Liverfool huh?
You had less to say on that mauling you received than Alex Ferguson.
&
Smallings & Brown you sure on that one
Your sig sums up a blip from my club last weekend.
Mine sums up your club, period.
**Official Football (Soccer) Thread"
- Thread starter ArsenalCannon357
- Start date
Your sig sums up a blip from my club last weekend.
Mine sums up your club, period.
Maybe I didn't.Much respect to catalan side.
I did however feel that the 2nd Van Persie yellow was disgusting.I can safely say that i've never seen a weaker sending off in recent memory.
Now I am a fan of Massimo Busacca, and I do believe he's one of the better referees in the world, arguably tied for the world's best ref alongside one Howard Webb, but that sending off was ridiculous.
Granted, as Game Plan touched on, RVP got himself in a jam with a stupid yellow against Dani Alves early on, but realistically, how does he expect 1 man to hear a whistle amongst 98,000 people, who are already whistling when the Gunners have the ball? And on their lone attack at goal in some 10 minute interval?? Harsh doesn't begin to describe that one.
Given the magnitude of the occasion, he could've given him a final warning, and called it a day AFTER said incident, but to me, that was appalling to watch.
Had RVP not been on yellow, would he have gotten a card? Not a chance.
Was it poetic justice for Messi's earlier non-penalty? Perhaps. I still think in the end the Gunners would've taken an L even with RVP in there, but that changed the entirety of the match no question, and I hate leaving matches to a "could of, would of..." kinda thing.
I hate saying it, because again, I am a fan of Busacca, but the officiating today... questionable to say the least.
And in a room full of elated Blaugrana supporters, I couldn't find one to disagree.
---------------------------
Van Persie hits out at 'joke' ref
Robin van Persie has labelled referee Massimo Busacca "a joke" after his red card in Arsenal's 3-1 defeat to Barcelona.
Van Persie was shown a second yellow card in the 56th minute of the game for kicking the ball away. The Gunners had held an advantage at the Camp Nou at the time of the dismissal after Sergio Busquets' own goal made it 1-1 on the night.
Barca took full advantage of the extra man as Xavi levelled the scores on aggregate before Lionel Messi converted a penalty when Pedro was brought down by Laurent Koscielny.
Asked if the sending off had a significant impact on the result, Van Persie told Sky Sports: "I believe so. I think it had a big influence. It was a total joke, the sending off, because how can I hear his whistle with 95,000 people jumping up?"
When it was pointed out that there was just one second between the whistle and Van Persie's shot, the striker replied: "Makes it even worse. This way - one second from his whistle to my shot - makes it even worse.
"If there were four, five, six seconds in between, you can make a check [for offside]. One second, it's a joke.
"It's just a joke. He's been bad all evening. He's been a joke all evening, whistling against us. I don't know why he's here tonight. I think it's a joke."
He added: "We feel betrayed a bit. When it was 1-1, it was all to play for, and in my opinion the ref killed the game."
With Arsenal failing to register a shot on target during the game, Arsene Wenger accepted that Barcelona had been impressive but stressed that the decision may have had a significant influence on the outcome.
"We lost against a good team," he said. "In the first half we resisted pressure - I think the second would have been very interesting if we had stayed 11 against 11. Unfortunately it was not the case.
"There are regrets when you see how we went out - the way we did, it is very difficult to accept."
On Van Persie's second booking, he said: "With the people shouting, if he takes his chance I see no reason to give a second yellow card. To do that, [the referee] must absolutely have never played football.
"I told him what I think about his decision face to face and there is not a lot more to say."
Pep Guardiola said he could understand the anger over the dismissal but emphasised that his own team's performance had been decisive.
"Arsenal defended very, very well but they didn't make more than three passes [in succession]," he said. "It was difficult with ten against 11 and after the situation with the second yellow, I can understand the reaction.
