Stewart Downing's return to Anfield lasted only 45 minutes yesterday as he had to leave the field at half time through injury. Liverpool went on to win the game 4-1, and West Ham boss Sam Allardyce later blasted Reds defender Jon Flanagan for the horror tackle that sent the €6m winger to the hospital.
In his post-match press conference, Allardyce barked:
"Kevin Nolan shouldn't have lost his cool but obviously he did and Stewart Downing is in hospital having his achilles and calf stitched up from a nasty challenge from Flanagan".
The incident to which Allardyce referred occurred in the third minute of the game, and having watched it again, it's definitely a reckless lunge. Flanagan gets nowhere hear the ball, and as the image below shows, he basically stamped on Downing's achilles:
If Nolan got sent off for basically the same thing, did Flanagan also deserve a red-card? If the incident had taken place later in the game the Liverpool youngster may, perhaps, have received harsher punishment.
Nolan clearly deserved his dismissal, but (IMO) far too many of these challenges go unpunished. The FA needs to seriously crack down on these quasi-stamping incidents. Given the speed of the game, unless the ref is a few feet away, they can easily be missed, and some unscrupulous players take advantage of this.
So, Downing literally got 'stitched-up' on his return to LFC (!) - I doubt Flanagan fouled him maliciously, but the fact the ex-LFC man had to go to hospital for stitches shows just how bad these 'tackles' can be.
Next time, it may be a Liverpool player on the receiving end, and if it happens to, say, Luis Suarez, and he has to miss 2-3 weeks of the season, Reds fans will have plenty to say about it (!)
Author: Jaimie K
In his post-match press conference, Allardyce barked:
"Kevin Nolan shouldn't have lost his cool but obviously he did and Stewart Downing is in hospital having his achilles and calf stitched up from a nasty challenge from Flanagan".
The incident to which Allardyce referred occurred in the third minute of the game, and having watched it again, it's definitely a reckless lunge. Flanagan gets nowhere hear the ball, and as the image below shows, he basically stamped on Downing's achilles:
If Nolan got sent off for basically the same thing, did Flanagan also deserve a red-card? If the incident had taken place later in the game the Liverpool youngster may, perhaps, have received harsher punishment.
Nolan clearly deserved his dismissal, but (IMO) far too many of these challenges go unpunished. The FA needs to seriously crack down on these quasi-stamping incidents. Given the speed of the game, unless the ref is a few feet away, they can easily be missed, and some unscrupulous players take advantage of this.
So, Downing literally got 'stitched-up' on his return to LFC (!) - I doubt Flanagan fouled him maliciously, but the fact the ex-LFC man had to go to hospital for stitches shows just how bad these 'tackles' can be.
Next time, it may be a Liverpool player on the receiving end, and if it happens to, say, Luis Suarez, and he has to miss 2-3 weeks of the season, Reds fans will have plenty to say about it (!)
Author: Jaimie K
It looked to me that Nolan started higher up the calf which made it look worse than Flanagan's. I agree though that this type of tackle needs to be "stamped out" . Your last comment amused me as from what I have seen Suarez is just as likely to be the prepetrator as the victim.
ReplyDeleteThe major differences were 3rd minute, ref not very close to that, Downing didn't go down like Hendo did and 60th minute and the ref was right there, and Hendo fell badly to the ground. For a ref who has not given a red in more than a year, he's probably not hesitating. Nolan also had a couple of fouls here and there and he gave the ref a reason for that.
ReplyDeleteMy opinion only, but I think intent may have had a part to play in the outcome. Nolan's assault appeared to be fueled by frustration and anger. I think Flanaghan's wa more down to a combination of lack of playing time meaning he's not up to premiership speed and perhaps a little overenthusiasm when it comes to wanting to appear committed in the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThat said, he probably should have been given a yellow card. Sometimes players get injured through hard, but fair challenges though, but I agree that careless or wreckless challenges need punishing.
Glad you got the irony :-) I mentioned Suarez's stamps in last night's post-match article, and to do so again would've probably riled a few people (!)
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with Pigman. Flanagans was nowhere near the ball but Nolans was clearly full of intent and pretty nasty. Those tackles are bad-but at the same time i do think footballs becoming far too non contact. Gonna be like basketball soon.
ReplyDeleteIt happens to suarez every game. Sturridge also
ReplyDeleteAMAZING FACT - The ponts difference fter 16 games betwen Liverpool and Man utd from las season is - 35 POINTS !!, They were 17 points aead ofus weare now 8oints ahed of them.
ReplyDeletemy post appears to have vanished, liverpool are an amazing 35 points better off than last season with man utd after only 16 games.
ReplyDelete35 points why thats almost half a season as tony hancock woulds say.
ReplyDeletethats 25
ReplyDeleteCorrect 25 - still AMAZING.
ReplyDeleteHard to say, Suarez was immense again, Coutinho was influential, Flanagan had another solid game, the whole back 4 had a good game really, unlucky for the own goal, Sterling had an excellent game, was a threat throughout, that flick over the top of the defender near the halfway line was brilliant and showed how electric his pace is. Allen also had an excellent game, and as you said, was even better once Gerrard went off, I believe he will step up in Gerrard's absence and we will also see a lot more of Luis Alberto as well.
