by Fletch Spigner on November 19, 2009 · 25 comments
Okay okay, I guess I have to write something about this Thierry Henry hand ball or something. Here is the obligatory (and slightly sarcastic) background info already reported: The World Cup playoffs are seeded, seemingly hurting the minnows like Republic of Ireland. Then, Ireland are given an away game in Paris for the second leg, presumably giving them yet another disadvantage. Next, after leveling the score, LeBron Henry throws the ball to William Gallas, who promptly scores the winning goal. Upon said goal, Shay Given has a cow directly on the referee’s head while all of Paris celebrates. After the game, Thierry Henry and Richard Dunne spoon in the middle of the field and cry away their sorrows.
Now that all that mess is over, I will say this: I still cannot support in-match video re-play…at this point. To me, video re-play is a never-ending snowball that would ruin the sport. I admit it is very tempting and yes, it would only take “30 seconds” for a re-play official to call Henry’s goal back. But, seriously people, professional footballers are a whiney bunch and it wouldn’t take too long before every whistle blow was questioned. Yes, re-play would have definitely helped in this situation but it comes with some serious strings attached. I guess my question to you is this: When will it stop? The only way re-play is acceptable, I suppose, would be to somehow limit its use during a match. But then wouldn’t we be arguing over how much and when it could be used? And at some point wouldn’t we be saying we should use it more (or less) and for different situations? These are questions I would need answered before I could support in-match re-play.
Having said all that, and pissing half of you off, I’m sure, in the process, I will say that I am in favor of actual re-play…as in re-playing the entire match. I am in favor of FIFA looking at the re-play and saying “we screwed that one up and we’re going to do it over.” If France is so good (which they are not) then they can beat Ireland again and what’s the problem with that? FIFA will say that it would be hard to organize a match on such short notice and that it would be a logistical nightmare. Perhaps they should get used to that since nobody seems to be impressed with the “logistics” in South Africa at the moment.
So, in summation, I hold these truths to be self-evident: that Thierry Henry handled the ball and changed the outcome of the match; that Ireland were robbed; that the referees should have seen it; that re-play would have definitely helped in this situation; that re-play brings with it some serious baggage.
All I’m saying is this: Before we all go screaming that we want in-match video re-play, let’s just stop and debate/think about/consider the baggage that would surely come with the introduction of this technology. Feel free to state your case in the comments below!
by Kartik Krishnaiyer on November 19, 2009 · 6 comments
On this episode of the EPL Talk Podcast, host Kartik Krishnaiyer and co-host Laurence McKenna discuss one of the most controversial football stories of the year — the Thierry Henry handball incident for France against Ireland which ended up knocking the Republic Of Ireland out of the World Cup qualifying match while France will be making their way to South Africa next summer.
Krishnaiyer and McKenna examine both sides of this debate fairly. It’s a must-listen episode.
Be sure not to miss a single episode of the EPL Talk Podcast, the only Premier League interview show on the Internet. We have a long list of high-profile guests scheduled over the next weeks each with their own fascinating stories to tell. Subscribe to the EPL Talk Podcast via iTunes or visit EPL Talk or the archives for the latest episodes.
After an International break that completed the 32-team field for the World Cup next summer in South Africa, the EPL surges back to action this weekend with an important fixture at Anfield.
Two teams with designs on playing in the 2010-2011 Champions League meet Saturday morning at Anfield.
Table watch: The Reds are in seventh place on 19 points, just one point south of sixth-place City.
Paging El Niño:Fernando Torres seems in line to make the start up front for embattled gaffer Rafa Benitez, and he may also have Steven Gerrard and a match-fit Alberto Aquilani from which to pick.
The Barry watch: City manager Mark Hughes may have Gareth Barry back in the lineup, assuming he shrugs off a groin strain.
by Coachie Ballgames on November 19, 2009 · 12 comments
Nike is a relative newcomer to the boot game. What Nike has lacked in substance they’ve usually made up in style. Their autumn ad campaign channels Irvine Welsh’s finest prose by asking us to choose; choose control, choose speed, choose accuracy, choose touch or choose 5-a-side. I chose control, specifically Nike’s CTR360 Trequartista AG. Trequartista; can a pair of boots invoke the continental flair of a Zizou or Francesco Totti? Just Do It. Or, as Cesc Fabregas would say, “Bon Appetit.”
If a typical Addidas, Umbro, or Diadora boot represents the understated beauty of a Kristen Stewart, then Nike counters with the vibrant vivaciousness of a Scarlett Johansson. The appropriate soccer shoe for each player will, of course, be determined by their level of play and playing surface. But style is universal. The CTR360s are sleek and are offered in striking color combinations. My pair came in black and red, reminiscent of a Ferrari Testarossa. As is standard for this line, there is no overhanging tongue over the laces. The unusual studding provided solid traction when zig-zagging up and down the pitch. Designed for artificial turf, I found these boots, short of mud, to be quite versatile on a variety of natural grass pitches. More serious players will want to use them solely for their intended purpose.
by Chris Riordan on November 19, 2009 · 3 comments
In partnership with Russian Football Now, EPL Talk presents the thirteenth episode of RNF’s podcast.
Russia was many’s dark-horse in South Africa. One problem: getting there.
