Any REAL football fans here? (Page 49)

Harsh..especially since its all based on Evra's word and he was not too upset over the whole thing.

Does not excuse Suarez or absolve him in any way..but 8 games is too much....you can break a players leg and end his career and get 3 games...but dont call him names....

Sticks and stones will break my bones.......

If Terry gets 8 I would be surprised.....not sure what he said either so all of this is subjective

I'm still waiting on the release of the official finding from the FA to see what their evidence is. 

And just to be clear, I find racism and racist comments abhorrent.  I have a bi-racial neice as well as a history of dating women of color (black, latino, etc) when I was younger.  That being said, I'm terribly confused on this case.  He reportedly used the word "negrito" which in South America is a very common term which is not derogotory at all.  There is supposed video evidence but I have yet to see it.

As to Terry, there is supposedly quite a bit of evidence. 

Either way, I'm glad to see you agree that 8 games is quite steep.  I was afraid I was letting my love for LFC bias my view.

So I've now seen some of the report.  It was NOT negrito but negro and/or negros.  Totally not the same thing.  If this is what he said, I'm disgusted and disappointed.  Terribly so.  He has sullied my team.  He has brought them down to a level I wouldn't wish on my most hated rival (ManUre).  I'm very, very sad.  And now almost wish for him to be gone. 

Anyone see this goal by Tim Howard at Everton?

http://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer/video/premier-league/?vid=fac369d7-cda9-4662-a062-1b4b3af67df7

And talk about a class act.  He didn't celebrate because he didn't want to show up the opposing GK since it was such a fluke goal.

"I spoke to him just then and I let him know that I was feeling for him," Howard told Sky Sports. "It's not a nice place to be. I've been there before, a long, long time ago and that was why I didn't celebrate.

I missed this topic here somehow so i will add my late 2 cents.  I will say that unless they have a recording of him where you can hear the tone in which he said it, it is extremely difficult to judge his intent. 

Spanish is actually my first language and i come from one of the most heavily mixed countries in the caribbean, so i can tell you that negro and negrito can be both used a jovial manner without any racist connotation.  It would all depend the way he said it and what followed that word. Suarez by all accounts has never given any indication that he is racist, and actually he comes from a mix background.

To me, if there is no recording of the exchange, this suspension is more about the FA setting an example and showing that they are against racism in futbol.

Agreed.  And to me, Howard is one of the best in the sport.

Thank you for that insight.  It is definitely getting ugly.  Especially since Evra supposedly called him a "sudaca" and has admitted to making, what some could consider, racist comments back to Suarez. 

It is certainly getting ugly, unfortunately for Suarez this happened rigth around the time with the incident with Henry.  If Suarez used those words in a racist manner, he deserves the suspension, i just dont think there is enough to warrant it.

It is also a shame that this is happening now that Gerrard is back, and you could see in the New Castle game that Liverpool is a different team when he is on the pitch.

So the ManU v Arsenal match was shown on Fox yesterday.  Not FSC.  Fox.  It was the first time an EPL match was broadcast on an Over the Air channel.  good sign?  Wonder what the ratings were.

ETA: Overnight ratings scored a 0.9.  Might have been higher but 6 of the top 56 markets in the US didn't even show the match and decided to run infomercials instead.  Ugh.

I actually missed the first half because I was looking for it on the usual channels!...No surprise the Luddites chose not to show it in some markets....not a high demand for football in the "rural" markets that are dominated by the US created sports

Was a big supporter of Wenger until this weekend..liked his style of play etc..but he has lost the plot. Needs to buy players and is myopically taking Arsenal into mediocrity...the substitution was just bizarre..I sense a player revolt..lead by RVP...

Your Pool are in denial...the signings are not performing and without Suarez your best player up front is Bellamy

Weird EPL this year..good to see Dempsey get the hat trick....if he was European he would be valued more highly....

Interestingly enough, Milwaukee was one of the markets.  And by all accounts, I thought they had a thriving footy community.  Then again, it was Fox. 

The other problem with Pool, on Saturday, was that they were without solid holding midfielders like Lucas and Spearing.  Without them, they were not able to get the likes of Glen Johnson forward and basically, everything just completely fell apart.  Bellamy is ok, but he is no Suarez.

And you could not be more right.  And don't forget, that was his second hat trick this year, with the other coming in a FA match earlier in the season.  The man SHOULD be valued MUCH higher, but being a Yank is a strike against him.  That being said, that is starting to wear off with the likes of Donovan being saught by Everton again.  would still love to see a Yank as a striker at one of the mega clubs.  still a while till that happens though.

Yep, the game was shown in my market and I caught it. I think it is a good sign to be shown on a major on air network.

Very interesting match, really, in that Arsenal played so much better in the second half. RVP really should have scored on that breakaway early in the second half--basically missed an empty net.

And don't get the Chamberlain/Arshavin substitution.

Any thoughts on the Balotellil ban?

I've seen the clip of the "stomp" a couple of times and I just don't know if he did it on purpose or not.  To me, it isn't clear at all. 

http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story/_/id/1012482/manchester-city-resigned-to-balotelli-ban?cc=5901

Put it this way..if the referee saw it and gave him a second yellow...one game ban

Referee didn't see it and he may get 4 games....seems pretty unfair to me

I have seen it a few times and still not 100% sure he meant to do it...but his reputation precedes him

You may like this one Crowny..rumour is Pool are interested in Dempsey!

Yeah.  I think, had he not had the reputation he would not be in the boat he is in.  I just don't see it.

If Dempsey comes to 'Pool, I think my wife just might faint.  She loves him.  And it would make me very happy too.

BTW: where did you read/hear of the rumor?

His reputation is certainly playing a factor in this suspension, or at least in the length, but to me he clearly try to stamp on parker...Not as obvious as the Pepe one against Messi but still difficult to justify.

Glad to see another Pool fan here......i haven't heard anything of dempsey and a transfer to liverpool, the last time those rumors surfaced was in 2010...

Biting my tongue right now trying not to scream in my cube following the ManC V 'Pool Carling Cup Match on ESPN.  Ugh!!!!! 

I haven't been able to catch any of the matches but have been keeping track of their progress.  That and my former tri coach is one of their trainers.  AND I'm hopelessly in lust over Hope. 

Anyway, our girls have been dominating with a 13-0 win over Guatemala and a 4-0 win over Mexico. Well done ladies. Keep it up and bring home the Gold this summer.

Speaking of Hope, I see she is nursing a leg injury.  Best wishes in a speedy recovery for her.