One of our players would have to get his legs broken in the box to get a penalty from Mike Riley this weekend, following David Moyes’ suggestion that he’s a Manchester United fan.
Much is made of the stats concerning how many penalties Riley has awarded at Old Trafford. Nobody tends to look at the fairness of those decisions though. Was Riley right to award those penalties? Were they controversial? The only one I can think of was the one he awarded for Wayne Rooney when we ended Arsenal’s unbeaten run. But then he waved play on for a stone-wall penalty moments later, when Ashley Cole clearly brought down Cristiano Ronaldo and got nothing on the ball, as the BBC reported: Van Nistelrooy stroked in the spot-kick and United could have had another penalty when Cole brought down Ronaldo.
Over the past couple of decades, United have been the most successful club in this country, playing attacking football and spending more time in our opponents half and box than anyone else. Does it not stand to reason that we would be fouled a lot in the box then? When you have players like Cristiano Ronaldo, who often need to be fouled to be stopped, does it not make sense we’d get brought down more than most teams in the penalty area?
The focus on Riley’s decisions at Old Trafford may have already started to sway him against making the right decisions in our favour. He’s failed to give us a nailed on penalty already this season against Newcastle and following the attention Moyes has brought to Riley this week, the referee will be even more reluctant to make the big decisions which give us the advantage, however right or wrong they may be.
Sadly, well played David Moyes!
there must be still time with these “facts” about Riley that there is time to replace him for a different ref
Well, if Moyes is to mange United one day this exactly the sort of strategy we’d need him to be successful at on OUR behalf.
So far this season, in all competitions, there have been:
- seven penalties in favour of United and five against us
- nine penalties in Liverpool’s favour and two against them
- five red cards in our favour and seven against us
- seven red cards in Liverpool’s favour and two against them
That’s exactly what I thought when I first heard of it….well played indeed Mr. Moyes, can’t really blame him for having a go at the referee , who doesn’t?But his timing couldn’t be perfect.
its basically the same tactic the FSW used during his rant, saying we get it all our way!! how can that bollocks riley be a united fan? sending off vidic at the landfill site against the vermin, plus numerous decisions against us, but its all mind games, Riley will be afraid to give us a decision now, but then again like most refs these days will do anything to steal the pubicity!
Riley has ceased being a pro United ref(if he ever was) since the Arsenal game.And the bottom line is that even on current form we don’t need him this Sunday.
By the way,Wes is playing for the Reserves on Monday.Finally some light at the end of the tunnel.Oh and Fletch is in the squad for Sunday.That’s great news.
costa is it only hargreeves thats out??
costas
great news! cmon Wesley!
Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Rafael, Fabio, O’Shea, Evans, Ronaldo, Anderson, Scholes, Fletcher, Gibson, Carrick, Park, Nani, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Macheda.
That’s the squad that the Telegraph has.Looks like Fletch has made it.Maybe Rafa will start on Sunday.Brown could play a part against Tottenham in 8 days.Only Hargreaves out.
I’d love to know the stats of how many minutes we spend in the penalty area vs how many penalties we get compared to other teams – both at OT and away… I reckon we get nowhere near the decisions we should – but I’ve always thought that as Utd we’ve always got to do a bit more to ensure we beat our opponents – it’s been like that for years
invertedquestionmark – interesting to see the Liverpool stats
costas: Rooney & Carrick are both doubtful for ever with knocks
Wazza – Oh no. Where did you hear that mate? Nothing said at Press conference or on countdown to kick off. Rooney will play even if has broke his leg!
I have heard about their knocks.They are from Wednesday.Let’s put it like this:if it was the last game of the season,both would have played.I say this.If Fletch is fit,play him and Ando or him and Scholes.If not,play Carrick.I am not too fond of a Scholes-Ando partnreship.Rooney will definitely play though.My hunch about the team:
Foster-Rafael,Rio(Evans can rest him against Pompey),Vida,Evra-Ronaldo,Fletch,Ando,Park-Rooney,Tevez.
5 changes from Wednesday are perfect i believe.
I actually don’t think you will be far off with that team selection Costas.
Don’t care about how much Riley is influenced by Moye’s comments and how that affects decision’s in the match.Just concerned that he is involved in a match as important as this. Riley is one of the worst referees I have ever seen. People used to slate Graham Poll but I thought he was the best at the time but Riley is another story. Really think the FA should rethink their ‘merit’system.
Won’t make any difference, this year all the refs have colluded with the FA, UEFA and the media in a more vigorous than ever ‘anyone but Utd’ campaign. Just listen to the disappointment in Keys, Lineker, Twat Hanson & co voices when we win. Look at the shit fixtures we’ve had, the dodgy decisions, failed appeals, media hysteria over Rooney and Ronaldo, contrast with the brown nosing around convict Gerard and mad dog Terry. Well F*ck em all, cos the Reds go marching on!
costas- nani, welbeck and gibson have been comsistently in our fa cup squad this season. wouldnt be supprised if fergie started with
foster
rafa/neville evans vida fabio/oshea
fletch gibson ando
wellbeck nani
tevez
bearing in mind how big our game is on wednesday
deathorvictory-mufc: i agree with u on those players having a good chance playing on sun.Welbeck was taken off quite early for the reserves the other day