[Archived] Premier League Happenings

[Ricky]

Fulham v Liverpool .. Richardson and Gerrard both booked for taking their shirts off after scoring. Pathetic isn't it? The FA's decision to make it a yellow card offence doesn't seem to have had the desired effect so it's obviously time to step up a gear and make it a red card offence.

Why should it even be a yellow? Gerrard has just won a game with the last kick of the ball for the club he has captained for years. Why take the passion out of the game?

[G Somerset Rover]

That ball by Gerrard for Sturridge's goal was world class. If Kolo Toure stopped his one man mission to make Liverpool lose every week then they'd have a shout for the title.

[thenodrog]

Why should taking your shirt off make it any better? No one took their shirts off a couple of decades ago. Shearer never did, nor did Law, Greaves, Lofthouse, Linekar, Rush etc etc etc. I dont think Suarez does and he is the best striker in the country. It's all just pathetic.

[Ricky]

Gascoigne and Giggs both did a couple of decades ago. I just don't see it as one of the major problems in the game.

[thenodrog]

Gascoigne and Giggs both did a couple of decades ago. I just don't see it as one of the major problems in the game.

Fine examples...... Gazza's done a lot of things that I wouldn't recommend whilst Giggs has done a few that I would!

Anyway I don't think it was a yellow card offence back then. Just imagine in Italia 90 if gazza had got his foot on that ball that came across the german goal and got booked after scoring for taking his shirt off instead of for that mistimed tackle on the German. We'd have won the semi and he'd have missed the final.... would you have been so forgiving then?

However you see it Ricky it is an automatic yellow card and I've seen plenty sent off when they pick up a second yellow later in the game. It's immature and most definitely unprofessional. Managers must tear their hair out when a player picks up a yellow so stupidly and so cheaply. An automatic red card and I can guarantee the practice would stop.

[M-K]

Why do they take their shirts off at all? The game is gay enough as it is - a bunch of well-toned nancy boys with diamond earrings, running around in shorts, falling to the floor shrieking if somebody bumps into them and dry-humping each other when they score a goal.

[Audax]

Magpies have lost their last 3, 3-0, 3-0, 4-0 last outing vs. Spurs at St. James Park with a full stadium. This can't be good for them though they already have 37 points.

[Al]

Gascoigne and Giggs both did a couple of decades ago. I just don't see it as one of the major problems in the game.

Neither do I. It's pathetic that they get booked for celebrating a goal, which is what the game is all about and a red card is just ludicrous. Stopping celebration is taking the passion out of the sport.

[speeeeeeedie]

Magpies have lost their last 3, 3-0, 3-0, 4-0 last outing vs. Spurs at St. James Park with a full stadium. This can't be good for them though they already have 37 points.

I read an article on Newcastle theorising that Ashley hired and fired Joe Kinnear to distract fans from the club's lack of transfer dealings. He bought the club with a view to selling it on for a big profit, unlucky for him though he paid through the nose just before the worst financial crisis in decades. Now he'll never get his money back, never mind profit so is running it lean to at least stop any further losses.

[yoda]

I read an article on Newcastle theorising that Ashley hired and fired Joe Kinnear to distract fans from the club's lack of transfer dealings. He bought the club with a view to selling it on for a big profit, unlucky for him though he paid through the nose just before the worst financial crisis in decades. Now he'll never get his money back, never mind profit so is running it lean to at least stop any further losses.

That reminds me of something

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Booking players for taking their shirt off seems needless but the one that really annoys me is booking players for jumping into the crowd. And the one that really, really annoys me is the way refs of late have taken to blowing their whistle frantically whenever an away team celebrates a goal with any exuberance. The game is supposed to be about having fun, part of a refs job is to be invisible unless called upon, and nobody in the stadium is calling upon them to get involved in the most euphoric part of the game, scoring goals. The FA are a bunch of interfering morons with a giant stick up their backsides and so are their representatives on the pitch.

[thenodrog]

Booking players for taking their shirt off seems needless but the one that really annoys me is booking players for jumping into the crowd. And the one that really, really annoys me is the way refs of late have taken to blowing their whistle frantically whenever an away team celebrates a goal with any exuberance. The game is supposed to be about having fun, part of a refs job is to be invisible unless called upon, and nobody in the stadium is calling upon them to get involved in the most euphoric part of the game, scoring goals. The FA are a bunch of interfering morons with a giant stick up their backsides and so are their representatives on the pitch.

I hope you mean players jumping in the crowd annoy you and not the booking it rightly receives? Since Hillsborough and the removal of fencing the boundary wall must be deemed sacrosanct by all. Players on one side and supporters on the other. If players continually go into the crowd it sets a bad precedent simply by association. I for one do not want to see the return of fencing.

