Football talking points

First topic message reminder :

Rather than hijack the "which team do you support" thread where some of these are being talked about...

Some of the events of the weekend that are getting people talking

1) Mario Balotelli: plenty to say about him in general but specifically the alleged stamp on Scott Parker and his subsequent charge by the FA

2) Lescott's elbow on Kaboul(?) - FA say no charge to answer

3) Conspiracy theories in general about Man City!

4) Wenger's decision to take Chamberlain off and put Arshavin on - and Van Persie's reaction

5) Peter Crouch and the "eye-gouge"

6) Harry Redknapp and the tax-dodging allegations and court case

Discuss!

The goals that Arsenal conceded were shameful - particularly the 2nd one

Thought we looked like we could get it back to a draw for a while (which I would have settled for) - but what is it with such an awful back 4?

Piers Morgan is also a total ar*e on Twitter, he never lets it drop re. getting rid of Wenger.

Another win for the Rovers yesterday!

A kick in the chest, should not be a sending off if you are a ManU player.

I'm sure Sir Furious would have just been as furious if the boot was on the other "chest".

A hard fought point last night Blue, especially with ten men. Hope other results go your way tonight.

I've not seen the major talking point but couldn't it be a little bit of karma for all the dodgy decisions that have gone their way at Old Trafford in the past? I know these things are supposed to even themselves out but when you are on the receiving end they can be hard to take. I thought Roy Keane's reaction was interesting; don't give the referee a chance to send you off so you won't have any complaints.

Yep Grumps, very pleased with a point after being a man short for over half the game. And much kudos to all 62 of our fans who made the long trip to Hartlepool on a Tuesday night!

Oh yeah, like Roy Keane never gave the ref a chance to send him off did he!

Another good win for the Gas, Mary. Up into mid table obscurity or security now.

Great manager that John Ward, we were very sorry to see him go

Maybe he's found his true level?

Wigan fans wait more than a week for a goal and then three come along in less than 4 minutes.

Reading against Villa seems very open. You have to think there are plenty of goals in this but it's whether they can put the ball in the net. One thing is for sure, they both defend poorly.

Poor result for Reading today (not my team but as the closest local team I always watch out for them). Fancied them to take Villa today at home

Bad day at the office - but I'm confident that we'll bounce back!

Sounds like some of the Everton fans think that it's time for Moyes to move on. Could be a another case of "careful what you wish for" in my opinion.

What's going on with Col U? Another first half red card, go a goal down and then scramble it back. Hope they hold on Blue

That has got to be our best performance of the season Grumps, to play for over 90 minutes away from home with 10 men and come away with all three points is to be applauded.

That puts us 7 points clear of the relegation zone now, I am beginning to feel we are going to avoid the dreaded drop with less stress than I was expecting.

Nice result Blue.

Same for me, it's not quite so stressful to look at the table now, as the revival continues under John Ward. Of course, some fans are now talking of us making the play offs, and will no doubt be moaning if we finish mid-table. Some people have short memories.

What did he get sent off for Blue, it just said a clash on the BBC website, was it some fisticuffs or a rash challenge. Looks like Walker is doing well for you too. Still a ways to go but it's looking good.

Switching tacks I think the ref got the sending off of the Norwich 'keeper right. Arms in front of the body and I think it hit his right elbow. That's the way it looked to me from the view straight down the pitch. However the penalty was a bit dodgy, yes it hit his arm after his chest, but Fletcher was offside and pressuring Bassong; must have been interfering. Interesting to hear Russell Martin questioning the linesman on that.

More interesting decisions in the Sunderland/Norwich game. Same linesman gives handball against Danny Rose but not a penalty according to the ref; certainly shown to be in the box. Is it balanced by the decision not to send off Grant Holt for a two footed lunge on the keeper? Lucky to stay on the field in my opinion.

It was George Porter and it looked a harsh decision I thought Grumps. Both players were on the deck and as they got up the ref indicated that Porter had stood on the Bury player.

Mind you after seeing Callum McManaman's tackle on Massadio Haidara this afternoon in the Wigan v Newcastle match that went unpunished by Mark Halsey, it looked like he had done nothing worse than blow him a kiss.

Thanks Mary you are right about some people having short memories. The fickleness of some football fans never ceases to amaze me.

How is John-Joe doing, still keeping the fans happy?

Can anyone explain to me what is the point of San Marino being in the world cup qualifiers? I reckon my Sunday side of a few years ago could have rolled them over and we used to get nearly as big a crowd!

Did anybody else spot "Bristol Rovers" written on the wall of the England dugout?

Blue - I see that Col Utd's game has also been called off today. Hard to believe that this time last year we were basking in 21 degrees.

Perhaps Roy Hodgson has heard about John Ward's latest success story in the south west and took him along to assist!

