The Match of the Day Thread

[SoccerHQ]

I too am surprised people are thinking Bennett was a straight red, I've looked on a Chelsea forum and they are all predictably crying about it. A player is never sent off as last man when there's another covering defender in the vicinity, Ron was practically level with Ramires when the foul occurred.

If anything there was a foul in the second half when Vlaar took out I think Hazard on the edge of the penalty area that looked more of a red to me as the player was through on goal but amusingly MOTD didn't show that (nor the Vlaar header that just went wide before our goal but they're always terrible at editing chances).

[Richard E]

Lineker, She-Ra and Savage, that's the MOTD dream team right there.

The dream team of people you'd push in front of a tube train.

That would be a cruel thing to do.

To the tube driver.

[SoccerHQ]

Willian should never have been sent off. Lambert said he would have been questioning it had it been against us and I would say the same.

Thing is, would it have been a yellow if he didn't already have one? I've seen yellow cards given for less. He intentionally impeded the progress of a player in full flight. So certainly a foul and you could make a strong case for a caution. Harsh only in the sense that it resulted in a red, but not necessarily in the context of it warranting a caution is how I saw it.

The Willian one was harsh having seen it again. It just shows with the pace and acceleration of players in the premier league the dangers of getting the wrong side of your opponent as Delph is very quick when he gets into his stride.

There was an identical incident in our game with Stoke last season at VP. I forget the player as the game was so dreadful but he was on a yellow, barely clipped our player who was attacking with pace from behind and he got sent off.

Harsh but it happens with the speed of the game nowadays.

[SoccerHQ]

Yeah the early Baker booking was harsh and set the tone

Baker got booked as early in the VP game at the end of last season and two red cards followed so does seem a bit of spice in our games v Chelsea currently.

[Drummond]

Lineker, She-Ra and Savage, that's the MOTD dream team right there.

The dream team of people you'd push in front of a tube train.

That would be a cruel thing to do.

To the tube driver.

I presume he meant a runaway train, just to make sure there would be no driver error (i.e. applying the brakes).

[ktvillan]

Shearer was under the mistaken impression that Bennett was last man.

Which he wasn't.

Although Vlaar was alongside the Chelsea player, Shearer thought he would never have caught him. Clearly he thinks the ref has a load of Top Trumps cards in his pocket which allow him to consult various players' pace stats before making a decision.

Being last man is the wrong term though, the law refers to denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.   Despite Vlaar being close by, the Chelsea geezer would at least have had a chance of a run at goal and getting a shot away so there is at least a case for a red card.  However the fact it was quite far out, plus the ball was knocked forwards not in the direction of the  goal, added to the proximity of Ron probably combines enough doubt to justify a yellow.  I thought he officials got most things right - the offsides, the disallowed goal, the Ramires straight red -   but Willian's second yellow was never a card, and Ron was very lucky not go off for a second yellow.  But after the blatant one-eyedness of the officiating in the reverse fixture it's good that we got the rub of the green for a change.  Have a bit of karma Mourinho you arrogant bastard.    And well done to the Villa for playing more like they can yesterday. 

[silhillvilla]

I'd prefer to see Munish , Claridge and Pat Nevin running MOTD , they talk more sense.
What's happened to lineker ? He looks like a plastic manikin nowadays

[rob_bridge]

Did Willian commit any other fouls between his first booking and pushing Delph over?

[andyaston]

Justice was done after the decisions that went against us in the reverse fixture at Stamford Bridge. Ivanovic elbowed Gabby and should of got sent off, then he went on to score the winning goal. In the last minute John Terry basically caught the ball for a stonewall penalty and we got nothing. Short memories Chavski fans.

[Somniloquism]

Being last man is the wrong term though, the law refers to denial of a clear goalscoring opportunity.   Despite Vlaar being close by, the Chelsea geezer would at least have had a chance of a run at goal and getting a shot away so there is at least a case for a red card.  However the fact it was quite far out, plus the ball was knocked forwards not in the direction of the  goal, added to the proximity of Ron probably combines enough doubt to justify a yellow.  I thought he officials got most things right - the offsides, the disallowed goal, the Ramires straight red -   but Willian's second yellow was never a card, and Ron was very lucky not go off for a second yellow.  But after the blatant one-eyedness of the officiating in the reverse fixture it's good that we got the rub of the green for a change.  Have a bit of karma Mourinho you arrogant bastard.    And well done to the Villa for playing more like they can yesterday.

What was the second for?

[martyn ellis]

The commentary for the goal is superb, already watched it about 15 times this morning. The Holte was bouncing.

I posted this on the post match thread, but worth another plug for the MOTD boys. Great and memorable commentary from Guy Mowbray, who I have always liked, when Delph scores: 'LOOK at the Holte End!!! LISTEN to the Holte End!!!' A great moment well covered by the Beeb.

[Damo70]

Shearer was under the mistaken impression that Bennett was last man.

Which he wasn't.

Although Vlaar was alongside the Chelsea player, Shearer thought he would never have caught him. Clearly he thinks the ref has a load of Top Trumps cards in his pocket which allow him to consult various players' pace stats before making a decision.

As I was driving home from the game Savage was saying the same on 606. Basically "Bennett wasn't the last man as Vlaar was there but Vlaar wouldn't have been fast enough to stop a goalscoring opportunity". So Savage and Shearer clearly know some smallprint in the rule that nobody else does.

[richard moore]

Shearer was under the mistaken impression that Bennett was last man.

Which he wasn't.

Although Vlaar was alongside the Chelsea player, Shearer thought he would never have caught him. Clearly he thinks the ref has a load of Top Trumps cards in his pocket which allow him to consult various players' pace stats before making a decision.

As I was driving home from the game Savage was saying the same on 606. Basically "Bennett wasn't the last man as Vlaar was there but Vlaar wouldn't have been fast enough to stop a goalscoring opportunity". So Savage and Shearer clearly know some smallprint in the rule that nobody else does.

Get Stan on instead on Talkshite, none of that sort of crap on his phone ins, he could barely contain his glee

[mrfuse]

Shearer was under the mistaken impression that Bennett was last man.

Which he wasn't.

Although Vlaar was alongside the Chelsea player, Shearer thought he would never have caught him. Clearly he thinks the ref has a load of Top Trumps cards in his pocket which allow him to consult various players' pace stats before making a decision.

This comment made me chuckle so according to shearer the laws of the games have changed as well because as you say the ref has then got to make the defender and striker have a Top Gear style drag race to decide which one is quicker.

I cant stand Shearer he thinks once a striker gets in the box the laws change to entitle you to go down what a twat , If Delph had been in the box when he was pulled back he would have a totally different opinion and as for Savage......words fail.

[Somniloquism]

I cant stand Shearer he thinks once a striker gets in the box the laws change to entitle you to go down what a twat , If Delph had been in the box when he was pulled back he would have a totally different opinion and as for Savage......words fail.

Although as I said, it seems you must be a top team to have Shearer give your blessing for the attacker diving at a keepers feet. No difference to the one against us where his words were , even if Brad didn't touch him, it was still his fault for coming out like he did. Yesterday, the striker dived.