All-Purpose, Never-Ending Soccer Thread

[Webster]

Maybe Larsson should just give Henry his jersey, because he'll be wearing it next year. He looked royally pissed at Wenger for not bringing in more firepower when it was still 1-0.

 

[jay_christley]

As a viewer with no dog in the race, I thought it was a very entertaining final.

 

[Birdscribe]

Not for nothin', but I think Jens saves that one. I don't know who was more surprised, Almunia or Belletti.

Absolutely. There's no way Jens lets that go.

That said, you knew it was a matter of time. Arsenal was playing far too deep and even with Ronaldinho spraying the ball all over the pitch, something was going to break 11-on-10.

Yes, Webster, astute call on Henry, who was bitching at Wenger the entire second half. Course if he buries one of the plethora of chances he had, it's a moot point.

 

[TrooperBari]

[edit] Question: Can you give the keeper a red and still allow the goal? That would have been a better decision.

If you strictly interpret the Laws of the Game, then yes. That would be penalizing a team twice for the same infringement, though, which is something most referees try to avoid.

Once the ref blew his whistle and stopped the play, he had no other choice. If he let the play go and counted the goal, Lehmann might've stood a chance of staying on the field.

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Speaking of officiating decisions, I'm not sure where Arsenal gets their beef about Larsson being offside on the first goal. Looked pretty clear-cut to me....

 

[Webster]

Not even close to offsides on the first goal.

I know that it was the heat of the moment, but Henry's post-match comments ripping the refs were pretty poor.

 

[TrooperBari]

If anyone asks, Frank Rijkaard did not see the incident.

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Now that that's over, enough of this club nonsense. On with the World Cup!

 

[Webster]

If anyone asks, Frank Rijkaard did not see the incident. 

Well done.

I slowed down the replay of the first goal. Not only was Eto'o played onside by the defender in the middle of the pitch, but he was actually behind the ball when Larsson made the flick.

 

[MertWindu]

[edit] Question: Can you give the keeper a red and still allow the goal? That would have been a better decision.

If you strictly interpret the Laws of the Game, then yes. That would be penalizing a team twice for the same infringement, though, which is something most referees try to avoid.

Once the ref blew his whistle and stopped the play, he had no other choice. If he let the play go and counted the goal, Lehmann might've stood a chance of staying on the field.

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Speaking of officiating decisions, I'm not sure where Arsenal gets their beef about Larsson being offside on the first goal. Looked pretty clear-cut to me....

It's just Arsene whining about yet another thing. Maybe nobody told him about Chelsea and Ballack yet, so we can look forward to a few more stories about how he can't compete with the Blues.

 

[Cristiano_Ronaldo]

Michael Ballack, maybe Roberto Carlos...

Of course, Crespo is leaving...so the another striker needs to be found.

 

[MertWindu]

Michael Ballack, maybe Roberto Carlos...

Of course, Crespo is leaving...so the another striker needs to be found.

I'm pretty comfortable with Drogba (can't believe I'm saying that) and Gudjohnsen, with Duffer as a possible switch-in if necessary.

 

[Big Buckin' agate_monkey]

Just finished watching the match off the DVR.

Agreed the ref could've played advantage on the Lehmann card. However, in ref school you're taught to blow the play dead on a red card offense and show the card quickly to difuse any potential problems. He pulled the card quickly, but he didn't show it with swiftness, though.

And whoever said it was right on, the way the Gunners were sitting back early in the second half, you knew Barca would strike eventually. The one opened the flood gates and two put Barca in a very comfortable position, in which it refrained from attacking and played keep away against a team with dead legs.

 

[Bubbler]

Arsenal lost with all of the grace of the 1985 Cardinals. What the fork are they talking about Larsson being offside?

And I haven't seen Larsson play much (I'm just a guest here in the soccer thread, I don't watch as much as many of you), but when I have, he's been fantastic.