Gribz

I agree, this has opened a huge can of worms, and comments made recently by Arsene Wenger and Andy Gray are spot on. If they make an example of 1 situation then they have to be consistant and do it everywhere. What irks me is the Man U v Arsenal match that Arshavin didnt get a pen yet Van Persie got booked 2 mins later for the same challenge simply because 1 was inside the box infront of the home fans at Old trafford for the away side and the other was outside the box for the home team and it was easy to decision to give. The simple solution for diving is a straight red card with a 3 game ban - that will stop any diving, and if the ref's miss it then TV evidence should be used to ban the player. The charge towards Eduardo is huge because its for 'deceiving the ref i.e. trying to cheat'....But what happens in the reverse situation when a ref doesnt give a blatent pen? Can that club make a complaint and get a charge on the ref for trying to cheat that team? How on earth can you prove these things?

Falkirk???

Mcgeady off for diving - Has to be banned if Eduardo did! where is the consistancy in the rules??? Another mhank did a worse dive after it and the ref never even booked him.

When I mentioned passion earlier, it depends on the game itself. For a standard 4-1 rout of Hamilton then I admit I couldnt get passionate and celebrate like the winner at Tynecastle last week, but for the games like yesterday clapping is the least a fan should do.

You often see this. Last week during the Liverpool v Villa game when Villa scored there was 1 fan who stood there with a straight face, it can only be described as him being a neutral or there with a mate who supports Villa and he got a spare. Football should surely bring passion, especially to your team you support. Im not a Arsenal fan but I jumped up and down when they scored last night, and when Van Persie put the ball in the net in injury time i went wild thinking it was 2-2.

I was flicking back and 4 between a few games but watched mostly this towards the end. That player Benitez looks a good signing, when he came on it was all birmingham. McFadden should have had a penalty aswell.

Spurs were effing Jammy!!! Birmingham were the team who looked like getting a winner then Stephen Carr slipped on the ball and Spurs scored in the 94th min.

Yip forgot to mention, I thought Rooney's wasnt a pen, his right foot was down before any contact. The sending off of Wenger at the end is a joke. Is he not allowed to show emotion when he thought he had nicked a draw!!! Quality stuff from his to stand up in the crowd though. Arsenals next match at man city, yet Man U go to Spurs! Interesting games.

Surprised there was no thread about this. What a cracking game! How on earth did Arsenal not take at least a point from the match!! They were by FAR the better side. Fletcher's challenge on Arshavin was an absolute STONEWALL penalty. Yet Van Persie does the same to Giggs and gets booked. Arshavin's goal was a peach. Cant believe Foster got to Van Persie' effort from 4 yards out - that would have finished the game, and if Van Persies free kick had went in they would have went on and won it IMO. What was Diaby thinking!!!!! Then he shoudl have made it 2-2 straight away. Its all about how Arsenal will recover but with Fabregas, Nasri, Rosicky and Walcott all to come back they will be there or thereabouts.

Strange decision, it didnt even look that bad. Ive seen much worse. Andy Gray is spot on:

Agree with your point and no way are we over confident thinking we will win the group - none of that teams can be taken likely but we should be going into it looking to finish in the top 2. But WS is a realist and in these type matches he will likely set out not to lose the game rather than winning it. I think we are more equipped this time round than we have been in the previous season. Our squad has been trimmed for the better IMO and a few of the dead wood have moved on, therefore our squad seems more settled. Last year we went into the start of the season win 9 strikers not knowing who would play. We are a good centre half away from having our most settled squad in years but are still lightweight in covering the full backs and wings - just a pity Novo and Broadfoot are long term absentee's.

The only mistake was we didnt free him earlier. He was promising for a while but never got over being someone who was promising. The odd glimpse of quality was always overshadow by injury, illness and being taken off the ball too easily. Fair play to him if he is doing well at Cardiff, but with hindsight Im glad he is off our books.

Agree with John Barr, there is no reason why we cant win our home games and get a draw away from home giving us 10 points. Getting Stuttgart is a better draw than the likes of Marseille and A Madrid which are hostile places aswell as the home side being a top team. We know a bit about them which is also an advantage to playing the other teams. The Romanians shouldnt be under estimated, wasnt there a Romanian side in Chelsea group last season that caused a shock or 2? They are a decent footballing nation. Its a kind draw for us overall but I always like a giant in our group to test ourselves especially at Ibrox but I suppose we were due a kind draw considering what we got last time out when we were in the group of death.

The standard of Pot 3 is high and there isnt one stand out who id prefer, especially away from home. Even the first 4 teams in Pot 4 arent exactly appealing. Id love to get Liverpool.

Thats what you get for being a sap Winnings are going on a Rangers and West Ham double today

First coupon up of the season. Arsenal Man City Middlesboro Leicester Charlton Celtic 20 quid on at 8/1

Hmm...yeah like last season. LM was injured for ages last season but when he was available he played.

That would be nice! But I think WS likes LM and will play him regularly.

LOL Someone has to pick your faults out Stats are stats but facts are facts. If a player scores on his debut his stats are 100% 1 out of 1 but it doesnt make him a player. International level?? Just because he is playing in a game against Malta doesnt make him international level. International level doesnt necessarily mean your a good player. San Marino are international yet Stenhousemuir could probably beat them. I can see why he was annoyed but to quit the national team because he didnt get a game is childish and amatuer. Obviously shows he doesnt have the class or dignity McCoist or dalglish had. A bigger man would have faught back by doing his talking on the pitch and proved the manager wrong.

I hope your right. But for me I cant see him being any better than what we have. Id have Miller, Lafferty and Novo ahead of him. One thing il say is he is wasted on the wings! Ive yet to see him as a striker

I'll do something tomorrow morning at work and pass it on to you mate then you can top it off. My preview will not have Boyd playing

Ive got it on Tv, Barca v Al Alhy is on just now. I cant think of a worse game - Tottenham v Celtic! 2 teams i cant stand.

Would be a good signing. Spurs nicked that 2 Sheff Utd full backs for 10 million from everton. Hutton is miles better.

Seriously??? Cant wait to see how they do in the Championship!

Johnny mate, as I said its all about opinions. I said id have Boyd for half of the SPL games, he will score goals in those games against the lower sides - thats a gimme! But he wont score or play well in bigger matchers, surely you know that! Like you, I like Lafferty and think he has a huge part to play but he has to be played upfront. On the left he looked lost but when he was played upfront he was a different player. For me our best defence is a solid offence. Id love to see us to at teams this year with 3 upfront - Miller, Lafferty and Novo.