Give Me A Red Card For Ranting
Chivas USA is the Gol TV of the MLS now. It seems as though it really excites the CONCACAF besides the United States contingent of the league with its new look. Of the five goals scored against Chivas USA since the introduction of their three new Mexican internationals, four have been scored by foreign players. Mind you, three of these was Amado Guavara's hat trick for the MetroStars, but Carlos Ruiz added one tonight for FC Dallas.
The one goal scored by a United States player? Ramon Nunez. I had to actually check to confirm that he was born in Dallas, TX.
I'm on the fence of how I feel about Chivas USA right now. If nothing else, they're finally living up to their promise of increasing attendance. Two weeks ago against the Revolution, Dallas drew 12,101. This week FC drew 14,102. Still not what they should be drawing at Pizza Hut Park but better than before (of course there haven't been that many games to analyze). New England drew 18,049 in Foxboro today which is simply great. It's great to see success breeding attendance at least one place (east coast derby or not).
One the downside, it was kind of nice to make fun of them as whipping boys. :(
My mind flashes ahead to next year if Chivas USA starts out strong with these three players and the rest of the league tries to play catchup. Will MLS finally think of rescinding the international caps and allowing CONCACAF players to not count against the three senior internationals?
It will be interesting to see if a true Mexican internationals v. the rest of CONCACAF internationals rivalry develops in our backyard. Of course United States players won't be on the sidelines by any means.
Sure it might seem a little bit reactionary but I'd love to see a "who will protect this house?" on a national level in MLS like it has been for the USMNT.
---
Keeping on MLS a little, it's so sad that it appears as though the officials in the EPL this season attended a clinic sponsored by the MLS referees earlier this summer.
They're not handing out penalty kicks left and right or anything but they are handing out some of the worst red cards known to mankind. Thusfar, nearly half of the ejections they've handed out have been overturned. And the Mido red card in the Tottenham v. Chelsea match will probably join the list.
Martin Jol is not pleased at the card as it, as red cards tend to do, changed the nature of the match entirely. I'm not pleased because despite the fact that I shouldn't (who starts a striker against Chelsea's defense?) I started Mido as one of my two strikers on premierleague.com. :)
And, what I love about the salary cap league on the EPL's official site is that politics plays into it. Even if the Mido red card is suspended, they won't give you back the points, stating in the FAQs of play the following:
Way to protect crappy referees from fan's ire, Premiership!
But back to Jol. According to the Spurs manager, "the red card killed the game. I don't think he deserved it. If the striker is coming from the flanks, you try to protect yourself, you try to be brave. He was too enthusiastic."
What I really want to focus on, however is Jose Mourinho, amateur psychologist who stated his philosophy on red cards:
Um, well, sort of. I mean, yes the thought goes on inside of the culprit's mind, but at the same time it's played in front of thousands of fans, with betters and fantasy players and distance supporters of the team hanging on the decision. I think it's a little more public that Jose makes it out to be.
It was actually pretty surprising when today there was a double yellow on Phil Neville of Everton that, 1) he actually deserved as a reward for his four chippy fouls and 2) it's not appealable so there won't be any controversy.
The calls have been so bad that FIFA is getting involved, scolding the England FA last week. Unfortunately it's not for the calls in the first place that the EPL is in trouble with the world governing body for, it's the overturning (FIFA insists that players who are red carded must be suspended for the next match).
FIFA insists that their rules state: "appeals against red cards only in the case of mistaken identity."
So England is stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one (though this isn't new since England has been a target of the FA since they allowed appeals in the first place). The refereeing has been so bad that if they don't grant appeals, there's liable to be a player revolt. If they keep on, who knows what kind of FIFA sanctions England will be liable for.
Frankly, in my opinion, the whole nature of what's been red carded this year is the issue. England footcer is famous (and popular) for two things: its fast pace and its physical nature. Awarding red cards for clean but overly physical challenges (as two of the overturned red cards have been) is going to either scare players from making them or scare referees from calling actual red cardable offenses.
Either way the game is going to suffer.
Solutions? I don't have any. Just wanted to spit at the referees for decisions that personally cost me fantasy points. At least that's still a red card for sure with no dispute. :)
The one goal scored by a United States player? Ramon Nunez. I had to actually check to confirm that he was born in Dallas, TX.
