Man U

**shakermaker1982** · 29/08/2009, 9:38 PM

Strange game today. The win probably flattered United but 3 points is everything I suppose!

Fergie must be concerned with Carrick's contribution again. Woeful. Fletcher did well but United still need beefing up in the centre of midfield. Valencia looked out of his depth and needs a goal fast to help his confidence.

**CF1989** · 29/08/2009, 11:31 PM

wenger cant really complain. gallas was offside and won the knockdown for the offside goal. very harsh getting sent off for kicking a bottle though, didnt see the full game so dont know if he had words with the 4th official to get him sent off. thought it was a penalty, although i could maybe see if arsenal had complaints about it, he was half on his way down before there was contact. would have been contact anyway even if he didnt start to go down early if ya get me

**apo11o** · 30/08/2009, 1:52 AM

I thought it was a peno, the keeper didn t need to come for that ball and Rooney knew what he was doing. What a crazy own goal, great finish from a player that couldn t score at the other end.

Wenger will prob say he didn t see the bottle.

**Neish** · 30/08/2009, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by CF1989

wenger cant really complain. gallas was offside and won the knockdown for the offside goal.

The fact he is wrong never stopped him before. Saying that the same often applies to Fergie and many other managers but I think Wenger leads the way here. Regarding the penalty I do think it was a penalty Rooney had knocked the ball past Almunia and wither he intended to or not Almunia took Rooney out. I've seen them given and not given before

**razor** · 31/08/2009, 10:14 AM

Originally Posted by Neish

Regarding the penalty I do think it was a penalty Rooney had knocked the ball past Almunia and wither he intended to or not Almunia took Rooney out. I've seen them given and not given before

Rooney had taken flight before any contact was made but contact was made.

**lionelhutz** · 31/08/2009, 11:12 AM

Anyone else think Rooneys dive was as bad as Eduardo's?? It was just that Rooney executed the dive better and connected with the keeper. He saw Almunia coming, lashed the ball out for a goal kick and made sure to kick Almunia and then go down. I wonder will Rooney get a ban for diving...

reder · 31/08/2009, 11:14 AM

I thought it was a valid penalty myself but I also thought that Arsenal should have had a penalty in the first half when Arshavin was fouled. All in all, united were very lucky to win. Arsenal deserved something from the game.

**rambler14** · 31/08/2009, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

Anyone else think Rooneys dive was as bad as Eduardo's?? It was just that Rooney executed the dive better and connected with the keeper. He saw Almunia coming, lashed the ball out for a goal kick and made sure to kick Almunia and then go down. I wonder will Rooney get a ban for diving...

What was the difference between the two?......CONTACT. Rooney was brought down by Almunia, Eduardo was brought down by the wind.
Rooney probably played for the penalty but still he didn't dive, he mearly awaited contact.

**lionelhutz** · 31/08/2009, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by rambler14

What was the difference between the two?......CONTACT. Rooney was brought down by Almunia, Eduardo was brought down by the wind.
Rooney probably played for the penalty but still he didn't dive, he mearly awaited contact.

He didn't await contact, he kicked Almunia. The same way Pires kicked a player for a penalty a few years ago and there was uproar over it.

**rambler14** · 31/08/2009, 11:25 AM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

He didn't await contact, he kicked Almunia. The same way Pires kicked a player for a penalty a few years ago and there was uproar over it.

Go away and watch it again. He didn't dive.

**DeLorean** · 31/08/2009, 11:31 AM

A clear a penalty as you'll ever see but there's no talking to some people when it comes to their hatred of United. Arsenal should have had one too and definitely deserved something from the match, probably a win. Having said that they committed footballing suicide with the 2 goals they conceded and will struggle to win any match making mistakes like those.

**lionelhutz** · 31/08/2009, 11:36 AM

Originally Posted by rambler14

Go away and watch it again. He didn't dive.

I watched it again. And again. And again. His knees buckled before Almunia touched him and he then kicked Almunia. It's not like its the first time Rooney dived - anyone remember Campbells phantom foul on him when they beat Arsenal to end their 50 game unbeaten run?

**DeLorean** · 31/08/2009, 12:09 PM

Originally Posted by lionelhutz

I watched it again. And again. And again. His knees buckled before Almunia touched him and he then kicked Almunia. It's not like its the first time Rooney dived - anyone remember Campbells phantom foul on him when they beat Arsenal to end their 50 game unbeaten run?

Yes and that was a blatant dive and a terrible decision. This one is completely different. Almunia blocks Rooney's path to the ball, it doesn't matter whether there is contact or not or whether the ball is going out of play or not. If you come for the ball like that you have to get it or keep out of the players way. It was the same as Reina on Park last season.

**razor** · 31/08/2009, 1:02 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

What was the difference between the two?......CONTACT. Rooney was brought down by Almunia, Eduardo was brought down by the wind.
Rooney probably played for the penalty but still he didn't dive, he mearly awaited contact.

While I don't think Wayne kicked his leg into Almunia, he was definitely going down in advance of any contact.
I guess the fact there was contact means it probably was a penalty.
Discussion here

**Roadend** · 31/08/2009, 2:43 PM

Originally Posted by rambler14

Go away and watch it again. He didn't dive.

Oh yes he did, he was going down before the contact was made, no doubt about that.

**Oink** · 31/08/2009, 3:17 PM

Definitely a peno, keeper committed the tackle, made contact and didn't get the ball... making the fact he went down easily irrelevant.

As a Chelsea fan i'm pretty happy about how the game went, Arsenal aren't the same team without Fiberglass and United are brutal this season. How Rooney got man of the match is beyond me, his worst game this season.

Can someone also explain to me why Owen Hargreaves is being hailed as the messiah ready to bring united back from the brink? Have they had him on a drip of Maradona and Beckenbauer's blood?

**DmanDmythDledge** · 31/08/2009, 3:32 PM

There's no way Rooney dived. If anybody thinks he did stand up, stretch your right leg forward as much you can and take a look at where you left leg is going. Then imagine that running and you can clearly see how Rooney was leaning forward.