Happy to see an Englishman agree that because Maradona's hand of God goal was a spur of the moment he does not deserve condemnation by anyone.

I agree. Look at Bayern's record this season pre- and post-Ancelotti.

So, we tell Wilshere to leave and Elneny to stay? Okay....?

Yes it is better but didn't he get sacked after 6 games?.

To Dec's point he hasn't been winning quite as much the last couple of years but has a very good record in domestic and champs league football. Only 58 so I'd hardly says he's past it.

Same goes for Özil.

Just heard on the radio that Cricket Australia employs a bloke called Iain Roy - as Head of Integrity.

The game passes individuals by at different ages. I'm sure I've seen people imply the game is passing Mourinho by and he's even younger than Ancelotti.

Seriously, Gaz? Anyone looking for professional sportsmen (or women) to provide moral leadership has got a few roos loose in the top paddock.

We don’t expect them to give us a new Ten Commandments but we expect them to work hard (100%) play within the rules but exploit the rules to the maximum, not cheat or lie. Yes many sportsmen are falling short but then they are usually disliked by the public(some of our tennis players) but these are all good values.

When they become elitists like Michael Clarke or cheat don’t expect people not to even the score. Also most of our women’s teams are in my opinion fine examples to follow.

Jim maxwell is saying it was Warner’s idea and Smith couldn’t stand up to him. I think there may be some truth in this. Certainly the press are talking 12 month test ban for Smith & Warner never to play for Australia again. I would support that. I think the public would see that as okay as well.

I know people are talking about an over reaction but reputation does count and it is time to make a stand. I don’t actually blame Smith as I think Warner is a difficult player to deal with. Not sure Smith is an Ian Chappel or Allan Border as in being tough as a captain. Leading is never easy and requires real skills. It is why Arsenal struggle because there are no natural leaders in the team. No Adams McClintock or anyone of the ilk.

I was on eBay. For those who are collectors of Arsenal memorabilia there is an autograph book of the 1932 team available in the Uk. I think it is 85 pounds + postage. The seller is someone called Holbeck572009.

I was looking at the seller for some other items.

Not really been following the Australian cricket stuff but hasn't ball tampering been going on for ages? As a kid, watching cricket on telly I used to see bowlers pick at the seams of balls. Is the fuss coming from someone admitting to something not within the laws of the game?

Adams and McLintock types don't grow on trees. They're quite rare. Mertesacker is comfortably the best captain now at the club even though he doesn't compare to them. But I don't think captaincy skills alone are enough of a reason to put someone in the team.

If I'm ever in NZ I'll PM you Pete, then you can get me one of those soya latte monkey sick coffees you probably like!!

Tell you what though, we would vote for exactly the same party if there was one that advocated a proper solution to those issues you raise. It's the same all over the world mind; antibiotics, force growing programmes, giving in to corporations, bribery, corruption ad nauseam.

Like you, I used to think that the future portrayed in the original Blade Runner film (best one) was a fantasy - the more that life goes on the more I worry it could become reality.

Anyway, as you say Pete, sorry for the doom and gloom.

On a brighter note, VAR is quite good isn't it??

Mert has retired has he not. When the going gets tough we need a leader on the field. Wenger does not recruit these type of players because they might stand up to him

Tampering has been going on for a long time but this was executed with a planned and poorly put together idea.

It reflects on our reputation. I know it is difficult for people from other countries to understand but cheating is really a big deal here. If you call a person a liar or cheat in Australia you will will see them arc up big time. Even criminals don't like being called a liar or a cheat, even though that is exactly what they may be.

So, Smith and Warner receive 12-month bans, and Bancroft nine months.

It's a good thing they don't apply the same rules to Arsenal players else a few of them would have been shown the door for sitting around in the middle of the field scratching their balls.

So now it's Warner (vice captain) cooking up the idea and apparently Smith (Captain) was silly enough to agree to it. So the apparent captain didn't have the guts to say "no that's a stupid idea and we aren't doing it". 12 month bans are pretty good though and I'm sure they can expect a healthy dose of sledging on their return.

