Adrian Clarke and Iain Spragg are in fine form on Episode 29 of the world famous Soccerlens Podcast.
There’s a host of juicy topics to get stuck into this week and the duo’s heated debate centres on Thierry Henry’s lack of sportsmanship, the miracle powers of horse placenta and the prospects for manager-less Scotland.
There’s also the usual stack of match previews including a trio of Premier League games in Sunderland v Arsenal, Man United v Everton and Liverpool v Man City – and the animated pair end proceedings with a light-hearted look through this week’s podcast mailbag.
You can listen to this week’s episode below:
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Download link (mp3, 30mb, 32 mins)
Make sure you send in your feedback and questions through podcast@soccerlens.com and Clarke and Spragg will feature the best of them in next week’s show.
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Wonder if anyone has mentioned if Shay Given’s complaints about the seeding system implemented by FIFA prior to the play-off draw would further give FIFA an axe to grind and futher distance themselves from consideration of a replay. We all remember how Ireland were the most vocal against a “change of rules” right in the middle of the competition and of all the things to happen in all of the playoffs, Blatter must be cursing his own luck to have this handball happen to this particular fixture.
If only France and Henry could make an example of “fairplay” and concede a replay the way another Frenchman, Arsene Wenger, agreed back in the 98(?) FA Cup fixture.
Haha… it’s not in the nature of France to do something like that.
Great show guys. Loved the Q&A
As an Irishman and a passionate supporter of the ROI I actually don’t agree with all that is being said about Henry. He’s been one of the best players of his generation and has always conducted himself well.
I can recall playing in an U-14 schools semi-final years ago and conceding a penalty. The right winger cut in and chipped the ball across the area. I instinctively raised my arm and conceded a penalty. To this day I can’t fathom why I did that. It was a reflex action and certainly nothing I ever would have contemplated doing.
In the same way I believe that Henry acted on reflex. Yes, he may have touched the ball twice but, in the blink of an eye, his subconscious was telling him to keep the ball in play. I’m sure he realised what he had done and expected to be penalised.
Put it another way, if the ref had seen it and given a free kick then the incident wouldn’t even have made the match report. So it comes down to the officials. They don’t see it and Henry is branded a cheat worldwide. They do and all is forgotten. That’s too polarised for me.
I believe that the ref was unsighted (as many of us were from the initial angle). I refuse to subscribe to any theory that the linesman saw it but decided not to give it either.
No, it’s back to the thorny debate of using video, and as one who used to be against it I think that there is NOW a compelling case.
FIFA won’t order a replay and I’ll have to take solace in the fact that my team played with heart and passion and could (maybe should) have been rewarded with a place in the finals….but either way I’m proud of them and couldn’t have asked for more.
Secondly, I don’t agree with Iain’s conclusion on Scotland and the dearth of talent. Even if foreigners were in the game years ago I believe that talents like Dalglish, Hanson, Strachen, McQueen, Jordan….it’s a long list, would have risen to the top. I don’t know what the problem is but that’s not it…..and it applies to the rest of the “Home Countries” not just Scotland.
Excellent debate this week and well delivered by the guys. Thoroughly enjoyed that one!
Thanks for the comments guys. Much appreciated!