[Steve Kean's Hypnotoad]

Thats pretty hopeful theno seeing as I said the opposite

I fail to see a credible link between Hillsbrough and players running into the crowd. When players run to the ground they spend about 3 seconds there getting mobbed, decide they've had enough and extract themselves. The players love it, the crowd loves it, and it usually enhances a memorable moment. The last thing I wanna hear when Rovers have scored a crucial away goal and everyone is absolutely ecstatic is a ref blowing his whistle like crazy to make sure nobody celebrates too much.

Like I said, the game is about fun. If pedantic legislation and the health and safety culture is allowed to completely take over football (its already about 90% there) as it has with most areas of society, it'll be a massive shame.

[Guest Norbert]

If you want to produce a red card if someone does a Tino Asprilla with the corner flag then frankly you're a very dull person who should not be involved in sport. You're the sort of humourless killjoy the right wing love to paint all socialists as. In fact you'd be no different to those puritanical, dreary, dogmatic people who give the left wing that bad reputation.

[thenodrog]

Thats pretty hopeful theno seeing as I said the opposite

I fail to see a credible link between Hillsbrough and players running into the crowd. When players run to the ground they spend about 3 seconds there getting mobbed, decide they've had enough and extract themselves. The players love it, the crowd loves it, and it usually enhances a memorable moment. The last thing I wanna hear when Rovers have scored a crucial away goal and everyone is absolutely ecstatic is a ref blowing his whistle like crazy to make sure nobody celebrates too much.

Like I said, the game is about fun. If pedantic legislation and the health and safety culture is allowed to completely take over football (its already about 90% there) as it has with most areas of society, it'll be a massive shame.

But 99.9999 % of supporters cant get to the players. Should the players go round the ground having their backs slapped by all and sundry?

No doubt some supporters will try and either fall or get trampled in the rush. How long before supporters not quite in line leap over the wall to run to them? Turn yellows to reds and the players will celebrate quite happily on the pitch.

If you want to produce a red card if someone does a Tino Asprilla with the corner flag then frankly you're a very dull person who should not be involved in sport. You're the sort of humourless killjoy the right wing love to paint all socialists as. In fact you'd be no different to those puritanical, dreary, dogmatic people who give the left wing that bad reputation.

jimmk2 would have had a seizure a few weeks back.

On a more serious note it appears that many have forgotten or are too young to rem the pitch invasions of the 70's and 80's and the horrors of Heyschell and Hillsborough.

[Jimmy612]

Neither do I. It's pathetic that they get booked for celebrating a goal, which is what the game is all about and a red card is just ludicrous. Stopping celebration is taking the passion out of the sport.

But what is this taking your shirt off business about? It's completely unnecessary and quite frankly annoying whenever anyone does it. Managers must go mental when a player gets booked for it. Hope Stevie collects 5 bookings and misses a vital match for it.

[Mike E]

I can understand when they have something written on their vests and such. Though I must say it doesn't bother me.

I believe it receives a booking because it removes the sponsor from view (despite every other player in shot keeping them on show) during the close-ups. Ie: Football is (once again) driven by money.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

I read once that the reason you get booked for taking your shirt off, or doing a Ravanelli, is due to the camera not being able to do a close-up shot of the shirt sponsor.

I agree that you shouldn't be booked for leaving the field of play.

Was it Benni McCarthy who once ran into the crowd up the steps when he scored once at Ewood? Did that happen?

[Mike E]

I read once that the reason you get booked for taking your shirt off, or doing a Ravanelli, is due to the camera not being able to do a close-up shot of the shirt sponsor.

I agree that you shouldn't be booked for leaving the field of play.

Was it Benni McCarthy who once ran into the crowd up the steps when he scored once at Ewood? Did that happen?

Was that not Nonda? Vs Middlesbrough if I remember rightly?

[Tom]

Benni ran up the steps into the dugout and at his place 'on the bench' when he scored THAT winner in the cup v Arsenal

[Al]

But what is this taking your shirt off business about? It's completely unnecessary and quite frankly annoying whenever anyone does it. Managers must go mental when a player gets booked for it. Hope Stevie collects 5 bookings and misses a vital match for it.

Miserable git.

[thenodrog]

I believe it receives a booking because it removes the sponsor from view (despite every other player in shot keeping them on show) during the close-ups. Ie: Football is (once again) driven by money.

Only fair then isn't it? Lest we forget sponsorship etc keeps football and football clubs afloat.... as well as a number of floating gin palaces of the top Prem players.

[Tom]

Fulham sack their manager

[Stuart]

What the...?

[Tom]

Felix Magath brought in

Renee lasted 75 days!