Tuesday, August 21

DRAWY DRAWY MAN UNITED

In EPL action overnight, Manchester United’s Paul Pogba had a penalty saved after a goal from Ruben Neves seeing Wolves score a 1-1 draw with the Red Devils.

It was Anthony Martial who scored for the second game in a row to put United in front at the 27th minute but then Neves leveled with a spectacular strike from outside the box after half-time.

In the dying minutes, Untied was given a penalty and discussions occurred as to should Marcus Rashford or Paul Pogba would take the penalty, Rashford opted for Pogba, Pogba missed.

Much debate will occur as to who should have taken it amongst Man U fans.

The draw means United have lost their past three matches at Molineux.

STUD RULE A DUD.

STOP PRESS!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

I REPEAT THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

THE AFL HAS GOTTEN RID OF A CRAP RULE THAT DIDN’T NEED TO BE PUT IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I repeat…THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

The controversial Toby Greene inspired “Studs Up” rule will be adjusted immediately, in time for Round 23 and the finals. 

With two dodgy free-kicks paid against Jack Riewoldt in the thrilling Tigers v Eagles clash, the crap kneejerk reaction rule could have ruined what many believe to be the best game of season 2019.

Jack had two free kicks paid against him for trying to take a mark over West Coast’s Tom Barrass while taking a mark inside Richmond’s 50.

No one in football liked the rule.

Richmond great Matthew Richardson even said it was “ruining the game.” 

AFL tinkerer in chief Steve Hocking said that anything similar to the Riewoldt action wouldn’t be paid from round 23 onwards.

“The studs-up rule was brought in to ensure players did not employ their studs in marking contests in a manner likely to cause injury,”

“Although the two incidents from the Richmond v West Coast Eagles match were adjudicated according to the current interpretation, the AFL acknowledges there is a need to adjust the interpretation of rough conduct free kicks relating to the use of studs in marking contests and will make this change effective immediately.”

Savour the moment the AFL used common sense but this knee-jerk reaction rule should never have been put in place.

PRAY FOR STEVE SMITH

Just how can we get Steve Smith to recover in time for Thursday’s third Ashes Test?

Will his mental demons be able to recover from a brutal Joffra Archer bouncer?

Australian coach Justin Langer has told the ABC has kept a pretty standard response

“He is the type of person that will do everything between now and until the next time he bats — whether it is mentally, visualising, whether it is practising — to be right,” the coach said.

“He loves batting, we saw that masterclass the other day. Nobody is going to stop him batting.”