Arsenal (A)

[tomski]

4 minutes ago, DazBob said:

Apart from the Sheehan penalty claim, which he definitely bottled, I don't think he got much wrong ... then again, it was a pretty easy match to referee.  It's not like there were tackles flying in everywhere.

Not like a challenge I saw at Essa once😂

[Underpants]

I would have liked it to be closer but it wasn't. As well as being miles better than us, Arsenal just looked bigger than us. I never really thought we would get anything out of the game. And that's how it turned out. But when we went in the FAC in '94 I felt invincible under Rioch and had high hopes of getting something. And we did. And that was when both teams picked the best teams available to themselves. It just goes to show how big the divide is now between the top of PL and lower league wannabes.

[FrancisFogarty]

We can’t compare this Bolton Wanderers to the White Hot Wanderers. All the sides we beat then and there were plenty, were long established teams as we were, but this Bolton Wanderers is only 6 years old. With a much smaller budget and therefore lower expectations.

[Underpants]

25 minutes ago, FrancisFogarty said:

We can’t compare this Bolton Wanderers to the White Hot Wanderers. All the sides we beat then and there were plenty, were long established teams as we were, but this Bolton Wanderers is only 6 years old. With a much smaller budget and therefore lower expectations.

What I was saying, maybe clumsily, was the gap between top PL teams and the rest, even the in the PL, is massive compared to back in the day. But that Rioch team did feel like it was a match for anyone in the big games. 

[Duck Egg]

4 hours ago, matty2094 said:

Don't think he did an awful lot wrong with the exception of the Sheehan penalty shout. I think the other way round, they get that - home advantage potentially? Not that that makes it acceptable but it's easier to give it when you've got 55,000 screaming at you than 4,000 over 100 yards away. 

It's the best argument for VAR.  Refs terrified of giving penalties against the big sides on their home ground. 

[FrancisFogarty]

1 hour ago, Underpants said:

What I was saying, maybe clumsily, was the gap between top PL teams and the rest, even the in the PL, is massive compared to back in the day. But that Rioch team did feel like it was a match for anyone in the big games. 

Sorry Undies I was agreeing. We did give all the big lads a good game. The gap now is far more than it was then. We didn’t realise then that the White Hot years were even more of an achievement than we thought.

[Underpants]

3 minutes ago, FrancisFogarty said:

Sorry Undies I was agreeing. We did give all the big lads a good game. The gap now is far more than it was then. We didn’t realise then that the White Hot years were even more of an achievement than we thought.

Indeed 👍

[Wanderlust]

6 hours ago, DazBob said:

Apart from the Sheehan penalty claim, which he definitely bottled, I don't think he got much wrong ... then again, it was a pretty easy match to referee.  It's not like there were tackles flying in everywhere.

Never a pen in a month of Sundays -it was a powderpuff midfielder falling over when he was breathed on and if anyone gave a pen against us for that sort of behaviour I’d be fuming.

[forever_bwfc]

8 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Never a pen in a month of Sundays -it was a powderpuff midfielder falling over when he was breathed on and if anyone gave a pen against us for that sort of behaviour I’d be fuming.

I agree but that’s a pen all day long these days! Have you seen the soft as shit pens they give these days 

[Wanderlust]

I think Forino is an athletic lad but he lacks footballing skill and nous - like Santos. He can challenge well because of his pace/physique/long legs but we already have 3 of those plus the less physically imposing Forrester - the one CB who can actually play a bit and yet is least likely to get a game in a team that is trying to play out from the back. The manager can work owing them to improve but they will never be geniuses against decent opposition.

But in L1 they should be fine.

[Wanderlust]

30 minutes ago, forever_bwfc said:

I agree but that’s a pen all day long these days! Have you seen the soft as shit pens they give these days 

Sure but getting all aerated about it and suggesting the ref “bottled it” is like a grown man complaining he didn’t, get a pink unicorn for Christmas. On no planet should anyone expect a pen when our player dives.

 

[Casino]

Dive?

Was it balls

It wouldve only delayed the inevitable, but thats a penalty

[radcliffe white]

Prem game that gets given by VAR

[gonzo]

6 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Sure but getting all aerated about it and suggesting the ref “bottled it” is like a grown man complaining he didn’t, get a pink unicorn for Christmas. On no planet should anyone expect a pen when our player dives.

 

You were either pissed or trying too hard.

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

8 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

Never a pen in a month of Sundays -it was a powderpuff midfielder falling over when he was breathed on

 

7 hours ago, Wanderlust said:

On no planet should anyone expect a pen when our player dives.

 

Are you sure you even support Bolton?

[ZiggyStardust]

9 minutes ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

 

Are you sure you even support Bolton?

He believes it would have been a penalty if it had been Matete fouled rather than Sheehan.

[gonzo]

I think we know what @Wanderlustwants for Christmas anyway 🦄 

[Marc505]

Just remembered I was sat opposite the referees dad on the train home, he was on the phone to him. Mikel (first name terms) was happy with his performance.

[Ani]

1 hour ago, radcliffe white said:

Prem game that gets given by VAR

At the time I thought it was a penalty, but at other end and 8 pints in

Watching back at full speed was less sure

But watching back in slow motion their lad gets his foot round Sheehan who then plays the ball and is fouled. 
 

I can see why ref did not give it but as you say with VAR it is a penalty. 

 

[Dr. Feelgood]

12 hours ago, Duck Egg said:

It's the best argument for VAR.  Refs terrified of giving penalties against the big sides on their home ground. 

There IS no good argument for VAR. At least not the way it's operated in England.

[Ani]

At least we did not pick up any injuries......... 

Oh blimey ! At least it means GJ plays left side. 

[Lt. Aldo Raine]

One good thing - maybe the only good thing - about VAR is it's ended players winning penalties with outrageous dives

[DazBob]

If there was VAR on Wednesday night I have no doubt the ref would've given the penalty.

Edited September 27, 2024 by DazBob

[ianofcleveleys]

1 hour ago, DazBob said:

If there was VAR on Wednesday night I have no doubt the ref would've given the penalty.

I'd suggest a fair few Prem refs would have given it anyway on the field, but you're right, I reckon it would have been given by VAR

[tshape]

3 hours ago, Lt. Aldo Raine said:

One good thing - maybe the only good thing - about VAR is it's ended players winning penalties with outrageous dives

As I read this I saw Diouf's dive at Blackburn away play in my mind. Poetry in motion.