http://www.teamtalk.com/football/story/ ... 26,00.html

Some funny reading.

The French club's manager, Claude Puel, reacted angrily after Manchester United boss Ferguson branded their response to Ryan Giggs' winning goal "a disgrace".

"It is Sir Alex Ferguson's usual trick, and it is his way of putting the pressure on," said the former Monaco coach.

"Quite simply, two refereeing decisions went against us in a very good match between two excellent teams. I am sorry for that."

Lille president Michel Seydoux believes Giggs' matchwinner would not have been allowed to stand if United had conceded it.

And he claims he will be speaking to newly elected UEFA supremo Michel Platini about the incident.

"I will call Michel Platini, who says he defends the beautiful game and the little teams," he said.

"We have developed a beautiful game and we are a little team."

I can understand their frustration. I think they had played really well yesterday.

I didn't see the goal but I guess it was just like the one Henry scored against us and in that case it wasn't against the rules. But I really understand the frustration from the Lille players and supporters. I would have been rather pi*sed off myself.

I think it's time that they change the rules about freekicks. The defending team should have the right to prepare themselves, not just get the impression of being allowed to. Unless it's on the other side of the pitch from which you can't possibly score (well you can but it's almost impossible).

In my oppinion the game should stop when the ref blows his whistle and not continue until he blows it again. Simple and effective.

I think it's time that they change the rules about freekicks. The defending team should have the right to prepare themselves, not just get the impression of being allowed to. Unless it's on the other side of the pitch from which you can't possibly score (well you can but it's almost impossible).

In my oppinion the game should stop when the ref blows his whistle and not continue until he blows it again. Simple and effective.

I don't agree. I like the general principle of being allowed to take a quick free kick. Too often teams will use fouls to disrupt the flow of the game, then can then take their time to prepare a wall, creep forward, be moved back etc etc - by the time it is all sorted the game has gone flat.

As far as I am concened if you are awarded a free kick then you should be entitled to make the most of the advantage awarded to you, after all you were sinned against in the first place.

Where the problem lies is in how referees deal with it.

To keep it simple the rule should be the team awarded the free kick can take it whenever they want and the defending team just has to be on their toes. If the attacking team want the defending team to retreat the 10yards then they specifically ask for it and that is when it should become a case of setting the all, waiting for the whistle etc.

Basically refs should award the free kick then get out of the way unless they are asked by the attacking team to pace out the wall.

I heard a few years ago about an invention in which the ref was given a bottle of white spray. When a free kick was awared, the ref would quickly mark out the space and spray paint a line in. Players would then have to stay behind the line and it was obvious if they were sneaking over it. The white spray would do no harm to the grass and would fade naturally after 5 minutes.

Why it isn't used in football today I don't understand, because it is a fantastic idea.

I heard a few years ago about an invention in which the ref was given a bottle of white spray. When a free kick was awared, the ref would quickly mark out the space and spray paint a line in. Players would then have to stay behind the line and it was obvious if they were sneaking over it. The white spray would do no harm to the grass and would fade naturally after 5 minutes.

Why it isn't used in football today I don't understand, because it is a fantastic idea.

'What about the insects on the grass? It surely would cause them harm. I'm against it, and I am sure Yogic would be as well. Yikes, if there happened to be a frog on the pitch, it surely would cause her an upset stomach, and so on.

I heard a few years ago about an invention in which the ref was given a bottle of white spray. When a free kick was awared, the ref would quickly mark out the space and spray paint a line in. Players would then have to stay behind the line and it was obvious if they were sneaking over it. The white spray would do no harm to the grass and would fade naturally after 5 minutes.

Why it isn't used in football today I don't understand, because it is a fantastic idea.

and you could use it to draw an outline around Ronaldo and Gerrard after every dive

I cant see why defending teams dont just make sure a man stands in front of the ball untill the wall's set up and the keeper's happy, that used to be the norm when I was playing.

I cant see why defending teams dont just make sure a man stands in front of the ball untill the wall's set up and the keeper's happy, that used to be the norm when I was playing.

Well we didn't do it when Henry scored against us but after that we almost always have a player in front of the ball. So one has got to learn from past mistakes. I bet Lille will do the same.

I heard a few years ago about an invention in which the ref was given a bottle of white spray. When a free kick was awared, the ref would quickly mark out the space and spray paint a line in. Players would then have to stay behind the line and it was obvious if they were sneaking over it. The white spray would do no harm to the grass and would fade naturally after 5 minutes.

Why it isn't used in football today I don't understand, because it is a fantastic idea.

'What about the insects on the grass? It surely would cause them harm. I'm against it, and I am sure Yogic would be as well. Yikes, if there happened to be a frog on the pitch, it surely would cause her an upset stomach, and so on.

The spray should be natural and harmless to any living creature (if not, use it on C-hunt). Worst case scenario? A beetle becomes an albino for a few minutes. Could be a nice way to impress women.

Btw. Is a male beetle a beetle and female a beatles?

I heard a few years ago about an invention in which the ref was given a bottle of white spray. When a free kick was awared, the ref would quickly mark out the space and spray paint a line in. Players would then have to stay behind the line and it was obvious if they were sneaking over it. The white spray would do no harm to the grass and would fade naturally after 5 minutes.

Why it isn't used in football today I don't understand, because it is a fantastic idea.

and you could use it to draw an outline around Ronaldo and Gerrard after every dive

I cant see why defending teams dont just make sure a man stands in front of the ball untill the wall's set up and the keeper's happy, that used to be the norm when I was playing.

Well we didn't do it when Henry scored against us but after that we almost always have a player in front of the ball. So one has got to learn from past mistakes. I bet Lille will do the same.

we did.

guddy was standing there until poll told him to step back...

I cant see why defending teams dont just make sure a man stands in front of the ball untill the wall's set up and the keeper's happy, that used to be the norm when I was playing.

Well we didn't do it when Henry scored against us but after that we almost always have a player in front of the ball. So one has got to learn from past mistakes. I bet Lille will do the same.

we did.

guddy was standing there until poll told him to step back...

Really? I can't remember that.

I cant see why defending teams dont just make sure a man stands in front of the ball untill the wall's set up and the keeper's happy, that used to be the norm when I was playing.

Well we didn't do it when Henry scored against us but after that we almost always have a player in front of the ball. So one has got to learn from past mistakes. I bet Lille will do the same.

we did.

guddy was standing there until poll told him to step back...

Remember that well, I'm still bloody angry about it - I'm sure Poll was flirting with onwee just before the kick was taken. And Poll gestured that we play to the whistle, then allowed the goal when the whistle hadn't been blown. I really hope I meet Poll face to face one day, he'd be worth doing time for