...::[The Footy Desk]::... (Part 1)

[Toup]

Who do you think will win today, Benfica or Braga?

[cactus.]

 

>Pepe get's controversially sent off

 

 

[Mav.]

That picture completely misrepresents the scene.

 

Watching it live, it was worth a yellow. Barca players were dropping like flies all over the pitch and Mourinho has every right to be pissed.

 

The ref in charge took forever to hand out the red and only after being completely surrounded by about 6 or 7 barca players. They practically intimidated him into sending Pepe off.

 

Beautiful 2nd goal by Messi though. Really is the best player on the planet.

[cactus.]

Given the overall situation and the foul itself, a red card was harsh, but these things do come down to the discretion of the referee, and I'd have issued a red card myself while others may deem it just a caution. You can't go around throwing your studs up in the air at opponents' legs.

 

Alves's playacting was disgraceful, as was the conduct of most of the Barca team after the foul, and I'd definitely have given him a yellow for it. How Barca's players always seem to escape punishment for their bullsh*t is rather mind-boggling.

 

 

[Vercetti27]

after what happened with barca against chelsea in 2009 and arsenal this year AND the strange line of red cards issued to madrid players against barca it is looking a bit suspicious I have to say.

[MyDog]

That was a harsh challenge (do you guys know the pain when you get hit, especially in the calf, by the bottom of a football boot?) but Pepe didn't receive red just because of it. He made 351 fouls before it and he should have been sent off.

[Canoxa]

Getting a yellow card for that challenge would be attributed to human mistake - the refs have no slow motion vision, after all. But getting sent off straight, after the whole opposing team chased the referee like wild bees, for a challenge in which you don't even touch the other player...

[Toup]

What now?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou_JW72XWJQ...player_embedded

[MyDog]

Getting a yellow card for that challenge would be attributed to human mistake - the refs have no slow motion vision, after all. But getting sent off straight, after the whole opposing team chased the referee like wild bees, for a challenge in which you don't even touch the other player...

The referee didn't see that clearly. Although, I think it's because f*cking Sepp Blatter doesn't want to put technology refereeing in football.

[Canoxa]

Getting a yellow card for that challenge would be attributed to human mistake - the refs have no slow motion vision, after all. But getting sent off straight, after the whole opposing team chased the referee like wild bees, for a challenge in which you don't even touch the other player...

The referee didn't see that clearly. Although, I think it's because f*cking Sepp Blatter doesn't want to put technology refereeing in football.

I'm very much aware of that. In fact, in these arguments, I nearly always side with the referee because I know how hard they have it. But, as I said, yellow would be justified. Barça surround the ref isn't.

[The Killa]

Don't know why people are blaming the ref so much. You know he can't see every damn challenge under a microscope and is able to determine that Pepe didn't touch him by a fraction of an inch. From where he was, the challenge looked pretty cynical. It did on the TV as well. I think the ref, although made the incorrect decision, ultimately wasn't at major fault.

 

But, once again this whole referee "didn't see this or that" and players diving issue has been going on for too long and I think it's completely disrespectful to the sport that FIFA have really done f*ck all about it except issuing fines to high paid people that will recoup it in 1 hour anyway. They really need to step up their priorities.

[Josh]

 

Getting a yellow card for that challenge would be attributed to human mistake - the refs have no slow motion vision, after all. But getting sent off straight, after the whole opposing team chased the referee like wild bees, for a challenge in which you don't even touch the other player...

The referee didn't see that clearly. Although, I think it's because f*cking Sepp Blatter doesn't want to put technology refereeing in football.

I'm very much aware of that. In fact, in these arguments, I nearly always side with the referee because I know how hard they have it. But, as I said, yellow would be justified. Barça surround the ref isn't.

Well to them it would have looked like a horrible tackle, I know that it did to me on first viewing. And if Barcelona were to stop doing what they do Real would just kick them off the park. The only way to fight fire in this situation is with a dose of cold water.

[Canoxa]

Getting a yellow card for that challenge would be attributed to human mistake - the refs have no slow motion vision, after all. But getting sent off straight, after the whole opposing team chased the referee like wild bees, for a challenge in which you don't even touch the other player...

The referee didn't see that clearly. Although, I think it's because f*cking Sepp Blatter doesn't want to put technology refereeing in football.

I'm very much aware of that. In fact, in these arguments, I nearly always side with the referee because I know how hard they have it. But, as I said, yellow would be justified. Barça surround the ref isn't.

Well to them it would have looked like a horrible tackle, I know that it did to me on first viewing. And if Barcelona were to stop doing what they do Real would just kick them off the park. The only way to fight fire in this situation is with a dose of cold water.

