Damien Delaney

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He didn't touch him period, having seen it from more than one angle. Simply not a penalty.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I can honestly say I didn't make contact with benteke today and IF there was slight contact I didnt impede him and certainly didn't feel there was enough to award a penalty in the 96th min... If a penalty is awarded that late it has to be unequivocal, I waited over an hour to speak with the officials and in fairness to Andre Marriner he said he didn't think it was a penalty but he trusted his linesman that much he awarded it. With the way the game was ref'd and the physicality of both teams it was unbelievably harsh. With how Wilfred and Yannick were man handled by Liverpool players over the course of the game, which I've no problem with, it was a really tough decision to take so late. All I can do is swallow it and hope to put this right. ��������

http://www.the42.ie/damien-delaney-christian-benteke-2646338-Mar2016/

[osarusan]

He didn't touch him period, having seen it from more than one angle.
You are taking up just as you left off I see.

Look at the footage from 7 seconds in on the clip. Delaney's right knee on Benteke's left foot/ankle - the contact itself is indisputable.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RsmZ8roVIY

[geysir]

I think it was enough to trip Benteke. His fall did not look in any way simulated, it was an organic fall.

[SkStu]

he quite clearly did connect with him and in my opinion, even though there was no intent to contact and seeming intent to pull out, it was rightly called as a penalty.

(I need a shower after that)

[tetsujin1979]

video here shows there's minimal contact
https://twitter.com/LiverpoolGifs/statuses/706505611672997888

[CraftyToePoke]

You are taking up just as you left off I see.

And we are off. I wondered who'd have the first rattle at him.

[geysir]

video here shows there's minimal contact
https://twitter.com/LiverpoolGifs/statuses/706505611672997888
That's a poor video
For me, it's a question of was there enough contact to trip him, minimal or not.
In the 2nd slo mo replay on this video you see Benteke's heel getting clipped, I'm satisfied there was enough force to trip him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RsmZ8roVIY

[Razors left peg]

My initial reaction on seeing it was that it was incredibly stupid of Delaney to dive in and that it was stonewall peno. Even if he did try to pull out of it, what the hell was he doing in the first place sliding in that position.

He definitely clipped Benteke too, not even a slight doubt that it was penalty

[Charlie Darwin]

The question I ask myself is, why would he fall over if he wasn't fouled? The day we start to suspect such malign japery from Premier League footballers is the day society breaks down entirely.

[seanfhear]

If an Irish player gets his leg clipped like that I would hope to get a penalty.

[DeLorean]

And I'd hope he'd fall over too just to make sure!

[geysir]

If Delaney hadn't gone on the mitch from our team, I might have been more supportive.

But he's in that category 'can be hung out to dry'.

[jbyrne]

If an Irish player gets his leg clipped like that I would hope to get a penalty.

for leg read studs... at most.
contact was minimal and its 98% a dive

[tricky_colour]

There was some contact but not much, however it does not take much contact to affect a players balance
and knock him out of his stride, he probably decided to take a dive rather than stay on his feet, and I guess that
is his prerogative if he is clipped in the penalty area.

He went down like he had took a bullet to the head!!

Delaney has to get the ball there if he is going to clip the player.

[Fixer82]

I think it was enough to trip Benteke. His fall did not look in any way simulated, it was an organic fall.

Yep and everybody knows you pay a lot more for organic goods!

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I don't see any contact. Diving in rashly or tentatively isn't enough to concede a penalty if there's no contact.

It's as egregious as the most egregious penalties ever awarded to Robert Pires or Ashley Young.

[Closed Account]

Diving in rashly or tentatively isn't enough to concede a penalty if there's no contact.
I wouldn't have given the penalty against Delaney, similiarly I wouldn't have given it for Duff in 2002. But that's because of my interpretation of the rules. By the letter of the law, another refs interpretation could be that both were penalties and the quote above is incorrect:

A direct free kick is awarded to the opposing team if a player commits any
of the following seven offences in a manner considered by the referee to be
careless, reckless or using excessive force:
• kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
• trips or attempts to trip an opponent
• jumps at an opponent
• charges an opponent
• strikes or attempts to strike an opponent
• pushes an opponent
• tackles an opponent

[DannyInvincible]

Dunphy being rather dramatic as he describes Delaney's absence from the squad as "wrong": http://www.the42.ie/wrong-eamon-dunphy-damien-delaney-2659909-Mar2016/


Speaking on 2fm’s Game On show, Dunphy said that the Crystal Palace defender’s absence from the 40-man panel is “wrong” and added that he was impressed with Delaney’s performance in the FA Cup quarter-final against Reading on Friday night.

