FA Cup Final Thread - 2014/15 season

[Fernando]

First topic message reminder :

FA Cup Final  

Arsenal vs Aston Villa

[Derbymanc]

As far as i'm concerned it shouldn't be a foul anyway, he's got ample time to jump over the keeper and tap the ball in BUT it was overhit so he flopped down.

There is a big argument on the referees not giving anything (especially in the box) if people don't go down but the amount of diving in the game that what else can they do?

Would personally like to see more of the top managers start condemning their own teams and leading by example but we know that isn't gonna happen when it could cost you a point or 2.

The other side is we all embrace diving and start praising the players for how good they've got at it.

It's gotten into every aspect of the game and the funniest/saddest thing i've seen is 5/6 year old kids rolling around on the floor when the kids started football. I used to be the only 1 there to tell my lad to get up. (Girl was always too good to get kicked

Ample time? It's not Fifa 15. He did dive, but it's a decision made in a split second. He had no choice in hurdling the keeper (who is to blame for this fuss) then in that split second went down.

He must have had ample time to jump over the keeper as that's exactly what he did, he then DIVED to the ground afterwards. (Eff Fifa it's a truly shocking game these games.)

@ Hampo
I don't think he went to trip the player, watch the video above (It's a cracking angle) keepers eyes are on the floor on the ball (both studs pointing to the floor as well) and his legs still on the floor. I think the ball was overhit which is why Rooney went down.

If he has indeed apologised to the Preston keeper for apologising then I look forward to seeing the rest of you on here following suit that claim it wasn't a dive

[Stella]

I don't think he went into the challenge with 'a dive' in mind. I just think, once he had to leap over the keeper's legs, instinct took over. He looked a little embarrassed by it, and as mentioned, apologised afterwards.
Diving is wrong, but shirt pulling in the area is as bad, imo. The refs are often too scared to give penalties for these.

[Derbymanc]

It's only instinct if you've been practicing to do it though Stella. (Would be nice to see him come out and apologise to the Preston fans too as it effectively killed the tie,)

Completely agree with you on shirt pulling too. Thing the refs need to grow a bigger pair and if the clubs themelves aren't going to stop this behaviour then they need to really clamp down on it.

Imagine if it became the norm to be banned for diving and/or have penalties for shirt pulling, you can bet your butt that managers would soon be telling the players not to do it. (Might be a better reason for having another linesman (sorry assistant ref) on the goal line.

[Stella]

I don't actually believe Rooney is a diver, though he did on this occasion. You don't have to be a casual diver to do it. Remember Fowler and Seaman all those years ago? Fowler definitely dived, then realised what he had done, therefore said to the ref that it wasn't a pen.

[hampo17]

He knows that once he makes that challenge there are 3 outcomes, he gets the ball, he gets Rooney or he misses everything. Once he misses the ball he can then be said to be attempting to trip Rooney as the only way it can be avoided is by Rooney jumping. Sadly those are the rules, I'm the same as you, I don't like it but not a lot we can do except accept the rules.

[Derbymanc]

I wouldn't put Rooney down as a serial diver to be fair and the fact he's apologised to the keeper afterwards says a lot about him. I do think it's taught by the attacking coaches though as it seems to be an accepted part of the game elsewhere and vilified in the UK (Which I think is right.)

That's the problem with some of the rules Hampo, I would be screaming penalty if he had his legs and arms flailing everywhere or if he'd have actually touched Rooney (Missing the ball isn't an excuse if you then take out the man,) think the fact he's gone for what looks like a safe tackle and then missed the man and still had it gone against him says the rules are pants.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Also, Rooney apologised (apparently) for going down, not for diving. Having a choice doesn't make it a dive

[Derbymanc]

"After the game Rooney told me: 'Sorry, it was my chance to get a penalty. I had to use that'," Stuckmann is quoted as saying in The Sun.

Think it sounds worse like that to be honest.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

Well, he hasn't even said he's gone to ground easily, he may well be saying that he saw the keeper come out and played for the foul.

