Observer match report

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

'Robbed,' declared Steve Bruce with ample cause. If Liverpool are rising from the dead with a regularity, it was the referee who revived them here.

 

For 75 minutes a fine Wigan side, gloriously spearheaded by Amr Zaki, who scored twice, were set for a famous win. Then they lost Antonio Valencia to an arguable pair of yellow cards, opening the door to the hosts. Rafa Benítez threw on attackers, Alberto Riera and Dirk Kuyt found the goals and Liverpool restored morale. Where he should have been celebrating, Bruce was left bemoaning.

 

 

Here's the report if you really feel it's worth reading

[Stevie H]

two nailed-on yellow cards and maybe even a straight red for the second. plus no mention that we should have had a peno too.

[Koller49]

To be fair if a side did the same to us I'd be pissed off.

 

Thing is, couple of goals against the run of play aside, we dominated the game, if Zaki doesn't come up with the moment of magic the sending off makes no difference and we probably would of won the game anyway.

 

Swings and roundabouts is football, if a journalist in a s***house paper wants to look further into it then more fool him!

[madaboutlfc]

its the observer doh.. and this journo has a trackrecord of hating us

[Bao]

The Wigan fan's view on the game, that follows the report, is great. I reckon he had the last sentence ready even before he went to the match.

[Bailo]

"Did Valencia's subsequent tackle on the Spaniard turn illegal as soon as the midfielder lifted his feet off the ground?"

 

Erm, yes, you stupid journo t***.

[Andy @ Allerton]

Quite amusing match report.

 

Perhaps one day that 'journalist' would consider actually going to a match instead of writing their match report from MOTD.

[Bailo]

As an aside, once again MOTD edit highlights in a misleading way. The Alonso freekick which Agger headed back across goal was flagged offside, but no mention of that on MOTD, it was classed as a "chance". Not against us this time, but you realise that you watch the game they want you to watch.

[kop205]

The Wigan fan's view on the game, that follows the report, is great. I reckon he had the last sentence ready even before he went to the match.

 

Baffled to be honest at why they feel they have cause for complaint.

 

They deliberately wasted a huge amount of time at that freekick by not retreating and it was obvious that if anyone broke from the wall early there would be a good chance of a card. We got a bit lucky because if we hadn't have messed it up first time then the ref probably would have just let it go even though he wasn't 10 yards, but as it was he was correctly booked.

 

The second tackle was a shocker.

 

And I haven't got a clue what other decisions apparently went our way.

[Lou]

As an aside, once again MOTD edit highlights in a misleading way. The Alonso freekick which Agger headed back across goal was flagged offside, but no mention of that on MOTD, it was classed as a "chance". Not against us this time, but you realise that you watch the game they want you to watch.

They also suggested that Valencia was unlucky to pick up the first booking (despite admitting that technically he was in the wrong). But they failed to show the 2 minutes that led up to that booking when the entire defensive wall should have been shown a yellow

[Bailo]

They also suggested that Valencia was unlucky to pick up the first booking (despite admitting that technically he was in the wrong). But they failed to show the 2 minutes that led up to that booking when the entire defensive wall should have been shown a yellow

Exactly, and you know next time a referee doesn't follow the rulebook, they'll be moaning about it.

[Stevie H]

They also suggested that Valencia was unlucky to pick up the first booking (despite admitting that technically he was in the wrong). But they failed to show the 2 minutes that led up to that booking when the entire defensive wall should have been shown a yellow

the ref was enormously weak at that freekick. wigan players were taking the piss out of him.

[Cobs]

They also suggested that Valencia was unlucky to pick up the first booking (despite admitting that technically he was in the wrong). But they failed to show the 2 minutes that led up to that booking when the entire defensive wall should have been shown a yellow

that's exactly the point

 

Goals on Sunday just now failed to show it too

 

 

Valencia broke from the wall previously, was warned by the referee not to encroach and then immediately did it again - THAT's why he was booked, not the fact he'd only stolen a yard

[JRC]

that's exactly the point

 

Goals on Sunday just now failed to show it too

Valencia broke from the wall previously, was warned by the referee not to encroach and then immediately did it again - THAT's why he was booked, not the fact he'd only stolen a yard

In fact, MOTD briefly showed Wiley telling Valencia to get back. Of course they didn't show the 3 minutes of argy-bargy, but to not mention it when proving that he was encroaching massively (12% - as well as wrestling with Benayoun; and that was his start point before the free kick was taken due to the dummy, from which he encroached as it was being taken,as players do) is just barmy.

