Euros

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Balo just has to make it all about him all the time. He scored a great goal, go celebrate with your team mates, don't go and mouth off to the manager. Sometimes just get the feeling he's playing for himself.

[Beefymcfc]

Mario went to start mouthing to the manager by the look of it... Team mates told him to shut it. Even when he does the right thing he has to act like a petulant little twat.

Top finish though.

He needs to fucking grow up - fast. He keeps acting like a petulant twat, then apologises, says he won't do it again and then lo and behold he acts up again. Prandelli was right to drop him for tonight's game because he was shit in Italy's first two games, especially against Spain where he was one on one against Casillas and dithered too long, thus wasting a gilt edged chance. Has a lot of talent but I fear that he will never fulfil his potential unless he changes his attitude. So far the signs do not look good

Petulant is a word that you can use but only because he has become a spoilt brat. He's got all the trait's of the Wonka 4, what he needs is a bit of Charlie. And not in the drugs sense.

[Spurge]

I don't think Spain were lucky or played particulalry poorly. It seems if they don't come up with a finsih to match their approach play every time they are on the offensive they suddently become poor.

A test of a real quality side is that when it doesn't all come together they stick at it, show some beleif and follow the game plan and find a way to eek out the winner. Sounds a bit like City right up to the last minute of last season in fact!

Credit to the Croats they played a big part in that game - Modric was superb. Deffo the best team not to make the QF's

[Beefymcfc]

What a ball through from Silva, shame the pundits don't give him any credit.

On a side-note, why do Spain get an immediate freekick when a challenge comes in yet the teams they play get nothing for the same challenge?

Because they're Barcelona 2 and it's stipulated in the UEFA rule book?

And that tackle by Ramos, under the 5th officials nose (shows that they are only there for goal line decisions)? That's a card in anybody's league.

Don't like agreeing with Hansen but Ramos just gets a toe end on the ball first

He may have mate, at the same time as he went through. I seen it as a good tackle at first until they shown the other angle.

Anywhere else, anybody else, it's a card I feel.

[Bridge'srightfoot]

Modric really is a wonderful player. That run and cross with the outside of the boot tonight was brilliant. Like a deeper David Silva.

[Spurge]

What a ball through from Silva, shame the pundits don't give him any credit.

On a side-note, why do Spain get an immediate freekick when a challenge comes in yet the teams they play get nothing for the same challenge?

Because they're Barcelona 2 and it's stipulated in the UEFA rule book?

And that tackle by Ramos, under the 5th officials nose (shows that they are only there for goal line decisions)? That's a card in anybody's league.

Don't like agreeing with Hansen but Ramos just gets a toe end on the ball first

He may have mate, at the same time as he went through. I seen it as a good tackle at first until they shown the other angle.

Anywhere else, anybody else, it's a card I feel.

And thats whats wrong in the modern game - if you got to the ball first it used to be known as a 'tackle'. Momentum may mean you then took the player as well but that just made it a 'good tackle' .

So refreshing that this tackle went unpunished.

I do understand the point you make however as more often than not it would have been seen as a foul. The probelm with tackiling is 2 fold in the modern game.

1) Because players where slippers instead of boots they are more likely to get hurt when being on the end of a good challenge
2) Because players roll around in agony when challenged referees are conned into thinking they have been fouled

What refs do need to show more courage on is shirt pulling in the penaly area - start awarding penalties and it will soon stop

[carl_feedthegoat]

Mario goal


http://www.101greatgoals.com/gvideos/go ... ireland-2/

[Beefymcfc]

And thats whats wrong in the modern game - if you got to the ball first it used to be known as a 'tackle'. Momentum may mean you then took the player as well but that just made it a 'good tackle' .

So refreshing that this tackle went unpunished.

I do understand the point you make however as more often than not it would have been seen as a foul. The probelm with tackiling is 2 fold in the modern game.

1) Because players where slippers instead of boots they are more likely to get hurt when being on the end of a good challenge
2) Because players roll around in agony when challenged referees are conned into thinking they have been fouled

What refs do need to show more courage on is shirt pulling in the penaly area - start awarding penalties and it will soon stop

And I agree entirely, the game isn't what it used to be. I used to kick and get kicked like fuck but the reality is that the game has changed. But, as you say, it still isn't right as 9 out of 10 times that tackle is a foul and a card, the other 1 is a red card and off.

What I seen in that game was certain Spanish players get away with varying degree's of tackle's whereas the Croatians were punished; there was similar in the Ireland game.

I don't mind heavy challenges, not at all, but what I do mind is the 2 tier way of dealing with it.

[Spurge]

And thats whats wrong in the modern game - if you got to the ball first it used to be known as a 'tackle'. Momentum may mean you then took the player as well but that just made it a 'good tackle' .

So refreshing that this tackle went unpunished.

I do understand the point you make however as more often than not it would have been seen as a foul. The probelm with tackiling is 2 fold in the modern game.

1) Because players where slippers instead of boots they are more likely to get hurt when being on the end of a good challenge
2) Because players roll around in agony when challenged referees are conned into thinking they have been fouled

What refs do need to show more courage on is shirt pulling in the penaly area - start awarding penalties and it will soon stop

And I agree entirely, the game isn't what it used to be. I used to kick and get kicked like fuck but the reality is that the game has changed. But, as you say, it still isn't right as 9 out of 10 times that tackle is a foul and a card, the other 1 is a red card and off.

What I seen in that game was certain Spanish players get away with varying degree's of tackle's whereas the Croatians were punished; there was similar in the Ireland game.

I don't mind heavy challenges, not at all, but what I do mind is the 2 tier way of dealing with it.