“It’s wrong!” Dunphy said. “This guy’s playing in the Premier League. He’s a very good player. He’s been in the Premier League all year.

“We have Paul McShane, who’s playing for Reading, who’s really not a very good defender.

“The guy at Derby County, (Richard) Keogh, is really not a very good defender — he’s had a couple of nightmares.

“And we’ve got a Premier League player and we’re not even putting him on the plane?”

Dunphy suggested Delaney — who announced his international retirement last year — was being ostracised from the squad due to disagreements with the management.

“It’s not right for the fans, it’s not right for the other players, this guy should be in the team really, and he should certainly be in the squad.

“Just because he had some difference or misunderstanding with Martin O’Neill it is not right that the Irish team should be deprived of a player, because of personal differences.

“It should not be happening. This guy’s top class. We don’t have any Premier League defenders apart from John O’Shea. The other guy from Stoke (Marc Wilson) is injured.”

Delaney's a decent player but not quite sure the 35-year-old is "top class". Anyhow, he isn't being ostracised, nor are there "personal differences", which invariably possesses antagonistic, contrary or egotistical connotations. He made it clear he didn't want to be a part of the squad during qualifying as Martin couldn't guarantee him a starting place (or a position higher up the pecking order, or something along those lines, if memory serves me right?). That's entirely reasonable of Martin; nobody should be guaranteed a starting place.

There's no misunderstanding at present, nor was there ever. Both parties are aware of the position of the other; Martin would just rather continue selecting players who helped us qualify or players who have an actual future, such as Shane Duffy. That's also perfectly reasonable. Throwing Delaney in now at the last minute might damage squad morale; Martin is the best judge of that.

[DeLorean]

It shouldn't even be a discussion, only the likes of Dunphy and others who crave controversy are trying to make it one. This is only last August ffs:


I know that at the age of 34 the future of Irish football does not lie with me, the rigours of premier league football and the 24/7 dedication required takes its toll so I look on the international break as a chance to recover

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I would bring Delaney along personally. And I think players should focus on their own performances rather than worry about someone "taking" their spot.

But, in all fairness Delaney himself said a few weeks ago that his main focus was on earning a contract extension with Palace. Anything else was secondary importance.

So I do think it's a bit of a non-issue. Certainly not as egregious as all those times Andy Reid or Wes Hoolahan were left out of squads when they shouldn't have been. And when Coleman and McCarthy's progress was delayed much longer than it should have been.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think it would be fair on Delaney to take him to the Euros. He needs the summer to recover.

[Fixer82]

Dunphy does not seem to understand the importance of a group dynamic. O'Neill, I believe, is very conscious of it. Hence him bringing Given back, keeping Keane as captain. These are all good squad members who will galvanise the others and are good to have around the group as well as being useful players. Delaney coming back in could cause some consternation to some of the players on the periphery who have been in Germany, Georgia, Poland, Scotland, Gibraltar and friendly games for the past two years. Not good for a group dynamic.
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that O'Neill is a better man-manager than Dunphy.

Put it this way - other than Delaney (and even still he wants to come back), O'Neill doesn't seem to have fallen out with anyone since taking over. Not even Westwood, who has gone from potential first choice to possibly 4th choice keeper for us.

[geysir]

All that needs to be understood is that Delaney just happens to be the player left out of the squad, therefore he becomes Dunphy's current cause celebre.

[Fixer82]

True. Remember when Hoolahan was left out v Poland because he told the manager he wasn't up to it because he was carrying a knock. Dunphy went nuts and Wes confirmed a couple of weeks later that that's exactly what happened. That's a player who puts the team first and is working for the team. Something I feel Dunphy doesn't seem to understand.
If Hoolahan had started that game and not been up to it and made a mistake he would have been a real villain. Of course Dunphy would never admit that.
Part of me still loves Dunphy though baby.

[tricky_colour]

I have mixed feelings I recognise he is a good player but to not play in the qualifiers and then expect to play
in the finals really is taking the ****, it is not fair on those who did play and of course it
would set a precedent where players who play in the qualifier maybe be left thinking
if we do qualify I probably won't be going anyway, which is a massive disincentive.

[Stuttgart88]

...except that Wilson is injured.

