tottenham played pretty much their first xi again which is going to cost them in injuries/exhaustion again in the spring
I worry about that, but otoh that first xi has only really been fighting on one front all season. Interested to see what Redknapp does in the FA Cup, got a feeling we're either bombing out in the third round or winning it.
― Matt DC, Saturday, 31 December 2011 20:17 (twelve years ago) link
Just read the whole report. If there is an appeal, I can't see Liverpool's conduct since the verdict (the Suarez t-shirts, the official statement, etc) helping - if anything the punishment could be extended. This bit is damning:356. Mr Suarez's pinching of Mr Evra's skin was not an attempt to defuse the situation. On thecontrary, it was an attempt to aggravate Mr Evra and to inflame the situation. Mr Suarez'sadmitted use of the word "negro" when speaking to Mr Evra was not conciliatory andfriendly. It was unfriendly and was used as part of Mr Suarez's attempt to wind up MrEvra. The whole tenor of the exchanges was confrontational and argumentative. Adoptingthe words used by the Spanish language experts, Mr Suarez did not use "negro" with anysense of rapport or in an attempt to create such rapport.357. Not only did we reject this evidence of Mr Suarez, but we found it remarkable that hesought to advance a case that was so clearly inconsistent with any sensible appreciation ofwhat happened. Even Mr McCormick accepted in his closing submissions that thepinching could not reasonably be described as an attempt to defuse the situation. Tosuggest otherwise, as Mr Suarez did, was unarguable. Mr Suarez's evidence on thesetopics, which was shown to be flawed, profoundly undermined our confidence in thereliability of his evidence.358. Mr Suarez's account of his admitted use of the word "negro" changed several times. Heseemed unsure of when the admitted use took place and what triggered it. His accountseemed to change in an attempt to fit in with the video evidence.
― The Artist Formerly Known As Teh HoBB, Saturday, 31 December 2011 21:54 (twelve years ago) link
The weirdest bit, I thought, was that both Dalglish and Comolli said to the ref after the match that Suarez had said "because you are black" and Dirk Kuyt also confirmed Suarez had told him the same thing in a separate conversation carried out in Dutch. "According to Mr Suarez, Mr Comolli misheard what Mr Suarez said in Spanish and Mr Kuyt misheard what Mr Suarez said in Dutch." The findings of the commission that the defence only used the word "concilliatory" after it was presented to them as one of the potential language modifiers smacks of lawyers who know their client is likely to be found guilty but are looking to win on technicalities.
To be honest, the whole thing reads a bit like an attempt at coaching and damage limitation after the game by Comolli - which then went wrong because, as is often the case with a not-entirely-true sequence of events, it's hard to all agree on exactly what story you're all going to use.
― aldo, Saturday, 31 December 2011 22:30 (twelve years ago) link
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEwLkCRziD8
― (╯°□°)╯┻━ƃuıʇɐǝ & ƃuıʞlɐʍ━┻ (cccccc), Sunday, 1 January 2012 04:00 (twelve years ago) link
TheLFCZone
― caek, Sunday, 1 January 2012 04:14 (twelve years ago) link
What the hell is that?
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 08:01 (twelve years ago) link
It seems that Rooney was dropped yesterday for having broken a curfew and gone drinking. Twat.
― The Artist Formerly Known As Teh HoBB, Sunday, 1 January 2012 08:57 (twelve years ago) link
Nice work by motd, playing ferguson's interview ("you see those in the box every day not being given. That sums up the referee's performance today") over the clearest possible footage of Berbatov hauling down Samba.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 09:01 (twelve years ago) link
btw there's a difference in legal-speak between credibility and reliability. Credibility is whether you're telling the truth or not; reliability is whether or not you're accurate. Suarez is mostly found wanting on reliability, not credibility. They sound the same but they're not quite - it's normal for witnesses to be unreliable on certain points because of bad memory, time lag, things happening fast, been drinking, etc. Lack of credibility is much worse, but even then iirc he's incredible about explanations more than facts.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 09:52 (twelve years ago) link
Also the comments about standard of proof are interesting. They're working to 'balance of probabilities' i.e. on the evidence before them Suarez was more likely than not to have done it. The CPS work to a different test - they have to consider there to be a realistic prospect of proof beyond reasonable doubt before they can prosecute. We don't know what evidence they have against Terry, but as it passed the tougher CPS test it's got to be very likely that, when he's charged by the FA, it would comfortably pass the 'balance of probabilities' test.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 12:10 (twelve years ago) link
Was there a statement/explanation from the police about Suarez not being charged?
― caek, Sunday, 1 January 2012 13:37 (twelve years ago) link
Not that I'm aware of. I don't think there was even a complaint made to them. And reading the FA report, there's no way he'd've been convicted - this was a marginal call in which they essentially had to choose one or other and preferred Evra's version - an actual criminal trial isn't like that, you have to get over the 'beyond reasonable doubt' hurdle and anything short of that means not guilty.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 14:03 (twelve years ago) link
Also the charge would've been different. The FA's 'insults with reference to colour' is weaker than 'threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or disorderly behaviour within the hearing or sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress which was racially aggravated' like Terry's been charged with.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 14:08 (twelve years ago) link
http://www.whoateallthepies.tv/EMP-6274166.jpg
Is Scharner some kind of hipster or something?
