[Archived] Manchester City V Rovers Preview

[Tom]

Maybe you're forgetting Burnley got a draw Man City 3 - 3 Burnley

Unless that's what you meant?

And got relegated

[RIML]

And got relegated

I see, I didn't think of that

[47er]

Not read through this thread in full, so could have been mentioned, however Sam was saying Johnson dived on Saturday (in relation to the penality claim).

I thought he dived.

[rebelmswar]

I thought he dived.

If he wasn't a footballer he would be labeled a pussy, falling over himself like that and crying about it.

[Hughesy]

I thought he dived.

Me too - always looking for it

Goals, penalty decision & defensive blocks all here

[philipl]

First time I've seen it and we got lucky that the penalty wasn't given. Far from clear cut but a homer ref would have blown.

[CrazyIvan]

First time I've seen it and we got lucky that the penalty wasn't given. Far from clear cut but a homer ref would have blown.

It was a pen (i.e. should have been given) but Johnson was also looking for it. He went down very easily.

[thenodrog]

It was a pen (i.e. should have been given) but Johnson was also looking for it. He went down very easily.

In that case then it's a dive surely?

[CrazyIvan]

In that case then it's a dive surely?

There was contact from Samba on Johnson's left foot and Samba's right hand on Johnson's back. Was it a dive? I can't honestly tell if the contact was enough to make Johnson go down. Can you?

[Hughesy]

If a player can stay on his feet as the contact was minimal then surely if he goes down its a dive....or if not the ref got it right and decided it wasnt a penalty as he went down too easily....Whichever I dont think it was a penalty, MGP often goes down like that and wins nothing

[CrazyIvan]

If a player can stay on his feet as the contact was minimal then surely if he goes down its a dive....or if not the ref got it right and decided it wasnt a penalty as he went down too easily....Whichever I dont think it was a penalty, MGP often goes down like that and wins nothing

As far as I'm concerned and have actually seen, there WAS contact. The contact was, by the letter of the law, not legal therefore a foul. Whether the player goes down or not is irrelevant. The issue being debated here is whether it was a dive. I can't honestly say it was a dive as I don't know HOW much contact there was. It didn't look like much.

A foul in the penalty area, even if the player does not go down, is a foul and therefore a penalty. The fact Johnson seemed to go down rather easily probably caused enough doubt about the legitimacy of the penalty claim to make the ref's mind up. In the end, he didn't give it so it wasn't a penalty.

[DanLad]

It's the age old excuse.

Mourinho had his 'park the bus' analogy.

Mancini said the same about the Sunderland game, well the Mackems couldn't do any more than WIN the match!

I'm just delighted that the Rovers of old is returning away from home.

Teams come to Ewood and look to defend. Sheff Utd instantly spring to mind as being a side that did this regularly and well.

Did I walk away from Ewood criticising them for not playing an open, expensive game? No, I'd lament the fact that we were unable to break them down. I give teams credit for defnding well, not whinge about it. (Oh, I might whinge about them being dirty gits though - bloody Keith Curle!)

Mancini's comments are all to save face and hope that it keeps the sword of damacles from dropping for an extra day.

[47er]

As far as I'm concerned and have actually seen, there WAS contact. The contact was, by the letter of the law, not legal therefore a foul. Whether the player goes down or not is irrelevant. The issue being debated here is whether it was a dive. I can't honestly say it was a dive as I don't know HOW much contact there was. It didn't look like much.

A foul in the penalty area, even if the player does not go down, is a foul and therefore a penalty. The fact Johnson seemed to go down rather easily probably caused enough doubt about the legitimacy of the penalty claim to make the ref's mind up. In the end, he didn't give it so it wasn't a penalty.

If that was a penalty and you had to give them all games would end up 6-5. Pushes in the area are 10 a penny.

[gumboots]

If that was a penalty and you had to give them all games would end up 6-5. Pushes in the area are 10 a penny.

But a push from big Chris would be enough to floor all but the strongest!

[CrazyIvan]

If that was a penalty and you had to give them all games would end up 6-5. Pushes in the area are 10 a penny.

It was the combination trip and push. I'm not going to debate this endlessly (there's too much of that) but by the letter of the law, it was a pen. It could have gone either way with a sensible ref (more spirit than letter) and in this case we got away with it.

[Amo]

Whichever I dont think it was a penalty, MGP often goes down like that and wins nothing

No, Pedersen runs five yards ahead of the defender and falls down like a tart.

[RIML]

Remember it was Clattenburg who reffed the Carling Cup Semi Final First Leg Samba clearly fouled Agbonlahor on the edge of the box, it was a definite penalty but no penalty given and no booking for Agbonlahor.

[gumboots]

Remember it was Clattenburg who reffed the Carling Cup Semi Final First Leg Samba clearly fouled Agbonlahor on the edge of the box, it was a definite penalty but no penalty given and no booking for Agbonlahor.

Perhaps he's just scared of Samba then, but doesn't quite feel he can give the dive booking