"We created a lot of chances, we played a perfect game. We're so, so happy about our performance. Over the two legs, we were better than them."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...-at-'joke'-referee-after-arsenal-exit?cc=5901
Arsenal will cry about this all day, but the real story is Barcelona had 13 shots on target Arsenal had Zero, nil zip.....
They were never gonna score or remain in that competition.
They didn't manage to construct 3 consecutive passes together..
If they were only half as good as they and their fans think they are....
Lol at Villa
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Xavi expected more from Arsenal
Xavi has offered an uncompromising appraisal of Arsenal's performance in their 3-1 defeat to Barcelona on Tuesday night, saying he was disappointed by the lack of intent shown by the Gunners.
Arsenal failed to muster a single shot at Camp Nou as they were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate, the first time a team has failed to do so since Opta's Champions League records began in 2003.
While their goal came from a Sergio Busquets own goal, Lionel Messi scored twice - once with an exquisite chip and volley and once from the penalty spot - with Xavi himself also on target as Barcelona progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt aggrieved at a second yellow card shown to Robin van Persie when he was adjudged to have kicked the ball away after referee Massimo Busacca whistled for offside, but Xavi felt the decision to dismiss the Dutchman was the correct one.
Barca's captain for the night was also surprised by the overly-cautious approach of an Arsenal side that won the first leg 2-1 thanks to some expert counter-attacking.
"This is a fair result," Xavi told the Barcelona official website. "We were the superior team both in the away game and at home. There's justice in football. They had clearly come here to defend. They didn't even have one single shot on goal. I expected a lot more from them to be honest.
"[Javier] Mascherano and [Sergio] Busquets are simply amazing for the team, while Leo [Messi] once again stepped up to make the difference. The only thing that could have been better was our finishing. We should have scored more and we suffered too much. We could have killed the game a lot sooner.
"Arsenal really didn't want to play football. All they cared about was defending. The red card did affect the game, but the decision was right in my opinion."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...enal-made-no-attempt-to-play-football?cc=5901
Xavi has offered an uncompromising appraisal of Arsenal's performance in their 3-1 defeat to Barcelona on Tuesday night, saying he was disappointed by the lack of intent shown by the Gunners.
Arsenal failed to muster a single shot at Camp Nou as they were eliminated 4-3 on aggregate, the first time a team has failed to do so since Opta's Champions League records began in 2003.
While their goal came from a Sergio Busquets own goal, Lionel Messi scored twice - once with an exquisite chip and volley and once from the penalty spot - with Xavi himself also on target as Barcelona progressed to the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt aggrieved at a second yellow card shown to Robin van Persie when he was adjudged to have kicked the ball away after referee Massimo Busacca whistled for offside, but Xavi felt the decision to dismiss the Dutchman was the correct one.
Barca's captain for the night was also surprised by the overly-cautious approach of an Arsenal side that won the first leg 2-1 thanks to some expert counter-attacking.
"This is a fair result," Xavi told the Barcelona official website. "We were the superior team both in the away game and at home. There's justice in football. They had clearly come here to defend. They didn't even have one single shot on goal. I expected a lot more from them to be honest.
"[Javier] Mascherano and [Sergio] Busquets are simply amazing for the team, while Leo [Messi] once again stepped up to make the difference. The only thing that could have been better was our finishing. We should have scored more and we suffered too much. We could have killed the game a lot sooner.
"Arsenal really didn't want to play football. All they cared about was defending. The red card did affect the game, but the decision was right in my opinion."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...enal-made-no-attempt-to-play-football?cc=5901
Cesc takes the blame
Arsene Wenger was left furious at referee Massimo Busacca after Arsenal exited the Champions League, but Cesc Fabregas said he takes "full blame" for the defeat in Barcelona.
Having won the first leg 2-1, Arsenal endured a difficult night at the Camp Nou and Barca took a deserved lead at the end of the first half when an ill-advised Fabregas backheel enabled Andres Iniesta to free Lionel Messi.
