HomecountiesJohn
Well-known member
Blimey what a game at OldTrafford.
Sevilla looked dead and buried at Half Time
Sevilla looked dead and buried at Half Time
Slime
Tour Winner
The last twenty minutes have been devastatingly bad for United, in many ways.
Seville are incredibly lucky and a very horrible team.
Seville are incredibly lucky and a very horrible team.
nickjdavis
Head Pro
Man U switched off after about thirty minutes in the first half, thinking they had the game won and that Sevilla were no threat and it would only be a matter of time before they got the third. Man U should have buried Sevilla in the first half but they relaxed, stepped off the gas and ultimately paid the price.
Great fun to watch Antony and Acuna battle away...think there were smiles on both sides deep inside despite all the macho bluster.
An awful last hour. Got a horrible feeling the impact on the remainder of the season may be significant.
Junior
Tour Winner
Horrible team, but Utd have themselves to blame. Not clinical enough and ETH shouldn't have made the subs all at once. The game didn't need changing. We were in control.
Hope Martinez is OK and no Bruno for the next leg. How he got booked and the Sevile player didn't in the 2nd half for the same thing i don't know. Was it for dissent ??
D
Deleted member 18121
Guest
Just seen the highlights, 4 good goals from United and nice to see Maguire playing again and back on form.
It can’t have been for dissent - the card was out immediately. I thought the ref was very poor. Extremely card happy, he made a rod for his own back because once there was one petty booking, he was obliged to card any strong challenges. It all got a bit ridiculous.
It was a strange game. For the first half hour United played with energy, the movement off the ball being excellent and Sevilla were there for the taking. Unfortunately the last fifteen minutes of that first half set the tone for the rest of the game and, to be honest, 2-2 was a fair reflection of how we played over the course of 90 minutes.
A desperately disappointing night, and whilst it is reassuring to know Martinez hasn’t done his Achilles, it still didn’t look like a short term injury. Combine that with Varane’s half time departure and I really fear that we will be playing the next week or so with Maguire and Lindelöf at the back. That’s not a prospect I’m thrilled at, given the importance of the upcoming fixtures.
I would suggest Sevilla are now favourites to go through next week, and the odds of Brighton winning at Wembley a few days later must have just shortened considerably.
Swango1980
Well-known member
As has been said, very disappointing for Man Utd last night. After going 2-0 up, it was a game that could really have been won by 3 or 4. Seville were really no real threat, but Utd just got a bit too sloppy which still happens pretty frequently. Too many careless misplaced passes, rushed passes, etc. Antony a bit unlucky with his effort off the post. However, as much as I like Malacia, appalling defending for Seville's first goal. Dealing with that sort of ball is surely bread and butter for a full back, so to let it go was unforgivable really.
Then you get injuries to our 2 centre backs, Martinez in the lead up to Seville's first goal. That is unlucky. However, in an age where you are allowed 5 subs, surely it is a good idea to keep one more in the bank in case of any injuries in last 10 minutes? You still can make 4 subs before then, 1 more that was allowed in the past. Making all 5 subs with a fair bit of time left seems a huge risk, and Utd paid for it last night. Not blaming ETH too much, managers are paid to make such risks, and they won't always come off. However, as also said, I didn't think too many changes were needed, Utd were very much in control. If they had been 5-0 up, then fair enough, you can decide to rest players. But at 2-0, the tie is not really over and you don't want any sudden shifts in pattern of the game.
Good to see Sabitzer score, and Martial looked good in first half, Great ball to set up second.
Not sure why Utd players allowed Seville players to carry Martinez off the pitch? They should have insisted that the medical staff come on and treat him. He has a serious injury, and they were quite happy to carry him off and get on with the game, playing against 10 men and momentum with them.
I know we will now have to rely on Maguire at the back for a while now, it seems. However, I find it frustrating that he still gets so much abuse. I expect it from opposition fans, but even from his own fans. In the games he has been involved with in the last few months, he has not looked bad at all. Sure, he has limitations, and he will make small mistakes here and there, just like every other player (and also the odd howler, just like others). Yet, every small mistake he makes is met with audible groans from angry fans, unlike the reaction if Martinez or Varane make a bit of a slip up. I say fair play to him, he hasn't spat his dummy out, and when he has played he has been a professional about it. He has won a lot of headers, and intercepted a lot of balls. He can still ping the odd good ball forwards. He is bound to be much better with a confident and stable midfield in front of him, and more confidence in the managers tactics. Now that it looks like he will get an extended run in the side, I just hope he does a decent job. Would have preferred it if he had Varane or Martinez alongside him though, someone who has had a bit of stability in the side and done well.
Then you get injuries to our 2 centre backs, Martinez in the lead up to Seville's first goal. That is unlucky. However, in an age where you are allowed 5 subs, surely it is a good idea to keep one more in the bank in case of any injuries in last 10 minutes? You still can make 4 subs before then, 1 more that was allowed in the past. Making all 5 subs with a fair bit of time left seems a huge risk, and Utd paid for it last night. Not blaming ETH too much, managers are paid to make such risks, and they won't always come off. However, as also said, I didn't think too many changes were needed, Utd were very much in control. If they had been 5-0 up, then fair enough, you can decide to rest players. But at 2-0, the tie is not really over and you don't want any sudden shifts in pattern of the game.
