[Archived] Premier League Happenings

[LeChuck]

What a performance from Everton. Never surprises me how quickly people write off Moyes after a few bad results.

To be above sandwiched between Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal at this stage of the season is a magnificent achievement. They're the only club who consistently punch above their weight, year after year.

Personally I'd put him second only to Ferguson in the list of PL managers. It wouldn't surprise me if his loyalty to Everton is because he's been eyed up as the long term successor at Old Trafford - SAF is a known fan and apparently will have a big say in the decision. Moyes deserves a crack at the top.

[thenodrog]

I agree with that Le Chuck. In fact I seem to rem him mentioning managing MU as the peak of his ambition when he was at PNE. His values and requirements from his players is straight out of the RFW handbook. However his style like Guardiola's, Mourhino's and Allardyce's is rather dour and I'm not sure the Plastics would appreciate starting games with a goalie, 4 defenders and 6 midfielders. It'll certaainly be interesting though when old Fergie either calls it a day or turns his toes up. Last time they had a manager of similar stature they went through a shed load of failures in quick time..... and got relegated to boot!!!! Happy days!

[Guest Norbert]

Assuming the squad is largely the same if/when Moyes took over, I think you'd see a bit more flair in his sides. After all, Everton could never get or keep hold of the likes of Van Persie, Hernandez, Kagawa or Valencia and build a squad around them. If Jelavic played like Shearer when he was with us, Man Utd or Man Citeh would spunk out £30m and he'd be gone.

[adopted scouser]

Great win for Wigan, I rember when we played like that

[Audax]

A great win for Wigan but with around 9 matches left for the clubs... there's not much room for mistake for any of the bottom 3, Villa and Southampton conducted a mini-breakaway yesterday, Wigan won today but there game-in-hand seems to be against Manchester City... so, I could be wrong but their and the other bottom 2 clubs task to survive seems monumental.

[thenodrog]

Great win for Wigan, I rember when we played like that

Was that when 'Killer Keeley' was centre half?

[Guest Norbert]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21833416

Odemwingie is at it again.

[Amo]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21833416

Odemwingie is at it again.

Could always buy out the rest of his contract if he's that desperate to leave.

[Tom]

On a day when we laugh at laughable entities we should take time to mention the FA

Won't be charging Mcmanaman for his horror tackle at weekend but have charged John Carver for taking issue with it

[DE.]

The FA at times rival Venky's for sheer incompetence.

[Stuart]

On a day when we laugh at laughable entities we should take time to mention the FA

Won't be charging Mcmanaman for his horror tackle at weekend but have charged John Carver for taking issue with it

Rules are rules, Tom. The linesman "saw it" and didn't tell the referee so that's that.

Doesn't matter that some poor lad nearly had his career ended. It's all about the integrity of the sport you see. The FA would be having to listen to claims every week in every game - right down to the Dog And Duck in the Pie And Pea League,

Pragmatism is the enemy of bureaucracy. The FA is dead. Long live the FA. Garibaldi anyone?

[Baz]

Seem to remember Ben Thatcher get a yellow for an elbow, then the PL reviewed and gave him a 8 game ban.

Stupid rules.

Surely by reviewing and giving the correct decision, they would be helping referees, rather than backing wrong decisions.

[thenodrog]

On a day when we laugh at laughable entities we should take time to mention the FA

Won't be charging Mcmanaman for his horror tackle at weekend but have charged John Carver for taking issue with it

Obviously they 'Kick it out' capaign has failed within their own walls!

[adopted scouser]

Can't believe they aren't taking action on one of the worst tackles I've ever seen - what are they there for ?

Dave Whelan has gone down in my opinion an 'all

[Mike E]

It was a red card and a horrible collision. But that's it. McManaman isn't the beast incarnate or anything. I think it actually speaks volumes that Dave Whelan (a man who's career was ruined/ended by a broken leg) is supporting the player (regardless of own-club bias).

Red card and the usual ban is enough. Or is football just getting even softer? Even only 10 years ago that would've just been a '50/50'.