Sergio Busquets then headed into his own goal to make it 1-1 on the night and 3-2 to the Gunners on aggregate, but their hopes were swiftly dealt a blow when Robin van Persie received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. His shot had come just one second after the referee blew his whistle amid loud noise from the crowd.
Xavi then levelled the scores on aggregate before Messi converted a penalty to seal a 4-3 aggregate win.
After the match Cesc Fabregas wrote on Twitter: "Great support from the arsenal fans. I take full blame for the result tonight. One of the worst moments of my life. I apologise."
Fellow midfielders Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere also took to Twitter to register their disappointment at the referee's performance.
In a tweet laced with irony, Wilshere wrote: "Arsenal fans great as always! Sorry about the result,good luck to Barca,great team! Oh yeah and the ref was good aswell..."
Nasri wrote: "Thank you for your support once again u were amazing sorry for the result now we have to think about Man utd game and we still have a league to win and by the way bussaca is the best."
Arsenal were second best even with 11 men on the field and, throughout the entire game, were unable to register a shot on goal and had only 31% possession.
However, Wenger believed there were signs at the start of the second half - when his team found the equaliser - that the game was turning and indicated that the Van Persie dismissal had made all the difference.
"I felt Barca gave a lot in the first half," he said. "We were completely dominated, I agree with that, but in the second half we felt there was more space. I knew that, like the first game, we could come back into the game and overall I'm convinced we would have won this game.
"I think two kinds of people will be unhappy - those who love Arsenal, and those who love the game. We are frustrated with his decision. It is very difficult to understand his attitude.
"We lost against a very good Barca side, congratulations to them and good luck for the future, but we have many regrets tonight because we didn't expect to lose the game like that. I feel sorry for the people who watched the game tonight."
Wenger confirmed he spoke with referee Busacca - and UEFA representatives - but said: "I think he must think that he made the right decision."
He added: "I just spoke to UEFA people. They are shocked as well because it killed a promising, fantastic football match. What for? If it's a bad tackle or a second bookable offence okay, but frankly it is embarrassing."
Barca coach Pep Guardiola was philosophical about Arsenal's viewpoint, which detracted from a wonderful performance by his team.
"I have got sympathy because I love how this team [Arsenal] play," he said. "I don't know how they will analyse it in the end - they may analyse that they lost because it was ten versus 11. It depends.
"I can understand [their view] if it is that they are out of the quarter-final because of the card for Van Persie - if they believe that then okay. I can understand."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...accepts-'full-blame'-for-arsenal-exit?cc=5901
Arsene Wenger was left furious at referee Massimo Busacca after Arsenal exited the Champions League, but Cesc Fabregas said he takes "full blame" for the defeat in Barcelona.
Having won the first leg 2-1, Arsenal endured a difficult night at the Camp Nou and Barca took a deserved lead at the end of the first half when an ill-advised Fabregas backheel enabled Andres Iniesta to free Lionel Messi.
Sergio Busquets then headed into his own goal to make it 1-1 on the night and 3-2 to the Gunners on aggregate, but their hopes were swiftly dealt a blow when Robin van Persie received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away. His shot had come just one second after the referee blew his whistle amid loud noise from the crowd.
Xavi then levelled the scores on aggregate before Messi converted a penalty to seal a 4-3 aggregate win.
After the match Cesc Fabregas wrote on Twitter: "Great support from the arsenal fans. I take full blame for the result tonight. One of the worst moments of my life. I apologise."
Fellow midfielders Samir Nasri and Jack Wilshere also took to Twitter to register their disappointment at the referee's performance.
In a tweet laced with irony, Wilshere wrote: "Arsenal fans great as always! Sorry about the result,good luck to Barca,great team! Oh yeah and the ref was good aswell..."
Nasri wrote: "Thank you for your support once again u were amazing sorry for the result now we have to think about Man utd game and we still have a league to win and by the way bussaca is the best."