Good to see Sabitzer score, and Martial looked good in first half, Great ball to set up second.
Not sure why Utd players allowed Seville players to carry Martinez off the pitch? They should have insisted that the medical staff come on and treat him. He has a serious injury, and they were quite happy to carry him off and get on with the game, playing against 10 men and momentum with them.
I know we will now have to rely on Maguire at the back for a while now, it seems. However, I find it frustrating that he still gets so much abuse. I expect it from opposition fans, but even from his own fans. In the games he has been involved with in the last few months, he has not looked bad at all. Sure, he has limitations, and he will make small mistakes here and there, just like every other player (and also the odd howler, just like others). Yet, every small mistake he makes is met with audible groans from angry fans, unlike the reaction if Martinez or Varane make a bit of a slip up. I say fair play to him, he hasn't spat his dummy out, and when he has played he has been a professional about it. He has won a lot of headers, and intercepted a lot of balls. He can still ping the odd good ball forwards. He is bound to be much better with a confident and stable midfield in front of him, and more confidence in the managers tactics. Now that it looks like he will get an extended run in the side, I just hope he does a decent job. Would have preferred it if he had Varane or Martinez alongside him though, someone who has had a bit of stability in the side and done well.
Bunkermagnet
Journeyman Pro
Did the squirrel go into hiding?
Beezerk
Money List Winner
clubchamp98
Journeyman Pro
Thing is though .
Constantine Hatzidakis apologises to Andy Robertson after 'elbow' with official to face no FA action
Constantine Hatzidakis to face no FA action after assistant referee appeared to elbow Andy Robertson in Liverpools 2-2 draw with Arsenal last weekend; Hatzidakis says he has apologised to the defender and now looks forward to returning to officiating matcheswww.skysports.com
Good to see that an apology has been given.
All blown out of proportion imo.
If Mitrovic apologised to the ref should he not have been given the same leniency?
very double standards.
RichA
Well-known member
Apologies are irrelevant. The two incidents are really very different.
Totally agree.
In both incidents players laid hands on the officials - they know not to do it. They know the consequences if they do.
In the Robertson case the assistant merely freed himself from Robertson’s hands, which should not have been there in the first place. It can be argued that the assistant was a bit OTT with his reaction, but when someone invades your personal space when they are fully aware that they are not supposed to then, to be quite honest, they should not be surprised if there is a reaction. In the event that Robertson got clipped then he only has himself to blame.
The outcome seems entirely proportionate if the reporting of the incident is accurate.
Move on. Nothing to see.
Swango1980
Well-known member
Absolutely. I was out for New Years Eve once. From corner of my eye at the dinner table, I could see a mate making a movement with his hand toward me. Instinctively, I threw salt in his eyes. Turns out, he was only moving his arm for a perfectly innocent reason, but seeing something suddenly come into my personal space, I reacted, and just so happened to have salt in my right hand. Completely over the top reaction, but it was hilarious once everyone got over the shock.
I enjoyed Keane's assessment of Robertson, he really is a "big baby". Like many players, he thought he'd go and have a right moan to the official, getting close and personal. The officials reaction may have seen over the top, but I've no doubt it was intentional. I hardly believe the official decided "I'm going to smash him in the face here", and it looked completely instinctive as "get off me". Then several of the Liverpool players acted like big babies, going and crying to the referee.
I hope the incident pushes us closer to a time when officials are less tolerant of whinging players. That goes for players that play for my own team.
In my previous life I was always very, very wary of people invading my personal space. And if ever anyone laid hands on me they were only ever asked/told once to remove them. There were never second requests made.
I genuinely feel for match officials. The abuse they receive, from fans and players alike, is absolutely unbelievable. None of us know what went on between Robertson and the assistant during the first half, but I’m willing to bet the half time incident was a culmination of some exchanges between the two.
Match officials are expected to put up with a lot. Far more than they should, if we’re all honest. And they have an absolute right to expect players to keep their hands to themselves.
If a player goes hands on then, as I say, they shouldn’t then whine if the reaction is one they don’t like.
I have huge sympathy for the linesman. I have none whatsoever for Robertson.
IJames
Active member
Has any action been taken against Robertson? Didn't he instigate the reaction by putting his hand on the Linesman - a Yellow Card offence? Or was that ignored to quell further discussion?
Swango1980
Well-known member
Can't give retrospective yellow cards, and referees don't typically give yellow cards for a certain level of abuse received, nor is it automatic for physical contact. I don't think Robertson acted in a physically aggressive way, but immediately approaching the linesman in such a manner, I can see how it would result in such an instinctive reaction. I also wonder if the Mitrovic incident was more at the forefront of some officials minds, as it was relatively recent, and thus making some more sensitive to a player suddenly invading their personal space?
IJames
Active member
I understand all that! I was just a bit surprised that Roberson 'got away with' quite deliberately approaching the official and putting his hand on him! Even after somewhat (though purely my thought of) appropriate, if unintended, justice was handed out! To me, Robertson deserved a Yellow Card. And I'm pretty sure (though not certain) that Linesman can generate one by reporting such an incident to the Ref! VAR only gets involved in possible Red Card events, not Yellow ones!
Still...All done now.
Robertson got a yellow for it.
GB72
Money List Winner
I am guessing by the lack of media outrage and that the decision has not been challenged or protested, this really was something out of nothing.
