West Brom's second penalty

I'm amazed that referees are still falling for the trick of falling in front of the defending player. Don't they view videos of their decisions?

In fact just seeing the first one again it's manufactured in exactly the same way.

Agreed. Garth Crooks and Robbie Savage were saying both they were "stonewallers" (a term I hate! ) but I agree with you that Liverpool can feel hard done by.

They were also saying that Long's penalty was one of the worst they'd seen. It wasn't great but they should try going down Barnet* on a cold, wet Tuesday night in November then they'll see some shockers.



(*used as an example, no offence intended to Barnet)

Arkay v2.0 wrote:Agreed. Garth Crooks and Robbie Savage were saying both they were "stonewallers" (a term I hate! ) but I agree with you that Liverpool can feel hard done by.

They were also saying that Long's penalty was one of the worst they'd seen. It wasn't great but they should try going down Barnet* on a cold, wet Tuesday night in November then they'll see some shockers.



(*used as an example, no offence intended to Barnet)

And they hardly need an invite to do that.

Neither were pens.

First one Long looked for it and slowed down trying to make contact. I would have booked that ex Reading bastard for diving.

Second one he purposely became an obstruction in front of Skrtel and then fell over as Skrtel tried to clear the ball. That would have been his second yellow for obstructing Skrtel's clearance.

Yes im still as bitter as you can get for Long helping Reading beat us in the Playoffs.

Football needs a video referee. It's ridiculous it still refuses to considering Sky Sports can show a perfect replay showing everything it needs to 2 or 3 seconds after it happened. I'm nt saying use it all the time, but when something really important happens - Penalties, injuries, fouls in key areas, goals that could be offside -if you're unsure, get someone to check the video. It's really not hard.

Just watched MOTD and they all thought that the second one was a pen. I was beginning to think I was mad until I saw these comments. Never, never a pen. Compare that to when Bellamy was demoloshed in the GB game v Uruguay and nothing was given. I am always a bit wary when we get refs down from the prem.

I thought it was a clear penalty!

1st was, 2nd wasn't.

CB39 wrote:Neither were pens.

First one Long looked for it and slowed down trying to make contact. I would have booked that ex Reading bastard for diving.

Second one he purposely became an obstruction in front of Skrtel and then fell over as Skrtel tried to clear the ball. That would have been his second yellow for obstructing Skrtel's clearance.

Yes im still as bitter as you can get for Long helping Reading beat us in the Playoffs.

First one a definite penalty. "Slowing down" is hardly an offence, and in any case he was through on goal. Definite contact, so not a dive.

Second one wasn't a penalty - but "purposely became an obstruction" is wrong. He just nipped in ahead of a slow Skrtel and there was an accidental clash of legs, no-one's fault.

I'm going to nick a line from (I think) Caldi Blue. There was contact, both times - but football is a contact sport. Long's reaction was as over dramatic as me crashing to the ground and screaming in pain because someone stepped on my foot in the high street. That sort of hit to the heels is something that can naturally happen in an attempted tackle, and is a foul regardless of an intent to trip, or any massive overreaction by the attacker. When you compare it to, for example Torres penalty claim he was 100% barged completely off the ball, Torres was hard done by and Long dived. When a barge is fair play, but an ankle tap, one in which Long made two or three strides more BEFORE falling over, is a penalty, it's really messed up.