2011

[5DOM]

Kalou is shocking. That he's still playing is even more

[5DOM]

Kalou is FINALLY off
whew

[treiz]

Kalou is FINALLY off
whew

75 minutes too late....

[treiz]

Torres MOTM

Stoke actually played a good game, they forced us to shoot from the outside and never really threatened the penalty box.

[5DOM]

At least we dominated the second half.
MOTM: Alex.

[bryant08]

Caught the second half of Chelsea-Stoke, pretty entertaining for a 0-0 draw. United going with Smalling/Fabio at fullback, Cleverley/Ando in the middle and Welbeck up front with Rooney.

[IronChef]

Just saw the incidents from Newcastle yesterday. Song very lucky on the day, but he's likely to get punished tomorrow morning.

One interesting point that I heard someone make, is that Barton hauling Gervinho up could have been an Arsenal penalty, regardless of what followed. Play was ongoing, no whistle had been blown, and Barton clearly grabbed Gervinho to instigate the incident, rather than it being the two of them squaring up from the outset.

Song is definitely getting a 3 game ban. I'd like to say it was okay because it was Joey Barton, but he still deserves the ban, which will hurt with our lack of midfield options right now. Here's hoping he gets fined by the club for his idiocy.

Arsenal should have had two penalties there, because Gervinho was touched, and the ball was still in play when Barton grabs him. How Barton gets away with a yellow is beyond me, and now because he was booked, he can't be retroactively punished, and gets away with it. Gervinho earned his red, although I don't really know what they expect him to do with Barton holding him like that and screaming in his face, ref certainly did eff all.

How Alan Pardew can come out defending Barton after all that, blows my mind. Calling Gervinho a cheat, and then defending what Barton did is laughable. Really just two second rate human beings there.

[J.Kim]

The above statement sounds vaguely familiar from last season...

=\

I guess we're in for another long year!

[5DOM]

How Alan Pardew can come out defending Barton after all that, blows my mind. Calling Gervinho a cheat, and then defending what Barton did is laughable. Really just two second rate human beings there.

That's what coaches do. Wenger's done the same, and in fact I think he said something very similar after their last fixture at SJP about Diaby.

[IronChef]

Nope, not at all similar. Pardew said that Barton was obviously very offended by Gervinhos dive and that's really upsetting to a player like Joey. And he has no idea why Gervinho would raise his hands to Joeys face, you can't do that in a Sunday league, so you can't do it in the EPL. Clearly ignoring the fact that Barton dove when he acted like he was punched by Hellboy, and barely conscious, claimed to the ref that he was punched in the face, even when replays show it was at best a slap to the side of his head.

Find me a similar quote to that, please. It's far more than Arsenes normal, "I didn't see the incident"

[5DOM]

Gunners chief Wenger said: "It was a completely unnecessary sending-off and I believe Barton was very lucky to stay on the pitch for the tackle on Diaby.

"It's a shame for Diaby because he had a great first half. Sometimes you could understand when he has a bad game, but he had an outstanding game.

"I explain that by the fact that he has been injured so many times from bad tackles that he lost a bit quickly his nerves because this boy has been out for a long time and many times.

"Certainly the tackle provoked his reaction."

He was certainly defending and justifying Diaby's action here just like Pardew did. He even thought Diaby's was a completely unnecessary sending-off.

[IronChef]

“I think the referee made the correct decision because firstly Gervinho dived and I don’t think there is any doubt about that,” Pardew stated. "That gets the blood boiling in any footballer, let alone Joey Barton. He just tried to express that to Gervinho in saying what are you doing, diving, and grabbed hold of him."

Pardew claimed that the difference in the altercation that allowed Barton to stay on the field, is that Gervinho hit Barton on the head, whereas Barton didn't raise his hands to the Ivorian's face.

“Then it turned into a tussle but Joey never raised his hands or anything and the guy has slapped him round the head, he explained. "You can’t do that on a Sunday morning and he ain’t gonna get away with it here.”

He was just trying to express his displeasure.

[5DOM]

No I agree that Barton probably should have been sent off as well, but what I am saying is that it's completely normal for managers to defend their players regardless of what the offense was

[IronChef]

Gunners chief Wenger said: "It was a completely unnecessary sending-off and I believe Barton was very lucky to stay on the pitch for the tackle on Diaby.

"It's a shame for Diaby because he had a great first half. Sometimes you could understand when he has a bad game, but he had an outstanding game.

"I explain that by the fact that he has been injured so many times from bad tackles that he lost a bit quickly his nerves because this boy has been out for a long time and many times.

"Certainly the tackle provoked his reaction."

He was certainly defending and justifying Diaby's action here just like Pardew did. He even thought Diaby's was a completely unnecessary sending-off.

He also said that Diaby lost his nerves, and that it was a reaction to the tackle. Bartons was not a reaction to a tackle, he was merely trying to express his displeasure at cheating, which he then demonstrated how to properly do.

[IronChef]

No I agree that Barton probably should have been sent off as well, but what I am saying is that it's completely normal for managers to defend their players regardless of what the offense was

To an extent, I think, you're right. But, I think Pardew went a bit overboard. Wenger usually trots out his normal " I didn't see the incident in question" like he did with the Song incident. With Diaby,
Wengers also pissed because Diabys been injured long term 4 times from bad tackles, and Baron wasn't even punished for the tackle.

[Demetrio]

I honestly think Barton was lucky to still be on the pitch by that point, he should have been sent off for visciously attacking Song's studs with his achille's tendon.

[MaliBrah]

barton and his gay haircut shoulda seen red as well

[MaliBrah]

arsene wenger needs to do something and fast.. arsenal was only missing wilshere assuming nasri/fab and the squad was still paper thing with nothing off the bench. Arsene Wenger could hurt his rep this season

[Ill]

Disappointed with the draw but at least Torres looked good. I can't wait to see Sturridge in action. Also should have brought on Drogba sooner.

[Slava]

De Gea needs a lift me up performance, hope it comes within the first month of the season.