It was an SPL game.

That's a good point though, I hadn't thought about the fact that UEFA can't just impose rules on Football Associations

So I don't see how my consistancy argument comes into it. UEFA should be the ones that are consistant with it now that they've taken the plunge with it. I don't think it has anything to do with the domestic matches though, that's a decision that should be taken by the countries' FA

So its pointless really to bring it up when it concerns a domestic match seeing as UEFA were the ones who took the step not the Scottish FA.

When a player dives in a European match and nothing happens then we'll talk about consistancy but imo this really has nothing to do with it

Questions for our list:

1) Why Abbiati? We could have registered him much later, and now put on the list one that actually will be able to play or at least sit on the bench - why not some primavera, even Carlo did that?

2) What happened to Bonera?

Primavera players are on the 'B list' and I expect to see some of them too, especially Zigoni.

Bonera's still got issues with his hernia thingy and is apparently not expected to recover for a while.

(from uefa.com)



http://www.uefa.com/uefa/keytopics/kind=51...sid=881429.html

excellent, now just to get the voyeur banned and it'll be a party!

Good decision if they keep consistant with it.

I don't think they will, Eduardo plays for a team based in England and that's the reason he was made an example of.

Not true, it was Gordon Smith of the SFA who publicly castrated the player, THEN Uefa took it up. They'd have done nothing without Smith pushing for it.



Ok, Ibrahimovich dived on Friday in the Super Cup final and nothing happened. So let's talk about consistency

No, it was because Gordon Smith moaned about it. There are quite a few examples of players conning referees while playing for English clubs, and nothing happened because the head of the English FA didn't do what the head of the SFA did.

Which is all very noble and such and such but why did he not do it before? Because Celtic are bad losers, and bitter - and he's become an apologist for them.

It does when it's the head of that particular FA who instigated the action - he cajoled Uefa into doing something, yet won't condemn Aiden McGeady for exactly the same offence because 'as he was sent off, it's case closed'. So, basically, you can publicly castrate a player who gets away with cheating, demanding an 8 year ban, but if he's found guilty of it you're not allowed to say a word against him...

Its still happened in a UEFA match so UEFA have every right to ban the player, it still doesn't have anything to do with domestic games. And this makes Gordon Smith a hypocrit but it still has nothing to do with European matches and UEFA's decision, even if Smith was the one who forced them to look into it, but then again, like I sai it only makes him a hypocrit but it has nothing to do with UEFA's consistancy.

Regarding Zalatan, you know where I stand with this. I don't agree that not every dive will be punished, but its an unrealistic thing to expect UEFA to punish every dive that happens, if that were the case we'd be seeing constant match delays because teams would barely have any players left... I only think that UEFA will be punishing the simulations that effect outcomes of matches, whether that's a sending off, penalty or even yellow cards, as that could effect the outcome of future matches because of bans.

I do think however that a referee should punish divers by giving them yellow cards whenever they do it, not only when they dive in the penalty box. I think this would be a fair rule as giving 2 match bans to every player that dives is unrealistic and something that would never happen. And they give yellow cards for such silly things like taking off shirts or running to fans, this is something that should be made priority not the riduclous rules of taking of the shirts and so on

I agree - disciplining every dive is not feasible, but the problem is by making a hoo ha about this one, Gordon Smith and Uefa have opened a can of worms with us fans demanding consistency across the board, be it from our domestic associations or Uefa themselves. It's a can of worms they cannot control; they either look like hypocrites with no consistency, or they create a mess with trying to discipline every diver, which would bring the game of football to a standstill as most players would be against a review panel every Saturday.



That's what McGeady earned his dismissal for - a second yellow for a dive outside the box. And yet his manager, irate at the Eduardo dive, this time completely supports his own player doing the same thing and hasn't the balls to condemn him which would gain him a lot of respect from myself and many others.

And tonight Rangers return to the CL with a tough trip to Stuttgart. It's one we are capable of winning, given the manager knows how to win in Europe now, and we have the team to do it.

Only potential issue is Weir's absence. But a nice softener is that hopefully both Magnin and Hleb will be absent for VfB.

Ah, God bless the Promised Land

Stuttgart are a good side -- Hleb out is a bit of a blow but they've got some very good players. Fishdoll especially likes Sami Khedira, who plays in midfield for them.

