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“I wasn’t impressed first half. He wanted to be the star of the show” He’s had 10 Champions League games this season. More than Alan Shearer ever played in his career. Must have something about him.

For the love of all that’s holy, someone take the microphone away from Alan Shearer, please. For the first 35 minutes Arsenal were abject. Yet he’s piling in along with Clattenburg on the referee. The Trossard caution was fine. Not a challenge for the ball, no chance of playing it and not set...

Ever found yourself in a situation where the pressure gets to you? Where no matter what you do, it gets worse and everything goes wrong and you just can’t recover it? Now imagine that in front of thousands of people and TV cameras. That’s what’s happened here. He’ll be all the better for it...

That’s right. They’re considerations for Unsporting Behaviour or Serious Foul Play. The latter occurs when there may be an attempt to play the ball. In this case, it can’t be played as he’s in possession and clearly lost his head. A push or a barge into the attacker is where you could argue...

I think the Van Hecke debate is splitting hairs. The outcome is the same - it’s a foul leading to a red card with a direct free kick in an attacking area. Nobody’s going to complain at the red for that and do we need a VAR check for DOGSO, when we end up potentially, with a messy overturn then...

I’m an advocate of using your voice when I’m coaching referees. But perhaps today you’ve gone too far the other way. Multiple times you’ve been explaining things to players and your write up gives the impression they didn’t want to know. If they’re going to naysay everything you tell them it’s...

I lined with him before he was famous 😏

I listened to the game live and from the commentary I expected a real hack and swing. Seeing it on MoTD, it’s a different challenge to the one described. It’s more of a very aggressive trip, and his body shape is more akin to a passing motion than a full on blast. That would’ve been into the...

Given how long I spent in Northants it wouldn’t surprise me in the least!

That’s one for the local FA to handle as they administer the suspension. There’s a scale of punishments including the matches missed. At the higher end some offences will carry a stadium/facility ban as we’ve seen before in the professional game (Alan Pardew for example), others are a ban on all...

You poor sod! Could be worse though I suppose…

I was struck by the lack of appeal from the defenders for the second. Goalkeeper and centre half busier with looking at each other and trying to work who was at fault than claiming for a free kick. Difficult spot in real time I think.

I’ll go devils advocate here - notwithstanding my total agreement with @Runner Ref point about the sustained failing to spot SFP. MO sees it as a collision type challenge, abetted by the touch on the ball and plays an advantage missing the severity in of the contact. The hand gesture to Will...

I’d meant to put in “at least” but don’t know where it went. But I agree. There’s a serious personality issue here.

If there’s any justice that will be a 5 game ban. 3 for the VC, an additional as it’s the second red and another for his behaviour when delaying leaving the field.

I’ve said it before and I’m sure I’ll say it again (Konate situation this time). Being cautioned once does not mean the next infraction *is an automatic second caution*. Sometimes the foul is severe enough that it’s a nailed on caution. Sometimes it’s more effective to warn a player and then...

Penalty is an easy one. Goalkeeper goes straight to his line and doesn’t argue. Body language a dead-giveaway here. About the only other thing of note as Richarlison went off with an unrelated injury.

I think that’s because it came from the collision with the goalkeeper. May not be correct in law, but it’s the most plausible explanation for it occurring. @JamesL - again plausible. Was sort of miscontrolled on the half way line by a Spurs player after spending an age in the air. Could have...

Don’t think the Van Dijk-Richarlison incident a couple of minutes in was violent conduct. But don’t think dropped ball was the correct restart either. Certainly a careless use of the arm and a bump under the chin by Van Dijk so shove been a free kick. Does make it interesting though as...

I think this is partly about reclaiming the narrative. He’s lost his job and so now he’s stopping anyone else monetising his story. Get on the front foot, and shut down anything else. Important caveat: No evidence in the public domain for what I say below. But I have seen speculation and...