Written by Subir Kumar Roy on Saturday, 05 February 2011 22:35

In the brief post match analysis after the Newcastle United-Arsenal game, Andrew, Jamie and Gerry, presenters of BPL in the Indian subcontinent commented that they could not recollect any game in which a side leading 4-0 at half time ended up drawing 4-4. Incredulous as much as they sounded, Gerry could only recollect a game involving Deportivo La Coruna in the CL, trailing 3-0 and then winning 4-3.

Well after all, it is THE Barclays Premier League, “supposedly” THE best premier league in the world, attracting some, if not all of the world’s best players, some very good teams, boasting of a top 5 or 6 (very unlike a top two Messi-Ronaldo blessed La Liga) etc. Why the heck shouldn’t it be? Have I gone off on a tangent? Definitely yes, maybe no. What the heck, I just figured it. It is the massive disappointment, after the game.

If Diaby’s retaliation was a red card, what could possibly be the reason that a nasty player like Joey Barton does not even get a yellow for a potentially leg breaking tackle on Diaby? That tackle had malice all over it.What about Devil Nolan’s wrestling with Chesser for the ball after the first penalty and the referee’s ridiculous decision to yellow card Chesser? What could be the reason that Arsenal players got yellow cards for soft incidents, whereas the barcode ruffians escaped for blatant, persistent fouling?

The second was a dubious (God knows for what) penalty, perfectly “bar-coded” by Phil DUD to spice up the game, if not the PL. Surely Mr. DUD wasn’t refereeing a different game, or was he?

Ridiculously clichéd as it may sound; it was a game of two halves. Transcript of telephonic conversation with my friend (also an Arsenal fan) after the game:

Me: Wow, what a game, what a league.

Friend: C,mon, Arsenal won, first half though, 4-0

Me: Second half, ruffian barcodes 4-0

Friend: Pretty much evens out, doesn’t it?

Me: Ruffian Barcodes 12-Arsenal 10, gotcha

Friend: Duh???!!!

Me: Red card + DUD, not Duh

Friend: Sigh

Me: Inconsistent referee decisions

Friend: Did they bribe the referee?

Me: Yep, M##URE guy counted and S%UD guy stacked the money

Friend: Gotta be kidding

Me: Nope, T@@FEE guy sealed it

Friend: Every guy wants M##URE to win it

Me: What? :((

Friend: World Cup for England

Me: 1966 seems a long time :((

Friend: No worries, FIFA to get physical, referee DUD

New twist in the tale, Scholsy yellow card in the 84th minute, images of nail biting Wolves, Kenny Miller’s spirit visits Molineux, ManUnited lose the game, unbeaten record and Invincibles pipe dream goes up in smoke. If I am not mistaken I see Kevin Doyle trudging off, nose dripping in blood and victorious.

Me: See, I told ya all, M##URE to drop points and lose unbeaten record.

Friend: Didn’t they bribe the referee?

Me: Nope, FIFA/UEFA financial fair play rules came into immediate effect

Friend: Fergie red carded (no@ed) : ))))

Andrew, Jamie and Gerry were raving about “anybody can beat anybody”, 41 goals etc etc. Wishful thinking, what if Arsenal hadn’t dropped two points? Kop to do it to the Chavs? Ironically, the discussion was regarding the best Premier League in the world, physical, leg breaking, debt piling transfers, joke refereeing all contributing to the intrigue factor.

Gooner for life.

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Comments (2)

• 07-Feb-2011 16:11 | | wali
  

  I think we really missed Song more than anyone(forget referee and see how we can improve). I know nasri would probably be close but arshavin is doing the same job as nasri and instead of goals he is providing assists. Need Song and DIAby to be fit in such games where the opposition aim is to break your leg .

• 07-Feb-2011 16:22 | | raj
  

  not accepting how great newcastle were and how shit we were 2nd half...if any ref is gonna give a dubious 1st penalty and then literally give a penalty at 4-2 then 4-4 was not that much of a surprise...

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