I am proud of the lads: Not so much today as i felt many of our more experienced players had a below average day but this post is not to slate anybody!! Rather to acknowledge that we are definitely a team on the up & for me a top class midfielder & striker away from having a pop at titles in the next year or 2!!
As for Phil Dowd?!! :shock:
What oh what was going on there?
I have posted many many posts on here & other sites regarding the FA's "Top 4-a-thon" as well as Fifa's game & tournament manipulation tactics. You know? The one's for example like...lets say....the game in Italy hits the ropes for .. as it happens..... match rigging allegations being PROVED.......Then half their top sides being fined, docked points & relegated....Fifa,in my humble opinion see all this & think..."oh dear, one of our major footballing nations has got real trouble.... crowds are turning away in their droves & are all up in arms we could see the collapse of the game over there!!! That means XXXX less in the coffers this year what do we do?!!!!!!................. Then.... as it happens... They (Italy) get "gifted" game after game by shocking decisions from the officials (employed by & designated by FIFA don't forget) on their way to winning the World cup?! the year after!!...... Game over there recovers.... everyone's happy!! ..
I am not saying it is anywhere near as bad over here mind you, just "nearly" as bad!
This is why FIFA, UEFA & the FA point blank refuse to have video replays as they would lose this "control". Why else? The technology is there already after all & has even been used successfully in many other sports for many years.. Cricket, American football etc. The only argument would be the delay & disruption in the flow of the game but would that really be an issue?.... I think not. . ... Bear in mind we are talking about "Key" decisions only. So if a Ref awards a penalty, a goal or sends someone off or has a decision which could result in a sending off al la in today's game.. (you would surely imagine that these would be the key decisions in question?!)......The play is already broken up & it takes a couple of minutes to 1. Stop the arguments & surrounding of the Ref from the players. ...2. To set up the penalty or get the wall set up etc..etc.. So there is a delay in play ANYWAY!!
So for me each manager should have 3 yellow flags which they can use to request an independent video replay. Surely if anything it would add an extra dimension to events which could actually be really good fun?
One thing is for certain Villa would have played for 85 mins against 10 men & would most likely be holding the Carling cup now had this been the case today!!
Instead we must now look to Reading away & the even more desirable............................... FA cup!!!