Slovenia completed their upset of Russia with a 1-0 win in Maribor, going through on away goals after a 2-2 aggregate. Who is to blame? Hiddink and his questionable selection? The player’s undeniably poor performance? Slovenia?
In this week’s podcast, Chris Riordan and Richard Farley, joined by the English-language voice of the Premier Liga (Matryn Hindley), look at where and why Russian failed.
That, and a look forward to match day 29 of 30 in the Primera.
It has been all about Thierry Henry and his “Hand of God” this past 24 hours. Articles, comments, they are everywhere, lambasting the striker for his role in the controversial equaliser. I am a Gooner, and Henry scored the goal which mesmerized me into pledging my allegiance to Arsenal. Without a doubt, he is my favourite player of all time. But i make it a point to be as impartial and objective as i can in my writing.
Firstly, it is true that there was no guarantee that Ireland would have won the tie had the goal been disallowed.As much as Ireland’s fighting spirit moved us, the numbers tell the whole story. 5 attempts at goal compared to France’s 15, with the shots on target statistics even more appalling , and 43% possession, the fact is Ireland were inferior. Yes, Domenech has made a mess out of the French team, and there is a good chance they may not even make it past the group stage, but on the night, statistically, they were the better team.
Now, onto Thierry Henry. Was i disappointed to see him do what he did? Absolutely, and i still am. After all, he has been a consistent advocate of fair play and anti-racism, and for him to do something like that is unthinkable. This is an excerpt of his post match statement.
“It was a handball, but I’m not the ref. I told (the referee) but he said to me the same: ‘You are not the ref.’”
The skeptic in me says he’s lying. But, if there was even the slightest possibility that he was telling the truth, would the blame not fall on the referee and his team of assistants? Therefore, it doesn’t seem fair to pile the blame solely on Henry. The ref did not do his job, and part of the blame must fall on his shoulders.
Henry is 32, and this could very well be his last World Cup. I urge you to look at it from his point of view. Nothing, absolutely nothing could justify robbing a nation of her chance to play in the World Cup. But, i’m not asking for forgiveness. I’m asking for understanding. The ball struck his hand, and right there, he had a decision to make. Play the ball and pretend nothing happened, or stop play immediately. He took option number one. And as soon as Gallas scored, he was faced with another moral dilemma. Speak to the ref, or let it go. According to him, he spoke to the ref but was waved away.
Sure, he played on after the handball. And he claims to have tried to overturn the decision. If we are to believe his words, does that not speak volumes about his honesty? I am sure that not many of us would have the courage to walk over to the man with the whistle and tell him, “I handled the ball,” and risk bearing the wrath of our colleagues, manager, and possibly our entire nation.
Henry now has a third decision to make. To do nothing about it, or pressure FIFA into forming a solution(read Kartik’s post below). To face three decisions of such magnitude is no easy feat for any man. And i can only imagine how mentally taxing it is.
So before we carry on berating him, calm down, have a nice cup of tea and think about it rationally. Give him a break and hope that he does the right thing for a sport he loves so dearly.
by Kartik Krishnaiyer on November 19, 2009 · 55 comments
In my piece yesterday, I discussed all of the reasons that Ireland’s potential qualification was better for World Football than France’s would be. I detailed my reasoning without any mention that a group of hard working custodians of the game should not be denied by a group of talented but unsporting cheats. But that is what ended up being the net result of the match on Wednesday. (Aiden McGeady is the one Ireland player we will exempt from this comparison)
But alas, Giovanni Trapattoni’s side has been defeated. This is despite the fact that Trapattoni has been able to get a group of Championship and low end Premier League players (with a few exceptions) to play at a level higher than that of an allegedly world class French squad. Trap’s squad also has upheld the honor and dignity of the sport, while the France squad managed by a man who stopped selecting Robert Pires to the side because he was born in the wrong month, has brought the game into tremendous disrepute.
I detailed on Tuesday how Trapattoni could set up his team to stalemate the match in Paris. But to Ireland’s credit they didn’t adopt the negative tactics that I suggested and went forward creating many more legitimate chances in the second leg than the much hyped French side did in the entire 210 minute tie.
Given that Thierry Henry’s blatant handball, denied Ireland participation in South Africa 2010 and the stain his action leaves on the world game and Irish nation he must make amends for the good of football.
Henry has to take one of two choices to redeem himself and avoid being placed in the cheat category with Diego Maradona.
As a wealthy footballer who has played for several big clubs in the three biggest leagues on the planet, Henry has made plenty of money. He should out of his own volition donate to the Football Association of Ireland a sum equivelent to the money that the FAI would have generated by particpating in next summer’s World Cup
OR
He can call for FIFA to authorize a replay, played in Paris, sometime before the December 4th World Cup draw.
Failure to take either action should forever taint Henry and will undermine the legacy of his great years at Monaco, Juve, Arsenal and Barca. If Henry’s game is really Fair Play and he is as serious as he claims about his efforts to promote football (such as the Stamp out Racism campaign) he needs to speak up immediately.
On this episode of the EPL Talk Podcast, host Kartik Krishnaiyer and co-host Laurence McKenna discuss one of the most controversial football stories of the year — the Thierry Henry handball incident for France against Ireland which ended up knocking the Republic Of Ireland out of the World Cup qualifying match while France will be making their way to South Africa next summer.
In partnership with 
