
[29/09/2008 09:23:58] dhjackal says: that's rubbish advice
[29/09/2008 09:24:16] DogFace says: How so when it was entirely accurate?
[29/09/2008 09:24:26] dhjackal says: it was entirely lucky
[29/09/2008 09:24:30] DogFace says: HA!
[29/09/2008 09:24:49] dhjackal says: still i'm glad somethign good came out of it for you
[29/09/2008 09:24:57] DogFace says: So - like when I said that you wouldn't beat Newcastle on the opening round of matches as you were last to play and the other 3 of the big 4 won? I was wrong then too?
[29/09/2008 09:25:00] dhjackal says: if i were you i'd lay Arsenal for the season
[29/09/2008 09:25:04] DogFace says: Remember that, ring any bells mate?
[29/09/2008 09:25:24] dhjackal says: (clap)
[29/09/2008 09:25:51] DogFace says: Now are you starting to learn..?
[29/09/2008 09:26:01] dhjackal says: we didn't beat them because we played shite
[29/09/2008 09:26:08] DogFace says: You boys will work with the bookmakers and that's one of the reasons why you are so successfull.
[29/09/2008 09:26:14] DogFace says: Although Webb helped too.
[29/09/2008 09:26:17] dhjackal says: and Arsenal?
[29/09/2008 09:26:25] dhjackal says: they wanted to lose yesterday?
[29/09/2008 09:26:28] DogFace says: Well - that's the thing.
[29/09/2008 09:26:32] dhjackal says: what?
[29/09/2008 09:26:37] dhjackal says: you got beat at home
[29/09/2008 09:26:38] DogFace says: It was a little suss actually...
[29/09/2008 09:26:39] dhjackal says: by hull
[29/09/2008 09:26:42] DogFace says: Yeah - Hull.
[29/09/2008 09:26:48] dhjackal says: embarressing
[29/09/2008 09:26:57] DogFace says: That made me think - some of the play was totally out of character.
[29/09/2008 09:26:58] dhjackal says: paint it whatever way you want
[29/09/2008 09:27:02] dhjackal says: you lost on the pitch
[29/09/2008 09:27:06] dhjackal says: no excuses
[29/09/2008 09:27:31] DogFace says: I hate to think we threw it.... as Wiley was being an utter cunt - but we lost spirit a bit too quickly for my liking.
[29/09/2008 09:28:05] dhjackal says: i think you threw it
[29/09/2008 09:28:10] DogFace says: Really?
[29/09/2008 09:28:14] dhjackal says: it's all part of the bigger picture
[29/09/2008 09:28:17] dhjackal says: can't you see?
[29/09/2008 09:28:19] DogFace says: -tut-
[29/09/2008 09:28:40] DogFace says: If there is a bigger picture it'll be for the bigger teams - and if I knew what it was then I'd make enough cash to retire off it!
[29/09/2008 09:37:45] dhjackal says: how did you get on in the fantasy football?
[29/09/2008 09:48:01] DogFace says: Ohh.. dunno - I don't think I did very well this week. [29/09/2008 09:50:33] DogFace says: Yeah - rubbish - 32 points
[29/09/2008 09:51:50] DogFace says: u?
[29/09/2008 09:55:27] dhjackal says: don't know
[29/09/2008 09:56:18] dhjackal says: 59
[29/09/2008 09:56:20] dhjackal says: (dance)
[29/09/2008 09:56:30] DogFace says: meh
[29/09/2008 10:38:16] dhjackal says: what you doing for lunch?
[29/09/2008 10:38:55] DogFace says: Hmmmmm........ [29/09/2008 10:39:02] DogFace says: need to get some food.
[29/09/2008 10:39:37] dhjackal says: me too
[29/09/2008 10:40:14] DogFace says: Korean/Garners/Mexican?
[29/09/2008 10:40:23] dhjackal says: don't mind
[29/09/2008 10:40:27] dhjackal says: Korean?
[29/09/2008 10:41:27] DogFace says: Yeah man.
[29/09/2008 10:41:34] dhjackal says: sound
[29/09/2008 10:41:42] DogFace says: Let's smash up the kim-chi! [29/09/2008 10:42:43] DogFace says: We need to sort out our betting strategies for the CL games... cash to be made! Who's playing who this week?
[29/09/2008 11:00:05] DogFace says: ...Oh good god - hold the phone: "Super-agent Pini Zahavi is in talks with an unnamed Asian billionaire about a takeover of Tottenham. Spurs chairman Daniel Levy has previously said he would listen to offers and values the club at about £400m."
[29/09/2008 11:00:35] dhjackal says: the table in 2 years time:
[29/09/2008 11:00:44] dhjackal says: Man City
[29/09/2008 11:00:46] dhjackal says: Tottenham
[29/09/2008 11:00:50] dhjackal says: Newcastle
[29/09/2008 11:00:54] dhjackal says: Chelsea
[29/09/2008 11:01:01] dhjackal says: Man Utd
[29/09/2008 11:01:03] dhjackal says: Liverpool
[29/09/2008 11:01:07] dhjackal says: Everton
[29/09/2008 11:01:09] dhjackal says: Aston Villa
[29/09/2008 11:01:13] dhjackal says: Arsenal
[29/09/2008 11:01:15] dhjackal says: Hull
[29/09/2008 11:01:18] DogFace says: (rofl)
[29/09/2008 11:01:42] DogFace says: You have to laugh... if you didn't laugh you'd cry!
[29/09/2008 11:04:28] dhjackal says: true
