Backing In

[Leo No.8]

Just wondering if this rule no longer applies?

 

Every Everton penalty claim today involved the forward shoving themselves backwards into the defending player (something Yakubu and Anichebe do all the time by the way as do Drogba and Torres) and forcing the defender to get a grip or go flat on their back.

 

Attacking players can do that if the ref is allowing some phyisical contact, but they have to expect a strong challenge from the player they are backing into, it can't just be one way.

 

It looks bad when the defender's arms go around the forward, but it surprises me none of the 'experts' seem to think there was any fouling going on the other way. Lescott actually seemed to hurl himself backwards on top of Carra in that late one.

 

None of them were clear cut anyway, nothing like. Andy Gray shouldn't be commentating on Derby matches, he starts trying to be objective but as the game goes on it's like listening to 'fanzone'.

Edited October 20, 2007 by Leo No.8

[JRC]

Watching the 2nd Lescott incident, whaty is noticeable is that there is virtually no tension or displacement of his shirt even though the suggestion is that Jamie is pulling him hard enough to throw him right over (compare with a relatively light grab by Hibbert almost pulls Stevie's shirt off). Lescott could also be holding Jamie's arm to his side with his left arm, like a boxer in a clinch. Either way, from Clatterbridge's (textbook) position all there was to see was the usual wrestling and grappling between a defender holding his ground anbd a forward backing into him. Sometimes given, often not - certainly a long way from the no-brainer some have claimed.

[abc]

Credit to Redders yesterday, he was a red on the Sky analysis. He defended Sami from the rubbish attack from Peter Reid saying that he needed to use his left. The ball came very quickly to his right. Unlucky. If it was Riise though, everyone would be trying to kill him.

 

Anyway, for the last minute peno, Redders was suggesting that it was Lescott who backed in, and pointed to focus on Carra's left hand which was hardly gripping the fella or his shirt. And I think his verdict was no penalty.

 

He says some awful stuff sometimes, but his analysis was sound yesterday.

Edited October 21, 2007 by abc