International week, Wales v Scotland and Rep. Ireland v Germany tonight

[mpickard2087]

Just seen the Walcott incident for the first time, I was watching an entertaining 1-1 draw between Switzerland and Norway last night.

How the fuck can keepers be allowed to do that? If an outfield player goes in like that it's a penalty and possibly a straight red regardless of him making contact with the ball first. No keeper is ever punished for jumping in like that and causing potentially serious injury. Walcott should count himself lucky if he hasn't cracked a couple of ribs.

The double standards and treatment of goalkeepers is for me almost as big a problem in the game as diving.

Said a couple of times last night I thought the goalie was harshly getting slated for it and I stand by that, it was just an unfortunate collision. Walcott gets there first and tries to flick it over him but the keeper makes himself big and makes the save and then because of momentum collides with him. Yes a leg is high but its no where near, aimed at, or connects with Walcott (that would be indefensible), the two torsos collide after both give 100% to reach the ball. Its a contact sport and happens sometimes.

 

[Marty]

Said a couple of times last night I thought the goalie was harshly getting slated for it and I stand by that, it was just an unfortunate collision. Walcott gets there first and tries to flick it over him but the keeper makes himself big and makes the save and then because of momentum collides with him. Yes a leg is high but its no where near, aimed at, or connects with Walcott (that would be indefensible), the two torsos collide after both give 100% to reach the ball. Its a contact sport and happens sometimes.

In a 50/50 between two outfield players, the one who arrives a split second too late and clatters his opponent gives away a free kick or penalty virtually every time. Why was this not a penalty just because a goalkeeper was involved?

Also, I was under the impression that high, flailing feet was an offence almost regardless whether they make contact with an opponent or not. But apparently a goalie's allowed to do that when an outfield player would be penalised.

It just really bugs me that keepers can fly into challenges and get away with it, but the slightest nudge at a corner (see the way Schwarzer went down against Southampton because he was nudged by a Soton player's arse) and they get a free kick. They shouldn't be treated any differently to outfield players, but they constantly and consistently are.

 

[mpickard2087]

In a 50/50 between two outfield players, the one who arrives a split second too late and clatters his opponent gives away a free kick or penalty virtually every time. Why was this not a penalty just because a goalkeeper was involved?

Also, I was under the impression that high, flailing feet was an offence almost regardless whether they make contact with an opponent or not.

Because the goalie put his hands up, made himself as big as possible and actually made a pretty decent save. I'd say he was probably deemed to be in 'control' of that action as it was a deliberate attempt to play the ball. I think it is a bit of a grey area... Walcott was charging towards him with as much force as he was charging out of goal. Theo gets there first tries to lift it over him but the goalie responds by jumping and making a save (so this is the grey area, in that you cant really say who has/hasnt cleanly got to the ball first), but then that play is done. The aftermath is an unavoidable collision because they have both busted a gut to get to the ball, so what happened is unfortunate due to momentum and I think the ref made the right call.

I can see why people would think its a foul, but to me its a contact sport and collisions happen which sometimes have no fault attached.

 

[mpickard2087]

In other news, Senegal vs Ivory Coast abandoned after Senegal fans start a riot with their team 2-0 down

 

[beats1]

How the mighty have fallen, Cameroon are currently losing 1-0 to Cape Verda at home and are 3-0 down overall

 

[TheAmerican]

I'm really hoping Bale plays with a bit more confidence now, with this international stuff giving him some glory. He seems to me, to be playing with a one-way mind right now, almost as though he is too coached. He needs to allow himself to become more creative so he can have more goals like that 81' stunner.