Madrid vs Juve

[cricketfieldclarets]

The game I've enjoyed the most this season was the draw at home with City. They were the better team, went ahead but we dug in, held on, had a bit of luck but managed to find a way to get a goal at the end. Hardly any of the usual Premier League play acting, refereed fairly well - a proper game of football. Then you get games like Arsenal at home, Spurs at home, City away and the game last night where a decent contest is ruined by the referee awarding the softest of penalties, engineered by the player waiting for, then exaggerating a touch that they would otherwise hardly notice to win a penalty and change the game.

Maybe the idea is to drive people like me away from the sport and usher in a new generation of supporters who prefer the theatre, are happy to sit quietly, pay the going rate and watch a bunch of over-paid actors play out a pre-determined pantomime. It's turning into the new Saturday afternoon wrestling.

I've cancelled Sky and don't miss it. I have BT Sport as part of my internet package and tuned in last night at 0-2. I wish I hadn't. If it wasn't for Burnley I could quite happily not watch a Premier League game all season. The Champions League is worse and I can't wait for the World Cup this summer where on top of everything else we'll have the lunacy that is VAR to contend with.

Nail on the head. I could have wrote that myself. Even down to the no sky and tuning in on my free bt sport at 0-2

[cricketfieldclarets]

Buffons View
"I know the referee saw what he saw, but it was certainly a dubious incident. Not clear-cut. And a dubious incident at the 93rd minute when we had a clear penalty denied in the first leg, you cannot award that at this point.

"The team gave its all, but a human being cannot destroy dreams like that at the end of an extraordinary comeback on a dubious situation.

"Clearly you cannot have a heart in your chest, but a bag of rubbish. On top of that, if you don't have the character to walk on a pitch like this in a stadium like this, you can sit in the stands with your wife, your kids, having your drink and eating crisps.

"You cannot ruin the dreams of a team. I could've told the referee anything at that moment, but he had to understand the degree of the disaster he was creating.

"If you can't handle the pressure and have the courage to make a decision, then you should just sit in the stands and eat your crisps."

I’m pretty sure had that been Dybala at the other end he’d have a far different view had it not been given. Made an absolute arse out of himself last night.

Absolutely right. Would never have been given at the other end. All I will say is that pretty much all players only have themselves to blame. But the problem is the more it happens the worse it will continue to get!

[cricketfieldclarets]

With all due respect - I think that’s utter sh-ite !

Oliver saw he was on the big stage and just like the referee in the City game he wanted to make the game all about him.

You could tell from the reaction of Vasquez that he played for it - the only thing he did not do was the Ronaldo wink !
The Juve defender had his hand on his back - he did not push him but as soon as he felt it he flung himself to the floor. Very much like Ramsay against us - completely unnatural to fall like that with so little contact. The exaggeration is blatant cheating.

As for Buffons’ and the Juve players reaction - what do you expect given the magnitude of the decision and the game ? I doubt that there would be one of the top European teams who would have reacted any differently. Again Oliver was pathetic in sending off Buffon - he had lost control and did not know what to do. To doubly penalise Juve like he did was disgraceful.

How the hell Oliver got a game like that to referee is beyond me - hopefully his display means he won’t get another. I thought that no English referee was going to the World Cup ? So how does he get that game ?

Exactly right. Buffon, one of the greatest (and actually most dignified) players ever. At the end of an amazing and emotional game, his last in an amazing almost 25 year career how was he going to react to having a shocking penalty go against him in the 90th minute?

For Buffon to react that way shows how bad a decision it was.

[NottsClaret]

To be fair, it was a pen. And a fair red. A nice story for Buffon ruined but I've seen worse decisions, I doubt Oliver will get demoted for either.

Worth remembering that Juve bribed and cheated their way to plenty of pots a few years ago.

[Dyched]

Absolutely right. Would never have been given at the other end. All I will say is that pretty much all players only have themselves to blame. But the problem is the more it happens the worse it will continue to get!

Buffons right?

[cricketfieldclarets]

Buffons right?

Youve lost me?

I was agreeing that the penalty would never have been given on Dybala or Mandzukic.

[Dyched]

Youve lost me?

I was agreeing that the penalty would never have been given on Dybala or Mandzukic.

No, I meant his opinion would have been different. If that incident had have happened in Reals box he would have wanted/be ok with a penalty.

He was an absolute disgrace. You had a pop at pep the other day for doing something far less aggressive than Buffon was.

[cricketfieldclarets]

No, I meant his opinion would have been different. If that incident had have happened in Reals box he would have wanted/be ok with a penalty.

He was an absolute disgrace. You had a pop at pep the other day for doing something far less aggressive than Buffon was.

Perhaps he would have and hence my post above that players only have themselves to blame.

