English Premier League 12/13

[redsforlife]

Still can't believe they counted that goal.  Ugh.

Yet, the media never hounded Nani in the same way for that ridiculous unsporting behavior. The referee should have been fired, because he got everything wrong. We are all clueless how he missed the hand ball, but he also acknowledged Nani dived. He failed to card Nani for the dive after the goal. He pretty much just gave him a pat on the back for it.

The British media has never been fair. They don't want to be. They want to sell papers. The only reasons Suarez gets it as much as he does is the WC incident(shouldn't even matter) and the Evra incident(Evra admitted to calling him a dirty South American, Idk why that's ok, but negrito isn't.) The diving is just something they can pick on at the moment. It's never been any worse than many other players. If we look outside the Prem, it's probably even worse in general. That's the one thing I like about the Prem is the allow more physicality in general.

[Adi]

I think they were fair with one of their own, Ashley Young.  He dove in two straight games and got two penalties out of it for United.  The media really hammered him for it and rightfully so.

[redsforlife]

I think they were fair with one of their own, Ashley Young.  He dove in two straight games and got two penalties out of it for United.  The media really hammered him for it and rightfully so.

There's still a difference. Young gets the two penalties. Suarez gets booked for diving often when he isn't diving. The referees pre judge Suarez. The media is definitely not fair. We wouldn't be discussing this otherwise. Young is easily just as bad of a diver, but is definitely not mentioned like Suarez.

[redsforlife]

Fun fact. United has the worst defense in the top 10 of the Premier League. In fact, you have to go to 12 place Norwich to find a team that has conceded more goals. 

[Adi]

There's still a difference. Young gets the two penalties. Suarez gets booked for diving often when he isn't diving. The referees pre judge Suarez. The media is definitely not fair. We wouldn't be discussing this otherwise. Young is easily just as bad of a diver, but is definitely not mentioned like Suarez.

Don't agree with that.  Suarez didn't get judged when he came into the league.  He didn't get judged until the last couple of seasons when he started diving more and more, and people finally caught on to it.

Most others, including Young, don't dive to the point where they are noticed by everything and isolated by the media.  Young and others occasionally dive, but not to the point where they try to pull a dive every game.  I know Suarez makes a living inside the penalty box so there is a lot more potential for higher sensitivity calls.  A dive in the middle of the park isn't a big deal often and players simply don't see a need to dive that much around that part of the field.  On the other hand, getting a penalty for a dive/foul in the box often results in a goal and strikers try to pull it off more than anyone else. Most strikers don't abuse it, but Suarez gets caught in important spots and he continually does it.

[Adi]

Fun fact. United has the worst defense in the top 10 of the Premier League. In fact, you have to go to 12 place Norwich to find a team that has conceded more goals. 

Just look at their defense and goalie... nothing spectacular there, but Fergie still works his magic.  Mancini would finish 5th with this team and so would most other managers.

[redsforlife]

Just look at their defense and goalie... nothing spectacular there, but Fergie still works his magic.  Mancini would finish 5th with this team and so would most other managers.

You are giving him far too much credit when managers like Woy Hodgeson have managed to make teams with far less talented defenders defend much better. If anything, it shows a lack of tactical knowledge by SAF. He has a surplus of attacking talent that has bailed him out, and the Prem in general is weak right now. They wouldn't be in this position if Chesea and City weren't struggling.

Quit lying to yourself. Players like Young, Nani, Berbatov, and Bale dive almost every game. They are no different than Suarez. The Evra incident, which actually has nothing to do with diving, is what put Suarez under the microscope. The media painted him as enemy number one, and they just took diving as the next fault to him.

[L_I_S]

Because they are the worst European Champions of all time.  Pathetic display of football to win that trophy.  Glad they are suffering...

Tell me what you would have done to beat Barcalona?
Go on, I'm listening.

[redsforlife]

Tell me what you would have done to beat Barcalona?
Go on, I'm listening.

To be fair to both sides, Chelsea played probably the most barbaric style I've ever seen at that stage in the Champions League. They were also struggling in the league. They really are probably  the weakest team to ever win the Champions League. Now, they found a strategy that managed to beat both Barca and Bayern. They did ride their luck quite a bit, but it worked. The game isn't technically about looking good, only winning matters.

Now, many teams could have played more positive football than what Chelsea did and still had a chance to win. It was extremely rough to watch, and I think most neutrals weren't exactly happy with how they won.

[Emil Nissen]

 

[Adi]

You are giving him far too much credit when managers like Woy Hodgeson have managed to make teams with far less talented defenders defend much better. If anything, it shows a lack of tactical knowledge by SAF. He has a surplus of attacking talent that has bailed him out, and the Prem in general is weak right now. They wouldn't be in this position if Chesea and City weren't struggling.

Quit lying to yourself. Players like Young, Nani, Berbatov, and Bale dive almost every game. They are no different than Suarez. The Evra incident, which actually has nothing to do with diving, is what put Suarez under the microscope. The media painted him as enemy number one, and they just took diving as the next fault to him.

Man U is first.  I think they are maybe choosing to play creative and attack oriented football unlike City and other defense oriented teams.

Speaking of Bale, he's the second best player this year.

[redsforlife]

United are playing the exact same style they play every year. The only difference is their defense sucks this year. The addition of RVP was extremely important. Without him, they would be where Chelsea is right now in my opinion.

Bale's ok...