Manchester City v Aston Villa Post-Match Thread

[ktvillan]

Given the amounts of money washing around in football the temptations to offer and/or accept a bribe are immense.  I'm not sure why people are so convinced it doesn't happen in the PL, because it happens in many many other walks of life with far smaller amounts involved.  You may find the thought distasteful because "we're British" and we don't stoop to those kind of things, but it's not entirely without precedent in the English top tier with allegations against Revie and his Leeds team - although I'm not sure if they were ever proven.  Regardless, when you see some decisions, like today's, they do seem to go way beyond mere incompetence, bias and bowing to pressure, and I often wonder at the integrity of some officials. My wife just laughs at suggestions that the whole world of football isn't fixed or subject to bribery, because of the amounts involved.  But then corruption is a way of life in her country.

[curiousorange]

Our officials aren't corrupt, they're just over-promoted. There's a shortage of officials these days because people don't want to take dog's abuse on a Sunday morning running a pub fixture. The ones we have are either too inexperienced or too overawed by famous clubs.

The key is for Lambert to drum into the players that nobody's out to get us. What happened was a joke but it's not something we can legislate for. The fact we had the same side but set up totally differently this week to last is. I firmly believe if we'd have come at them like we did against Man Yoo we'd have got something today, because City aren't a team, they're a collection of individuals.

It's imperative we fly out of the traps against Arsenal. Play like nervous apprentices again and see what happens - you turn every subsequent game into an eighteen pointer.

[silhillvilla]

Norwich still winning

[Matt Collins]

After a good win and then a very good performance, we took a bit of a hammering as other clubs have at Citeh. I didn't realise H&V had become one of those suicide websites though . . .

[JJ-AV]

The 4 games after Arsenal are all massive.

[Jimbo]

Perhaps the root of the problem in this country - like so many of our problems - lies with the all powerful media. Any official knows that if he gaffes against a big club the media will be all over it like pigeons in bus-stop sick. If it's against a media non-entity like Villa, it will hardly warrant a mention. No pressure. Gaffe away.

[Legion]

The 4 games after Arsenal are all massive.

All games are, but I take your point.

[Yossarian]

The 4 games after Arsenal are all massive.

All games are, but I take your point.

We need to take more than a point

[steffo]

Going off topic about refs. My son has a match tomorrow morning. As is the norm the home team called him during the week to confirm the details etc. Today he gets a call from the away team to confirm he is the ref. - stating the home team like to appoint their owns refs.

And this is mini-soccer level!!!!!!!

Win at all costs??

[Legion]

Going off topic about refs. My son has a match tomorrow morning. As is the norm the home team called him during the week to confirm the details etc. Today he gets a call from the away team to confirm he is the ref. - stating the home team like to appoint their owns refs.

And this is mini-soccer level!!!!!!!

Win at all costs??

One of the many reasons why I refuse to get involved in weekend football and just focus my efforts on my school teams.

[Legion]

The 4 games after Arsenal are all massive.

All games are, but I take your point.

We need to take more than a point

I think we'll get 9.

[Legion]

Make that 10.

[Risso]

Make that 10.

 
9 points from 12 games, and you think we'll get 10 from 4?

[Legion]

Ever the optomist!

WWWD

[PeterWithesShin]

Make that 10.

Fancy us at Anfield then?