Official 2012/13 Premier League thread

[Lineker]

FA says that Branislav Ivanovic will have no first team ban to serve despite his red card, as the Community Shield is not considered first team game. He will be banned for three reserve matches instead, though!

[Dingle]

Rumours about a disagreement between Kolo Toure and Mancini about not being selected, probably BS but unhelpful at the start of the season if true.

Well, there were rumours about letting him go anyway, but he'd be nice cover if the 3-5-2 is going ahead as it seems to be. Kolo's not bad, but there must be a reason he isn't getting started over Savic.

[Jimmy]

FA says that Branislav Ivanovic will have no first team ban to serve despite his red card, as the Community Shield is not considered first team game. He will be banned for three reserve matches instead, though!

Beyond stupid. Players can just hack people down and cheat without consequence. Crazy.

[stokeriño]

...Okay, what the fuck. Even I don't understand that.

I mean, I suppose they may be saying that the CS is only on the level of an Emirates Cup/etc...players don't get banned from those...but that's not what I thought the situation was.

[Asuka's Gonna Kill You]

Apparently they changed the rules or some nonsense after the bans for Rooney and Scholes.

"It was thought Ivanovic would be banned for three matches, starting with Chelsea's opening Barclays Premier League fixture at Wigan next Sunday.

However, it now appears the FA changed their rules after an incident during an Amsterdam Tournament in 2006, when Manchester United pair Paul Scholes and Wayne Rooney were both sent off against Porto and ended up serving three-match bans.

As the rule change covered all non-competitive pre-season fixtures, including the Community Shield, it means Ivanovic will be free to play at the DW Stadium."

[Starvinho]

I remember that Rooney sending off as well, it was ridiculous, never a red card. If memory serves me right it was Rooney's first game of pre-season after being sent off for England in the World Cup, the ref just seemed intent on making a name for himself that night.

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

Still there's a bit of a difference between that and the community shield which is always billed as the official start of the season.

Still, good news for Chelsea's start to the season

Edited August 13, 2012 by If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man

[Colly]

Strange one I guess, its not a league fixture but its equally not a friendly that teams can opt not to play, so teams do risk their players being injured and should therefore risk suspensions. That said it puts the two teams who do play it at a disadvantage since its an extra game over the other 18 teams in which to be injured or suspended.

Judge by its merits I guess, I've not seen the game or the challenge, if its a genuine attempt to injure I'd say the ban should stand in the league.

[Cheeky Hughes]

There's the tackle.

[Colly]

My word.

[Summers]

The angle and slow mo probably makes that look even worse, but it is a bad tackle.

Simple though, it doesn't carry over. No point getting panties twisted about it.

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

franny Jeffers is probably livid somewhere

[Cymbols]

First time I've seen it, straight red no doubt. Thing is though, if he's getting no suspension cause the community shield doesn't count then what's the point of it, it's just a gloryfied friendly?

[Thrilla]

It raises money for all the causes that the Premiership teams are involved with. Or something.

[stokeriño]

Most years it's Wembley Stadium Cash Raising Event #243.

[Crybaby Bunting]

So basically now the precedent is set we can expect to see brutal matches in the name of charity?

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

It wasn't really a brutal match that challenge aside, and the game usually gets a bit tasty doesn't it?

Don't remember it ever really being played like a normal friendy

[Crybaby Bunting]

That match wasn't, but that was mostly down to Ivanovic and co assuming that they'd get suspended for a reckless challenge.

If you have a scenario next year where everyone is aware that cards don't really count then you could see a really nasty last ten/twenty minutes if a team is clearly losing.

[If_You_Wanna_Be_The_Man]

Yeah it'd be interesting to see what they'll do if there's any thing they classify as violent conduct, whether that suspension will carry

[Jimmy]

I mean, if you've got one minute left and someone's one on one, you're just gonna hack em down because a red means nothing.