Mails: Not every leader looks like Tony Adams

You know what to do now. Watch some Wednesday night football and mail us at theeditor@football365.com

 

Now wasn’t that wonderful…
I didn’t notice a mention in the mailbox of the other game last night but that wasn’t too shabby either. Atlètico, with four away goals in the bag, look primed to go on another deep run in the Champions League (surely they will win it one day). Sat in a pub in Switzerland, watching both games and surrounded by what seemed to be fans of all four teams, with 14 goals spread across 90 minutes, you didn’t seem to go five minutes without a raucous cheer going up. It seemed like the best night of football in ages. Probably because it was. Hoping for more craziness tonight.
The Peng, FFC, SW6

 

I wish I’d seen it…
Super article on why we need Champions League back on TV. Funnily enough I had a right moan at a load of mates on Whatsapp yesterday after hearing Channel 4 might be in for it, in terms of “God yes, please!”

It’s literally been well over a year since I last saw a Champions League game and that was only because it happened to be on in a pub in Newcastle on a stag (the final, no less), before that I dread to think when the last time I saw a game was. Well, it’ll be whenever all games were only shown on ITV and Sky.

Desperately need more football available to those who aren’t made of money.
Andy Wilson

 

On the quiet excellence of Raheem
The best thing about last night’s game? Everything.

The second best thing? People weren’t falling all over themselves to say what a brilliant game Raheem Sterling had. He got a few relatively brief mentions in the mailbox, all highly complimentary, but they were of the ‘really good player has really good game’ variety. Maybe we’re starting to expect that sort of thing from him, because he’s starting to play like the star we hoped he could be. Last night he seemed to do everything effortlessly, instinctively, like you do when you’re at the top of your game.

Long may it continue.
Peter G, Pennsylvania, USA

 

What’s the difference between Pep and Keegan?
One has fallen off a bike on national TV.
Daniel McCreadie

 

…Trophies
Damian Mitchell

 

Defending went that-a-way
What the hell has happened to defending?

This stage of the Champions League has 29 goals in six matches so far. 29 goals in six first-leg matches of the knock-out stages. The idea of being cautious, cagey and defensive in the first leg to keep the tie alive has been completely shattered.

In every match so far both sides have looked like scoring every time they go forward. It’s been like watching NBA, two sides attack v attack trying to outscore each other.

Man City, Monaco, Arsenal, Barcelona and Leverkusen were embarrassing at the back.

The 16 first-leg matches in the Europa League saw 41 goals scored.

Elite level defending is dead. Bloody entertaining though!!
Ben Gleeson

 

But where are the leaders?!
In the warming afterglow of a thoroughly entertaining last-16 Champions League game (which itself now shows how rare they are in that competition) can I just ask a question that is so often asked of Arsenal: Where are the leaders?

For so long we’ve been made to believe that Arsenal’s lack leadership on the pitch is the sole reason for them losing a game of football. Manchester City played last night without Hart and Kompany – the team’s two biggest ‘characters’. Yaya Toure – back in the fold after a sojourn in the wilderness – leads by example which is harder to do in a deeper role, especially for someone like him, so arguably didn’t affect the game as much as he used to do. Then we have Aguero, who is in a strange position himself at the moment, with the looming spectre of being usurped by a younger model; never been known for his shouting and bravado. David Silva was the captain, that’s diminutive magical sprite David Silva, not known for his blood and thunder guts and glory schtick either. And when you chuck young, waif-a-likes Sane, Sterling and De Bruyne into the mix…well, they’re not exactly big men with a big hearts are they?

So where are the leaders? Well, does it bloody matter? I suppose my point is aimed at the people who raise this issue when airy-fairy teams take to the stage and play football akin to kids in a park. Who the hell cares about scragging your left-back by the neck to give him an earful? Why does it matter if there’s nobody around to berate a misguided pass? And why should we be bothered if the game is missing a bulky sh*thouse to ruff you up because you tried to do a step-over?

Arsenal will be fine with or without the perceived lack of pitch leadership. Manchester City certainly lacked leadership last night but won an eight-goal thriller. Let’s just move off the leadership debate and enjoy what is put in front of us with the desired context around it.
Gavin (The irony of asking to move on from a subject by bringing the subject back up is not lost on me) Hill, Malton

 

You’re not alone, Big AJ
Am I the only one whose enjoyment of the game last night was eradicated by Steve ‘Macca’ McManaman referring to John Stones as ‘Big Johnny Stones’?
AJ, Fife

 

Pity laughs this way
If he does end up going to China, headline writers will surely be praying for the day that he complains about no longer being selected for England because he plays abroad as:

‘Bull in a China strop’.

Thank you. Thank you for listening to my joke.
James, LFC

 

Debunking the Michael Oliver myth
I read with interest your feature that mentioned Michael Oliver being bad news for Arsenal. Without even delving a bit deeper I immediately went through the following thought process:

1) Mr Oliver is highly regarded in refereeing circles so he will probably get a higher share of the more pressurised, top of the table clashes.

2) Arsenal are Arsenal and have an appalling record against the usual top of the table sides

Only then did I check the actual results and lo and behold out of the 16 Arsenal games that Mr Oliver has been referee, 10 have been against one of Chelsea, Liverpool, Man United and Tottenham. Arsenal have won two of those 10 games, drawing five and losing three. A 20% win rate where Mr Oliver is the referee.

