Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[eastie]

Paul Lambert on City loss.


By Paul Brown

Paul Lambert was furious at the game-changing first penalty award at Manchester City, calling it a "ridiculous, woeful" decision.

Trailing 1-0 to a David Silva goal, City were handed a second-half spot-kick when Andreas Weimann was adjudged to have handled in the area.

Following an innocuous-looking Silva corner, no City players appealed but the linesman informed referee Jon Moss that Weimann had handled the flighted cross.

Replays showed conclusively that no such infringement had occurred.

And the decision angered the Villa boss as City capitalised to run-out 5-0 winners at the Etihad Stadium.

Lambert said: "That is never a handball. Nowhere near. How he's called that I don't know.

"It was absolutely ridiculous. That's never a penalty. It's not touched his hand. It's not deviated in its flight whatsoever.

"There were no appeals from City because it came off the City player's head. I have watched it back.

"How he call that at an important point in the game? He's got to be 100%. I am 100% sure it wasn't a penalty. It's wrong.

"It's the wrong decision. In big games, you've got to call these things right and that was definitely a wrong decision.

"It's come off the City lad's head. As I said, you've got to be 100% sure with big moments. If he's 100% sure of that, what an eyesight he's got.

"Nobody appealed. Bizarre! It's a big moment. You have to call it right and it was certainly the wrong decision.

"I am not happy about it. If we are asked to come and speak to you [the press] then sometimes so should they. I just think that was a wrong decision."

Lambert also felt the second penalty decision - when Barry Bannan was also adjudged to have handled - was harsh.

He continued: "He lost his footing. I can understand why he gave it but Barry has put his hand on the ground and it's a natural, human reaction to do that.

"But the way the linesman was performing I didn't have a clue what he was going to flag for."

Despite the defeat, Lambert was adamant Villa will "bounce back strongly."

He added: "This won't hamper our progress. We will bounce back strongly.

"The last few weeks the lads have given it everything they've got.

"Joe Hart made some world-class saves to keep it 0-0. We had some chances. But I thought that decision was a massive call and he got it wrong.

"We were still in the game. That's the point. I thought some decisions weren't correct.

"They are a top side with fantastic players. Take nothing away from them. But I am disappointed.

"The lads have been excellent for the last few weeks and we will continue to try and keep progressing the football club."

[ciggiesnbeer]

I don't agree with lamberts assessment that joe hart made some world class saves to keep it at 0-0 - the save from benteke yes but what other world class saves is he referring to in his comments on the official site?

He saved an own goal from some City player which was excellent. Probably what he was referring to.

Wan't an offside (another crap decision) given though meaning it would have disallowed?

Almost certainly. Honestly I understand us getting beat but I am now genuinely thinking officials take bribes. Seriously. It is too consistently for certain rich clubs to be accidental.

Tin foil hat on and all that, but thats now what I think.

[Legion]

I seriously doubt that.

[wozwebs]

You wonder if Norwich (or teams like that) ever won the title, would they get all the decisions then too?

[PeterWithesShin]

I don't think it's corruption. A mix of bias and/or incompetence certainly though.

How confident is anyone that any, never mind all, decisions for the first 3 goals would have been given for us? We might have got the second penalty but i'm sure the foot up for the first and the first penalty wouldn't have gone in our favour.

Or that the OG incident would have been offside for City?

Or if Ireland and Bannan would not have been booked for the Toure and Barry challenges?

[ciggiesnbeer]

I never used to, but I have come round to believing it. I know it sounds ridiculous but it happens in other countries including big ones like Italy, FIFA believes it is a massive problem and wants to find better ways of fighting it. Honestly I no longer trust the premier league referees integrity.

[Jimbo]

I don't think for one minute that officials are being bribed. I do think they favour big teams, but usually when it comes to giving decisions for / against their opponents. Today's decision was just simply inept, and if it had been called against Man City we would not hear the last of it until the linesman had been suspended or demoted.

[saunders_heroes]

I don't agree with lamberts assessment that joe hart made some world class saves to keep it at 0-0 - the save from benteke yes but what other world class saves is he referring to in his comments on the official site?

He saved an own goal from some City player which was excellent. Probably what he was referring to.

Wan't an offside (another crap decision) given though meaning it would have disallowed?

Almost certainly. Honestly I understand us getting beat but I am now genuinely thinking officials take bribes. Seriously. It is too consistently for certain rich clubs to be accidental.

Tin foil hat on and all that, but thats now what I think.

Nonsense.  There's no conspiracy, it's just a shit decision. Happens all the time. The only time it'll change is when we get video replays.

