1) Yeah, it was definitely a foul - even the commentators were saying as such.

2) Didn't get to see the pen.

3) I didn't think so at the time, and no replays were shown.

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Was in Arthur and ref looked piss poor despite giving us 2 pens. Far too whistle happy, Wouldn’t let us take any free kicks quickly slowed it right down so Bournemouth could get back. Kept penalising Benteke for 50/50 challenges. Reminded me of Clattemberg ... wanted to be centre of attention.. Cue willo to sing his praises....

We got two pens that were, at best, 50/50, but Friend's performance all around was terrible. Everyone saw TFM get held back for their first goal - everyone except Friend and his lino.

How we ended up with more yellows is only a function of Friend;s failure to give them yellows when deserved. There were even yellow-card fouls that went unpunished completely. Both Cooks should've been sent offer multiple yellow cards each, and there were plenty of others who got away with murder.

To be fair, though, Begovich wasn't sent off because I believe that's the new rule when a penalty is given (which is something I agree with). Yellow only.

They never showed a replay of RLC's offside, so I have no idea. I think the linos did a good job on that throughout the game, so I expect it was also a good call.

Edited by Ray in Houston (09 Dec 2017 6.07pm)

We don't do possession; we do defense and attack. Everything else is just wa**ing with a football.

We can make excuses for the team all we like but frankly I'm bored of doing so.

Neither of those Defoe goals should have been allowed to happen. The first one was like watching Bournemouth play a game of pinball within the confines of our very own box. As for that absurd volley he just should not be given space to even try something so audacious. How stupid he made us look.
Lastly, the Benteke situation shows just how disorganised we are. Even childrens teams have a designated taker, even if they do bicker over it just as much.

On motd it would appear that the foul on schlupp that gave Defoe the space was a training ground set piece . Call me cynical and probably naive but surely practicing training ground set pieces which involves cheating very sad .

Refs should be told to let quick free kicks be taken. If fouls are committed it's often to take momentum away from the other team and get things level on the pitch again so they're not vulnerable. Refs are helping them by delaying free kicks. You also see refs uncomfortable pulling free kicks back for top teams v small clubs but it's okay when it's smaller teams for them to do it and ruining the game. It stinks.

COYP