Arsenal were second best even with 11 men on the field and, throughout the entire game, were unable to register a shot on goal and had only 31% possession.
However, Wenger believed there were signs at the start of the second half - when his team found the equaliser - that the game was turning and indicated that the Van Persie dismissal had made all the difference.
"I felt Barca gave a lot in the first half," he said. "We were completely dominated, I agree with that, but in the second half we felt there was more space. I knew that, like the first game, we could come back into the game and overall I'm convinced we would have won this game.
"I think two kinds of people will be unhappy - those who love Arsenal, and those who love the game. We are frustrated with his decision. It is very difficult to understand his attitude.
"We lost against a very good Barca side, congratulations to them and good luck for the future, but we have many regrets tonight because we didn't expect to lose the game like that. I feel sorry for the people who watched the game tonight."
Wenger confirmed he spoke with referee Busacca - and UEFA representatives - but said: "I think he must think that he made the right decision."
He added: "I just spoke to UEFA people. They are shocked as well because it killed a promising, fantastic football match. What for? If it's a bad tackle or a second bookable offence okay, but frankly it is embarrassing."
Barca coach Pep Guardiola was philosophical about Arsenal's viewpoint, which detracted from a wonderful performance by his team.
"I have got sympathy because I love how this team [Arsenal] play," he said. "I don't know how they will analyse it in the end - they may analyse that they lost because it was ten versus 11. It depends.
"I can understand [their view] if it is that they are out of the quarter-final because of the card for Van Persie - if they believe that then okay. I can understand."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...accepts-'full-blame'-for-arsenal-exit?cc=5901
Dawson delighted after 'ugly' win
Michael Dawson felt Tottenham had shown a new side to their game after "winning ugly" in their 1-0 aggregate victory over AC Milan in the Champions League last 16.
Spurs had to survive several scares - including William Gallas' goal-line clearance from Robinho in the first half - as Milan had the bulk of the possession in the second leg at White Hart Lane.
However, having won the first leg 1-0, the goalless draw at home proved sufficient to send Spurs into the quarter-finals and Dawson was delighted with the way his team-mates performed.
"Winning ugly? Definitely. The first half performance was back to walls, but we worked our socks off. Same in the second half. Look at it now - it's rocking," Dawson told ITV.
"Milan forced us to sit back. If you look at the players in our team, we're very attacking, but we showed a different side to us tonight. We'll enjoy tonight and see who we get in the quarter-final."
Peter Crouch, who scored the decisive goal at the San Siro, also stressed the defensive efforts throughout the side.
"It's huge. The club has never been in the Champions League before, then going to San Siro and winning, the lads defended magnificently tonight, great credit to them," he said. "I'm really pleased and looking forward to the next round. That's what it was all about.
"Sometimes in the Champions League you need to get results and that means defending from the front. We did that and I think over the two legs deserved to go through."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...after-'winning-ugly'-against-ac-milan?cc=5901
Michael Dawson felt Tottenham had shown a new side to their game after "winning ugly" in their 1-0 aggregate victory over AC Milan in the Champions League last 16.
Spurs had to survive several scares - including William Gallas' goal-line clearance from Robinho in the first half - as Milan had the bulk of the possession in the second leg at White Hart Lane.
However, having won the first leg 1-0, the goalless draw at home proved sufficient to send Spurs into the quarter-finals and Dawson was delighted with the way his team-mates performed.
"Winning ugly? Definitely. The first half performance was back to walls, but we worked our socks off. Same in the second half. Look at it now - it's rocking," Dawson told ITV.
"Milan forced us to sit back. If you look at the players in our team, we're very attacking, but we showed a different side to us tonight. We'll enjoy tonight and see who we get in the quarter-final."
Peter Crouch, who scored the decisive goal at the San Siro, also stressed the defensive efforts throughout the side.