ReplyDeleteIf livepool fc are still in the top 4 or 5 four games from now they will have only one top team to play away (man utd) in the whole 2nd half of the season. if they really go for it they can do it.
ReplyDeleteWe do have the second best attack in the league though, only behind Man City, that is important, as long as we keep scoring 2, 3, 4 goals a game, letting in 1 goal a game shouldn't matter.
ReplyDeleteSpurs don't have many goals in them, Chelsea are leaking goals left right and centre, so we should get at least a point from them, the only one I'm worried about is City, they have been unplayable at home this season, if we can pick up a point there I will be happy
ReplyDeleteit must have been from behind or he would never have got this renowned tackle dodger - flanagan is not good enough yet. kelly is miles better. sissoko is better, jack robinson is better. the irshboy is etter.
ReplyDeleteSore Loser, Covers It All. NO MORE NEEDS TO BE SAID
ReplyDeleteConsidering he is only 19 years old and still a raw diamond, I find his performance thoroughly impressive. There were only 2 chances that he could have done better with as far as his shots go, the breakaway from the Coutinho pass and the shot after the Henderson pass, but even Suarez does this, I thought his shot from the Allen pass was a goal if not for the brilliant save by Jaaskelainen and he was unselfish in his breakaway when he flicked the ball over the defender, ran onto it and then headed it to Suarez, who missed, he should have gone for that himself, but he is showing confidence and he is getting himself into those positions.
ReplyDeleteI disagree, Lucas brought a lot to the game, him being there freed up Allen, who was dangerous up the field, playing some key passes.
ReplyDeleteDon't think it's intentional, Flanagan is a little rough around the edges, fouls pretty often, but none seem malicious.
ReplyDeleteAs for Suarez, now that he's been drawn against England in the World Cup, he will have to increase his Adamantium injections as no doubt the evil forces from the FA will be employing their sleeper agents to attempt to take him out.
Hopefully Captain Fantastic and Mr. Glass are back soon to help save the day!
who wrote this useless article , What happen when Suarez was stamped during Everton game against LFC ? Why does people as nail LFC all the time
ReplyDeleteHey Joel - yes, I still remember that article.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.liverpool-kop.com/2012/04/nelson-mandela-t.html
Sadly, LFC's title success coincided with his time in prison, and could only come to an end if he went back to prison. He never did, so we'll have to wait and see if the curse is lifted :-)
I've never said I focus only on the now. Don't know where you got that from.
ReplyDeleteJaimie, about the humbleness and focus thing you mentioned, The rest of the team could learn a thing or two from Suarez. I might be wrong but i dont think he ever boasted/ego-massaged or talked about winnint the title after just one good performance. He has stayed focused on the task at hand i.e. to help the team finish in the champions league. whatever else people may call him but he is a humble person. Just hoping everton draw with arsenal to top off a great weekend. I dont want arsenal to leap to ahead or everton to get too close. So a draw is good for me :)
ReplyDeletevery true, you have to be tight at the back to get to the very top
ReplyDeleteNolan wanted xmas period off, all you had to do was look at his face when he was shown red .
ReplyDeleteSpurs are improving though, AVB has dropped Soldado and they seem a bit better
ReplyDeleteHonestly, try watching him and pretending he's someone else. Pretend he's Jesus Hendo Costa da Silva, a promising young Brazilian who came to England to learn from his hero, Lucas Leiva; or Van Henderberg, a steal from the PSV youth setup; or Heinstein, the ambitious young former Germany U21 captain from Dortmund. Watch him with different expectations and you might be surprised.
ReplyDeleteOr imagine playing against him. You get possession at right back in the 10th minute. Henderson closes you down but you move the ball infield. You advance up the pitch. Henderson tracks you. You try to get into position to receive the ball, but Henderson's there again, closing the angles. Henderson runs off to close down the midfielders. You run into space, the ball comes over the top. From bloody nowhere Henderson crashes into you and wins the ball cleanly. While you are getting to your feet, Henderson passes it inside to Gerrard and sprints upfield. You get up to chase him. Henderson appears to be a robot. Henderson receives the ball and kills it with a good touch. You get back just in time to see him stand up your centre back with a feint and slide the ball to Coutinho arriving at the edge of the box. By the time you get there, the little bastard has run back towards the halfway line to defend against a counter attack. And he's going to keep doing this for the entire bloody game.
Sorry, bit long, but I enjoyed writing that.
He is a terrific player, has absolutely everything except a reliable finish, which will come in time. His control, close skills, and movement impress me more and more. His long passing to the wings is excellent. At the start of the season I'd put him around the 20th best midfielder in the league. Now I'd put him closer to the top 10.
Not a well timed challenge but i don't think it was malicious whereas I think Nolan's had intent behind it.Huge headed Sam Avaslice had to say divert attention from another tanking from us
ReplyDeleteShall we just keep kidnapping and imprisoning public figures until we win the title then.
ReplyDeleteI need to know now, so I can get the supplies from the shop.
Flanagan deserved to be booked, not sent off. I also think that if you are going to be sent off that early in the game, it has to be for something really blatant or heinous.
ReplyDeleteNolan's was a straight red. It was stupid and he was clearly frustrated.
Side note: Allardyce is a gobshite.