That doesn't sound, to me, like "I dived"

[compelling and rich]

the easiest thing would have been for rooney simply to leave his leg there so the keeper wipes him out and then theres no arguing.

for me it was a foul as rooney has to avoid contact with the keeper and in doing so it hinders him, but it was also a dive as he went down under no contact and the striding over the keeper wasn't what made him go down, it was that he wanted a pen. hindered him enough for a foul but not to flop on the floor like that

[Derbymanc]

Then all any player has to do to get a foul when someone slides in is kick the ball past someone and fall over. As it shows in the replay, the keeper never flailed his legs or his arms about, went for the ball and Rooney went over cause he can't control the ball properly.

I'd love to see what would have been said if it had been at the other end a methinks a few of you would be bemoaning the fact the only way Preston could have competed was through cheating.

[Stella]

the easiest thing would have been for rooney simply to leave his leg there so the keeper wipes him out and then theres no arguing.

for me it was a foul as rooney has to avoid contact with the keeper and in doing so it hinders him, but it was also a dive as he went down under no contact and the striding over the keeper wasn't what made him go down, it was that he wanted a pen. hindered him enough for a foul but not to flop on the floor like that

Again, instinct will tell you to leap over the keeper. We can debate all we want, but the correct decision was given, and the keeper has to take criticism for his rush of blood.

[Derbymanc]

How can you call it a rush of blood, he went for the ball, feet pointing at the floor and on the floor?????????????????????

[Stella]

How can you call it a rush of blood, he went for the ball, feet pointing at the floor and on the floor?????????????????????

He should have never of came out in the first place. As soon as he did, he was in trouble. Any keeper will tell you it was bad keeping. The fact that Rooney got there first with a little to spare surely tells you that?

[Derbymanc]

No they wouldn't, keepers dash out for the ball all the time. The fact that there was little to spare tells you if he was a touch faster he'd have got the ball first, also the fact Rooney overhit it shows that he panicked as the keeper was nearly there. 50/50 ball, Rooney effed up and went down to compensate, shocking sportsmanship but that's the game.

[Guest]

Can't believe this is still being discussed with such effort. It was a dive, plain & simple, however, it's not like it altered the outcome for United. You make it out like this was a world cup final at 0-0 in the 90th minute. ROONEY gets protection due to his captaincy & standing in the game, had it been Ashley Young, I doubt the defence from certain quarters would of been so strong. Time to move on

[Stella]

No they wouldn't, keepers dash out for the ball all the time. The fact that there was little to spare tells you if he was a touch faster he'd have got the ball first, also the fact Rooney overhit it shows that he panicked as the keeper was nearly there. 50/50 ball, Rooney effed up and went down to compensate, shocking sportsmanship but that's the game.

That doesn't make it right, and not when there is a defender near by. It was a rash decision, face it derby. Keepers are the last line, and it always looks worse, but it was an error of judgement, clear to most as he gave away a penalty.

The fact that Rooney over hit it, makes the decision worse. You not a big Rooney fan?

[Derbymanc]

I am actually, just can't stand the cheating that pervades our game (that includes you Mr Chris Martin, stay on yer goddamn feet.)

Completely 100 percent disagree with what your saying, 50/50 ball, keeper has every right to go for it, as said above, if he'd jumped in, legs and arms flailing then whilst i'd still disagree with Rooney flopping he'd deserve the penalty, fact is the keeper didn't. The whole thing makes Rooney look bad and fans accepting it as 'part of the game' is another step where we start applauding the players for diving.

[Stella]

50/50? Rooney over hit it, and still got there. 70/30 in favour of Rooney more like. Rooney dived, get over it. To say it was 50/50 is madness. I suggest you have a another look at the incident.

[Azzy]

My perspective is as follows:

- Rooney sees the keeper coming out, knows he's sliding in, so knocks the ball past him
- At that point, he has a choice to make: leap the tackle, or commit to going down
- He chooses the latter, wins the pen, scores, game over
- No contact was made, and the tackle was easily avoidable
- It was therefore a dive.

However, you can't blame Rooney for doing so - he wants to win the game, the referee was always going to give a penalty in that situation, and so he did what was best for his team.

I would rather see blame given to the keeper. He came rushing out of his goal, made a pathetic slide at Rooney (didn't even attempt to go for the ball really) and looked shocked at the outcome. Smarter keeping would have prevented a goal there.

[Derbymanc]

50/50? Rooney over hit it, and still got there. 70/30 in favour of Rooney more like. Rooney dived, get over it. To say it was  50/50 is madness. I suggest you have a another look at the incident.

I have seen it again and again, there's a perfect replay of it above Stella.

