Welcome back Steely, you've been quiet for a few days......I think we'd better make that 2 pints of bias please......

Now then......I'm a clever one am I......in that case be careful what you say around me

I already stated that Nani deserved his straight red for the so called 'pansy' head butt. If you move your head anywhere near an opponents face like that then you are going to get your marching orders partcularly when your opponent is going to feign injury like Neil did. Now I don't really feel inclined to defend Nani for the play acting that followed the 'pansy' head butt..... but your very biased post leaves me no option. Nani was merely following Neil's lead on the feigning injury part. I'm sure he thought that if Neil is going to do it then so would he. Like I said....they were as bad as each other. Neil should be ashamed of himself and so should Nani.

As for having my head up my arse.......I believe that my opinion in support of MY team is no more biased than your own. In fact my opinion is more balanced since I see BOTH players in the wrong. You can only see United's players being in the wrong along with all the other ABU's on this thread.

And Papasmurf......I expected a more grown up comment from someone like yourself.

Like it or not, Nani is scum (in my eyes and probably many others as well). I could honestly care less about the headbutt itself. Everyone loses their cool every now and then, and in a game of football things are said and done on the pitch that get under peoples skins. So his headbutt was a headbutt, soft or not, I really don't care for it.

What I do care and makes me personally think that Nani is a scum is his play acting after his headbutt. What is he trying to prove or do there? It's shameful. He's the one that did the headbutting, and then he's going to have a delayed reaction and fall to the ground in apparent agonizing pain himself? Hoping that the ref is dumb enough to think Neill headbutted him? That just shows lack of respect and is disgraceful. And to me, at this current time, Nani is a scum.

Fergie pinned it on his immaturity. And he's probably right. But immaturity or not doesn't mean he should shame himself even further by play acting at the end of it.

And what about Neil? His play acting was as good as Nani's.....but you seem to want to completely overlook that fact.

Yes his play acting was bad as well. But the difference here is that he took the headbutt and didn't dish it out. You see it all the time, the person that gets hit usually always over exaggerates it. Is it wrong? yes, but no way does he deserve a red as well. A yellow, maybe. People dive when a tackle comes in, people over exaggerate when a foul is committed against them. Is it wrong? yes.

The thing with Nani is that he did the headbutting and didn't want to man up to it. He was being a coward by going down as well. If I was to punch you in the face on the pitch (not that I would), I wouldn't crumble to the ground holding my fist in pain. I'd man up to my punishment knowing I was in the wrong unlike Nani.

If Nani just stood there after the headbutt, then I wouldn't think he's a scum, but due to his play acting after the incident makes me think he is.

Ronaldo headbutted someone earlier this year. I don't think he's a scum, he stood there after and took his punishment. Zidane headbutted someone on the biggest stage in football. I don't think he's a scum, he stood there and took his punishment.

I agree that Nani's behaviour is unacceptable and has no place in football, it was extremely immature and foolish of him to think he would get away with it, he made an error of judgement and I hope he learns his lesson. It was remeniscent of Dida the AC Milan goalkeeper who feigned injury when a Celtic fan brushed passed him.

Scum is a slang word and isn't very flattering to the more articulate when you are discussing something like football, despicable or worthless is a more grown up way of saying it. Scum is more applicable to someone killing innocent people, like a terrorist.

Sh*t ! I thought that was Bernard Hopkins in the avatar!

I'm not saying Neil should have got sent off ,but he definitely should have been punished.What is the rule about raising your hands to someone 's face?If that went on all over the pitch there would be no games if the rule i'm talking about is correct.

Im guessing you think Jens is "scum" also as he has did a few play acts in his time at Arsenal.

Yes the way Nani play acted was a joke. Lucas Neill should of got a yellow card for intimidating "sp" it. He led it on a bit for Nani to give a reaction.

he fairly got his punishment.. the fourth goal by carrick was beautifully scored through his foot deflection..





and young blood easily becomes hot.. that's the most dangerous risk for youngsters..