"It's huge. The club has never been in the Champions League before, then going to San Siro and winning, the lads defended magnificently tonight, great credit to them," he said. "I'm really pleased and looking forward to the next round. That's what it was all about.
"Sometimes in the Champions League you need to get results and that means defending from the front. We did that and I think over the two legs deserved to go through."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...after-'winning-ugly'-against-ac-milan?cc=5901
Yo Game Plan...
Clear out your PM Game Plan.
We lost again
BTW, someone tell me what Wenger sees in Diaby and Denilson? The 2 most useless players to ever play for a team IMHO
Wenger's out come this summer. Alex Song was inspiring to watch at the Emirates to watch against Barcelona. Barring an injury, I don't know why he started Diaby over Song.
Fail.... Again.
^^^Lol at Benzema playing better when Ronaldo isn't there.
If we can somehow go through (although highly unlikely) against Barca and defeat Man Utd, I can see a treble being likely.
Great game between Sevilla and Barca. It ended in a 1-1 draw.
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Some guy mentioned in the comments that Abidal is now better than Pique, and I think I agree with him.
Hmm....well I'll just say I'd take either one if I had my own team.
Premier League could host goal-line test
Replays showed Frank Lampard of England's shot crossed the goal line against Germany in the World Cup -- but it was ruled no goal.
LONDON -- Goal-line technology could be coming to the Premier League next season, with Hawk-Eye hoping to test its system during top-level matches for the first time.
But with soccer's rules-making body yet to allow referees to consult high-tech aids, the trials and results will remain secret.
Hawk-Eye founder Paul Hawkins also is concerned that if his system contradicted a ruling on a disputed goal and the results were made public, the referee would be undermined.
The sport moved closer to adopting goal-line technology earlier this month after the International Football Association Board approved another year of testing and FIFA president Sepp Blatter declared that it "helps referees."
Hawk-Eye didn't participate in previous tests because they weren't conducted in stadium conditions.
Blatter accepts that future tests will have to take place in stadiums and has identified England as a likely location.
And Hawkins, whose company was sold to electronics giant Sony Corp. last week, plans to speak to FIFA in the next week to gain approval for further testing.
"We've got to find a stadium to put the tests in," Hawkins told The Associated Press. "We also need to check in advance what is wanted, testing-wise. I expect there will be a contractual commitment that we don't report the information from the tests so we don't undermine the officials if there is a controversial goal. Just at the time when we are testing technology that will hopefully help officials in the future, we don't want Hawk-Eye showing they are wrong."
Hawk-Eye's ball-tracking technology, which achieved by positioning cameras around the stadium, already has been successfully deployed in tennis and cricket.
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/ne...league-host-tests-goal-line-technology-system
Replays showed Frank Lampard of England's shot crossed the goal line against Germany in the World Cup -- but it was ruled no goal.
LONDON -- Goal-line technology could be coming to the Premier League next season, with Hawk-Eye hoping to test its system during top-level matches for the first time.
But with soccer's rules-making body yet to allow referees to consult high-tech aids, the trials and results will remain secret.
Hawk-Eye founder Paul Hawkins also is concerned that if his system contradicted a ruling on a disputed goal and the results were made public, the referee would be undermined.
The sport moved closer to adopting goal-line technology earlier this month after the International Football Association Board approved another year of testing and FIFA president Sepp Blatter declared that it "helps referees."
Hawk-Eye didn't participate in previous tests because they weren't conducted in stadium conditions.
Blatter accepts that future tests will have to take place in stadiums and has identified England as a likely location.
And Hawkins, whose company was sold to electronics giant Sony Corp. last week, plans to speak to FIFA in the next week to gain approval for further testing.
"We've got to find a stadium to put the tests in," Hawkins told The Associated Press. "We also need to check in advance what is wanted, testing-wise. I expect there will be a contractual commitment that we don't report the information from the tests so we don't undermine the officials if there is a controversial goal. Just at the time when we are testing technology that will hopefully help officials in the future, we don't want Hawk-Eye showing they are wrong."