I'm on the fence of how I feel about Chivas USA right now. If nothing else, they're finally living up to their promise of increasing attendance. Two weeks ago against the Revolution, Dallas drew 12,101. This week FC drew 14,102. Still not what they should be drawing at Pizza Hut Park but better than before (of course there haven't been that many games to analyze). New England drew 18,049 in Foxboro today which is simply great. It's great to see success breeding attendance at least one place (east coast derby or not).
One the downside, it was kind of nice to make fun of them as whipping boys. :(
My mind flashes ahead to next year if Chivas USA starts out strong with these three players and the rest of the league tries to play catchup. Will MLS finally think of rescinding the international caps and allowing CONCACAF players to not count against the three senior internationals?
It will be interesting to see if a true Mexican internationals v. the rest of CONCACAF internationals rivalry develops in our backyard. Of course United States players won't be on the sidelines by any means.
Sure it might seem a little bit reactionary but I'd love to see a "who will protect this house?" on a national level in MLS like it has been for the USMNT.
---
Keeping on MLS a little, it's so sad that it appears as though the officials in the EPL this season attended a clinic sponsored by the MLS referees earlier this summer.
They're not handing out penalty kicks left and right or anything but they are handing out some of the worst red cards known to mankind. Thusfar, nearly half of the ejections they've handed out have been overturned. And the Mido red card in the Tottenham v. Chelsea match will probably join the list.
Martin Jol is not pleased at the card as it, as red cards tend to do, changed the nature of the match entirely. I'm not pleased because despite the fact that I shouldn't (who starts a striker against Chelsea's defense?) I started Mido as one of my two strikers on premierleague.com. :)
And, what I love about the salary cap league on the EPL's official site is that politics plays into it. Even if the Mido red card is suspended, they won't give you back the points, stating in the FAQs of play the following:
"A yellow/red card or goal scorer in an earlier game has been changed. Are you going to alter the points?
No, the decision at the final whistle is treated as final."
Way to protect crappy referees from fan's ire, Premiership!
But back to Jol. According to the Spurs manager, "the red card killed the game. I don't think he deserved it. If the striker is coming from the flanks, you try to protect yourself, you try to be brave. He was too enthusiastic."
What I really want to focus on, however is Jose Mourinho, amateur psychologist who stated his philosophy on red cards:
"As for Mido, maybe it was a red card but I think Mido is the right man to say if it was intentional, if he meant to hurt the player or not. It's something very private, very personal."
Um, well, sort of. I mean, yes the thought goes on inside of the culprit's mind, but at the same time it's played in front of thousands of fans, with betters and fantasy players and distance supporters of the team hanging on the decision. I think it's a little more public that Jose makes it out to be.
It was actually pretty surprising when today there was a double yellow on Phil Neville of Everton that, 1) he actually deserved as a reward for his four chippy fouls and 2) it's not appealable so there won't be any controversy.
The calls have been so bad that FIFA is getting involved, scolding the England FA last week. Unfortunately it's not for the calls in the first place that the EPL is in trouble with the world governing body for, it's the overturning (FIFA insists that players who are red carded must be suspended for the next match).
FIFA insists that their rules state: "appeals against red cards only in the case of mistaken identity."
So England is stuck between a rock and a hard place on this one (though this isn't new since England has been a target of the FA since they allowed appeals in the first place). The refereeing has been so bad that if they don't grant appeals, there's liable to be a player revolt. If they keep on, who knows what kind of FIFA sanctions England will be liable for.
Frankly, in my opinion, the whole nature of what's been red carded this year is the issue. England footcer is famous (and popular) for two things: its fast pace and its physical nature. Awarding red cards for clean but overly physical challenges (as two of the overturned red cards have been) is going to either scare players from making them or scare referees from calling actual red cardable offenses.
Either way the game is going to suffer.
Solutions? I don't have any. Just wanted to spit at the referees for decisions that personally cost me fantasy points. At least that's still a red card for sure with no dispute. :)
posted by incendiarymind at 8:20 PM
1 Comments:
Did you see the play that got Solano his red card during the mid-week games? Incredibly weak. He was being hauled down by his jersey, and when he breaks free, he gets whistled and booked red. Nick and Steven were even going on about the awful nature of the booking.
The refs have been completely awful this season. Horrid, really.
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