Wanderers v Liverpool

[TANGODANCER]

No consolation at all, but the People back page headline (beside a pic of Woy and Sammy Lee dancing about) "We're not flagging now" and bracketed "And luckily for you Roy, neither is the linesman". .

As for Torres, the rules are clear about what he did and the ref just bottled it. He grabbed another player by the face and shoved it. Worse still for me because the player was on his back at the time. Tell me how that isn't a red within the rules? Luckily Cahill had more brains than react or he'd have probably walked. Can't send the local hero off at Anfield and the ref's name's rather apt (Friend). Torres is a deadly striker; but he's also a cheat and a mard-arse.

Cole was offside for me and nothing will change that (except the ref, linesmen and the whole of Anfield and the blatantly biased BBC commentator on MOTD).

Wigan's now assumed massive must-win status if we want to stay up there.

[Lord Kangana]

You say its lucky that Cahill didn't react, but if the only way of getting the rules enforced is to react, then being honest is costing us, surely?

If the shove had been El Hadji Diouf for us a couple of years ago, it would have been a straight red, no questions. And then the brain dead panel on MOTD would have lined up to take a pop at him, because he was at it again.

[seanworth]

You say its lucky that Cahill didn't react, but if the only way of getting the rules enforced is to react, then being honest is costing us, surely?

If the shove had been El Hadji Diouf for us a couple of years ago, it would have been a straight red, no questions. And then the brain dead panel on MOTD would have lined up to take a pop at him, because he was at it again.

Pathetic but true. If it had happened the other way round Torres would have acted like he got nailed with a baseball bat, and yes action would have been taken.

[keveh]

I've not been up to date with things, do we know why Holden wasn't playing?

[Lord Kangana]

I thought he was suspended, but I've read elsewhere he was injured. So I don't know. That doesn't really help, does it?

[Tombwfc]

He got a knock on Wednesday. He was in the dug-out yesterday though, so maybe he failed a fitness test.

Either way, I'd be hopeful of him being back for Tuesday. It'd be Muamba missing out for me unfortunately.

[Wandering Willy]

I thought he was suspended, but I've read elsewhere he was injured. So I don't know. That doesn't really help, does it?

Thigh injury I believe.

[Prufrock]

Games like this make me wonder why I bother caring about Football.

Offside goal* - Check
Handball, penalty turned down - Check
Torres hand to Cahill face, no booking - Check
Torres kicks ball away in anger, no booking - Check
Goal scored by player who shouldn't be on the pitch - Check

When the odds are that heavily stacked, why bother even showing up? Just put the kids out in future, take the fine and save it for a game the officials might let us have a chance in.

Utter c*nts.

*If you think the goal was onside because it nicked Elmo on the way through, you don't understand the offside rule.

It didn't nick Elmander on the way through. It was a cross to Maxi, who would have knocked to across to Joe Cole, who would have been offside except Elmander got there first. What you are understanding is what the offside rule should be, not what it is. From the replays I've seen the officials got it right, however I think more through luck than judgement.

[Tombwfc]

If Elmander gets there first and Maxi doesn't play the ball, why isn't it a foul? His arm is clearly pulling him.

I just can't see any way that it should've been given, and I certainly don't believe the officials thought it came off Elmander.

[TANGODANCER]

If Elmander gets there first and Maxi doesn't play the ball, why isn't it a foul? His arm is clearly pulling him.
I just can't see any way that it should've been given, and I certainly don't believe the officials thought it came off Elmander.

Euphoria. Home crowd going wild for blood, commentators willing Liverpool on, officials carried along to see justice done, 93rd minute and all over. Everybody happy. (except anybody associated with Bolton, but what the hell?).

[Choppers]

I would add that just recently all I notice is how much our opposition is rolling around.

Then you watch a non-Bolton game and realise it's not that they are rolling around, it's that WE aren't.

I'm all for footballing honesty, but at times, we're getting mugged because we aren't willing to try and cheat like every other c*nt in the league.

As for the offside, the whistle should have gone when the cross went in. The linesman had no idea it wasn't intended for Cole in the first place, so the whistle should go immediately. Cole is offside when the ball comes in, dragging our defender towards him, he's intefering with play and then scores from the original advantage. It's offside.

[Prufrock]

I would add that just recently all I notice is how much our opposition is rolling around.

Then you watch a non-Bolton game and realise it's not that they are rolling around, it's that WE aren't.

I'm all for footballing honesty, but at times, we're getting mugged because we aren't willing to try and cheat like every other c*nt in the league.