Since 2009/2010, Arsenal have the following league records against those same teams: P56, W15, L25, D16. That’s a 27% win rate irrespective of the referee.

Yes there is a drop in win rate where Mr Oliver is referee but I hardly think it’s significant. Somewhat interestingly Arsenal have drawn 50% of the games where Mr Oliver is the referee but that drops to 29% irrespective of the referee.

Too long, didn’t read? Don’t blame Mr Oliver for the Arsenal win record for games where he is the referee. Blame Arsenal for being Arsenal.
Andrew (Arsenal fan, have always thought Michael Oliver is one of the better refs to be honest) Stevens

 

…That article by Martin Laurence is a woeful piece of analysis. Blaming Michael Oliver for Arsenal’s low points-per-game average when he is refereeing completely ignores the fact that Oliver gets appointed to the big games. He is a wonderful referee and is often asked to take charge when big teams meet each other.

Look at the list of opponents in the Arsenal games he has refereed. Look at how many times Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham appear there. Is it any surprise that Arsenal earn fewer points per game against these teams than against weaker ones, when a strong referee is not needed?
Cameron, Toronto

 

I’ve waited 58 years for this…
When I was a young lad in California, I sometimes saw my father intently listening on the radio to the English football results. Quite what channel he was listening to, I have no idea. I believe Sports Report existed then, but I doubt one could get it on the West Coast. It could have been the World Service, I suppose, but whatever, he was intently seeking the Lincoln City results (He had been born in Lincoln). It was rather confusing, since he made an effort to do it, but it rarely made him happy.

When he returned to England, he found his weekly dose of misery easier to come by, and he had, by then, indoctrinated me into the realm of being a football supporter. It could easily have stayed that way, with me supporting Lincoln only. However, we lived in London, and I chanced to go to school in Central London with a chap called Irving Scholar, who subsequently bought Spurs. Irving insisted that, as I lived in London, I had to support a London team. He then went through the available teams and, being a Spurs fan, was particularly dismissive of Arsenal, who at that time pretty much deserved to be dismissed. I therefore chose Arsenal. Please don’t misunderstand my motivation; I liked Irving, and we got along, being both sporty. It’s just that there is a contrary streak in me.

Naturally, living in London, I became much more of an Arsenal attendee, but always retained my affection for Lincoln. I even went to see them occasionally even though the first six times I saw them I never saw them win, and only saw them score once. I finally saw them win at Manchester City(!) in whatever the League Cup was called that particular year.

There was no conflict supporting two teams, since they operated in very different spheres and supporting Lincoln kept the giddy Arsenal fan’s feet on the ground. However, I have always dreamed of the two meeting. It would clearly have to be in the cup, but I never imagined it would be in the quarter-final. But here I am, typing with my ticket for the game in front of me. Who will I want to win? Not a clue. Don’t care. I’ve waited 58 years for this, and I going to enjoy every second.

Thank you Dad. Thank you Irving.
Reg (Leicester win the league. Lincoln in the last eight. The Cubs win the world series. We are living in strange times. The apocalypse is coming) Reigate

 

Blaming the bookies
Also heard Johnny Nic getting name checked on R5 last night, and it was good to hear the assembled media agreeing that betting within football has got out of control.

But I can’t help thinking that they are using a fat man eating a pie in the most po-faced way possible,

What’s happened here is that a bookie has decided to have a go at a very fat reserve goalie for their own amusement and a bit of cheap PR, and offered odds on something completely unconnected with the game of football.

Having been made aware of this, said fat goalie is left with no option but to influence the outcome of the bets – he either decides to eat a pie or he doesn’t. There is literally no option that he could take that will not influence the outcome of the bets that have been placed.

He did nothing to influence the outcome of the game, and the bets could only be influenced by his concious decision to do something or not – how can he then be held accountable for making that conscious decision, one way or the other? And his two choices were either to let the bookies poking fun at him rake in some cash, or to stick two fingers up at them and make them pay out some winnings – maybe his banter defence isn’t quite as hollow as F365 is making out.

The only baddies here are the bookies for putting him in that position. Funny that it’s not how the Sun is portraying it this morning…
Monkey Steve

 

…Thanks to Jonny Nic for an outstanding piece on the growing cancer/stuff it down yer neck, foie gras approach of ‘Online Sports Betting Companies’. It’s just so damn irritating to be encouraged, nay forced, at every conceivable opportunity to ‘Ave a Bang on it’. As a huge racing fan, it’s a problem also common to that sport and has been for many years though thankfully Paddy Power popping up outside the ad breaks as the horses go to post has become a thing of the past – and ITV do seem to be better in this regard than Channel 4 but ultimately money will talk.

I’ll happily sit through an afternoon of racing – or a match – without reaching for the phone. I also like a bet and it has to be remembered that everyone has a choice here but as JN highlighted, balancing the two isn’t as easy for everyone. If only the bookies were forced to funnel some of their profits back into the various sports they so relentlessly exploit instead of whining about the levy and channeling it all offshore.

The Ladbrokes Life ‘lads’ are only marginally more nauseating than fake Cockernee Geezer Winstone and his fat head.

Top work.
Richard, Manchester

 

Thank you
I must commend you on a pearler of a Mediawatch today. Truly, truly excellent.

Help yourselves to a hearty pat on the back.
Richard Brown (Tired Gooner) Cape Town