If the ref was so strict as to bring out the red, he should have been strict to book each Barça player for protests. That kind of pressure is ugly, and very much influential. Besides, if you happen to believe that Barça is made entirely out of moral fiber and rainbows, I won't argue, because it would be no use. Barça isn't any more of a team that Real is at an oft-forgot about thing called fair play.

[Josh]

Besides, if you happen to believe that Barça is made entirely out of moral fiber and rainbows, I won't argue, because it would be no use. Barça isn't any more of a team that Real is at an oft-forgot about thing called fair play.

I'm not arguing that at all, however at least they tried to play football. Real set out to play dirty and it appears that they got a little bit of a taste of their own medicine. I can't say that I'm sad about that to be honest.

[Canoxa]

Besides, if you happen to believe that Barça is made entirely out of moral fiber and rainbows, I won't argue, because it would be no use. Barça isn't any more of a team that Real is at an oft-forgot about thing called fair play.

I'm not arguing that at all, however at least they tried to play football. Real set out to play dirty and it appears that they got a little bit of a taste of their own medicine. I can't say that I'm sad about that to be honest.

I wasn't implying you were. It seemed I did because I have a friend who shouts "més que un club" whenever he can, he is absolutely mad about Barça and a few other friends who back him up. Because of that, the default position of anyone whose preferences I don't know in this debate is "Barça".

 

Regarding "playing football", it's the only way one can face Barça nowadays: pressure high up in the field and a defensive distributor, not unlike Xavi. Pepe was both, in addition to being in charge of covering Messi! Barça's football is tiki-taka, not possession football: those are very different things. Barça's passes were completely non objective, with the sole objective of destroying Madrid. The high possession rates stem from their technical ability - they rarely fail - not from useless passing in half a football field. Real, on the other hand, was able to move the ball forward with three passes, by playing a wide game, not by headlessly dumping the ball on Adebayor. They just couldn't distribute the game without Pepe.

[uNi]

Benfica 2-1 Sp. Braga

FC Porto 3-1 Villarreal

 

Porto is nailing them.

 

EDIT: Porto 4-1!

[Seddo]

Porto 4-1 up and i'm gonna have to say they're quite lucky. The amount of times Villarreal beat Porto's defence with ease in the first half and early in the second half and then just wasted chance after chance with poor decisions and poor finishing.

 

It could so easily be about 5-4 to Villarreal at the moment. Still muchos credit for turning it around like.

[Toup]

Omfg if Porto goes with Benfica to finals, we aren't having a f*cking chancee, we're gonna be smashed.

[cactus.]

 

Besides, if you happen to believe that Barça is made entirely out of moral fiber and rainbows, I won't argue, because it would be no use.

I've spent a portion of my day civilly arguing with Madrid fans who apparently think their team can do no harm and everybody is out to get them. They're acting like yesterday's match was the biggest atrocity on behalf of referees in footballing history. In fact, they are already complaining about the referee in next week's match. It's something extraordinary to behold.

[Canoxa]

 

Besides, if you happen to believe that Barça is made entirely out of moral fiber and rainbows, I won't argue, because it would be no use.

I've spent a portion of my day civilly arguing with Madrid fans who apparently think their team can do no harm and everybody is out to get them. They're acting like yesterday's match was the biggest atrocity on behalf of referees in footballing history. In fact, they are already complaining about the referee in next week's match. It's something extraordinary to behold.

Just so this has some context: it's been established that I favor Real, but I do consider myself neutral. That comment applies to Real as well, of course.

 

We must separate the fans from the agents of the club itself. Unless I see the argument is conducted with proper terms, I tune out. I'm mostly sick of talking about refereeing - if you know any Benfica fans you'll understand. But, in this case (and I've already said why) the expulsion was not only unwarranted, it also at a profound effect on the match.

 

 

Porto 4-1 up and i'm gonna have to say they're quite lucky. The amount of times Villarreal beat Porto's defence with ease in the first half and early in the second half and then just wasted chance after chance with poor decisions and poor finishing.

 

It could so easily be about 5-4 to Villarreal at the moment. Still muchos credit for turning it around like.

Is that so? What about Porto finding every way possible around Villareal's 7-man defense only to be stopped by the submarine's goalie, who managed to score just before the half time break with a quick counter attack?

 

Of course I'm biased, but I saw Porto holding them down in the first half, only to be pestered with counter attacks - since both our wing backs are offensive, particularly Alvaro Pereira, Nilmar had a big playground to run around in. And yes, in the first half, Porto's defense was horribly positioned and very weak tactically, but our quality defense always came through some way or another. Villareal was motivated by the goal, opened up, and there you have it. No luck whatsoever, frankly. Especially when there are five goals to be accounted.

