The View from the Spaghetti Factory

And while we’re on that subject, did someone forget to tell Mascherano? Great player, but just learn to keep your trap shut, Javier. Hurrah for a more robust approach from Premiership referees and here’s to more consistent support from the FA.

FA to throw book at Mascherano (Guardian)

I’m not sure whether Rafa Benitez is just loyally protecting his player or whether he didn’t see the incidents properly, but it was pretty clear from the TV coverage that Mascherano urged the referee to “fuck off” on at least two occasions… after his initial booking and later in the game. His decision then to appoint himself as spokesman for Torres was obviously the last straw for Steve Bennett :-)

Oh dear, another gem from everyone’s favourite manager in the Cloud Cuckooland Premier Division…

Nice gesture, shame about the short-term memory, eh? Find the TV footage of every unsuccessful Man Utd penalty appeal this season, and I guarantee you’ll see the bulging eyes and furious ranting of Rooney, Carrick, Ronaldo etc.

Even worse, though, was the behaviour of Lampard, Terry and Ashley Cole last week, protesting the yellow card given to Cole after his reckless challenge on Alan Hutton. A couple of inches higher, and he could have shattered Hutton’s kneecap, but his lack of remorse was astonishing. Even worse was his refusal to face Mike Riley as he was being booked, turning his back on him like a spoiled schoolkid. Why did this not earn him a second yellow card?

I don’t know whether the root cause is a lack of respect from the players, lack of consistency from the referees or a lack of consistent support given to the referees by the FA, but I know one thing… Fabio Capello was at that Tottenham-Chelsea match, and when the camera cut to him during the Ashley Cole tantrum, he had a face like thunder.

As Arsenal take on the ageing glitterati of AC Milan tonight, one player will unfortunately be missing from the Rossoneri line-up. Yes, Football’s Daftest Goalkeeper, Mr Nélson de Jesus Silva, otherwise known as Dida, will not be there.

Dida, you may remember, endeared himself to Celtic fans earlier this year. Having been lightly tapped on the shoulder by a pitch-invading scally, he briefly gave chase, only to remember his proud Brazilian heritage, throwing himself melodramatically to the ground, clutching his face in agony as he took his last, halting breaths.

Amazingly brought back to life by… well, a two match ban from his own club for being such a drama queen, Dida has now been sidelined through yet another crushing blow. During last week’s match against Parma, the poor love had to be stretchered off after suffering muscle spasms in his back. The unfortunate rigours of being a professional footballer, eh? Well, not really… he was sitting on the bench at the time.