I haven’t posted in a while, mainly as a I haven’t had much to say, but probably partially as the shine of this blogging stuff has warn off a bit.
Anyway, been avoiding footy related posts, probably because they are really much better done elsewhere, the wonderful Arseblog really says most of it, and because of the usual derision whenever you come out as a dyed in the wool Gooner.
However, I read this quote (Allardyce talks complete BS) today which really annoyed and amused me in equal measure. For those of a tender disposition Fat Sam has been a bit of hate figure amongst Gooners, partially from being a large alleged-bung-taking sort, whose teams clog, dive and attempt to injure their way through games in a vain attempt to stay in the top flight. Although most Gooners would probably admit that similar “professional” play was pretty prevalent during the Graham-era, but that’s by the by.
His attempt to blame the referee for the blatant diving of his players, on not protecting players from the type of tackle he encourages in his own team frankly beggars belief.
‘I would rather he [Pedersen] did not do it at all and there can be no doubt it should have been a straightforward yellow card,’ the Blackburn boss told the Daily Mail.
‘But what about players who are dishing out fouls all the time? I would like to see them being punished, not least because it would mean those on the receiving end would not need to resort to diving.
‘At the moment, when a player stays on his feet, a referee thinks “That can’t have been a foul, because he’s still standing. It doesn’t look like a foul to me so I won’t give it”.
The man either has more bare-faced-cheek than a baboon in heat, or absolutely no self-knowledge at all.