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I personally think Roy Keane's comments were those of a bitter man who let down his country and instead of being remembered as one of Ireland's greats is solely thought of regarding WC2002. So what if McShane should have cleared it, Henry didn't react to the ball missing everyone else either...

One thing I will say, why weren't they using the extra officials? They tried them in the Europa League, seemed to be reasonably well received, why not in the playoffs? These are huge matches, bigger than group games at the WC in some ways tbh. If you get to the WC then you're there and you're...

I thought overall the ref was very good tbh, a few fouls he didn't clamp down on but he tried to let the game flow. He also didn't give that penalty on Anelka when you could imagine a lot of other refs awarding it given the home support.

There's no way the first one is deliberate. He's not expecting the ball to reach him and it hits his hand accidently. He's not looked to use his hand to control it. The second touch is the deliberate one.

The incident isn't comparable to Rivaldo and Maradona also because those two were blatently deliberate. They both set out to cheat and con everyone. In Henry's case, the ball has lept up and hit him on the hand, and he then gives it a second nudge to control it. He just plays on hoping noone...

McShane looks like someone who should be bright ginger, but for some reason isn't.

Christ people are bringing out the same arguments every time. Noone is saying that any other player wouldn't have done the same. However he still effectively cheated to win the game for France with a deliberate second touch with his hand. And it was the linesman who should have picked it up, not...

I thought you were being sarcastic when you agreed about polar opposites :lol: if you look at what I wrote Meta it's what you just said too. There was no underdog angle in 98, as France screwed other big teams. That doesn't really pull at the heartstrings like a brave little team doing well and...

Sounded like you were championing both arguments tbh, not trying to be overly clever. Most people I know dislike South Korea and make comments about the refs whenever they're brought up. Certainly not considered heroes. Those teams you list, it has nothign to do with a lack of trust. It goes...

It's really nothing to do with race Meta. The France 98 team were actually good. This team have been appalling led by a total twat of a manager and a very poor leader on the field. The characters of Zidane and Henry are polar opposites. That's the key difference here. Not skin colour. The fact...

It's not the ref's fault he had no chance of seeing that with the angle and all the bodies. The linesman should have picked it up as he had a clear view across.

+1 and I still feel Meta and co overrate M Diarra

Masch 'skill' is similar to how Xavi plays in that area, being able to turn away from danger and retain possession. He very rarely loses the ball. I'd still much rather have Yaya though.

That is brilliant news. Really glad to see that. Let's hope he can continue his rehab and work his way back to full fitness without anymore setbacks.

That's because he was playing at CB. His technical ability and size helped him get through that match and make some great tackles. His positioning was always going to be dodgy seen as he was playing totally out of position.

That is a pretty rubbish description of him! Yeh I don't understand this hype for M Diarra, I've always found him overrated tbh and now there are people calling him the world's best dm. Crazy.

Exactly, what he does is done very well, but he's not a one dimensional player who's solely physical.

Essien is a Beast and he has a lot of technical ability compared other players in his position. However what he doesn't have is guile and playmaker-style ability to spot a pass.

I just listed it as it is something we know regarding Yaya. I didn't put it as a plus for Masch as we don't know about him, although I'd be surprised if he's any better.

Well I put better going forward which encompasses those aspects. Masch is a very efficient passer and rarely gives the ball away, so I didn't feel there was too much difference there. Versatility is another plus, when we need an emergency centre back Yaya has shown he can fill that.