The Official Chelsea Thread [Vol 2]

[GT03ROB]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

As a team they have far too many pretty boys who can really play, and no one whose job it is to stop the other team from playing.

Which is what they've been for the last 10-12 years. You used to see the smiles on the faces of Drogba, Terry & Ballack when they played Arsenal. Drogba especially used to gloat at bullying the poor "kids" Wegner used to send out against him.

[Sparkyhd]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Definite foul for the first goal, but there's no way the Arsenal defenders of the recent past would have allowed themselves to be fouled in that situation, and then hope the ref has seen it. Adams, Bould, Keown all would have got to that ball as if their life depended on it.

I'm sure I read somewhere it's still a contact sport.

[smn159]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Definite foul for the first goal

No it wasn't

[TwigtheWonderkid]

smn159 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Definite foul for the first goal

No it wasn't

It was, all day long. You cannot go in for a header, and deliver a forearm smash, even if you win the ball. It's use of excessive force at least and dangerous play at worst. If you look at the way Bellarin falls, I think he's knocked out on impact with Alonso's arm.

[968]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

It was, all day long. You cannot go in for a header, and deliver a forearm smash, even if you win the ball. It's use of excessive force at least and dangerous play at worst. If you look at the way Bellarin falls, I think he's knocked out on impact with Alonso's arm.

It wasn't.

[jammy-git]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

smn159 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Definite foul for the first goal

No it wasn't

It was, all day long. You cannot go in for a header, and deliver a forearm smash, even if you win the ball. It's use of excessive force at least and dangerous play at worst. If you look at the way Bellarin falls, I think he's knocked out on impact with Alonso's arm.

Alonso didn't lead with his elbow. They just both jumped for the same ball and Bellerin happened to get hit in the head by Alonso's elbow. There's nothing intentional about this, I can't see how it would be a foul.

http://streamable.com/cbsrz

[TwigtheWonderkid]

jammy-git said:

There's nothing intentional about this,

That is completely irrelevant. There does not have to be intent.

[968]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

That is completely irrelevant. There does not have to be intent.

It wasn't and none of the pundits experts and even refs think it was.

[Mr Snrub]

jammy-git said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

smn159 said:

TwigtheWonderkid said:

Definite foul for the first goal

No it wasn't

It was, all day long. You cannot go in for a header, and deliver a forearm smash, even if you win the ball. It's use of excessive force at least and dangerous play at worst. If you look at the way Bellarin falls, I think he's knocked out on impact with Alonso's arm.

Alonso didn't lead with his elbow. They just both jumped for the same ball and Bellerin happened to get hit in the head by Alonso's elbow. There's nothing intentional about this, I can't see how it would be a foul.

http://streamable.com/cbsrz

It wasn't a foul, he had his eyes on the ball the entire time and unless players are expected to jump with their arms by their sides this type of contact will happen

[ou sont les biscuits]

Black can man said:

That Hazard chap aint too shabby is he eh .

Just caught the highlights on MOTD. That, BCM, is an understatement. All this posting about an unintentional elbow, and nothing about that goal? Must be a candidate for goal of the month, if not the season.

[monty999]

Certainly not a foul by Alonso, Hazard had a great game (which thankfully is happening more often this season). Kante is definitely the key though. Because of him players who can play - can play !! He is the Makelele we have been missing for years.

[TaylotS2K]

Agreed. Never a foul for the first goal.

Interestingly we only 2 of the top 6 still to play (City at home and United away) whereas some of the other top 6 have still to play each other 4 times.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Forget "eyes on the ball", intent and all the other stuff that is no longer relevant when it comes to deciding if a foul has been committed.

This is a foul.

[Granfondo]

It's not often I agree with Twig but that is 100% a foul and if that was against the goalie he would have been booked as well!

[Mr Snrub]

Intent is important, his arms were in a natural position so there was accidental contact.



Anyway, it's a shame we are still debating this rather than celebrating Hazard's wonder goal, or just some good old laughing at Arsenal being Arsenal

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Mr Snrub said:

Intent is important, his arms were in a natural position so there was accidental contact.

Not according to the actual laws of the game. Very rarely is their intent in any challenge. 99% of contact is accidental. When there is intent (Roy Keane on Haaland) it is big news. We heard Mata say there was no intent in his dreadful challenge on Vardy on Sunday, which even Mata thought should have been red. And I'm sure he was telling the truth, in that there was no intent.

It's completely irrelevant.

[Sparkyhd]

Anyhow can we move on from being sympathetic to the Arse and just accept they're a soft touch. I mean the way their midfielder bounced off Hazard sums up their weak physical and mental toughness.

[TwigtheWonderkid]

Sparkyhd said:

Anyhow can we move on from being sympathetic to the Arse

I've got no sympathy for them, I'm glad the ref got it wrong.

[968]

TwigtheWonderkid said:

I've got no sympathy for them, I'm glad the ref got it wrong.

He wasn't wrong.

[monty999]

Alonso had the run on Bellerin and got up to the ball first. Bellerin was underneath Alonso's jump and so had no chance of getting to the ball, I think he was injured by the fall to the floor and not collision with Alonso in the air.
Perhaps strip manufacturers could put pockets in the shorts into which players could put their hands when jumping for the ball That'd sort the problem out !