 

At least Dixon pointed out that it was stupid and indefensible to launch into a nailed on yellow 2 minutes later...but why is it that going down to 10 men with 15 minutes left, when you are a goal in front is so easily presented as if the loss was inevitable? They'd defended pretty well with Zaki up front, do we now expect any team reduced to 10 men to concede at a rate of a goal avery 7 minutes? Of course it was a factor, but Valencia has only himself to balme for the second yellow, and it made the final result by no means a done deal.

[Hieronymus Bosch]

Soccer Sunday make a song and dance about the first yellow (as well as completely miss the point as to why it was awarded), but virtually ignore the second (after all, where's the news value in that?). That was what got him sent off and could quite easily have been a straight red. Instead of saying how ridiculous the first booking was, shouldn't Valencia be getting at least some criticism for what could have been a leg-breaking challenge?

[Jacks Jackie Jackson]

Of course the worry about all this is that we'll be up against someone in the next few weeks who will deserve a red but will get the benefit due to all the publicity about it. It's the talk of other forums and ceefax moaning pages already.

[Cobs]

Of course the worry about all this is that we'll be up against someone in the next few weeks who will deserve a red but will get the benefit due to all the publicity about it. It's the talk of other forums and ceefax moaning pages already.

 

I can't see a referee not giving a red card for a red card offence cos there's been some recent publicity about players getting red carded against us

[Cunny]

They also suggested that Valencia was unlucky to pick up the first booking (despite admitting that technically he was in the wrong). But they failed to show the 2 minutes that led up to that booking when the entire defensive wall should have been shown a yellow

 

nail on head

that is what pissed me off about MOTD's analysis, it omitted to show the lead up

how Bruce can say the second booking was debateable is beyond belief!

[Sir Tokyo Sexwale]

the second one was a leg-breaker. Only the bbc have called it - "...a reckless challenge..."

 

I don't think there'd be such a song & dance about the booking if it was against Chelsea, the Mancs or Arsenal and as everyone has pointed out - there was 3 mins of pissing around beforehand and 'technically' - the word of a pundit? - he was in the wrong. Since when did technically equate to 'not at all'?

[diaspora]

Pity MOTD team busy watching lots of monitors during the day to look for incidents didn't have Radio 5 on. Their commentary team were talking about someone will be booked for the 2 minute delay when they wouldn't get back and were not at all surprised with the booking. Also nice little comment as to how the 24/7 media work these days, its an issue of respect when they don't get back and then when action is taken it then becomes another issue to draw in listeners and viewers.

[RP]

The first yellow was crap - but the tackle on Xabi was a straight red, so all's well that ends well.

[Earl Hafler]

The first yellow was crap - but the tackle on Xabi was a straight red, so all's well that ends well.

 

He'd been warned and the ref had struggled to get the wall to stay the 10 - he cautioned Valencia as a gesture to the whole of their defence that had pissed around for a couple of minutes.

 

If it happened as much as it should then it wouldn't be an issue but most defensive walls in matches i see are less than 10 yards away and the refs just let it go.

 

 

Shearer made me laugh - it wasn't the incredible scissor kick goal that impressed him but challenging Carra for a header and running down the line with Agger and getting tackled.

 

Aye, alright...

[aka Dus]

I dont bother reading the Sunday paper reports normally. They are filed by 1715 on Saturdays, have no quotes from managers or players and are written during the match and subbed for spelling and grammar and that's them published. Worthless to anyone who hasn't access to TV/radio/internet between 1645 and Sunday morning, of which there aren't that many any more I reckon.

 

However I did read the Obs article this morning and it was all over the shop. Normally, Paul Wilson aside, I think they are fair on us. However yer man (and I don't think football is really his top sport, not that that diminishes the simple necessity of him having eyes to watch the game) was so eager to praise Wigan (and they deserve their due) that he resorted to denigrating our achievement to praise them. College paper journalism but the fu we should care.

[fred milne]

this journo has a trackrecord of hating us

This journo has a trackrecord of having close links with Chelsea. At times in the past, he has practically been a mouthpiece for Mourinho.

[Will]

Quite amusing match report.

 

Perhaps one day that 'journalist' would consider actually going to a match instead of writing their match report from MOTD.

At least he didn't have to stay up late as we were first on, you doom-monger!