That really didn't answer my question in any way...Gervinho wasn't violent in his conduct, but its well known you hit someone in the face it with clear intent(which there is no denying in any way this was accidental body contact or just a high push in the run of play, this is during a fracas between two players already pushing). The intent and the action = red, he clearly meant to hit his face, and did, so its a red and a suspension. Barton does what? Picks up gervinho? That happens all the time, albeit this one was not the garden variety friendly hand but just last week rooney did it to micah richards in the community shield. Now that one was friendly, but i don't know of any rule saying you cant pull on a players shirt to get him up. Maybe it is there, I don't know of it. As for the play acting, again I don't like it but he was hit. I deplore dives when there is no contact, think they deserve suspensions(and arguing about a Barton dive and ignoring a possible Gervinho dive is amusing)...but when you get hit in the face I have no problem making sure the ref knows about it. And the rules agree. A foul occurred(slap to the face), Barton goes down, I see no rule broken there. I know Troy is a big arsenal homer, and honestly I like arsenal quite a bit more then newcastle or barton, but having seen one of my team's players suspended for swearing at a TV camera, I try to look for reason in suspensions and I just don't see how stamping on and slapping a player warrant anything similar in terms of punishment compared with falling down when hit in the face and pulling a player off the ground. I think Barton deserved a yellow for pulling the guy up like that, but that about as far as I could take it and even then I dont feel totally comfortable.

End Rambling Retort

On a side note, I did love the articles talk about the pick-up being a foul in the box since play was not stopped, absolutely brilliant catch and a very tough call on possible penalty rewards at that point. I tend to think in theory that is a penalty but he is quite right and that is a damn hard one to call

The point re Gervinho is that what he did doesn't constitute "'excessive force or brutality against an opponent when not challenging for the ball'. We've seen players who have only received yellows for doing more than the weak-ass slap from Gervinho. Not sure where you get the idea that hitting in the face = suspension.

As an example, how about grabbing the neck then to kinda strangle someone? That's not suspension worthy because it's not the face? That's kinda what happened in the same fixture last year when one of the Newcastle strikers grabbed the Arsenal goalie by the neck to get the ball back and there was no punishment whatsoever.

And I really really don't think you can treat Barton's gesture as "friendly".

I agree that Barton didn't do anything to get a 3 game suspension. But for him to still be on the pitch after what he did? That's where I think there's a farce.

Getafe in Spain have put out a great promotion video for potential season ticket buyers. I'd put up a link but there is about a half second where it is NSFW. I can say that it involves a sperm bank, a movie within a movie called "Zombies Calientes del Getafe," and a cunning plan to increase the number of Getafe fans out there.

That's awesome!!!

Nasri starting for Arsenal today. Wenger had better hope he doesn't get a serious injury.

Damn players strike in Spain, no start of the season today :(

They are right on their main claim imho (a league's reserve fund to guarantee player's salary if their team goes bankrupt), but it sucks for the fans that are waiting for La Liga.

Dola, nice signing for Chelsea, Mata from Valencia for 24M Euros. I think it's cheap seing what others are paying for similar or even worse players imho (IE R.Madrid paying 30M for Coentrao or Atletico Madrid 40M for Falcao).

Wow. Referee had a howler in the Ipswich Peterborough game. Of course, the game was already pretty much decided in the first half as Peterborough scored three times in seven minutes to lead 4-1 near halftime..

First there's a rash challenge that definitely deserved a yellow, but the ref pulled out a red, leaving the Ipswich players in a deep hole. Then in the second half, there was a foul well outside the box, but somehow, the referee decided it was both a penalty and a red card (the first time in Ipswich history that two players had been sent off in the same match)

It ended up being a 7-1 Peterborough thrashing.

Nice to see Keane score in his debut

Two more goals for Altidore \o/

I got a kick out of hearing "Born in the USA" being played over the PA after the first one.

Man Utd played some beautiful stuff in the second half. Welbeck is definitely giving SAF something to think about now that Hernandez is healthy again. Phil Jones looks like a really good signing already.

49 shots in the Man U - Tottenham game? Did anyone play defense?