As for Pep. Its completely different. First and foremost Pep is the manager. At half time, his side were a goal to the good, in control of the game and had Liverpool where they wanted them. He completely lost his cool and set exactly the wrong example and sent the wrong message to his team.

Had Pep reacted that way in the 90th minute after having clawed it back to 3-3 on aggregate, and they had a dodgy penalty go against them I would have understood his reaction. The scenarios are entirely different.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

At least Olivers as consistent with making bad decisions as turdle is with making bad arguments...

Buffon shouts at him. Red card.

Joe Hart does this... no red card!

No doubt Wet Spam were the more favourable team in that match

[cricketfieldclarets]

No doubt Wet Spam were the more favourable team in that match

I think you may find that it was Man City.

[THEWELLERNUT70]

If Oliver is insisting on reffing games to the letter of the law then why is the player that scored the winning penalty still on the pitch in the 1st place? On at least three occasions Ronaldo threw himself to the floor under no or extremely minimal contact trying to gain an advantage

[THEWELLERNUT70]

I think you may find that it was Man City.

Even more reason to "let him off" with one then !

[KRBFC]

Exactly right. Buffon, one of the greatest (and actually most dignified) players ever. At the end of an amazing and emotional game, his last in an amazing almost 25 year career how was he going to react to having a shocking penalty go against him in the 90th minute?

For Buffon to react that way shows how bad a decision it was.

Interesting how you said Pep let his side down Yesterday when he got sent to the stands for ''abusing'' a referee for a 100% clear goal not given but Buffon's red card was justifiable because the decision was a little iffy...

[Dyched]

Perhaps he would have and hence my post above that players only have themselves to blame.

As for Pep. Its completely different. First and foremost Pep is the manager. At half time, his side were a goal to the good, in control of the game and had Liverpool where they wanted them. He completely lost his cool and set exactly the wrong example and sent the wrong message to his team.

Had Pep reacted that way in the 90th minute after having clawed it back to 3-3 on aggregate, and they had a dodgy penalty go against them I would have understood his reaction. The scenarios are entirely different.

Buffon was aggresive and abusive. Pointing in the refs face.

Peps reaction was out of order. But wasn’t as aggresive. It was pretty much the same scenario. 2-0 at ht and Liverpool would have crumbled. Ghey game completely changed on that decision as it did last night.

[jtv]

Exactly right. Buffon, one of the greatest (and actually most dignified) players ever. At the end of an amazing and emotional game, his last in an amazing almost 25 year career how was he going to react to having a shocking penalty go against him in the 90th minute?

For Buffon to react that way shows how bad a decision it was.

1. Would another keeper have been sent off for behaving like Buffon did? Yes most definitely. So the "one of the greatest" argument doesn't wash. Otherwise the laws of the game would have to be rewritten

2. "For Buffon to react that way shows how bad a decision it was" - OR it shows how he lost it when he realised that the dream of perhaps getting that elusive CL winners medal was evaporating in front of his eyes

[cricketfieldclarets]

If Oliver is insisting on reffing games to the letter of the law then why is the player that scored the winning penalty still on the pitch in the 1st place? On at least three occasions Ronaldo threw himself to the floor under no or extremely minimal contact trying to gain an advantage

Also several players in the box for the penalty, one of which he was looking at!

[cricketfieldclarets]

Interesting how you said Pep let his side down Yesterday when he got sent to the stands for ''abusing'' a referee for a 100% clear goal not given but Buffon's red card was justifiable because the decision was a little iffy...

Its a completely different scenario as my post above.

[cricketfieldclarets]

Buffon was aggresive and abusive. Pointing in the refs face.

Peps reaction was out of order. But wasn’t as aggresive. It was pretty much the same scenario. 2-0 at ht and Liverpool would have crumbled. Ghey game completely changed on that decision as it did last night.

The scenario is completely different. City were winning with 45 minutes left at home to do the job in a game they were dominating.

Juve had just conceded (wrongly) a sudden death penalty. Had the scenarios been the same I could understand Peps reaction. But they werent and he lost his cool and his team the game.

I am not arsed, just pointing out the fact.

[KRBFC]

The scenario is completely different. City were winning with 45 minutes left at home to do the job in a game they were dominating.

Juve had just conceded (wrongly) a sudden death penalty. Had the scenarios been the same I could understand Peps reaction. But they werent and he lost his cool and his team the game.

I am not arsed, just pointing out the fact.

Buffon could have stepped up and saved the penalty, instead he lost the plot and got himself sent off. What if the penalty was saved and the game went to ET? Juve were playing with 10. The game was over the moment Buffon got sent off, he let his team down. The City error was more obvious than a debatable penalty IMO.