Arsenal v Bolton (match thread)

[boltonboris]

So is Cahill in suspenders then?

3 games, if we don't get him off

We're appealing, so it's 4 or none

Extra game is optional, could still be three...oh wait we aren't a member of the big four, or play in London. Four it is. See Javier Mascherano/Jeremie Aliadiere and Frank Lampard.

So I take it they can still uphold the suspension, without treating the appeal as 'frivolous'?

[CAPSLOCK]

Seeing as every 'expert' questioned reckons its not a red card, they'll struggle to argue that there isn't at last some doubt over the original decision

So, overturned, maybe

Frivolous, not a fcuking chance

[boltonboris]

Seeing as every 'expert' questioned reckons its not a red card, they'll struggle to argue that there isn't at last some doubt over the original decision

So, overturned, maybe

Frivolous, not a fcuking chance

I don't know how these things work. But from what I can gather, they'll show the video to Atwell and ask, "After seeing this footage, will you still say that it should have been red?"

"Yes of course.. I'd have sent him off for less than that" Will be his reply

[Tombwfc]

From the Daily Mail (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/articl ... z0zRthP9BA)....

Another anomaly in England is that straight red cards can be appealed. FIFA are opposed to this, believing the referee must be supported at all times. The world governing body have reluctantly agreed that this can continue in England, provided appeals (which cost clubs £1,500 to lodge) are kept to a minimum and they can only be upheld in cases where video evidence is absolutely clear the referee has made a 'serious and obvious error'.

There have been 39 appeals so far and the appeals body ? made up from a selection of FA Council members and ex-players, managers, administrators and referees ? have upheld only seven claims.

The FA disciplinary department try to ensure a mixture of personnel for each appeal and it's certainly not a case of ex-referees supporting their colleagues. If the dismissal is seen as 'harsh', then it will be rejected.

If the FA veer from FIFA guidelines, or if the number of appeals become too high, then our special right to appeal could be revoked.

In the interests of fairness and to minimise the number of appeals, the FA has the right to add to the suspension of a player in the case of a 'frivolous' appeal.

I would suggest the chances of this getting overtuned are somewhere south of feck all. At best they'll overlook the 'Violent Conduct' bit and it'll just be for one game.

[Prufrock]

FIFA can f*ck off. In what way is it not supporting referees to accept they may occasionally get things wrong, and in the interests of fairness to seek to correct these. We aren't genuinely expected to think all referees always perfect, so why do they insist on persisting with this stupid idea.

[Lord Kangana]

You mean like a C#?

Anyway, I used to love it when Allardyce used to put dossiers together on all the refs and go on about the stats he had. I bet he had f*ck all up his sleeve, but I genuinly feel for about 3 or 4 seasons we got a fairer crack of the whip because of the pressure he applied. Not necessarily edifying, graceful or noble (maybe a tad embarassing to some), but as I say, it made me feel like we'd got one over the League.

i think Owen should keep going on about it if the appeal doesn't succeed, keep it in the public eye. That kind of approach does work.

[bristol_Wanderer3]

Not had time to post on here since the game, nor read all the previous comments but:

1.) I was dissappointed that Coyle stuck to 4-4-2 initially. He did change it after about 25 minutes to put Elmander on the right and CYL behind Davies, which to me seemed a bit better, but they dominated midfield and therefore possession and so the chances. Having said all of that their first two goals were pretty basic crosses into the box to unmarked attackers.

2.) Petrov was terribly dissappointing. If we were going to get anything at Arsenal with a relatively attacking line up he needed to have a decent game.

3.) The defence were poor at dealing with defence splitting through balls. Our line seemed too high given we didn't have enough numbers in midfield to pressurise the ball. Given their first two goals were basic failings with basic crosses into the box the defence had a poor game. Cahill and Knight are good invidual defenders but at the highest level are not good for clean sheets. I would sell Cahill for £17.5m in January. I really don't think our defence would concede less goals with a £3m - £4m replacement.

4.) Cahill's sending off occurred opposite us but seemed harsh.

5.) Bogdan and Holden were our best players IMO. Particularly impressed with Holden.

6.) Arsenal are a far better team than us and were always likely to win. I am sure whatever formation we could have played would have resulted in defeat. We have fallen a long way since we used to go there expecting to get something 4-5 years ago. Hopefully we can build this team back to somewhere towards that.

[boltonboris]

5.) Bogdan and Holden were our best players IMO. Particularly impressed with Holden.

Your opinion and that, but I thought Holden was poor. Probably his worst game for us. But he was outnumbered, so not much else you can expect. Coyles formation exploited him

[Riviman]

As we know Cahill's sending off wouldn't have happened if the ref had blown up for the foul on CYL just seconds earlier BUT he didn't and Cahill's challenge was reckless. I don't expect the ban to be changed and it does leave him open to further matches being added.
Fingers crossed for a satisfactory outcome but I'm not hopeful.

[Dave Sutton's barnet]

Having said all of that their first two goals were pretty basic crosses into the box to unmarked attackers.

True - but you could argue that that's because there was no pressure on the providers. Should Wilshere have had that much room to cross for the first?

Petrov was terribly dissappointing. If we were going to get anything at Arsenal with a relatively attacking line up he needed to have a decent game.

Indeed - whatever the line-up, he seemed to stick out like a spare man. Or, indeed, like a tiara. And so we're back to the eternal argument about the "luxury" of a playmaker - but it seems unarguable that when he did have the ball he wasted it.

The defence were poor at dealing with defence splitting through balls. Our line seemed too high given we didn't have enough numbers in midfield to pressurise the ball. Given their first two goals were basic failings with basic crosses into the box the defence had a poor game. Cahill and Knight are good invidual defenders but at the highest level are not good for clean sheets. I would sell Cahill for £17.5m in January. I really don't think our defence would concede less goals with a £3m - £4m replacement.

Not convinced by the recent swell of support towards selling Cahill, because I don't think we'd get anywhere near £17.5m for him. The defence was poor but you can see the point of a high line to compress the midfield - drop off and you give acres of playing space to Arshavin, Rosicky, Fabregas and all their passy-sulky ilk. That said, they can still find the room if they outnumber you in central midfield - which is where playing Mavis, rather than pushing Elmo/KD into ersatz defensive roles, would have helped numerically. Wise after the event) but it's not like the point wasn't made before the game.

Again, not a disaster to lose at Arsenal, but it strikes me that we might need to change our gameplan a little more than "muck in when we've not got it". Selective stat but if we didn't have the annual West Ham charity run Coyle would have got four points from 36 on the road.

[hisroyalgingerness]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... dside.html

Coyle sticking the boot in!

[Lofthouse Lower]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/footba ... dside.html

Coyle sticking the boot in!

....hopefully after the ball has gone!

[ohjimmyjimmy]

Owen, give us his number...!

I just want to send him a George Michael joke, honest

[Armchair Wanderer]

Anyone else agree with this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2 ... es_me.html

[thebish]

Anyone else agree with this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2 ... es_me.html

no.

[BWFC_Insane]

Anyone else agree with this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2 ... es_me.html

no.

I agree with theBish.

[thebish]

Anyone else agree with this?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/timvickery/2 ... es_me.html

no.

I agree with theBish.

so do I.

[Lord Kangana]

I so want fabric ass to leave for Barca in january. The feeling grows with every w*nk article like that I read.