Half of those were from van der Vaart trying to score from 30-40 yards.

http://www.yanks-abroad.com/get.php?...ontent&id=8134


Yes!

who?

aaah.

Yes please. Yes motherfucking please. He can't be worse than the LB's that we have right now.

LOL @ this comment down in the comments:

The Great One will be suspended for his Three Stooges Impersonation:

Stick a fork in Arsenal, they're done unless a miracle happens in the next 7-8 days.

You mean like them beating Udinese away from home and qualifying for the group stages (and the 20m GBP bonus that brings) .... ? ;)

I've actually been putting my neck out and saying that I think Arsenal will perform reasonably well this season - regardless of signings (or lack of them); I don't think they'll win the Premiership but I don't think they're in the 'doomed' position some pundits are placing them (do bear in mind their 'start' to this campaign is 'harsh' ie. Liverpool last week, Man Utd this week - however after Man Utd they have a good 6-7 matches they should get points from, its after that I think you'll be able to see how they're performing - make a judgement when they play Chelsea at that point the season will be shaping up somewhat).

They have a good young side and I think their defense is a bit better than in prior seasons PLUS I believe that Wenger is clever enough to use the media pressure from the big name sales to inspire the team to perform, ala the year when Everton sold Rooney ..... time will tell, I could be wrong.

PS - If they are to do as well as I expect Van Persie needs to stay fit, he's an incredibly good striker and has the experience and confidence required to pull things together imho (Walcott also looks like he might be stepping up to the plate more than in prior seasons based on what I've seen of him so far ..).

Heh, my post was actually in relation to the Nasri sale. I really don't see much chance this year for any trophies and probably 4th place at best in the league.

They are a good young side but that has been the constant refrain for the past few years now. At some point, it just has to become a good side period.

After reading how Nasri trolled Arsenal fans on his way out, it will be fun when Man City plays at the Emirates this season.

I agree that their chances of winning the Premiership are slim - however I think they've a darn good shot at a Champions League space which isn't anything to be sniffed at (listening to some of the media speculating in recent weeks you'd think that they were in danger of relegation ;) ).

For that to happen they need to be able to keep their best players at the club, something I think will become easier for them over time with the new finance rules coming into play AND importantly if they can actually lift a trophy, any trophy.

Nasri isn't from Africa, so throwing bananas on the pitch wouldn't make much sense this time around. This, however, is still a possibility.

Nasri seemed genuinely relieved to get away from Arsenal. Can't say that I blame him. :)

Honestly, I really wonder whether the FFP will even be relevant, what with the Man City method of potentially getting around it.

It'll be interesting to see - especially with regards to whether there is actually any 'will' behind it, ie. closing down loop holes and suchlike ....

I'm hopeful that that combined with the 'home grown' rules will help also; as with all this side of things - time will tell.

Ives is saying that Joe Corona will represent Mexico

that's ok, we have Jose Daniels.

For f**ks sake, how much easier can it get for ManU? Is that the easiest group ever?

Oh yeah, CL prediction time!

Group A: Bayern Munich, Villarreal, Man City, Napoli
Group B: Inter Milan, CSKA Moscow, Lille, Trabzonspor
Group C: ManU, Benfica, Basel, Otelul Galati
Group D: Real Madrid, Lyon, Ajax, Dinamo Zagreb
Group E: Chelsea, Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen,Genk
Group F: Arsenal, Marseille, Olympiakos, Borussia Dortmund
Group G: FC Porto, Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit, Apoel FC
Group H: Barcelona, AC Milan, BATE Borisov, Viktoria Plzen

Hard - A, F
Easy - C, B
Ok - G, E, D
I wonder which two move on - H

Nice to see Man Utd get a favorable draw for once.

Altidore with two more goals for AZ today in the Europa League.. he already has five goals on the year.

Betfair customers have made Manchester United the clear third favourites at 8.0 for the Champions League after a kindly draw pitted the 2011 finalists against Benfica, Basel and Otelul Galati.

There were mixed fortunes for the other English clubs but the front two in the betting remain the same as ever - Real Madrid (5.9) and Barcelona (3.05).

Chelsea are next up in the betting at 12.0 but a group that includes Valencia, Bayer Leverkusen and Genk shifted that price out from an early 9.0.