[Stuart]

It was a red card and a horrible collision. But that's it. McManaman isn't the beast incarnate or anything. I think it actually speaks volumes that Dave Whelan (a man who's career was ruined/ended by a broken leg) is supporting the player (regardless of own-club bias).

Red card and the usual ban is enough. Or is football just getting even softer? Even only 10 years ago that would've just been a '50/50'.

Your wrong with your timescale, Mike. 20-30 years ago, maybe.

It's not necessarily the studs up but the height that makes it a bad one. When you hear ex-players commenting you know it's bad.

[Mike E]

Your wrong with your timescale, Mike. 20-30 years ago, maybe.

It's not necessarily the studs up but the height that makes it a bad one. When you hear ex-players commenting you know it's bad.

Nani's was even higher

I just think that anyone who claims that 'you're not allowed to tackle anymore' (most of the ex-players I've seen or heard so far this week) has NO right to call for McManaman to be punished more than the usual red card and 1 or 3 games. It's completely hypocritical, especially considering he actually got a touch on the ball.

[gumboots]

Listening to radio this morning and they were suggesting that McManaman may now be a target for players who might think "This guy can dish it out; let's get my kick in first" In other words he might have been better off getting a ban because then players would have thought "Fair enough. He's had the punishment" and been ok with that. don't know if it's true but it was an interesting angle on it.

[Salgado Is A Hero]

The other player's in hospital ffs, his scream was perfectly audible and McManamam's studs were up at knee height, one of the most dangerous places to connect with a "tackle" like that.

Wigan should fine him for reckless endangerment and ban him for three games themselves.

Tackling should remain in the game 100% but that wasn't a tackle.

[adopted scouser]

The other player's in hospital ffs, his scream was perfectly audible and McManamam's studs were up at knee height, one of the most dangerous places to connect with a "tackle" like that.

Wigan should fine him for reckless endangerment and ban him for three games themselves.

Tackling should remain in the game 100% but that wasn't a tackle.

Still can't believe Dave Whelan thought the tackle was ok. A blind man on a galloping horse could see the intent, terrible.

[Stuart]

Nani's was even higher

I just think that anyone who claims that 'you're not allowed to tackle anymore' (most of the ex-players I've seen or heard so far this week) has NO right to call for McManaman to be punished more than the usual red card and 1 or 3 games. It's completely hypocritical, especially considering he actually got a touch on the ball.

Now I know you're having a laugh. Comparing Nani's attempt to control a ball with Mcmanaman's reckless, uncontrolled, nasty, cowardly "challenge".

[DE.]

Still can't believe Dave Whelan thought the tackle was ok. A blind man on a galloping horse could see the intent, terrible.

Can only assume Dave has recently taken up trolling as a past-time.

"Dave, that was a terrible challenge, wasn't it?"

...

[Mike E]

There was a wink there too, Stu The Nani comparison wasn't a serious one. But I do stand by my opinion in general that if a red card and 3 game ban had been issued, nobody would give a flip. Nor would they be giving Graham Poll an excuse to pipe up again. Halsey may have problems with fitness (relating to his cancer, as Poll appeared to imply), but who is a man who can't count to 3 to criticise him? If anything I'd be blaming the lino for not flagging it up. Halsey can't help it if the tackle is made with the offender's body blocking his view of the actual incident.

I think McManaman was reckless and excessive (red card), but by no means nasty or cowardly. Players used to be cheered for getting the ball and taking out the man (which is what McManaman did). It happens every week but suddenly McManaman is the frigging devil. Watching the replay at normal speed, it's 'just' a high tackle gone wrong and not the assault and battery it's reaction implies (or is it infers? I'm never sure which is which).

Also, I'm gunna stick to 'McM' in future. Sick of slowing down to think before I type out the full name.

[Amo]

Implies. Inferring is what you're doing.

[Mike E]

Implies. Inferring is what you're doing.

Can you elaborate a little Toppers? I may be reading it wrong, but I don't follow.