Wow I missed this thread .... I must say, seeing Roonanialdo and Flipper kicking arse was a pleasure to read.... I almost felt the Manchester United in me.

err.. i dont.... errr. i err... what?

i dont really think, under the circumstances, 4-1 was entirely unexpected. two of my mates actually had that score in a bet, thats how unexpected it was

fair play you say? wheres the fair play in diving (Rooney, ronaldo), wiping people out of the game (Keane), stamping on people's heads (cantona), pretending to be hurt after headbutting someone (Nani), intimidating officials (the entire Man United squad). the list is endless. dont talk about being professional and fair play when you support Man United.

ferguson didnt say anything because he is not completely stupid and obviously has a bit of common sense.

well clearly it is if you think a pinch is a red card offence when even your own manager had no complaints.

you have clearly never been in a football crowd anyway.

indeed

ive been deliberately steering clear of this forum... for obvious reasons.

you are mental. as bad as each other?? if nani had been headbutted and went down easy then they would be as bad as each other. being as nani did the headbutting that clearly makes him worse. how can you not see that? Neill got hit. Nani didnt. simple as that. Neill went down like a bitch, i will agree with that but how on earth can you suggest they are as bad as each other? this could be about Lucas Neill or about any other player in the world, West Ham or otherwise. my stance would not change on this so i refute your bias claims. somebody who goes down like a whore after being headbutted is NOT as bad as somebody who headbutts somebody then also goes down like a whore. not in a million years. how you can suggest otherwise can only lead me to the conclusion you are on a wind up.

Neill's crime - going down like a bitch.
Nani's crime - headbutting and going down like a bitch.

spot the difference

both players have done 'something wrong' yet on very different levels.

your username is ironic in this 'debate' roonanialdo. Rooney = diving cheat, nani = diving cheat, ronaldo = diving cheat.

not so shocking to see your stance on this now i suppose

Your argument about the respective players behaviour would be more convincing IF Nani had actually put his head through Neills face and broke his nose, but it's clear that Neills intention was to provoke and get a fellow professional sent off. Now that really is despicable behaviour and has no place in football. Nani didn't head butt Neill, he brushed against his face with his head, and Neill went down as if he'd been hit with a sledge hammer. Now that is CHEATING with the intent of getting someone sent off, worse than diving in my opinion. It's obvious that West Ham are no different to any other side regarding trying to cheat for professional gain.

Neils crime - Feigning injury to get a fellow professional sent off
Nanis crime - Copying Neil to try and prevent himself from getting sent off

Both as bad as each other - Both should have got straight RED cards.

Indeed my user name Roonanialdo has been deliberately chosen to emphsise the abundance of skill and talent in the United squad. The three United players you mention are all world class talents.

My stance is clear. I don't like cheating in football......from either side...my own or the opposition.

'kicking arse' in what way? taking their time to debate a talking point in a football match? heaven forbid.

i cant believe what im reading... is that a fishing rod i see dangling in front of me??

you think Neill should have been sent off???

f*ck off mate, you have to be having a laugh

Don't you think feigning injury to get another player sent off merits a card of some description.

not when there has been contact. it would be impossible to govern.

half the league would be red carded every week with their diving if you had your 'rules' in place.

would you only enforce this for headbutts? or would tackles be included? its impossible to enforce and to set a precedent now would be very dangerous and open a can of worms that will destroy football.

if there was absolutely zero contact then yes, a yellow card would suffice. even if there was minimal contact you cant just card people because then you have the issue over what is 'cardable'. who interprets what is a headbutt and what is a scrape? would a mark have to be evident on the face? im sure deep down you agree with that.

You have a point, but when it's obvious......as in the Dida incident, he went down pole-axed after running 5 yards after a Celtic fan......or in the Nani incident......he went down pole-axed after realising he was in trouble.