Highlights here including THAT Cruyff turn

https://www.skysports.com/watch/vid...nsley-2-0-cambridge-utd-league-one-highlights

Wow, just wow. One slick turn takes two players out and then he nearly curled it into the top corner. Some player that Jon Russell, on evidence seen so far.

First goal - Watters was way behind Cole as the shot went in but his poacher's instinct took him into the box to gobble up the rebound - well done for that Mr Watters.

The sending off - I've played it back over and over and it looks like a half hearted attempt to hit the Cambridge player IN MY OPINION. I've seen much worse assaults than that not get punished (Morgan on Hume for example). It just looked like a lazy swish of the arm and the player went down in obvious agony. Of course he was then on his feet within a minute and sprinting back into the action. I suppose Watters gave the ref a decision to make but, on reflection, a yellow would have been enough, and I would say that if it had been one of their players doing it.

The second goal - good corner from Connell cleared to a couple of yards outside the box and Jordan Williams smashes it on the volley through a crowd of players into the tiniest of gaps on the goal line. Their keeper was furious and went steaming over to the linesman asking for offside presumably. Maybe Cole was in his eyeline but so what. He wouldn't have stopped that anyway I don't think. Another special goal for our right back.

 

Re the sending off I didn't catch the incident. But all those around me were adamant it was a stupid reaction and warranted. Got to say after seeing that. I'm in agreement with you. It certainly wasn't Cavarè-esque.

 

I don't know how anyone can watch that and say it's not a sending off. He doesn't even look at the ball at any point, the daft ****.

 

It was the 2nd time Russell had done that too. He did it just after he came on.

 

For that first goal, what a fantastic pass by Kitching too to get it to Cole, and Cole's first touch was excellent.

I see what you mean about the red, it wasn't exactly trying to take his head off, but he lead with the elbow, wasn't even looking at the ball and just went for their player, it's the intent what's got him the red I think. What was the point of him doing it? As you say, just to hit the Cambridge player, regardless of how much contact, it's still intent. Personally I'm fine with a red, because it could have been much worse. If players are just hoping to hurt opposition whilst not challenging for the ball, no problem with it.

Lovely goal by Williams, love the confidence he must have to hit them too

 

Why were we playing Coventry today (in the sky blue) lol.
The sending off was ridiculous, I hope he's been made to realise how stupid it was, by Duff & co.

 

Just read that Roma from Tykes Mad has passed away. Would it be possible for you to pass on my condolences to everyone on Tykes Mad, please? He alwyas came across as a thoroughly decent, dry witted gentleman and the site will be poorer for his passing.
Kev

 

I'll not try to deny it was a foul, and a stupid one at that, but (as usual) the recipient of the "assault" made it look like attempted murder, only to make a miraculous recovery within a minute. I've not read the manager's report but it's nice to know he saw it as I did, and I was actually closer than him on the ESL half way line.

I've played it back several times and see no malice in it. I will play the ITV highlights tomorrow morning where I can watch in slow motion, and maybe I will change my mind about it then. Most on here tonight are saying definite red with only a couple, like me, doubting it was worth that punishment. Like I said, I'll check tomorrow and will admit I was wrong then, if I am

 

No doubting he made a meal of it. It's quite embarrassing these days, but majority of players do it. And I get your point mate, I really do. It wasn't as though it was a Chris Morgan type. But I refer again, WHY did he do it? What was his intentions exactly? Wasn't looking at ball, just purely on the player. Why did he do it?

Maybe the Cambridge players did influence the referee, I think Watters reaction certainly did. But compared to some other refs this season, I thought he did ok

 

It was a red card every day of the week and twice on Sundays.

He wasn’t remotely interested in looking at the ball or challenging for it.

He looked at the man and jumped into him, catching him face first with his arm. If it had happened to one of our players and the opponent wasnt sent off I’d be raging.

 

Made a meal of it? He nearly took his head off. The highlights don't show how bad it really was because of the angle but I promise you it was awful

 

I thought it was the clearest of clear red cards. Dangerous and as we know from Morgan the sort of challenge can’t and shouldn’t go unpunished.

 

That's fair enough bud. The highlight goes far too fast for me but looked like he only just connects ever so slightly. Regardless, as I said earlier, it's still a red due to the intent. Absolute pointless 'challenge' or whatever you wanna call it. Idiotic really. That & the fact he got straight up after the red is the reason I said made a meal out of it. If he has anything about him (watters), he'll message/get in touch and apologise for it.

 

I've seen it and thought it was silly. Not because of what he did. You live by the sword you die by the sword. It was the circumstances. You're 1-0 up at home. It's your name in lights. You're playing bottom of league with a chance to fill your boots. I won't publicly execute him and send him to Oxford but I think he wants a good FC u kin.

 

Straight behind that turn, come on - slowest and most obvious turn I've ever seen, my 10 year old even laughed, like he turned two old grannies.

 

From what I’ve just seen he made zero attempt to play the ball and deliberately put his arm into the opponent’s face. I too hate grown men acting like toddlers, but a stupid challenge like that is a red every day of the week. If he wasn’t trying to hurt the opponent why put his arm into his face. I imagine, like Morgan’s assault on Hume (which was absolutely horrific) if you pull the play back back a few moments you could see it building up, cos he definitely went for him.

 

Never thought I would say this ST, but I agree. The angle I had from ESL showed him lead with his elbow t hen thrust his arm forward with some force. Players often lead with the arm as a form of protection but this was an assault. I doubt that Duff saw what we saw and called it Red immediately.

 

Having missed the first goal due to iFollow issues I didn't realise just how well Cole did to take the ball down, go round his man and make the keeper spill his save. Excellent work.

 

I said it at the time on here that it was as clear cut a red as you’ll see. When I watched it live on iFollow, I knew he was in trouble.

He also knew he was in trouble as well how he tried to keep out of the way. I even shouted red as it happened.

It was a stupid and dangerous non effort to win the ball but leave one on the opponent.

If that would have happened the other way round not one person on here would question it or call it anything other than a red card.