As for the offside, the whistle should have gone when the cross went in. The linesman had no idea it wasn't intended for Cole in the first place, so the whistle should go immediately. Cole is offside when the ball comes in, dragging our defender towards him, he's intefering with play and then scores from the original advantage. It's offside.

It's not though. It should be offside, coz if he ain't interfering with play what is he on the pitch for? However he doesn't attack the cross, nor is he preventing anyone from seeing the ball etc. Then the ball comes off Elmander. Whether or not Elmander was fouled is a different question, but Cole wasn't offside.

[FaninOz]

As for the offside, the whistle should have gone when the cross went in. The linesman had no idea it wasn't intended for Cole in the first place, so the whistle should go immediately. Cole is offside when the ball comes in, dragging our defender towards him, he's intefering with play and then scores from the original advantage. It's offside.

I agree Cole, like Malouda at Chelsea, was offside when the ball was played hence had an unfair advantage and were inteferring with play. Both goals should have been disallowed.

[Il Pirate]

If Elmander gets there first and Maxi doesn't play the ball, why isn't it a foul? His arm is clearly pulling him.
I just can't see any way that it should've been given, and I certainly don't believe the officials thought it came off Elmander.

Euphoria. Home crowd going wild for blood, commentators willing Liverpool on, officials carried along to see justice done, 93rd minute and all over. Everybody happy. (except anybody associated with Bolton, but what the hell?).

I feel the angst TD. Couldn't speak for fury till 9.o'clock.

[Prufrock]

As for the offside, the whistle should have gone when the cross went in. The linesman had no idea it wasn't intended for Cole in the first place, so the whistle should go immediately. Cole is offside when the ball comes in, dragging our defender towards him, he's intefering with play and then scores from the original advantage. It's offside.

I agree Cole, like Malouda at Chelsea, was offside when the ball was played hence had an unfair advantage and were inteferring with play. Both goals should have been disallowed.

No they weren't

Aye, but not according to current interpretations.

[KeeeeeeeBaaaaaaab]

I would add that just recently all I notice is how much our opposition is rolling around.

Then you watch a non-Bolton game and realise it's not that they are rolling around, it's that WE aren't.

I'm all for footballing honesty, but at times, we're getting mugged because we aren't willing to try and cheat like every other c*nt in the league.

As for the offside, the whistle should have gone when the cross went in. The linesman had no idea it wasn't intended for Cole in the first place, so the whistle should go immediately. Cole is offside when the ball comes in, dragging our defender towards him, he's intefering with play and then scores from the original advantage. It's offside.

It's not though. It should be offside, coz if he ain't interfering with play what is he on the pitch for? However he doesn't attack the cross, nor is he preventing anyone from seeing the ball etc. Then the ball comes off Elmander. Whether or not Elmander was fouled is a different question, but Cole wasn't offside.

He's central to the goal as the ball crosses the goal area. Just because the ball is going over his head doesn't mean he's not a meaningful distraction to Jaaskelainen as the ball is going across, intending to be a distraction or obstacle to an opponent. Therefore, interfering with play and gaining an unfair advantage in the next phase of play. Therefore, by the Laws Of The Game, offside.

But it's at Anfield, in a game where the ref won't send off a Liverpool player who's committed the most obvious, yet mard-arsed, act of violent conduct there will be this decade, and all it warrants is the ref asking for his autograph at the end of the game. Why are we still moaning? It's us v Big Red Club. It's What Happens.

[Bench]

This debate about was it or wasn't it offside is becoming a tad boring. It is also academic.

Having said that, what really sticks in my craw is that Torres should have been sent off on at least three occasions - once for violent conduct and twice for dissent. Three game changing decisions (or lack of) right there.

[CarlosHernandez]

The players face should be sacred, and for the ref to let Torres get away with it right in front of him is irresponsible and blatantly bad refereeing. It sets the precedent for the rest of the match that putting your palm into the oppositions face is all good.

Touch and go offside calls i can swallow, woefully bad sportsmanship by a whinging, poncing sook that goes unpunished, i can't.

[Choppers]

I used to like Torres but over the years he's become a true Liverpool player. When he scores he doesn't so much as celebrate as snarl now. Reminds me of Fabregas a bit, just seems utterly detestable...though I could be wrong, I don't know him.

[Mar]

I used to like Torres but over the years he's become a true Liverpool player. When he scores he doesn't so much as celebrate as snarl now. Reminds me of Fabregas a bit, just seems utterly detestable...though I could be wrong, I don't know him.

Thats because he used to enjoy working for Liverpool. Now it looks like he can't wait to get out of the club.