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[embowafa]

Haha. That WAS pretty funny.

You guys have a nice little hater circle jerk going on.

 

[embowafa]

Originally Posted by Brian SD

Thread has been saved.

I'm glad I don't moderate this forum - otherwise it would be a bad idea to put someone on ignore. That said, my list is about to gain its first member and this thread is about to get much more tolerable.

I hope it's me.

 

[Jared7]

Originally Posted by StephenHero

Geez, I hope they don't have to amputate it.

Hahahaha

 

[Jared7]

So now Madrid have also put in a complaint with the UEFA.

"Upon learning of the unprecedented decision by F. C. Barcelona to lodge a formal complaint against Real Madrid C. F. coach Jose Mourinho with the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body, Real Madrid C. F. announces that it is obligated to follow suit concerning the repeated unsportsmanlike behavior of F. C. Barcelona, whose players consistently feigned aggressions with the sole purpose of misleading the referee of the match, which clearly led to the unfair decision to dismiss our player Pepe.

It is surprising that this chain of unsportsmanlike conduct and unfortunate decisiones finally culminates in the lodging of a complaint against our coach Jose Mourinho who, beyond opinions based on his right to freedom of speech, expressed his objection to victory at any price and the violation of the principles of loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship established in Art. 7 of the Preamble of the Statutes of UEFA and Art. 5 of its Disciplinary Regulations, by which Real Madrid C. F. expresses its full support of its coach. "

 

[Brian SD]

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns...-shame?cc=4716

In this, though, Alves was far from alone. Pedro and, unsurprisingly, Sergio Busquets, were guilty of the most rank and reprehensible play-acting seen in some time. Real are far from innocent on this front of course, but seeing players of the quality and ability of the two World Cup winners indulge in the dark arts was painful. Perhaps it is the knowledge that Barcelona do not need to stoop to such depths that made it hurt so much; their ability alone is enough to ensure their superiority, and certainly over two legs. Either way it was an unedifying spectacle, particularly from a club that prides itself on doing things the right way. More than a club? Pedro, Alves and Busquets seemed intent on convincing the referee that Madrid's challenges were more than a tackle, more than an assault even. Real were guilty to a lesser degree, but it was Barcelona who surrendered their hard-won moral high ground with their histrionics. We can expect some devilish behaviour from Real Madrid, managed by Mourinho and containing Pepe, but it is becoming an ever more evident part of Barca's approach as well. If Real were said to have abandoned their principles by adopting an oppressive yet legitimate defensive strategy, then what of Barcelona and their behaviour?

This whole article reflects my thoughts perfectly. Glad to see that journalists are coming out on the right side of this issue.

 

[benecios]

The laughable thing about the complaint is that Mourinho's Porto were the biggest set of diving cheats that I have ever seen.

 

[El Argentino]

Another decent article on espnsoccernet, by a non-madridista no less.

-

In Defense of Mourinho
April 29, 2011
By Wim Van Walle

It looks like Jose Mourinho will be sanctioned by the all-mighty UEFA for commenting on its representative in Wednesday's match at the Bernabeu, Wolfgang Stark, and a perceived pro-Barcelona conspiracy. Even worse, probably, is the fact that Mourinho had the audacity to be critical of the Catalan club. In this day and age, it no longer seems an acceptable course of action.

Let's have a look then at what exactly Mourinho is deemed guilty of.

First of all, he claims the referee's decision to send Pepe off changed the game in Barcelona's favour. Now take any game which, with all 22 players on the pitch, has 0-0 on the scoreboard with none of the teams likely to score any time soon, not even the team which is obviously playing the best football on the night. If the referee then decides to send a player off from either team, does that change the game in the other team's favour? Of course it does. More so when said player has so far nullified any threat from the opposition's - and the world's - best player, thus justifying his manager's tactics. Spot on there, then.

His claims that the red card was unjust are also far from incorrect. Both Pepe and Dani Alves go for a loose ball. They both go in hard, with their foot raised. Evidence now suggests there was no contact but, on first viewing, it would be difficult to criticise the decision to award a foul against Pepe. However, the referee certainly didn't look like he was going for a red card before Alves turned on the method acting (with one flaw: would you roll about if your leg was really hurt?), the stretcher came out and he was surrounded by the rest of Barcelona's squad. Watching from the sideline, Alves had to be stopped from jumping straight off said stretcher once he got what he wanted. Also, shortly before, Javier Mascherano was late with a challenge and kicked Pepe full in the shin with the ball nowhere near. Surely that should also have been a red?

