Note that term, "felt contact". Explaining why he crumpled like a Bahraini protester shot by a high velocity rifle, Etherington said, "If people want to have a go at me, it's water off a duck's back because I know I felt contact." Oh dear God! Was he clattered? No! Was he tripped? No! He "felt contact"! It was Scotty breathing on the back of his neck, or his bookie touching his collar perhaps!
It used to be that Argies and Italians went to ground when they "felt contact". Now it seems even journeymen Brits go to ground at the merest hint of a challenge, at the merest suggestion of a foul! Perhaps Etherington might like to watch the TV replays and explain how, exactly, he "felt contact" and how that foot of thin air sent him flying!
But even more telling is Etherington's explanation of why he went to ground. Remember, this was just one minute into the second half, one minute after the interval, one minute, perhaps after Pulis and Jones had put their heads together over a cup of tea and a promissory note. Matty's words are so, so, so telling: "At that stage of the game, and after their goal appeared to be a handball, it looked as though the ref was going to give us something."
O did it Matty? That stands repeating: "and after their goal appeared to be a handball, it looked as though the ref was going to give us something." The FA will surely be very interested in where that idea came from! Presumably, Grant will cite the evidence of Etherington when he is called upon to explain his own comments about the refereeing performance of Mr Jones! And presumably, the FA will then launch a much more appropriate enquiry into why, exactly, Jones seemed to put on red and white striped underpants at half time!
The FA will surely be very interested in where that idea came from!
ReplyDeleteYou sure about that buddy?
So, basically, Matty is saying the exact same thing as Grant. You don't really expect it from the player who's got the decision though, do you?? Extraordinary!!
ReplyDeleteP.S. How much media coverage will this receive? None.
Maybe he's talking about the contact when he hit the floor?
ReplyDeleteThe F.A will do F.A about this because they will fear opening a can of worms.
Pulis must have said something. If you watch the game again, he is waiting at the entrance of the tunnel for the ref at half time.
TIS, I suppose it depends on how many pick up on this. The more blogs that make a noise the better. If I was Sullivan & Gold, I would get on the blower to a few journos, expressing gratitude for the way Etherington is backing Grant. Heavy dose of sarcasm. Something along the lines of, "It is great to see Matthew Etherington has a conscience, admitting that he went to ground because in his words, it "looked as though the ref was going to give Stoke something". I'm sure the FA will ask Matthew where that idea came from, especially as the players had just come out from the half time break. It's good to see that Matthew learnt something at West Ham. Sadly, he has subsequently learnt at Stoke to fall over in the box when he feels 'contact'."
ReplyDeleteGood to see you posting some common sense theories Fanny....We all know that we were rough housed out of the competition...top flight football has it's ugly side (I don't mean Steve Bruce) and teams like Stoke,Bolton,B'burn only confound the fact that in order for the lower order clubs to keep a foothold in the top flight is to bludgeon their way to it. Teams like WHU,Burnley,Sunderland and lately it seems Everton,Villa and Newcastle will struggle trying to play 'football' against teams like this who will just commit common assault on the field of play to survive/progress. It will indeed be interesting if the FA use 'all' the evidence in their hearings but as we know all too much when it comes to any team not involved in Europe or wearing a red strip then the evidence is overlooked and an 'example' is used as the rule of law.
ReplyDeleteIn a perfect world there would be a huge investigation resulting in large scale, permenant changes. Unfortunately this is not a perfect world. This is the FA, and in true FA style this will all be swept under the carpet. Whats that? The referee was wrong? nothing to see here people, move along..
ReplyDeleteLuke - this needs media coverage. It was daylight robbery, plain and simple cheating. There is so much money in football already, that this kind of behaviour is unacceptable
ReplyDeleteOi Isaac, less of the Fanny. Nothing fishy about me!
ReplyDeleteSorry mate....your not fishy just a bit slippery at times..
ReplyDeleteCan't take issue with you on that!
ReplyDeleteI mentioned this in a few posts earlier this week, but my vitriol towards our 'so-called-mate' Matty, went largely unnoticed.
ReplyDeleteGlad you decided to finally make an issue out of it.
HF, if you need any more ideas for your blog, just drop me a line mate ;)