It was there for all to see. All who have eyes that is (which naturally excludes most of the “professional” media, naturally.)
Rotational fouling and institutionalised timewasting. Exactly as perfected by Notlob under the Allerdyce manifestation, and developed further by the Oooze at Blackburn before he wandered off to Manchester Arab.
Rotational fouling is the sourge of the game – player A does a nasty little foul, then player B, then player C… and so it goes on. There is nothing in the rules against this – each foul is the first by the player and the ref lets the first go – it is not bad enough to be booked for. Indeed many of them are let go.
Then round a second time, then a third, by which time we have had 20 or more niggling fouls, and we are only just starting to get to the finger wagging stage.
Meanwhile there is the timewasting – in which the goalkeeper (the player least likely ever to be booked by any referee) suddenly feels the need to argue with his defenders rather than take the goal kick just awarded, or holds the ball when it should be released. Howard held it at one stage for 17 seconds, which is somewhat excessive even in these lackadaisical days. The referee either didn’t know the rules, didn’t have a stop watch, or just didn’t care a toss. I suspect the latter.
Even the manager got involved – deliberately kicking the ball away when it landed at this feet, making the Arsenal player scamper after. It was just so… unnecessary. So childish. It summed up Everton.
That the violent attack on Denilson by Hibbert happened just showed us what rotational fouling leads to. The FA have refused even to consider it an issue. They’ll probably charge Arsenal and deduct 2 points because the Arsenal players were justly outraged.
As for the violence in the visitors’ section – ultimately I despair. The sight of police wielding battons leaning into the away section thumping anyone on the head who gets within range is something we like to pretend only happens in foreign parts. But Liverpudlians have a long tradition of violence at football games, and this was at least just a minor spat compared with what they are capable of. What are they doing? Just because racist and homophobic chanting, combined with threats of violence and attempts to get at the home supporters are accepted at Portsmouth when Tottenham play there, it doesn’t mean it is accepted at Arsenal.
It is hard to know what should be done with these supporters from Liverpool – or come to that their team, which is now, deservingly, sinking into the depths.
We had 22 goal attempts to 7, (14 to 3 on target) which shows just how far ahead we were. We were caught offside five times – but read one newspaper today and if you were not there it would look as if Ade spent the whole game sitting on the goal line behind their keeper. His runs were not perfect, but as a tactic for unnerving a defence that was pushing further and further up to the half way line, it wasn’t a bad idea.
One more thing: Denilson has played every game, and is growing in stature and ability by the second. If we had bought Flamini II we would have missed this – in fact I suspect a lot of supporters have failed to see just what Denilson is doing. There is something quite remarkable happening to that young man, and it is a joy to watch.
Hi Tony, great post as usual. Everton’s tactics were disgraceful and that referee was hopelessly out of his depth. I cannot believe that Hibbert remained on the pitch after raising his hand to another player. I thought the rules were quite clear on that?
I also agree with you re Denilson and I am fed-up of reading Arsenal fans all over the internet slagging him off because Flamini left and he is not a Flamini clone. They need to open their eyes to the fact that he is technically a very good player and a star in the making.
You absolute tit. Disgraceful comments.
No mention of our great performance in the first half.
No mention of the fact that it was your fans who began the trouble by spitting and lobbing coins on fans (including kids) below.
No mention of your antics in the game in December
Idiot
The sight of police wielding battons leaning into the away section thumping anyone on the head who gets within range is something we like to pretend only happens in foreign parts.
Are you an idiot? Check youtube – your scumbag fans where throwing coins – and when the Evertonians complained the police decided to punish us rather than you. Your fans are upperclass scum – spitting – throwing bottles – my son was his by a coin cos of one of your fans. What ridiculous team allows the fans to act like that – and act like its not happening? Your a fool – get your facts straight before you say “typical scousers”. Twat.
Just a quick point.
You’re comparing us to Bolton?
Is this coming from the team where diving is institutional, and where Wenger only see’s things that favour his team?
And given recent events at the Emirates which you are by no doubt aware, I think bashing Everton is the last thing thats needed. Given that you’re supporters are due to visit Goodison later in the season.
Why inflame and already inflamed situation?
Last season Fabregas got Arteta sent off with zero contact, and rolled around like he’d been shot.
We could argue the toss all day.
However, I think negative articles directed at Everton are merely going to make a bad situation worse for Arsenal supporters coming to Liverpool later in the season.
“But Liverpudlians have a long tradition of violence at football games, and this was at least just a minor spat compared with what they are capable of. What are they doing? Just because racist and homophobic chanting, combined with threats of violence and attempts to get at the home supporters are accepted at Portsmouth when Tottenham play there, it doesn’t mean it is accepted at Arsenal.”
The favoured “Everton are racist” comments that seem to be eminating out of the ex-Highbury faithful are at odds with reality.
Cahill, Yakubu, Saha, Yobo, Pienaar, Rodwell all have non-white British ethnic orgins.
I don’t see many Evertonians being racist with those heroes in the team.