I think it's kind of understandable that a guy can agree with his international manager that there's no point turning up if not a first choice if he is at the end of his career and benefits from resting during international breaks. If he threw a hissy fit and demanded to be picked I'd say no way but if it was an honest agreement between him and MON I think its ok to consider a recall. It's of practical benefit and a far cry from a Stephen Ireland situation.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

http://dai.ly/x41kkqz

[DeLorean]

Got motm at The Emirates today I believe, didn't see much of it.

[tetsujin1979]

the game against Arsenal was his 150th appearance for the eagles

[NeverFeltBetter]

Just scored an OG against Manchester United. Stuck the leg out to block a cross, it flew past the keeper.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Back at Wembley for an FA Cup final.

Congrats Damo!

[DeLorean]

A man of the match performance would be just the sort of ammunition Dunphy would relish pre-Euros!

[tricky_colour]

Would not surprise me if Place won the cup, there odds are about 7/2 but I think they
have a better chance than that, they beat Spur on the way.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Delaney told reporters at Wembley on Saturday that if he gets the call he would come back, but he’s not holding his breath.

He also dispelled what he described as the myth that he had sought assurances about game time. The 34-year-old says he never demanded to start at any stage during his career

The veteran defender told the Irish Sun he has no regrets and he’d be just as happy to cheer on the Boys in Green from the pub:


http://www.98fm.com/If-You-Need-Me-Please-Pick-Up-The-Phone--Damien-Delaney

[DeLorean]

"I definitely didn't need to be traipsing all over Europe". That clears it up for me anyway.

[geysir]

as well as

"he’d be just as happy to cheer on the Boys in Green from the pub"

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

He'll be supporting the team whether he's selected or not. Fair play to him.

[SkStu]

He's just as happy to be at the pub as at the Euros. Fair play to him.

[geysir]

That whimsical attitude would not at all impress Roy or Martin.
I can't imagine him telling his club fanzine that he's just as happy to cheer his team, either from the pub or as part of the team.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

Well it's a better attitude to have than someone like Bernie Slaven.

[Stuttgart88]

Yeah, good point. Fair play to him having a better attitude than someone like Bernie Slaven, whatever that means.

[tetsujin1979]

yeah, presumably Slaven would have been less happy to watch the championships in the pub. Or something.

[tricky_colour]

Well with Marc Wilson out if he is wiling so help us out in our hour of need rather than watch it in the pub then fair play to him.

[paul_oshea]

I haven't read the article, but I took from the quote about watching it in the pub that what he meant and what he said were two different things. I think he was trying to say, he would get behind the players and team regardless of whether he was selected as a proud Irishman.

I know I did a stutts there, so I'll read the whole interview and see.

[DannyInvincible]

He'll be supporting the team whether he's selected or not. Fair play to him.

If Richard Keogh or Robbie said that, you'd be absolutely slating them for lack of commitment.

[TheOneWhoKnocks]

I have all the time in the world for Damien and I respect what he has accomplished in the last four years.

He came back from the verge of having to have his leg amputated to carve out a successful Premier League career and lead his team out at Wembley twice.

Fair play to him.

I don't understand how people could possibly misconstrue what he said about supporting the team in the pub like Daryl Murphy did in Waterford in 2012.

Better than moaning about not getting picked for squads, which he could easily do as our best performing CB over the last two qualifying campaigns.

[Stuttgart88]

He's an Irish footballer and up for the Irish football team when they play, but isn't that bothered to actually play for them. Fair play Damo.

Best performing CB over the last two campaigns? Wholly subjective. He's a blood and guts centre back who was blessed not to have been sent off on Saturday. A Euros ref would almost certainly have sent him off.

On merit he'd be in the squad. He knows that and O'Neill knows that. He's not in the squad because he has an equivocal attitude to playing international football. You've slaughtered others for that.

[RiffRaff]

Listening to the interview it sounds like fair comments, I didn't get the impression he wouldn't be bothered. It might be fair to say our options are not as good as 2014. O'Shea and Clark are no longer first team regulars and have been involved in some disasterous team performances in the last year, Duffy dropped down a division and Keogh never made it to the premiership with Derby. Hopefully they will all be part of a memorable Ireland tournament but if not there will be criticism for not selecting Delaney.

[DeLorean]

He came back from the verge of having to have his leg amputated to carve out a successful Premier League career and lead his team out at Wembley twice.

I wonder how Jedinak felt about Delaney leading the team out twice...