Premiership 2015/2016

[Gingerfinch]

I'm never confident in a player when he almost stops during the run up. I think they should keep it as legal cos most seem to miss.

[sussexpob]

Sadly we may see one or two more dives in the penalty area as a result of this incident over the coming weeks.

There may well have been the slightest contact by the defender although I couldn't see it, but I think from Benteke's comments after the game he went down because he felt contact not because it impeded his progress. On the byline, not in a goalscoring position, last minute of the game, let's see if I can win a penalty.

Well, the worse case scenario is a booking. "Win game vs booking"... most people will take option A, its a no brainer.

I'm up for a straight red if the referee deems it a dive, especially when you stand to gain so much by the deceit.

Trouble is, it can be such a difficult decision to get right at times with only one look often from a difficult angle. Having a replay available with video technology isn't always sufficient either.

Clear dives and time wasting should be red cards. Stamp them out completely, and if a dive cant be done live then retroactively do it and, like situations yesterday, give Liverpool a two point penalty.

[sussexpob]

One amazing thing that Spanish referees now do with time wasting is simply change decisions outside the rules to make up for it.

A good example is taking the ball to the corner and standing over it. La Liga referees now are unanimous in simply blowing for a phantom free kick if you do it..... or if the keeper takes too long to get the ball in, the referee or linesman suddenly notices a passback that never happens and the trailing team get an indrect free kick in the box and big chance to score.

Brilliant in my view. You certainly never see anyone taking it into the corner anymore.

They couldnt make a rule that made sense to stop it, but if anyone goes anti football to waste time, they get punished.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I'm never confident in a player when he almost stops during the run up. I think they should keep it as legal cos most seem to miss.

I kind of agree with that. They are looking to clamp down on keepers coming off the line too although they nearly always do and are rarely penalised.

Apparently it will be a yellow card offence so expect to see a few keepers get pulled up at the beginning of next season!

[budgetmeansbudget]

One amazing thing that Spanish referees now do with time wasting is simply change decisions outside the rules to make up for it.

I haven't noticed that but extremely worrying if true.

[Gingerfinch]

What's wrong with taking the ball into the corner in the last minute?

[Gingerfinch]

I'm never confident in a player when he almost stops during the run up. I think they should keep it as legal cos most seem to miss.

I kind of agree with that. They are looking to clamp down on keepers coming off the line too although they nearly always do and are rarely penalised.

Apparently it will be a yellow card offence so expect to see a few keepers get pulled up at the beginning of next season!

The Hammer keeper was well off his line when he saved Lukaku's penalty. It was a really craply taken penalty, mind.

[budgetmeansbudget]

I'm never confident in a player when he almost stops during the run up. I think they should keep it as legal cos most seem to miss.

I kind of agree with that. They are looking to clamp down on keepers coming off the line too although they nearly always do and are rarely penalised.

Apparently it will be a yellow card offence so expect to see a few keepers get pulled up at the beginning of next season!

The Hammer keeper was well off his line when he saved Lukaku's penalty. It was a really craply taken penalty, mind.

You are allowed to leave your line at the moment the kick is taken but guaging it must be quite difficult although an offence linos should be used to picking up as it is similar to offside.

In fact are linesmen involved with the taking of a penalty or is it purely down to the referee?

[Gingerfinch]

I assume linesman are there to assist when a penalty is taken?

[budgetmeansbudget]

I assume linesman are there to assist when a penalty is taken?

Just looked it up. Their one specific job at a penalty kick is to adjudicate if the keeper has moved forward off his line before the ball has been kicked.

Cracking job done by the bloke at the League Cup final!!

[st_brendy]

It's one of those where I personally don't care about the contact. If the defender is stupid enough to dive in when there is absolutely no need to, then they deserve to be punished by a penalty. One of the worst pieces of defending all season. (But then Delaney is stealing a life as a PL CB).

Im looking at your "team supported" notes to the right, and I think your "soft spot for Liverpool" might be slightly underrated.

That's not the first time you've said that. And it's not the first time I'll point out that my notes are clearly out of date. Lallana and Dimi haven't played for Saints and Hants for some time now. Post Rafa, Gerrard and co, I couldn't care less about Liverpool. In fact, that's a lie. I actively want to see them fail.

I never said if I thought it was a penalty or not. I never commented on Benteke. I am just saying that Delaney was a total idiot to dive in how and where he did, and if was Pardew I'd be dropping him for the next game and/or slapping a fine down on him. As I say, one of the worst pieces of defending all season.

[The Professor]

Why do Norwich only turn up against the big teams?

[budgetmeansbudget]

Pretty dull first half, City had all the possession in the first twenty minutes with out creating many chances. Then Norwich gradually came into the game and were on top by half time. City don't look that interested to me, perhaps half an eye on midweek.

[budgetmeansbudget]

0-0 full time, City pretty inept, although Norwich played the whole game with numbers behind the ball. Sacrificed most of their attacking options to win a point.

[Aidan11]

Man City drop more points.