Skoorb
Alert Team
For Saturday's lunchtime kick off against Burnley Pep Guardiola's decision to name only six substitutes instead of the maximum allowed 7 has sparked a debate which, I am sure, it was partly the intent. Guardiola has been measured and calm in his press conferences when discussing the frankly awful officiating which City have been subject to over the past two months. Two months which have seen Raheem Sterling, Kevin De Bruyne, Gundogan and Brahim Diaz lucky escape serious injury but witnessed Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sané hacked down by opponent's whose punishment has been as lenient as their challenges have been outrageous.
The smug, pontificating Neville who barely managed a top class side for four months before getting sacked as he was not up to the task chose to declare that Pep's decision was a "joke" prior to kick off on Saturday. Doubtless he is secretly pleased that his old club's rivals are finding their quest for trophies handicapped by the loss of these players as it may make the gap between the Transfer Champions and City less stark if City cannot punish teams as ruthlessly as they were earlier in the season.
Sadly this a view which he should be ashamed of as a professional pundit and commentator - surely he would be better advised to comment about the fact that Guardiola is perhaps making a point to the authorities through this decision and that the nature of opposition tackling is the real issue. A point which were he to openly discuss his views would land him in hot water and facing a ban for daring to air the 'heresy' that the competence of some referees is questionable.
The panel on Sky's Sunday Supplement basically tell Gary Neville where to stick his comment and highlight (John Cross) that some of the challenges recently have been scandalous.
Good for them.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11236350/pep-guardiola...
Where do you stand?
Was Pep right to make this decision or should he he have put an EDS lad on the bench just to 'make up the numbers' even though there was no likelihood of the lad being involved in the game?
The smug, pontificating Neville who barely managed a top class side for four months before getting sacked as he was not up to the task chose to declare that Pep's decision was a "joke" prior to kick off on Saturday. Doubtless he is secretly pleased that his old club's rivals are finding their quest for trophies handicapped by the loss of these players as it may make the gap between the Transfer Champions and City less stark if City cannot punish teams as ruthlessly as they were earlier in the season.
Sadly this a view which he should be ashamed of as a professional pundit and commentator - surely he would be better advised to comment about the fact that Guardiola is perhaps making a point to the authorities through this decision and that the nature of opposition tackling is the real issue. A point which were he to openly discuss his views would land him in hot water and facing a ban for daring to air the 'heresy' that the competence of some referees is questionable.
The panel on Sky's Sunday Supplement basically tell Gary Neville where to stick his comment and highlight (John Cross) that some of the challenges recently have been scandalous.
Good for them.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/11236350/pep-guardiola...
Where do you stand?
Was Pep right to make this decision or should he he have put an EDS lad on the bench just to 'make up the numbers' even though there was no likelihood of the lad being involved in the game?