― Number None, Wednesday, December 21, 2011 11:34 PM (1 week ago)
I feel like we never really got the bottom of this. A cursory GIS yields not very much. Bad mistake for the goal completing a bad day for our Williamsburg-dwelling, tweed-wearing hero.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 14:23 (twelve years ago) link
Need a gif of Hodgson's Head Banging to go alongside the Face Rub. #HodgsonForEngland
― Chris, Sunday, 1 January 2012 14:58 (twelve years ago) link
Not that I'm aware of. I don't think there was even a complaint made to them.
― caek, Sunday, 1 January 2012 15:18 (twelve years ago) link
I don't know why, but that does seem to be the rule that gets cited. I can't imagine that's how they decide whether to get involved in gunfights or unclaimed dead bodies, right enough.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 15:25 (twelve years ago) link
City laying siege is something to behold
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:46 (twelve years ago) link
Good lord.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
Woohoo!
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:50 (twelve years ago) link
That was a beauty
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:51 (twelve years ago) link
Clearly offside!
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:51 (twelve years ago) link
half a step, but yeah.
Well-taken by the lad tbf.
keeps the league interesting
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:52 (twelve years ago) link
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!
― The Artist Formerly Known As Teh HoBB, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:52 (twelve years ago) link
best weekend of the season?
― EZ Snappin, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:53 (twelve years ago) link
ayo!
― caek, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:53 (twelve years ago) link
Nobody actually wants to win this league, do they?
― aldo, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:53 (twelve years ago) link
I do
― The Artist Formerly Known As Teh HoBB, Sunday, 1 January 2012 16:54 (twelve years ago) link
Then you can have it.
You know what I thought last night? It's like the pension thing - a race to the bottom. Look at Liverpool over the past few years; up for the big matches but dropping points like crazy to teams in the bottom half of the table: still one of the 'Big 4' (until Man City did what they did.). And what do we have now? Looking impressive against each other (City's 6-1, Utd's 8-2 etc) but losing to sides in the bottom three.
― aldo, Sunday, 1 January 2012 17:06 (twelve years ago) link
Martin Tyler bested his MACHEDAAAAA moment there. Missed yesterday's game due to being at a wedding, wonder if i should subject myself to the highlights
― Number None, Sunday, 1 January 2012 17:58 (twelve years ago) link
no
― u know my homes' methods, plies them (p much resigned to deems), Sunday, 1 January 2012 18:01 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, didn't think sohttp://i.imgur.com/PBCQu.jpg
― Number None, Sunday, 1 January 2012 18:04 (twelve years ago) link
The Suarez Report is weirdly engrossing. Quite amusing reading references to Mr. Kuyt and so on
― Number None, Sunday, 1 January 2012 18:07 (twelve years ago) link
I'm sure that was done for his benefit
― slightly upwards of (once a lifetime is ample), Sunday, 1 January 2012 18:40 (twelve years ago) link
<stands up><applauds>
― aldo, Sunday, 1 January 2012 18:50 (twelve years ago) link
Heh!
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 18:52 (twelve years ago) link
quality
― u know my homes' methods, plies them (p much resigned to deems), Sunday, 1 January 2012 19:34 (twelve years ago) link
A+ footcelsior material there.
― ailsa, Sunday, 1 January 2012 21:06 (twelve years ago) link
so will liv appeal?
― (╯°□°)╯┻━ƃuıʇɐǝ & ƃuıʞlɐʍ━┻ (cccccc), Sunday, 1 January 2012 22:03 (twelve years ago) link
not if they've got any sense
― caek, Sunday, 1 January 2012 22:07 (twelve years ago) link
Be mad to IMO. Comolli, Dalglish and Kuyt both largely agree with Evra's version of events and said as much to Marinner, Dowd and the FA (respectively) and Suarez himself said he wouldn't call an Englishman 'black' because they might find it offensive (implying he knows full well it could be taken the wrong way).
Where this leaves Glen Johnson, who apparently gets called 'negro' all the time during training without question from anybody at the club, fuck knows.
― aldo, Sunday, 1 January 2012 22:08 (twelve years ago) link
Yeah, I'd've thought not. Assessment of the evidence is usually a matter solely for the panel hearing it, and they've been so meticulous about it in the report that there's not a great deal of scope to argue that they've made an obvious error. There might be scope for appealing the length of ban, but again they've carefully explained why they considered & rejected longer & shorter bans, so that's probably a no-goer too. Put City to the sword on Tuesday then quietly let the whole thing drop while muttering about it being harsh, lessons learnt, chance for the summer break he hasn't had since 2009, etc etc would be best I think.
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 22:21 (twelve years ago) link
http://transalchemy.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/f081a_vlcsnap-410621.png
glen johnson at a liverpool team-building session.
― m. yeux, Sunday, 1 January 2012 22:34 (twelve years ago) link
I thought that was John Barnes?
― Ismael Klata, Sunday, 1 January 2012 22:40 (twelve years ago) link
suspense of waiting to see what Hartson would choose for his goal of the month on MOTD2 slightly undermined by him saying Van Persie was his goal of the season three minutes earlier
― Extreme Lifestyle, Sunday, 1 January 2012 23:29 (twelve years ago) link
Martin Tyler's commentary for that Ji goal was sensational.
― Chris, Sunday, 1 January 2012 23:34 (twelve years ago) link
didn't see this so
http://h10.abload.de/img/roysworlduyptz.gif
― v-whiney (Cuauhtemoc Blanco), Monday, 2 January 2012 05:14 (twelve years ago) link
ffs
― v-whiney (Cuauhtemoc Blanco), Monday, 2 January 2012 05:15 (twelve years ago) link