Asking someone to “watch it again” after watching it many times is amusing indeed! I know it is a rhetorical device, but it amuses me none the less. Am I supposed to suddenly think you are right the fiftieth time?

I saw exactly what you saw. He used his right leg to curl around Cole’s leg and brace it against his left. This brought Cole down. It clearly was a message, and clearly was intentional. But I do not see more intent to personally injure someone than I do in Cole’s tackle on Eboue, or Terry’s on Fabregas. All three were intentional and overly harsh tackles in a brutal game filled with disappointing levels of violence.

Wiley had a choice. He could either serve up red cards and try and bring the game under control that way, or he could use yellows to keep the simmer from boiling over. I think he did the right thing. Now, maybe reds are necessary because these teams are fighting everytime they play each other. But part of the reason that was such an entertaining game was that Wiley took the later strategy. This kept the flow and fight in the game, rather than being the story of who-got-sent-off.

What I’ve disputed most strenuously is the allegation that Fabregas was trying to break Cole’s leg. If he was, then he would’ve gone in with both legs straight. Instead, he went out of his way to just bring him down. Intentional? Yep. Sending a message? You bet. Trying to injure him? Don’t see the evidence.

As to the second matter, whether it deserved red, I think it was part of a consistent strategy on the part of Wiley to let the players decide this one. And I think he succeeded.

Wiley had a good game. My only complaints: Terry didn’t deserve a yellow for slipping and colliding with Fabregas, and that whole situation was crazy (2 Chelsea cards and none for Arsenal?) Also, the end of the game play. Honestly, Fabregas and Cole deserved red, and I thought for sure that would happen.

I was suprised that Joe Cole wasn’t booked with yellow immediately after the tackle on Eboue. I didn’t think there was an advantage to be played there.

Adebayor needs to stop punching people, as well as Cole. Fabregas is a fuck for that tackle, which was cearly aimed at hurting another player. That is absolutely disgusting and I lost all respect for him after seeing that. Terry needs to stop getting hurt and my Blues need to srtat controlling themselves after every foul; seems like they complain all the time and it has given us a bad rap.

I thought Alan Wiley had a very good game (as did Mr Halsey in the earlier game.)

2 experienced referees who are both calm and use common sense in their approach.

Pete, If I recall correctly, the ball was ridiculously late in making its way backl to the pitch at the end of that incident and Chelsea were hurrying to get the ball back in play. PLus, you are not going to send a player off for having a go at the ball boy, are you?

Joeyboy, everything was wrong when that foul was awarded on Mikel. The Nigerian was not fouled, he fouled, the challange did not bring him down and it would have been wrong if Chelsea had scored.

1) Terry would have got his RED CARD.
2) Eboue would have also
3) J.Cole would have got Red Carded
4) A Cole also for throwing a punch and for being a pillock.
5) The two late AFC goals would have been awarded
6) the result should have been 4-1 to the Arsenal.

Now I feel better for that.