Moneybags Manchester City face perhaps the stiffest task of all four Premier League outfits after the draw put them in Group A alongside established Champions League campaigners Bayern Munich and Villarreal as well as solid Serie A outfit Napoli.

Arsenal meanwhile are available at 23.0 - their biggest price in some time - though that is as much to do with losing Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri as being in a group with Marseille, Olympiakos and Borussia Dortmund.

Real Madrid are once again drawn with Lyon, with Ajax and Dinamo Zagreb rounding out the Group D opposition. Barcelona will play AC Milan, BATE Borisov and Viktoria Plzen.

USA squad for the friendlies against Costa Rica and Belgium:

GOALKEEPERS (2): Bill Hamid (D.C.United), Tim Howard (Everton)

DEFENDERS (9): Carlos Bocanegra (Rangers), Edgar Castillo (Club America), Timmy Chandler (FC Nürnberg), Steve Cherundolo (Hannover), Clarence Goodson (Brondby), Zach Loyd (FC Dallas), Michael Orozco Fiscal (San Luis), Heath Pearce (Chivas USA), Tim Ream (New York Red Bulls)

MIDFIELDERS (9): Kyle Beckerman (Real Salt Lake), Clint Dempsey (Fulham), Maurice Edu (Rangers), Fabian Johnson (Hoffenheim), Sacha Kljestan (Anderlecht), Jeff Larentowicz (Colorado Rapids), Robbie Rogers (Columbus Crew), Brek Shea (FC Dallas), Jose Torres (Pachuca)

FORWARDS (4): Juan Agudelo (New York Red Bulls), Jozy Altidore (AZ Alkmaar), Teal Bunbury (Sporting Kansas City), Landon Donovan (Los Angeles Galaxy)

No Michael Bradley or Jermaine Jones. I'll be interested to see Fabian Johnson if he plays, I'd never heard of him a week or two ago.

Ugh, another Ajax vs Real Madrid. Maybe Mourinho and his tugs will not disgrace the game this time around.

Beckham got a yellow card for asking the ref to move so he could take a corner

Slur Alex complaining in the media once again - approximately 2 seconds after making amends with the BBC. Apparently United get treated like shit (note: he really means they no longer get quite the preferential treatment they used to). Obviously that should not be happening because United apparently produce the most players for their country than any other club in the world. Except for the fact that they've bought all their England internationals except Tom "The New Zidedine Zidane since the Community Shield" Cleverley. Can't imagine what the crazy fuck is going to be like in another year or two. He is falling off his rocker.

So you are of the opinion that teams should rely solely on academy players for success?

I am glad to see SAF is still keeping it real, when he agreed to talk to the BBC again I was afraid he might be getting soft in his old age.

Drrrrrrrrr.. what? I'm merely pointing out that SAF is fucking mad.

They didnt buy Danny Welbeck.

How many senior caps does he have?

Edit: Oops, looks like I got Zidane and Welbecks' caps mixed up. Welbeck has 1 while Zidane has only looked magnificent in the intrasquad scrimmage that took place instead of the Holland friendly (and not had an actual cap yet).

Just seemed like an odd critique from a City fan, that’s all.

To be fair to Sir Alex Ferguson for his time at Man Utd he's got Beckham, Scholes, Butt, both Nevilles, Kieran Richardson, Wes Brown and probably more I cant remember. He's always been pretty good at giving young players a chance to earn their place.

That's more impressive than Micah Richards and Joey Barton over the same period.

I know that nobody watched it, but the USL A League game between Harrisburg and Rochester was pretty good. I picked it up at the half with Harrisburg up 2-1, but down to 9 men. The coach was kicked off to, but I didn't find out why, unless he was one of the players ejected.

The second half was entertaining, with a lots of chippines toward the end of the game. Despite having all the chances in the second half, Harrisburg showed a lot of heart and held on for the 2-1 win to move on to the A League finals.

Man City Make Audacious £50m bid for Man Utd’s Champions League Group:

holy shit Rooney almost got a brilliant hat trick. Manchester are winning the title, but which.

6-1 over Arsenal, 20 minutes left? What the fuck'