Sammie Szmodics M Blackburn Rovers b.1995

I’d be uncomfortable with an Irish player deliberately handling the ball into the goal in an Ireland match. I don’t like diving either but there are degrees to which I don’t like it, from outright deceit to playing for a careless lunge or going down to make sure the ref knows you’ve been fouled or impeded.

But what really rankles with the Smodics thing is doubling down on the incident and vigorously protesting innocence to the ref who actually called it 100% right and imho Smodics should have accepted it.

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Originally Posted by Stuttgart88

But what really rankles with the Smodics thing is doubling down on the incident and vigorously protesting innocence to the ref who actually called it 100% right and imho Smodics should have accepted it.

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Absolutely. It was clear as day, and h's just being a *****. Would it still be the "right thing to do" [sic] if he was given a two-match retrospective ban and a fine?

Of course there will always be cheats in footballs - I don't think anybody denies that - a lot of people are ********s in general so it's to be accepted. We still legislate against murder, drink driving, fraud and any number of other things too despite the fact that they will always happen.

Obviously all of these things are more significant than what happens on a football pitch but surely, even on it's smaller scale, football should take steps to minimise cheating? Szmodics is far from alone in this but this culture of being caught red-handed and persisting in your lie SHOULD be stamped down upon hard. I can't understand any objection to a retrospective ban tbh.

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Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Absolutely. It was clear as day, and h's just being a *****. Would it still be the "right thing to do" [sic] if he was given a two-match retrospective ban and a fine?

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Probably not, because there would then be a negative impact to the team as they would lose an important player. But you know as well as Sammie did at the time that's just not going to happen. He had nothing to lose by trying it - I agree that it should be legislated against more strongly, as should other things in football (the way players are allowed to speak aggressively to the ref without much fear of getting any more than a yellow card is something I don't like personally).

But, in the absence of any genuine will to bring in stronger sanctions for these issues, players are correct to push the boundaries where they can get away with it. If they're not doing that then arguably they're not doing their jobs correctly.

Ah ~ ~ I'll say it ~ ~ A little bit of me likes the down-right competitiveness of it.

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Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

Hear, hear! I'm not interested in supporting any team or individual whose ethos is just 'don't get caught'.

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Red Rover, Red Rover, I call Demesne Lad over!

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Originally Posted by SkStu

Red Rover, Red Rover, I call Demesne Lad over!

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Just getting me boots! :-)

Being a football fan is not about being rational. I want my players to cheat, fight, waste time and basically anything to win. If the opposition do it I hate them forever.

Fan is short for Fanatic, we are not supposed to be reasonable.

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Originally Posted by Razors left peg

Being a football fan is not about being rational. I want my players to cheat, fight, waste time and basically anything to win. If the opposition do it I hate them forever.

Fan is short for Fanatic, we are not supposed to be reasonable.

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And in such situations, hypocrisy is deemed rational and acceptable!

Szmodics starts in what's a big game for Blackburn who need a result to have any chance of making the playoffs.

Thumps the crossbar with a cracking volley from just outside the box in the 92’ - great technique.

Just finished now and they’re still in the running.

Blackburn need West Brom and Sunderland now to drop points on the final day and beat Millwall themselves to overtake Millwall for that final play off spot.

They really needed the win tonight to avoid having to rely on West Brom and Sunderland to drop points as their goal difference is a lot worse on -3.

Looks a very long shot for Blackburn now. I'm not sure how much game time Szmodics would have gotten if they'd been promoted anyway.

Looking at the other possible teams who could get promoted through the playoffs it looks a weak enough bunch this year. Any of them would need major investment to have much chance of staying up if promoted.

From an Irish point of view it's:

Luton - no regular Irish starters, Louie Watson is a squad player
Middlesbrough - Darragh Lenihan
Coventry - Luke McNally, but he's only there on loan
Millwall - Dan McNamara
Sunderland - no Irish players (Cirkin Irish born)
West Brom - O'Shea (injured) and Molumby

Lenihan at Boro or the West Brom lads would probably have the best hopes of playing regularly in the Premier League if promoted. Not beyond possibility that O'Shea might get a move up in any case as West Brom need to sell players if they don't go up.

Could see McNally going back to Coventry if they get promoted. Though think he'll probably be back at Coventry even if they're not promoted. As for Szmodics I think he'd play enough games because financially Blackburn haven't got the money to spend.

They'd need serious investment just to have the slightest chance of competing to stay up. Strike me as the Norwich type to be like yup we've got the TV money now and will get the parachute payments on relegation. Let's strengthen a bit now but with the view of gaining promotion again once relegated.

A mixed day so far for Sammie - missed a penalty in first half, scores two in the second.

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Originally Posted by Demesne Lad

A mixed day so far for Sammie - missed a penalty in first half, scores two in the second.

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Is that not a good day at the office! ?

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Originally Posted by Diggs246

Is that not a good day at the office! ?

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I forgot to mention that - after the penalty miss - Sammie, from a LWB position, passed the ball inside, straight to an opponent who scored. Szmodics also got booked in the first half and admitted after the game that he was not very happy at the interval. Fair play to him for pulling himself together and making amends.

Has two goals to his name so far today.

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Originally Posted by JR89

Has two goals to his name so far today.

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Yet clearly not good enough to force his way into an Ireland squad boasting a superfluity of world class midfield talent.

It defies all understanding how Kenny can continually overlook Szmodics' claims to a place in the squad. You'd have thought he was exactly the kind of midfield player the team is crying out for.

If nothing else, the Ireland manager should, as a minimum requirement, pick the best players available to him.