(Fishdoll sad to hear that Weir is out.)

They are a good side, a very solid pot 3 level team - 3rd in the Bundesliga is a decent place to be, albeit it's not the strongest league around by a long shot. But their domestic start this year has been akin to Milan's - very, very average with 5 points from 5 games.

I don't think Weir's absence is the biggest blow ever - at 39 years of age, as good a leader as he is, his timing and pace have seen better days and I'm not too worried at Lee McCulloch in defence.

I am especially interested to see how Rothen, assuming he starts for us, does.

Khedira is brilliant! Also that Russian guy upfront (I think it's Pogrebnyak) is doing really well. I'm gonna watch the match today. Hopefully Stuttgart will win, though I slightly favor Rangers.

Hleb is starting for Stuttgart, according to uefa.com. hrm. And Iniesta isn't for Barca. Locke, why is Arsenal fielding what must be their #3 or 4 keeper?

I'm sure Weir will be missed in an attacking sense though, his assist in the game against Holland was awesome.

I'm sorry, I couldn't resist.

Will Der Hammer be playing for Stuttgart?

Yes, yes he will, Kurt.

Almunia is injured. I know this. Perhaps Fabianski is as well. Poom has retired. I think they only have 3 GKs.

Arsenal 2-0 down after 5 minutes. The first goal Eduardo was doing party tricks on the edge of his own box, lost it, and they scored. Gallas fouled someone for a penalty for the 2nd goal.

Stuttgart 1-0 Rangers, Pogrebnyak.

Inter-Barca is so BORING...

Ah Milito with a good chance finally, good save Valdes

That looked like a dive for the penalty - I expect Wenger to have a little moan at the end of the game

I agree. I was expecting a mouthwatering clash but it is dull, it definitely needs a goal to liven things up.

So I shouldn't feel bad that I'm missing it and writing a report on market appreciation as a factor in liquidity ratio calculations at work?

Fishdoll gosh at the Liege scoreline. Didn't expect THAT even though Liege are not a bad side at all.

Great!

And does it seem strange that I want Inter to win?!!

Great!

And does it seem strange that I want Inter to win?!!

Anyone watching the Fiorentina match?

Its gotten a bit better compared to the first 30 minutes.


Not at all. there's no regret when one side in Inter. you know, they always suck in CL! it's mysterious... they have a great squad but they just can't do it in Europe! the club is cursed.

I actually want them to do well this time -- Italy and Germany are really close coefficient wise and if german teams do better than italian teams in europe this year, they'll get 4 spots instead of italy.

Why? I thought you hated Madrid!

Inter will fail. simple as that

Barca NEARLY!!


HOLY GOD. Xavi is beyond amazing...

That's why I want them to do well, Italy really can't offord another year like last season in Europe or the 4th spot will be lost, as you've said. That is why I want Inter and Juve to go as far ahead as possible, I don't want to see them win it but I want them to do well, same goes for Fiorentina, they need to make it out of their group

The one thing that comforts me is that the EUropa League teams from Italy look reasonably strong this year.

Muntari is having a horrific game.

So was Gelatino for the Viola. He's been sent off.

What does the curva banner against Ibrahimovic say? (reading text still, not seeing pictures)

Can't tell, got a pretty cr@ppy stream going and I can barely see the ball...

LOL @ 67% possession for Barca

Merda pwned at their home stadium

Lyon 1-1 Fiorentina

Stuttgart 1-1 Rangers

Olympiakos 1-0 AZ Alkmar

Liege 2-2 Arsenal

Edit: Livescore saying it's Liege 2-3 Arsenal now.

So now every other game has goals but the Big Match. Fishdoll is somewhat amused.

Sadly, Lyon scored on Fiorentina. Rangers have equalized. Olympiakos have scored. And gosh. Arsenal have drawn even.

Well to be fair few teams (or maybe no team) can hold a candle to Barca when it comes to ball possession.

bet365 still has the Fiorentina game a 1-0

Exactly, credit to Inter, they really roughhoused them, at the end of the first half they were mostly camped in Barca's half, not an easy thing to do

Yes my mistake

so milan's the only italian team that won their game...who would've thought, lol