The Football Topic (Page 19 of 52)

Moved to write something on here to today as a result of catching some B-liga 1 & 2 this last weekend and I wanted to ask regular UK viewers if they are seeing something as prevalent in the British side of the game.

Cheating has always been a distateful development in the modern game, but I thought with the advent of so many cameras at the professional games these days, and with the officials ready to penalise offenders it was somethign that was beginning to fade out - sportsmanship coming back even?

But no. During the week in the Hannover96 euro game there were a couple of clear cheating attempts I saw - and were clearly identified by the cameras at the game. 1 picked up by the ref and 1 not.

But yesterday I saw the highlights of the BLiga 2 game between Dyn. Dresden and FSV Frankfurt. Now Dresden as a club are in the news anyway quite often due to the behaviour of their fans. Another old DDR club with a heavily racsist or far right following. Lots of violence and aggravation, constant crowd disruptions and so on.

But in their game this weekend their were numerous attempts at cheating. 2 players were booked for clear examples of the offence. One, Robert Koch, the leading goalscorer this year for the club had already been booked for faking and trying to get a penalty, when in the middle of the field he inexplicably faked a head injury after what appeared close contact with a FSV player.

Replays showed their was absolutely zero contact and it was a deliberate attempt to get the FSV playmaker sent off. The extent of his playacting almost caused a punch up and as a result he escaped any further punishment when a red card was clearly required.

To me the BL shoud review this footage and take actiona against the club as this is the only way to stamp it out. But my question is why - when the cameras catch EVERY action are the players so stupid to even attempt it?

In the Hannover match the forward had beaten the defender and was through but clearly thought a penalty was a better option than staying on his feet to execute the chance he had. He got a booking for his trouble.

Managers and trainers have to take a stand. Most say in interviews they are against it, so they need to properly instruct their players on the 'cause and effects' of their actions. The message isn't getting through.

Another situation where the officials must have recourse to camera review. My personal view is that cheating like this should be punishable by a red card. If not during the action then following review by the referee at halftime with both managers or after the match.

It may be too late to effect the score of the game during or after the match but a punishment needs to fit this crime.

The blatancy of the cheating I saw this last weekend in the BL was shocking and I see it currently increasing and not decreasing which in the age of full camera coverage I find simply outrageous.

Any views?

It is naive to think that the eventual demise/removal of Blatter will result in some kind of instant improvement. As far as I'm concerned, he should have been shot yesterday, he is a blot on the game and as corrupt as they come.

But, I can't in all conscience blame Blatter for the institutional growth of cheating during recent decades. This appalling trend will only ever be reversed once teams and managers systematically agree to tackle this evil head on. Every time a player dives, he should be fined - and not just some insignificant amount that he'll laugh at, but an amount that is meaningful enough to make him think twice next time. Every blatant dive should be given an automatic yellow card, a red if repeated. FIFA regularly instructs refs to crack down on this or that - it happens for a few high profile games, then is forgotten. I'll believe in a 'cleaner' game if and when I see it, but I don't expect that to be in my lifetime.

Can there be any doubt who will win this year's 'Ballon d'Or', the 'Golden Ball'?

The three candidates are -

Messi
Xavi
C. Ronaldo

I expect Leo to complete his hat-trick!

Watched the Bayern/City game yesterday which was live here.

City got the win but I think Europa League is about the standard they deserve judging by last nights performance.

They clearly have some gifted players, Toure, Silva and Aguero but they don't function well. I know they are trouncing the Premier League but I think that says more about the league than City.

Munich played with at least 7 first teamers rested. Neuer, Gomez, Kroos, Larm, Mueller, Robben, Ribery. Although losing 2-0 to two fine goals, Munich were still technically superior albeit without creating too much. For them the job was already done.

City lost possession constantly, then won it back then lost it again. Their overall passing was atrocious, with the final ball and crossing particularly lamentable. There is also a massive disconnect in the style of play (in this game at least) The back 2 were so deep Toure was often just outside his own penalty box to pick the ball up and when he looked for an outlet his fellow midfielders were nowhere.

In the first 45 City often had so much possession but most of it went backwards! Munich ran more and covered the pitch. City were unable to find any outlet and were clueless as how to solve the problem. It was shocking to see how poor a player Barry has become. Going forward OK but defensively it was like watching a supertanker with a busted rudder turning. His distribution was appalling. To think he is an England regular.........