Mourinho also says that Barcelona's win in 2009 was tainted because of that game at Stamford Bridge. Now I think the vast majority would agree that Chelsea were robbed in that game by a referee who made a number of incredible mistakes. The home team were better than Barcelona on the night but had four penalty claims turned down, two of them clearly valid or, as is now the appropriate expression, stonewall. Anyone with a decent pair of eyes, unclouded by the current atmosphere of Barcelona deification, can see that the 2009 final should have been Chelsea v Manchester United. Again, it is hard to see what is wrong with that statement.

It isn't even a dig at Pep Guardiola, as many seem to have interpreted it. Mourinho begins by stressing that he thinks of the Barcelona boss as "a fantastic coach". He merely points out that he would be ashamed to have won the Champions League in such a fashion. That is, of course, rubbish. Manchester United will surely have a thing or two to say about a game against Porto, then managed by Mourinho, in 2004. But it is not in any way an insult towards Guardiola. I am certain that Mourinho has a lot of respect for his nemesis, just as he had for Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger. He has a knack of winding people up, but again I cannot see the problem here. For Barcelona to ask for charges against Mourinho smacks of a lack of grace in victory.

Where Mourinho does of course go wrong is when he draws Unicef and UEFA into the whole debate and goes off on a conspiracy tangent. It is merely a rant by a manager who feels he has just been robbed of a result, a result he could well have got. By negative tactics, granted, but football is about results.

Let us not forget that, a mere week before, Real won the Copa del Rey, beating Barcelona using exactly the same tactics they were now unable to fully deploy. It would take a very big person not to be frustrated and angry straight after that game. Mourinho was unable to be magnanimous in this case, but maybe UEFA should try for once to look at this with some perspective. Again, though, UEFA does not respond well to criticism.

All this seems to be papered over by a large proportion of press and public, who merely point out the fact that "the best team won". But first of all, apart from having their usual massive percentage of possession, Barcelona weren't very good at all before Pepe was sent off. And secondly, if the best team should always win, shouldn't we just abolish all competitions and give all the cups to Barcelona from now on? They may be the best squad in the world, but surely that shouldn't imply another squad should be forbidden to try to stop them.

-

 

[Dashaansafin]

**** Barcelona. Bunch of diving cheaters. And I thought Ronaldo was bad...

 

[NewYorkIslander]

Chelsea/Spurs

Lampard's un-goal. I do NOT blame the linesman at all. I don't blame his positioning. He was where he should have been, in line with the last defender, when the long range effort was gaffed. As soon as it was shot, he began to sprint toward the goal, which was when he "saw" it cross the line. Also in is defense, from his position when Gomez grabbed it, he would have seen the entire goal line exposed, as the part of the ball that was still over the goal line, was in the air. From his angle he saw GREEN GRASS between the ball and goal line, hence his calling of a goal.

Just another example of how FIFA can get itself out of the dark ages and institute goal line technology, though they will have a victory in the fact that once again, everyone in England will be talking about it.

 

[the shah]

Madrid lost today and Carvalho got a red card. Someone in Barcelona is surely responsible for diving and getting him sent off ? Chelsea players surrounded the ref demanding their imaginary first goal be acknowledged and Kalou's offside winner sealed the deal. Barcelona were about to go up 2-1 when Milito's header was wrongly called offside and Barcelona eventually lost 1-2 (although the starting lineup included only 3 regulars and several kids, and Pinto's brainless pass led to Mascerano's PK concession). Clearly Barcelona get all calls in their favor.

 

[StephenHero]

Is Pedro out of Intensive Care yet?

 

[the shah]

Latest report suggested 16 stitches. But he took his first steps today !

 

[Dashaansafin]

Hows Busquet's face doing??

 

[the shah]

He has a new role as an actor/model but some say it is too "blue steel"

 

[Brian SD]

Originally Posted by NewYorkRanger

Chelsea/Spurs Lampard's un-goal. I do NOT blame the linesman at all. I don't blame his positioning. He was where he should have been, in line with the last defender, when the long range effort was gaffed. As soon as it was shot, he began to sprint toward the goal, which was when he "saw" it cross the line. Also in is defense, from his position when Gomez grabbed it, he would have seen the entire goal line exposed, as the part of the ball that was still over the goal line, was in the air. From his angle he saw GREEN GRASS between the ball and goal line, hence his calling of a goal. Just another example of how FIFA can get itself out of the dark ages and institute goal line technology, though they will have a victory in the fact that once again, everyone in England will be talking about it.
Poor Spurs were robbed. BOTH goals were un-goals, the second clearly offside. It's all up to Arsenal now to shake **** up at the top of the table. If they pulled 3 points, it would put some serious pressure on United, and with Chelsea's run of form it could give them the lift they need to make the push for 1st. ****, looking at recent form, it's entirely possible that Liverpool steal Spurs spot in Europe.