Yes Mary about 3 inches of snow in Essex today and still snowing. Looks more wintery than ever out there this morning, the coldest March for 50 years apparently.

Anyone watching the England game tonight against Montenegro? How do we think it will go, will England get the win that they need?

I think they should get the result they need - but that's not to underestimate Montenegro. They are always one of those potential banana skins

Shame Theo and Jack W aren't available. Another goal for Lamps would go down well though

Another goal from anybody would have been handy...

Familiar disappointed, down in the dumps feeling tonight after watching England, not sure why I ever expect it to be any different really

It was certainly a game of two halves!

With 3 of England's 4 remaining qualifiers being played at Wembley, they should be able to use home advantage to aid qualification. But, hey - this is England we're talking about, so don't go counting any chickens!

Feel sorry for ROI, conceding such a late equaliser.

Good to see John-Joe O'Toole back in a Col U shirt for 25 minutes today, to help us hang on to a much needed 3 points Mary.

Must admit that I was a little bit worried that we may had seen the last of him, pleased that he contributed to your recent climb up the table

We missed him on Saturday, but managed to sneak a late winner into the net.

Hopefully he will have returned to you full of confidence, and able to help make sure that you avoid the drop.

Results went for us on Saturday, so we are now 6 points above the drop zone and I'm beginning to breathe a bit easier!

Massive game for Rovers last night - a win would have seen them still in with a slight hope of making the play-offs. They lost 4-1

Most important thing is that John Ward has done what he was brought in to do - kept us clear of relegation. Bottom of the league at Christmas, and now in 11th place, and almost sniffing the play-offs.

Obviously missed John-Joe again last night Mary!

Oldham losing last night helped you out Blue. Looks like 7 points will ensure you stay up but maybe 4 will do it?

I think that one more win will probably do it for us now Grumps, but I won't be counting any chickens until we are mathematically safe!

BlueCoverman wrote:Obviously missed John-Joe again last night Mary!

We did indeed miss John-Joe - or "Jesus" as he has been renamed by the Rovers fans. Midfield was rather lightweight by all accounts, although we did have some injuries as well.

Funnily enough that is what we called David Prutton when he was with us for a few months in 2010!

BlueCoverman wrote:Results went for us on Saturday, so we are now 6 points above the drop zone and I'm beginning to breathe a bit easier!

Not any more! A very dreary 0-0 against Shrewsbury yesterday means that we need a point at Carlisle next Saturday to guarantee our League 1 status for next season. Could be a nerve-racking afternoon!

Could be a nail biting 90 minutes Blue!

Our Chairman has made John Joe an offer. I understand that Colchester are happy to let him go, if we sign him on when the season ends, so that they will not be paying his wages in the summer.

I think that he will be a very good buy for you Mary, I am surprised that we are happy to release him and I for one will be very disappointed to see him go.

I think that Suarez will be on his way during the close season. I don't think he can try and explain this one away with "cultural differences"

Suarez handed a 10 game ban, Ivanovic handed a rabies shot.

Liverpool shocked by the length of ban and may appeal. They're awaiting the written details before commenting any further.

I must admit is shows, once again, the inconsistencies of some of the FA punishments. The only reason I can think it was 10 matches is he'd already received 7 games when he did it before at Ajax

I just wish they'd clamp down more on serious foul play though - I know the biting thing was totally bizarre but once again the media have the bit between the teeth (as it were) and have taken it to another level

Disgraceful behaviour certainly but is it as bad as a reckless career ending tackle? I'm not sure. Is it even as bad as racism? JT gets 4 games, Suarez himself got 8 in the Evra case - so 10 for this .. OTT?

We do know that football has a crap record for racism and that comes from the top at FIFA. Bendtner fined 80k for showing an advert for an unauthorised betting company. Clubs and countries fined a pittance for racism.

I'd like to think that they are looking at this without thought to other punishments for different things. In this instance same punishment as the last biting offence plus more as he's a repeat offender. He's been in trouble for lots of things so maybe the FA are also trying to "fix, deter" him.

They do need to look at the ref saw it so we can't do anything situation so tackles like McManaman's can be punished. That just allows for all sorts of injustices, real or perceived.

Cannot condone this in the slightest, but when you compare the length of the ban to punishments which have been given out for potential career ending incidents, there doesn't seem to be a level playing field.

I think that the FA have used the opportunity to harshly punish a high profile player, who is generally disliked, in order to try and regain some credibility.

Not that I am in any way into football, but I would have thought this 10 game ban was more of a cumulative one, in light of his disgraceful record. What a dreadful apology for a human being. Pity he doesn't play rugby - he'd have been banned for life by now with that record. I suggest they put a muzzle on him the next time he plays - like a dangerous dog.