Hawk-Eye's ball-tracking technology, which achieved by positioning cameras around the stadium, already has been successfully deployed in tennis and cricket.
http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/ne...league-host-tests-goal-line-technology-system
Looks like all the Serie A teams are out, unless Inter scores 3 goals in the second half.
edit - oops, never mind I thought Inter were at home.
edit - oops, never mind I thought Inter were at home.
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Barcelona's Eric Abidal diagnosed with liver tumor
BARCELONA (AP) — Barcelona says defender Eric Abidal has been diagnosed with a liver tumor and will undergo surgery on Friday.
The Spanish club made the announcement late Tuesday and gave no indication on how long the France international will be sidelined.
The 31-year-old Abidal joined Barcelona at the beginning of the 2007-2008 season.
He has been a key figure for Barcelona this season, playing 33 games and filling in recently at center back for the injured Carles Puyol.
League leader Barcelona is five points ahead of Real Madrid in the Spanish standings.
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/2011-03-15-eric-abidal-tumor-barcelona_N.htm
at Chicharito.
Ferguson banned for five matches
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has been suspended for five matches and handed a £30,000 fine for comments he made about referee Martin Atkinson earlier this month.
Following a 2-1 defeat at Chelsea Ferguson said he had "feared the worst" when Atkinson was appointed match official for the Premier League clash on March 1, adding: "You want a fair referee, or a strong referee anyway - and we didn't get that."
The FA's disciplinary board have imposed a three match ban and activated a suspended two-match ban that hung over the United manager for accusing referee Alan Wiley of being "not fit" after a 2-2 draw with Sunderland at Old Trafford last season.
Ferguson will be confined to the stands for the FA Cup semi-final with Manchester City at Wembley as well as Premier League clashes with Bolton, West Ham, Fulham and Everton.
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/894864/ferguson-banned-for-five-matches?cc=5901
Pathetic. Sepp and Platini strike again.
UEFA ban Abidal t-shirts
Real Madrid and Lyon have been told they will not be allowed to wear t-shirts wishing Barcelona defender Eric Abidal well before their Champions League tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Abidal was found to have a tumour on his liver earlier in the week and he will have surgery to remove this, with the procedure now brought forward to Thursday.
The two clubs had appealed to UEFA to relax a rule which forbids any emotional slogans being worn on clothes at Champions League games. But European football's governing body refused to make an exception.
Barcelona confirmed on their official website that the former Lyon, Lille and AS Monaco left-back, 31, will have surgery earlier than initially expected. At present it is not known how long the player will be out for or if he stands any chance of playing again this term.
President Sandro Rosell said: "Barca is 100% behind Eric Abidal. Health is more important than anything else in life. Abi, Barca loves you."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...-madrid's-eric-abidal-t-shirts-banned?cc=5901
Sepp and Platini strike again. UEFA ban Abidal t-shirts
Real Madrid and Lyon have been told they will not be allowed to wear t-shirts wishing Barcelona defender Eric Abidal well before their Champions League tie at the Bernabeu on Wednesday.
Abidal was found to have a tumour on his liver earlier in the week and he will have surgery to remove this, with the procedure now brought forward to Thursday.
The two clubs had appealed to UEFA to relax a rule which forbids any emotional slogans being worn on clothes at Champions League games. But European football's governing body refused to make an exception.
Barcelona confirmed on their official website that the former Lyon, Lille and AS Monaco left-back, 31, will have surgery earlier than initially expected. At present it is not known how long the player will be out for or if he stands any chance of playing again this term.
President Sandro Rosell said: "Barca is 100% behind Eric Abidal. Health is more important than anything else in life. Abi, Barca loves you."
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...-madrid's-eric-abidal-t-shirts-banned?cc=5901