Glad you admitted Rooney dived though, just try and accept your hero isn't quite perfect and was nearly outrun by a 1st division keeper

Dunno how anyone can say it's a wreckless tackle when you look at how the keeper went for the ball, you'd think he went to jump over the top of the ball reading some of the comments????????

[Stella]

Who said the tackle was reckless? The decision to come was a poor one, that's all I'm saying, and I've said Rooney dived, all along. He's not my hero, far from it. I don't dislike him, but can take him or leave him as a person and footballer.

[Derbymanc]

Sorry Stella, my use of words is p!ss poor sometimes.

Think we can agree to disagree on the rest or we'll be going in circles for the next week. Been good discussing it though.

[Stella]

Game of opinions, as they say. I often talk crap, but on this occasion I believe I'm right.

[Derbymanc]

Game of opinions, as they say. I often talk crap, but on this occasion I believe I'm right.

Same here

[hampo17]

Bradford vs Reading about to start, the pitch is dreadful!

[Guest]

I'm hoping Reading do away with Bradford today simply because I can't stomach looking at Mark Lawn any longer. The state of it.

[mystiroakey]

Nice pitch 

[NickisBHAFC]

Come on Bradford!

Would be more depressing seeing plastic boring reading in the final!

[FootballLight]

As a true Reading fan, I don't mind us looking for a replay, but its the negative football we decide to play and I don't know why we do it personally. Pogrebnyak lost so many headers in that game, Yakubu came on and fouled, Robson-Kane and McCleary were both non-existent. We had good energy levels in midfield in our 4-3-3 and a solid defensive line but Kelly was dreadful going forward in the first half. Pogrebnyak was unlucky with the post and how we didn't turn Norwood's free kick into the net I'll never know but it was only the same with Bradford.

Either way, slightly disappointed with a draw, could have got more but Steve Clarke must do it at the Madejski now. Only won 2 of our last 9 games in all competitions as well, slightly concerning.

[westisbest]

Christ that was a painful half to watch.
Bacuna is not a right back. He's league 1 standard.

Players not using their brains.
Poor.

[westisbest]

God Lineker is such a drip.
Just not funny. Never liked him.

Just a boring individual.

[Guest]

He's replaced Adrian Chiles as the biggest prat in football broadcasting.

I'd imagine he's even worse in the real world.

[Guest]

Belter!

[westisbest]

Would have brough Gil on.

Sanchez is poor.

[NickisBHAFC]

God Lineker is such a drip.
Just not funny. Never liked him.

Just a boring individual.

You joking? Man is an utter legend, his son is cool as well.

[Guest]

This has tuned into a proper cup tie.

[westisbest]

No. Nick I'm not joking.

[Hammersmith harrier]

Nick is one of those who can't differentiate between a legendary player and someone who happens to be a massive be11end which Linekar is.

[westisbest]

Not a sending off.

[NickisBHAFC]

How anyone can not like Gary is beyond me!

How that's a sending off is beyond me as well. You have to expect a weekend of football with the ref messing up in a TV game.

[NickisBHAFC]

Nick is one of those who can't differentiate between a legendary player and someone who happens to be a massive be11end which Linekar is.

It's having a different Opinon, if we all had the same opinion life would be boring, very boring.

[Hammersmith harrier]

I stand by my initial point Nick but then you probably see a lot of yourself in Gary Linekar.

[Dolphin Ziggler]

I like Lineker, a legendary player and a very good presenter, as well as affable bloke.

Think Villa deserve this, think the red was right too. Best thing Sinclair has done in years!

[Guest]

Westy, are you making the trip to the Twin Towers?

[NickisBHAFC]

His tweets are pretty funny as well, I just thought he was a really well liked man, guess I'm wrong!

Cracking finish by Sinclair, good bit of passion from Sherwood! Meant a lot to the vills fans there and they deserve it. Had to watch utter rubbish this season, getting a Wembley trip as a reward.

[Guest]

Sinclair playing for a big deal after City, no surprise to see him like this. Congrats to Villa, fully deserved this. Disappointed not to progress to the semi's. Well done, Westi

[NickisBHAFC]

BOOOOOOOOOOO. Get of you fuc*ing idiots

[Guest]

Bit over the top, this. Even I don't get that excited over a semi.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So that's what Aston Villa fans do when they actually turn up to Villa Park

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