The Spoiler

Megson goes beyond call of duty with display of respect


Bolton boss harbours no bad feelings towards Rob Styles

gary megson

When Gary Megson’s described Rob Styles’ decision to point to the spot after Jlloyd Samuel’s impressive challenge on Cristiano Ronaldo as “hugely embarrassing”, there were few people who blamed him.

Yes, a big deal has been made of the FA’s Respect campaign but if you see your team’s chances of taking a priceless point at Old Trafford robbed by a ridiculously refereeing decision, nobody expects you to stay calm.

So it is somewhat surprising that the Bolton boss has today told his club’s website that after speaking to Rob Styles, he has forgiven him for his error, even going as far as to say that he would welcome the blundering official back to the Reebok:

“It’s gone now and we can’t do anything about it. It was an error and everybody knew it was an error, but

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Posted: October 1st, 2008 by Michael Lintorn

Is it time for refs to embrace modern technology?


Another weekend, another handful of bogus penalties…

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Another week of Premier League action has passed and once again it’s the officials who have been rattling football cages. Rob Styles, a smartly dressed ref, confused Jlloyd Samuel’s excellent tackle on Ronaldo with an uncoordinated lunge, and immediately pointed to the spot. Diarra handled the ball for Portsmouth and got away with it, and Steve Bennett awarded a perfectly decent penalty, albeit one involving the most elaborate Willem Defoe from Platoon impression The Spoiler has ever seen.

Everyone’s been yapping their disapproval, is it time we just said to hell with it and demanded video evidence? Bolton probably think so…

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Posted: September 29th, 2008 by Josh Landy

Sir Alex becomes a film critic


Manchester Utd gaffer is closet cinema expert

Alex Ferguson The Critic

Should Dr Mark Kermode ever need someone to fill in for him as the BBC’s resident film buff, he should put in a quick call in to Old Trafford. For some reason, someone from The Sun asked Sir Alex about the 456th best film of 2008, Wanted, which he labelled as “diabolical” and “very disappointing”.

Moving on from his spot-on analysis of Angelina Jolie’s latest effort, he went on to call Gone With The Wind “epic and spectacular” and he also told us the third Godfather film wasn’t as good as the first two. Insightful stuff.

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Posted: August 5th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey

Joachim Loew’s bad habits, Gemma Atkinson’s bikini and Man Utd’s next manager


Also appearing on a computer near you…

The Offside catch Germany coach Joachim Loew forgetting about the thousands of people and cameras surrounding him

Paul Ince is in contention to take Fergie’s throne at Old Trafford
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Why supporting Croatia is just like supporting England
[UK Football Finder]

Car Porn: The world’s first electric/ solar/ petrol hybrid
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Marcus Bent and Gemma Atkinson hit the beach
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David Pleat’s mispronunciation XI
[Pies]

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Posted: June 24th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey

In quest for glory, Wenger finds utter misery instead


Premier League, Sunday, 4pm, Sky Sports 1, bet here

Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger, what the hell have you done to offend the gods of football? One of your best players gets his foot near amputated, Liverpool end your season in the most humiliating and soul-destroying fashion and now, when you really don’t have the appetite for it, you have to go and be “entertained” by Manchester United. Did you work as a consultant for that family who abducted their own daughter or something? You’d better start thinking quick, Mr Wenger or before long people are going to start feeling sorry for Arsenal. And from there you’re just a short step away from turning into Newcastle.

Chelsea fans - watch your side charge to the top against Wigan on Monday night, only on Setanta. It’s £9.99 to subscribe for the final month of the season.

The statistics

* Don’t give up on Arsenal just yet: they have won the last six games that have followed their elimination from the Champions League, and they won at Old Trafford last year.

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Posted: April 11th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey

Newcastle get the obligatory rudderless Old Trafford showdown


The best sports programming on the telebox this weekend

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The week after Chelsea lost Mourinho, they were charged with the task of getting a result at old Trafford in a televised game. Big Sam-less Newcastle now face exactly the same situation, but will they suffer the same

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Posted: January 11th, 2008 by Ryan Bailey