Naples are a much better side and deserve to go on. Maybe City and United can fight it out for the Europa Cup now. Bayern must fancy their chances of reaching the final this year.

In a way George I do hope it is true.

Then finally UEFA can and should get to grips with this problem. If they fail to act when it is so blatant (if that is the case) then the game will be finally lost once and for all.

Looking at some of the goals it seems almost to be that Zagreb were not trying to defend. Allowing players to just steal through without any attempt at marking. If that is the case then virutally the whole team were involved, certainly the defensive unit.

It seems to stink, and if the organisers of the scam were laying off their bets by getting a linesman to disallow perfectly good goals in A-dam it  would just show how organised the fixers are.

As I say, I hope it CAN be proved. Mind you if there is a scam in international football then Blatter is probably earning a corner on it anyway.

Nah, there'll be no fallout because 'he' won't respond to me. In any event, I foresee nothing other than an easy and straightforward win for ManU. There are two 'ifs'.

Firstly, how seriously will Taggart take the tie and the competition, what kind of team will he play? Secondly, Ajax has missed all four 'forwards' in recent games. If they are fit by then, Ajax will be far more dangerous than the toothless tiger they have been of late. Three of the four missing would be automatic choices. I would certainly expect ManU to win if both teams have their strongest possible sides out. The British press cliche about "Dutch giants, Ajax" has been SO not true for more than 15 years!

But yes, very occasionally, surprises do happen.

Football ended here last night for the Winter break featuring games with the last 16 of the cup competition here.

Lots of sold out stadiums with the exception of Hoffenheims home game against Augsburg. Upsets? well a couple. Kiel a low division side managed to put out Bundesliga 1 Mainz '05 and 2. Liga Greuther Fuerth overcame 1. Liga Nuernburg.

The games were hotly contested, none more so than Dusseldorf's home defeat to Dortmund on penalties. Dortmund were reduced to 10 men after 34 minutes after a red card and put up stout resistance to everything 2. Liga D-dorf could throw at them.

For me this game was one again marred by D-dorf's cheating. Master of this is Sascha Roesler. How refs are getting wise to him yet is surprising. He is the master of the 'no contact but collapse like your shot' cheat. Got a Dortmund player booked last night. I hope they appeal as it is ruining the game for me here. Fortunately Dortmund got the result on penalties.

Again, on the cheating point Munich's Arjen Robben was completely shown up on Tuesday evening. He was genuinely fouled in the box, but stayed on his feet intially, until realising he would lose the ball, whereupon he threw himself theatrically to the ground. It was so blatant as to be absurd and he got a yellow card for it (even though he was originally impeded).

To his credit, after the game he apologised and said it was a dumb thing to do, and was made purely in the moment. Trouble is, next time I suspect he will just go down after the initial contact when he could choose to saty on his feet.

I really hope at some point the authorities look at this problem. It could be so easy to solve. Retrospective punishment and 'naming and shaming' would see it largely disappear, I am sure of it. Clubs cannot afford to lose players for 3 games for something so dumb.

I been watching events closely in the UK regarding Blackburn's Steve Kean. Can he really have such a good contract? Fact is, without the crowd behind him and the team, an already uphill battle becomes impossible.

As we found with the Hammers last year. Now is the time to change. Rovers are a poor side, and on their performance against Bolton probably worse than the others. However, getting in a new face with some new impetus might just get some results. Staying with Kean is certain relegation. He won't pull them out of it the. The players won't do it for him.

That said the Venky's seem stranger owners with little or know direct interest in the vents taking place. Shame on them.

I saw that Grant's name was in the frame. Now that would be a real mistake. If Hughes would help them out - take him. Or Curbishley. Both have the necessary experience to make a fight of it. They only need to win at home and it would be enough.

I deplore the abuse Kean is getting, but he was never wanted by the fans, doesn't have the nous or experience and for the good of the club should go. The thinking is he won't as he won't get a pay-off, but as someone online commented he would probably have grounds considering the amount of 'abuse in the workplace' he is getting.

I don't know the guy but the results speak for themselves. 7 wins in 38 games is no record. Rovers need a new face and quick. Might not do the trick but hindsight is a painful reminder of 'what might have been, or not'.

Yep, I screwed up Brack...sorry, my bad

Shreddy