That's a pretty reductive approach to the Chelsea incident. But ok. Cucurella did a thing. Nico did a thing. Chelsea players ran amok. Forest ones joined in. At which point did the "lost control" happen?
Unless you mean the 750K for the dumb tweet?
Are we forgetting the threatening spitting at refs, and the several other minor incidents (failure to control, comments by players, managers, owner)?
I'm not looking to pick a fight, but compared to the egalitarian, don't talk back to the ref, everyone's second team days, wider football fans think we are a bit grim.
Chelsea get away with a lot and Italian teams get fined less for being mega racist. I think the Premier League picks on us. Probably because we think they are cheating cunts and they know we do.
Fuck 'em.
Although the spitting at a ref thing I cannot justify. That was ridiculous....
I'm legit surprised that so many are taking such deep offence at the spitting thing. Choosing to take offence is a you thing. I wouldn't like it, for sure, don't get me wrong, but telling sir and getting a ban is a bit rich.
And most fans i hear from don't give a flying about that stuff. Anecdotage eh?
The next time I am in New Zealand I am going to greet you with a large loogie. I will hide behind the fact that I think it's a Maori custom.
I have had players spit on me. I lamped them for it though. I enjoyed that greatly.. It's the disrespect man! If the reports are true then the Big Greek had a cold and he hawked a big green one. Yuck! What an animal.
Anyway, apart from that he seems like a cool mental bloke with a rage disorder. Kind of like JP.
It would be 100% unacceptable to spit on someone. Spitting near someone can vary in offence a lot based on distance.
As for the Maori custom thing, you would appreciate that, as a non-Maori, that would be significantly worse, right?
My reading is that Marinakis meant to show disrespect, but it's not signifcantly worse than some of the language used on a daily basis in matches, and if you want to give a cultural edge to it, then sure.
Clearly some of what I am saying is in joke form. I am also assuming that you get that. We don't actually know if Marinakis was spitting on the floor or at the feet of the refs or it was an accident. I guess the implication was, at or on, hence the ban.
Anyway it was dumb. So he shouldn't do it again as he is a very naughty boy. The Premier League is still shit though.
In other news, it would be nice if all our boys are healthy and ready for the fight. Apart from Ward Prowse as he is on loan.
West Ham should have been beaten by a pretty ordinary and demoralised Man U so I fancy our chances if we play to our strengths - which are pace, directness, and robust defending.
I don't like the rumour of Jota's injury, since he's been fantastic at harrying and pinning back tired defenders late in the game.