 

Great goal by Guarin and Falcao excellent, as always.

[Der_Don]

Watching Porto-Villarreal yesterday was a good choice. Very entertaining. I was pretty disappointed with Porto's performance in the first half. Villarreal could've been up by 2 or 3 at halftime.

Second half was class. Great attacking football. Hulk and Falcao are amazing. In the end Porto deserved the win.

[AndyGanteks]

I was hoping for a bit more from Nilmar and Villareal, oh well, there's always next year.

[Seddo]

Is that so? What about Porto finding every way possible around Villareal's 7-man defense only to be stopped by the submarine's goalie, who managed to score just before the half time break with a quick counter attack?

 

Of course I'm biased, but I saw Porto holding them down in the first half, only to be pestered with counter attacks - since both our wing backs are offensive, particularly Alvaro Pereira, Nilmar had a big playground to run around in. And yes, in the first half, Porto's defense was horribly positioned and very weak tactically, but our quality defense always came through some way or another. Villareal was motivated by the goal, opened up, and there you have it. No luck whatsoever, frankly. Especially when there are five goals to be accounted.

 

Great goal by Guarin and Falcao excellent, as always.

What, you got absolutely bummed in that first half and like i said poor decisions and finishing stopped Villarreal from being about 5-0 up themselves, if those chances were put away Porto ain't coming back, that's what i mean by lucky.

 

Porto played great in the second half and just turned the match on the head. Falcao dived got the pen and Porto never looked back, when Porto's chancs come they actually put them away, with some great finishing from Falcao.

[Josh]

What, you got absolutely bummed in that first half and like i said poor decisions and finishing stopped Villarreal from being about 5-0 up themselves, if those chances were put away Porto ain't coming back, that's what i mean by lucky.

 

Porto played great in the second half and just turned the match on the head. Falcao dived got the pen and Porto never looked back, when Porto's chancs come they actually put them away, with some great finishing from Falcao.

I completely agree with your entire post apart from the bit about Falcao diving. I thought that the goalkeeper should have just stood up to him. Then they wouldn't have had that situation where he could go down and the ref would have no choice but to give the penalty. There was clear contact.

[A J]

if porto can keep hold of their two frontmen, the "hulk" and falcao it will be a miracle.

[mark-2007]

What now?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ou_JW72XWJQ...player_embedded

Am I the only one seeing contact, no matter how many videos show in stop-and-start slow motion? I mean, they're pausing it before the challenge is even made in this one. For Alves to play the ball and then to dive like that would be pretty impossible (unless I'm also getting fooled by it?). To me, Alves can't spin around like that of his own accord, it's Pepe's challenge that gives him the momentum. Red is harsh, but it easily warrants a yellow.

 

Also, I'm off to Wembley next month, whoop!

[AnotherDave]

It's pretty obvious there was no contact from Pepe on Alves. Both players make contact with the ball at the same time and Pepe's momentum causes Alves to go down, but that's arguably not even a foul as Pepe went for the ball, got the ball and didn't make contact with the player at all. Given how the game had gone previously - i.e. Barcelona making a meal of everything - I can't see the referee's justification for a red card.

 

If it takes slow-mo replays to work out what was or wasn't deserving of a foul or card, then you can't blame the referee for making a mistake, but to me at least, when I saw it live and in real time, Pepe got the ball and then it looked like he made contact with Alves, but not in an overly aggressive way, so I'd probably have given a yellow.

 

 

 

 

^ 1:25-ish onwards shows pretty conclusively that there was no contact.

Edited April 29, 2011 by something_else

[A J]

you know whats a pity though.. despite all this evidence that it was the wrong decision by the ref, and Alves was just being a drama queen, UEFA won't do a damn thing about it, Pepe will be banned, Alves will still play next week, and so players will just keep play acting, footie needs an overhaul, more common sense needs to get put back in to the rules of the game.

[Josh]

Am I the only person who really doesn't give a toss about this? If he dived it doesn't matter to me. Mourinho's teams play anti-football, especially against Barcelona, and I am absolutely f*cking loving the fact that they got a taste of their own medicine. The referee could have sent off Adebayor and Marcelo for worse incidents though.

[mark-2007]

Am I the only person who really doesn't give a toss about this? If he dived it doesn't matter to me. Mourinho's teams play anti-football, especially against Barcelona, and I am absolutely f*cking loving the fact that they got a taste of their own medicine. The referee could have sent off Adebayor and Marcelo for worse incidents though.

This really.

 

Mourinho may be a fun media figure but his style of football is so negative at times.