[avfcpg]

Expected to lose and lost. Shame the GD took a pounding. Ridiculous decesions haven't gone our way, but they don't when you are struggling.
Yes we are in a perilous position but I'm looking around the rest down there and as poor as we have been, it's stupidly tight. The next four games will see what we are in for the rest of the season...a real relegation dogfight or a few ups and downs and doing enough to remain clear of danger.
Saturday night straight after the game is never the best time for perspective anyway... Not gonna let this game, away to a quality side, take away the decent 60 mins vs Man Yoo last week...

[Rigadon]

I don't think it's corruption. A mix of bias and/or incompetence certainly though.

How confident is anyone that any, never mind all, decisions for the first 3 goals would have been given for us? We might have got the second penalty but i'm sure the foot up for the first and the first penalty wouldn't have gone in our favour.

Or that the OG incident would have been offside for City?

Or if Ireland and Bannan would not have been booked for the Toure and Barry challenges?

It's as if some officials seem to freeze when involved in games with the usual suspects, like they need to make calls in favour of the teams involved in the title as getting those calls wrong is more important than decisions for mid-table teams ad below.  Like any other profession, some of them are better than others and most fans and players / managers accept that you win some and you lose some but that isn't what we see regularly.  I'd actually be amazed if anybody was on the take despite my match thread comments after that penalty.  But, there is a clear and present bias towards certain clubs.  Today was a prefect example.  When have you ever seen an underdog get TWO dodgy penalties against a title chasing  team full of superstars?  I can't remember once witnessing it. 

ANyway.  We were shit after the second goal and embarrassing after the third and that isn't good enough.  Lambert has my full support as I've seen just about enough signs of life to suggest it could come together to a mid-table position, but the team and PL himself need to deliver some wins in the coming few fixtures.  I see some folk writing the Arsenal game off - not for me.  We need something out of that game.

[Astral Weeks]

I don't think it's corruption. A mix of bias and/or incompetence certainly though.

How confident is anyone that any, never mind all, decisions for the first 3 goals would have been given for us? We might have got the second penalty but i'm sure the foot up for the first and the first penalty wouldn't have gone in our favour.

Or that the OG incident would have been offside for City?

Or if Ireland and Bannan would not have been booked for the Toure and Barry challenges?

Dead right. I don't believe it's corruption either, at least not in the financial sense. But I'm absolutely convinced that certain rich and powerful clubs get favourable decisions from officials, because it means an easier ride for those officials. And those officials are supposedly being assessed on their performance by people from their own organisation. Who apparently think that's OK. Which, to me, is corruption of a different kind.

[eastie]

Poor decisions from the linesman and I expect he will be punished and dropped from officiating for a while- just to add to our bad day Norwich are beating man utd.

[adrenachrome]

I think it's all very admiral
It's very admiral indeed,

Put your fucking glasses on. Our kit is by Macron.

Little wonder that we are all at sea.

[adrenachrome]

I think there's a lot of over the top reactions. We were in a game until a horrendous Linesman decision. This side is better than last years. We will stay up. Lambert has had just 12 league games to make changes. We will have a far better second half to the season. Suck it up and move on.

*Puts on tin hat and ducks*

I'm with you pal.

Two wins and we are mid table. It will be an up and down season, we are not adrift at the bottom and the players have faith in the gaffer. So should we.

You've lifted my spirits up England Dan.

I'd really love to see you tonight.

Is that an offer? :-)

That's desperate Dan.

[Stu]

I don't think it's corruption. A mix of bias and/or incompetence certainly though.

How confident is anyone that any, never mind all, decisions for the first 3 goals would have been given for us? We might have got the second penalty but i'm sure the foot up for the first and the first penalty wouldn't have gone in our favour.

Or that the OG incident would have been offside for City?

Or if Ireland and Bannan would not have been booked for the Toure and Barry challenges?

Dead right. I don't believe it's corruption either, at least not in the financial sense. But I'm absolutely convinced that certain rich and powerful clubs get favourable decisions from officials, because it means an easier ride for those officials. And those officials are supposedly being assessed on their performance by people from their own organisation. Who apparently think that's OK. Which, to me, is corruption of a different kind.

This was talked about in the thread by Sonlyme a few days ago - there's no transparency in the refs organisation, which is critical for a professional organisation. They want it all their own way - on the one hand they want to claim they're pro's, but when they make a cock-up, and the paying customers (lets not forget that's how fans are viewed these days) complain, then they say they can't get everything right and clam up. The paying customers can get to fuck for all they care. It isn't good enough, today's decisions weren't good enough, and as a club we deserve an explanation, and that goes regardless of how shit we were - and lets not forget that City were only 1-0 up from a scrappy as fuck goal.