Yes you have touched on something else thats wrong in the modern game - one rule for the big teams and another rule for the others. We may benefit from that approach from refs next season however

[zuricity]

That challenge by Ramos would have been a yellow if anyone but a Spaniard made it. Now Corluka got the yellow instead, for pointing out the obvious.

oh bollocks , never a foul , take the corner and get on with it

[Goataldo]

And thats whats wrong in the modern game - if you got to the ball first it used to be known as a 'tackle'. Momentum may mean you then took the player as well but that just made it a 'good tackle' .

So refreshing that this tackle went unpunished.

I do understand the point you make however as more often than not it would have been seen as a foul. The probelm with tackiling is 2 fold in the modern game.

1) Because players where slippers instead of boots they are more likely to get hurt when being on the end of a good challenge
2) Because players roll around in agony when challenged referees are conned into thinking they have been fouled

What refs do need to show more courage on is shirt pulling in the penaly area - start awarding penalties and it will soon stop

And I agree entirely, the game isn't what it used to be. I used to kick and get kicked like fuck but the reality is that the game has changed. But, as you say, it still isn't right as 9 out of 10 times that tackle is a foul and a card, the other 1 is a red card and off.

What I seen in that game was certain Spanish players get away with varying degree's of tackle's whereas the Croatians were punished; there was similar in the Ireland game.

I don't mind heavy challenges, not at all, but what I do mind is the 2 tier way of dealing with it.

Yes you have touched on something else thats wrong in the modern game - one rule for the big teams and another rule for the others. We may benefit from that approach from refs next season however

To be honest, I've noticed loads of decisions go our way that we would never have gotten previously, i.e. before we were mint in the last couple of seasons. Mainly against the lesser clubs.

[zuricity]

Forgot to mention: Spain's manager is a dour, potato headed cunt, who is lucky to have such players to fuck about with.

Alan fucking Ballio.

absolutely stupid thing to say about a very well respected Manager. the guy is class , so wind it in

[kinkylola]

mario had been constantly dangerous in both games he started, gets put on the bench and then comes off it to score. I think at this point, he may be better coming off the bench because it seems like when he starts several games in a row, he gets a little complacent. I don't think fitness is a big concern, so maybe he should be a sub for right now. He probably won't like that though (as evidenced). I rate him very highly though, hope he stays at city for a long time.

[ant london]

Balo just has to make it all about him all the time. He scored a great goal, go celebrate with your team mates, don't go and mouth off to the manager. Sometimes just get the feeling he's playing for himself.

I actually think you got his reaction (ie "why") all wrong here. I'm not saying that he should necessarily react like that when he comes on but I think it was clearly aimed at the Irish fans who'd all started booing when he came on.

On the basis that he's had monkey chanting, banana throwing and now booing....I don't blame him for a "shut the fuck up" reaction.

No way was that directed at the manager IMO.....even his teammate said it "was in English" whatever he was saying so much more likely to be towards the paddies.

Fucking great goal. He's mad, we all know that...I don't know how some of you can keep finding the outrage to waffle on about it. Yes, he needs to buck his ideas up, yes he needs to grow up but it isn't going to happen overnight....

[mr_nool]

That challenge by Ramos would have been a yellow if anyone but a Spaniard made it. Now Corluka got the yellow instead, for pointing out the obvious.

oh bollocks , never a foul , take the corner and get on with it

I refer to Spurge's and Beefy's discussion above. I agree with Beefy.

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Balo just has to make it all about him all the time. He scored a great goal, go celebrate with your team mates, don't go and mouth off to the manager. Sometimes just get the feeling he's playing for himself.

I actually think you got his reaction (ie "why") all wrong here. I'm not saying that he should necessarily react like that when he comes on but I think it was clearly aimed at the Irish fans who'd all started booing when he came on.

On the basis that he's had monkey chanting, banana throwing and now booing....I don't blame him for a "shut the fuck up" reaction.

No way was that directed at the manager IMO.....even his teammate said it "was in English" whatever he was saying so much more likely to be towards the paddies.

Fucking great goal. He's mad, we all know that...I don't know how some of you can keep finding the outrage to waffle on about it. Yes, he needs to buck his ideas up, yes he needs to grow up but it isn't going to happen overnight....

So, he doesn't react to monkey chants from the Spanish and he doesn't react to a banana being thrown at him by the Croats, but he does react to a few boos. You've gotta love the crazy bastard eh?

[ant london]

Do you not think he maybe might think....I'd expect it from the Spanish...the Croatians....but, the fucking Irish, I'm not having that you cunts.

I don't really care less how he reacts when scoring goals or how warm and cuddly he seems. He can keep his bad attitude for me, I just don't want him to get sent off. If he can do that much, that's fine by me

[Foreverinbluedreams]

He's not having boos from the Irish but expects racist chants from the other two? No sorry mate, makes no sense to me.

I agree 100% with the second part of your post.

[ant london]

He's not having boos from the Irish but expects racist chants from the other two? No sorry mate, makes no sense to me.

Doesn't matter, it's not worth trying to explain. It's pretty obvious to me

[Ted Hughes]

Re Ramos' challenge; he did just get a toe to the ball but it was a fucking desperate attempt which could easily have ended in a pen. He & Piquet were really fucking awful defensively & their idea they can both play football, causing them to spray hospital passes around the Spanish midfield, thump long balls to Croatia, toeend long distance shots over the bar, pass to the croat's keeper & get caught in possession in their own penalty area, is not how I want to see our CBs evolve.

Leave the football to the footballers.

On that note, I thought Xavi, Iniesta, Alonso were poor by their usual standards & failed to take the ball from the clowns quickly enough, thus Spain's whole system failed & the passing got stretched.

What Spain did in that game is not something to aspire to. That is no more an example of how football should be played, than Sam Allardyce & his long ball. It is dour, unimaginative, negative, shite.