The YouTube video clearly shows items thrown from Arsenal “supporters” in the tier above at which nothing was done, which inflammed things. Other currently non-published photographs back this up.
All in all, its probably not the best time to be publishing these sorts of articles until the dust settles and Arsenal FC are able to deal with those involved, of which I am sure they will.
Such a shame, as I remember the Highbury of old too…..
So my advice is leave it alone for abit, for the ordinary supporters sakes.
Mark the Evertonian
Clueless, thats what you are.
What about your scumbag fans? Hitting kids, throwing coins at fans, spitting on them.
“But Liverpudlians have a long tradition of violence at football games, and this was at least just a minor spat compared with what they are capable of.”
Are you aware that objects were raining down on the Everton fans from above?
I’ve not read such a load of tripe in a long while. Rotational fouling ? I would argue Arsenal players got away with tellings off when Lescott & Pienaar were carded for similiar offences. Time wasting ? You obviously didn’t follow Arsenal under George Graham
Tony Hibbert took the ball cleanly – Gael Clichy didn’t like it and it was him who nearly caused a brawl – is it an Arsenal tactic to ‘rush’ the opposition when they are tackled – Arsenal do have that kind of history don’t they ?
You then go on to comment on ‘violence’ in the visitors section – trouble which was caused by your ‘better class of Arsenal fan’ throwing and spitting from the tiers above while the Arsenal stewards did nothing despite numerous complaints. The stewards then decided that a couple of Evertonians should be ejected for voicing their objections to being spat at.
If you want to see trouble and racism search you tube for “Trouble in North London after Copenhagen 2000”
Disgraceful comments.
No mention of our great performance in the first half where we probably shaded it and could’ve gone in 2 up.
No mention of the fact that it was Arsenal fans who began the trouble by spitting and lobbing coins on fans (including kids) below.
No mention of your outrageous antics in the game in December last season
I just hope there are Arsenal fans who can see through your comments for what they are – absolutely pathetic
A remarkably one sided article in which you fail to chastise those Arsenal fans who arguably provoked the Everton fans by spitting and hurling coins from above. You have also showed a either a great deal of contempt or rather footballin ignorance by describing Evertonians as Liverpudlians, a totaly different breed of fan as I’m sure you would consider Spurs fans to Gunners. Whilst I would in no way condone the actions of our fans, perhaps a little condemnation of your own supporters actions may give your article a little more credance. As for racist and homophobic, you seem to be the one making sweeping statements and accusations about a group of people, and as we all know from your favourate spurs chants and the treatment of Sol Campbel your fans are no angels.
But I do agree with your comments on Denilson who is looking a player.
Thanks Paul Mc
Dear Tony
You’re full of shit. That will be all.
Best regards
Chris
Fancy letting some Everton Comments on this site? Or too scared to get some constructive criticism?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1Lwnla-KQo – Watch that – and change your article. Scum.
Is it just me, or are scousers the worst in this country for moaning, finger pointing and hiding from blame.
Yes, some dickhead fans threw coins and spat on you, but are you saying that’s never happened at Goodison?
Does that give an excuse for adult Everton fans to swing at Arsenal kids outside the ground? Of course not.
absolutely pathetic attempt at journalism/blogging. you clearly have issues.
@ Que:
What exactly is your point ? no one is denying shit like that has happened at Goodison but the point is the article is talking about the match on saturday. How can you moan about us pointing the finger when this article is 100% purely about pointing the finger at Everton fans.
BORROW A CLUE FFS !
I have to say – though I enjoy this blog very much and agree that we have to accept that it is unshamedly biased there also has to be room for holding your hands up when something is clearly just wrong.
Having seen the you tube footage for the first time let me say this: The stupid cowardly f*ckers who threw coins and whatever else should be identified, where possible, and banned fom attending all future Arsenal games. There is no excuse for this behaviour and for one I am ashamed to have such cowardly fans at our club.
I do think that, on the whole, this behaviour is not representative of Arsenal fans.
The lead to tackle something like this must come from the people who run the game and the media. But as usual they do sweet FA.
That said it is no good Arsenal fans complaining about Spurs chanting if they take no responsibility for their own fans behaviour.
I watched MOTD and, disgracefully, there was no mention of any flare ups at all. I read a little the next day in the paper but there was no mention of the crowd trouble. Why?!
If Arsenal choose not to act (which, lets face it, would almost certainly be the position of any club given the choice) and the media ignore that it even happened that should NOT stop the FA looking at the youtube evidence and forcing the issue to be investigated and acted upon.
I think we can all agree that the people who run our game need to be brought to count for allowing stuff like this to happen unpunished – whether it is The FA, FIFA or UEFA they are, uniformly, a pathetic disgrace.
A sack of bloated, profiteering bastards with a lengthy tenure of unremitting tolerance with regards racism, homophobia and minor crowd violence. If any of them ever found a moral compass they wouldn’t know what to do with it – except perhaps sell it to the highest bidder!