Regardless of the fact that it was our player, I don't think that red cards are needed when a

[Ashberto]

penalty is given. and I've always said this about goalies being sent off for fouling a guy who is through on them. Aren't at least 75% of penalties goal-scoring opportunities anyway? It'll be interesting to see Dyke Mean's next pelanty decision.

The Willie Young Rule was correctly brought in to penalise a team for a professional foul when & where a mere free kick would not be punishing them enough. The award of a penalty is very much a clear goal-scoring opportunity, and that plus a yellow should be ample.

What Kosh did is basically what happens at 90% of corners when teams are not defending zonally. Gneville has in the past described this wrestling as 'part of the game'. I wonder if he will this time.

[Peter]

And you could reserve the red card for instances where it clearly isnt, ie, an open goal, handball on the line etc.

It does feel very harsh when the merest contact leads to both and i am sure there have been instances where a ref would have given a penalty if he could have done so without sending the guy off.

[Pokster]

and what do you do if a player has a tap in and he gets hacked down (bit like the Bergkamp testimonial... would certainly have been a goal and a pen and a yellow isn't a big enough punishment

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[Maravilloso Marvo]

[redgunamo]

was sent off for deliberate handball.

I think the idea is that the punishment should be extremely harsh because we want to see proper goals scored, not just penalties. If the forward has got the better of you then just let him go and try to score.

Regarding yesterday, 1-0 after ten minutes wouldn't (shouldn't?!) have been the end of the world. Just silliness from the number 6 there.

[barrybueno]

Could open up a tricky can of worms in some cases...

[Monty91]

a yellow card offence will encourage players to commit them. All players would choose a yellow card and a penalty over a guaranteed goal.

Classic example yesterday was when Tevez went through on goal and one of our defenders had the chance to tackle him but feared the red card so didn't make the tackle.

The rule as it is can feel harsh, but I think possibly on balance it is the better of two evils. It encourages good defending, for starters.

[Nicosia Gooner]

[PSRB]

went to Tevez who missed it.

[Peter]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

The jostling that goes on at a corner etc may physically be the same as what Koscielny did yesterday but the specific circumstances were different, the Bosnian lad was to be one on one with the keeper before the challenge.

[barrybueno]

[Steve Williams - gay for Mark Knopfler]

:-)