30 Nov 2017 09:39:08
Some people are moaning that we gave Stoke 2 or 3 chances to score? We had about 8. Stoke are good going forward anyway. That isn't their problem. Their issues are at the back and we exploited that to perfection, whilst keeping the ball out of our own net by hook or by crook.

The media darlings from Old Trafford drew this exact fixture 2-2. Stoke is not an easy place to go, let alone at 0 degree temperatures in the middle of a hectic fixture pile up.

Also, i don't see how Mignolet was apparently lucky not to see red. Yes it was an awful mistake which on another day could have cost us a goal, but Diouf was surrounded by defenders. Gomez was easily getting back goal side or at least close enough to make a challenge.

Even if you do think we rode our luck, Vincent Kompany has somehow cheated a red card twice in the last couple of weeks against Leicester and now Southampton. So why is it when another big club get's lucky we say "you need a bit of luck" and when it's us people say "we shouldn't be relying on luck"! Hypocrisy.

You make your own luck in football.

1.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 10:02:23
Decent points there, but there are too many people who are more interested in how amazing everyone else is and how awful we are than anything else. If it doesn't fall into that world view, it doesn't compute to them.

2.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 10:22:57
Diouf pokes it in with his next touch. It definitely should have been a red. It was reckless and poor keeping again could have cost us the game. Great result though if mane and Solanke had netted those one on ones it could have been over at half time. The options we now have in the final third should keep us scoring through this tough period of fixture pile up and I think we’ll be top 4 by Xmas.

3.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 10:47:06
Redwillis, the rules have been changed. It was a definite yellow card. I explained the new rule in my reply to the thread below if you're interested.

It was an absolutely unquestionable yellow card though (unless you think Mignolet's one footed, studs down, mistimed tackle can be interpreted as violent conduct) .

4.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 11:16:08
could have cost us but didn't. I like to think that Mignolet saved us a goal really.!

5.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 11:29:24
MK the real question is why did migs even come for it when we had 2 defenders there, he did the exact same vs spurs except kane put that away, he hasn't learnt from his mistakes, in fact he's still making the exact same ones hoping for different results? insanity.

if migs stays and diouf pokes it then migs can save it and there's no crys for a red. he created that situation just like ed001 talks about he causes panick with his terrible decision making.

6.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 12:28:22
TBH it was more the period after the foul, he seemed to lose his composure and sent nerves through our defence, he became rash at corners and it took him a while to settle down again, its a common theme with him.

7.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 12:38:56
I agree it was a reckless decision and Mignolet is a poor keeper. I'm not defending his ability. I'm defending that one isolated scenario. People can thumbs down all they like. But the rules are rules and by the letter of the new laws, Mignolet only deserved a yellow card.

People are just refusing to accept that they didn't know the rules. Not knowing the rules so recently after they were changed can be forgiven, but once you've had it explained to you, continuing to ignore it to fit your own agenda is just childish ignorance. I've not even been rude about it up to now, just tried to be informative. Clearly people are happy to anonymously disagree instead of actually debate with me on this. Though it is pretty impossible to debate it when it is as clear as day once you read the new ruling that the ref got it spot on.

8.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 13:41:06
Mk the rules are if it is a penalty to avoid 'double' punishment - e. g pen and a red card.
A tackle outside the box being last man is still a red card, deliberately or mistimed!

9.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 15:03:36
I didn’t thumbs down anything. I’m not one of those guys. If hacking someone down when they’re about to score an open goal isn’t a red card then the rules are abit rubbish imo 😄 if it’s a penalty then at least they still get a good scoring chance but a free kick and a yellow card for what was certain to be a goal is just a pi** take really. It was just completely reckless again from migs and it could have cost us a goal or a player and I can’t for the life of me understand why he still gets games. Tbf to him he made a few good confident punches early on but as Lancaster said after that moment of madness he went back to his old indecisive nervy Self again.

{Ed001's Note - it was 100% a red card, there is no argument to be had.}

10.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 15:22:32
The letter of the law directly states inside the penalty box you only receive a caution, to stop the "triple jeopardy", being Red card, penalty and the suspension. In this case as was outside the box, being the last man then its a red, bit of luck for us there!

(quote)
“where a player commits an offence against an opponent within their own penalty area which denies an opponent an obvious goal-scoring opportunity and the referee awards a penalty kick, the offender is cautioned if the offence was an attempt to play the ball”.

11.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 16:25:49
Your interpretation of the rules are being wrongly applied to this scenario it was a clear red card as per the law. We must be the only fans in the world who hope one of their players is banned 😂.

12.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 16:50:28
Mignolet being sent off and banned for 3 games could have done us a favour which could have been used to our advantage for the remainder of the season by having Karius or Ward play in goal. Instead he will continue to start every premier league game and continue to cost us goals and dropped points for the remainder of the season.

13.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 16:57:19
Mk get over it lad and stop trying to gloss it, you really need to read the rules agen. It was a definite red card! or it should of been we and migs got lucky.

14.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 17:11:14
Thank you Dean W! I was going to try and find the exact wording myself but you've saved me the time.

In that case, i admit it is arguably a red card. Still only arguably as Gomez was right on top of Diouf, but as Gomez was behind when the challenge came in, it's fair to say Mignolet should be considered to be the last man. In which case, a red card seems the right action.

I'm quite happy to be wrong as long as somebody can back it up and educate me! Apologies to all. I remembered reading about the rule change, but i didn't remember anything about the penalty box being mentioned! That makes sense though i guess!

15.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 17:35:46
MK, I agree with certain points in your posts however, you are missing one thing. Ref. decisions are based on what their interpretation at that moment. At that moment, another ref would have given a red based on his interpretation and NO ONE not even you, would have been able to make any bones about it. To me, it was a straight red and would have had no problem with it. I know that the rules are what they are and you are correct BUT again, the rules are based on the refs' interpretations which gives them a lot of room to maneuver. It is this fact that allows the ref to not give a red to Kompany BUT at the same time, the same ref could give a red to Migs. It's really that simple, IMO.

16.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 17:36:22
Well done mk takes a proper fella to come out and first admit then apologise when they are wrong, well played lad.

17.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 18:41:10
Everyone gets it wrong mate. Just got to be man enough to back down when someone proves you wrong. I've just remembered the new rule wrong, clearly! I already look like a muppet so there is no point compounding it now 😂.

18.) 30 Nov 2017
30 Nov 2017 22:28:53
Mk we all no your no muppet mate you thought you was right and stood by your decision, atleast you didn't try to turn things around or deny or blame other people or twist things so respect fella!