As long as they don't use tape and then get caught on camera it's ok cos Wenger won't have seen it.

That sounds very fishy to me. It sounds like Warner is the designated fall guy. I wouldn't be in the least surprised if it eventually comes out the coaching staff and more of the 'leadership group' of players were in on it. Are we to believe that the bowlers who benefitted didn't know about it? If I was Mitch Starc I would be feeling very pissed off it that is so.

"The footage showed Bancroft rubbing the rough side of the ball, the opposite side to which he would usually be trying to shine on his trousers. He put the object down his pants after being spoken to by the substitute Peter Handscomb, who had come on to the field after speaking to Australia coach Darren Lehmann over a walkie talkie. Lehmann seemed to speak to Handscomb after footage of Bancroft working on the ball was shown on the TV screens at the ground."

Darren Gough made the same point. He says that if anybody would have noticed changes to the ball it would be the bowlers. That makes sense as the ball is the tool of their trade.

And even if the coach didn't know about it in advance ( ), he evidently like a WWI general sent the young 12th man 'over the top' with instructions to get rid of the evidence, cameras be damned. How is that OK? The ICC really cannot let CA get away with the 'one bad apple' defense.

I'm amazed that American Gooner hasn't picked up on this one. Perhaps his antennae need adjusting?

https://www.90min.com/posts/6013972-rev ... ref=1.html

Anyone who watched more German football than me give he low down on Max Meyer. On a free at the end of the season and we’re rumoured to be very keen. Possible santi replacement at the base of the midfield

Cazorla was predominantly a creative player. We already have Özil and Mkhitaryan. Can we fit yet another in the midfield without disrupting its balance? Perhaps we should see Mkhitaryan as the Santi replacement?

I notice the word hypocrite being mentioned on the forum. Perhaps you would like to comment on these 3 incidents:
The Zipper (2013)

Faf du Plessis pleaded guilty to the charge of ball tampering and was fined 50 per cent of his match fee.
The South African rubbed the ball on the zipper of his pants pocket, prompting umpires to award a five-run penalty against the Proteas.
Team manager Mohammed Moosaje insisted it was "harsh" to call it tampering, while AB de Villiers insisted "we are not cheats".
Not-so-subtle Scratching (2014)

South Africa paceman Vernon Philander was captured on cameras using his fingers and thumb to scratch the ball during a Test in Sri Lanka.
Philander dug his nails into the rough side of the ball. He accepted the charge and was fined 75 per cent of his match fee.
Mintgate (2016)

South Africa enjoyed a crushing win over Australia in Hobart, after which footage emerged of du Plessis using a mint to help shine the ball.
The ICC vowed to investigate and du Plessis was charged with ball tampering.
Du Plessis maintained his innocence throughout a hearing and appeal but never managed to beat the charge.The skipper still has the resultant three demerit points on his record.

Seems to me the ICC have been remarkably light with what would appear to be an ongoing history of cheating by SA. Plus if we follow your views it follows that most of your current team would have known and condoned it. Bit like saying that all the team must have known about Hanse. Following your views they would have to wouldn't they because it is hard to throw games on one players performance alone.

I await your response.

Yeah follow Tauranga Girl's example , I'll shout the coffees , couple of muffins whatever .

Never seen Blade Runner but Manchurian Candidate , Enemy of the State give food for thought .

Outfits like Monsanto , Dow Watkins should have a couple Barnes Wallis specials dropped on their headquarters .

Got rid of Sky so have no idea how the VAR is panning out . I'm over Arsenal ..... I get my rocks off watching the Aussie rugby League and the ocassional Super 15 game .... and of course the cricket if we are winning

Last weekend went with one of the sons , take a three seater couch to his flat in Tauranga [ Papamoa ] we returned with a little two seater he wanted to store at our place .... " Want me to tie it on " says I

He scoffs , he uses all these fancy truckers knots as opposed to my half hitches .

Howling along the motorway 100 kms per hour ... the sofa parts company with the trailer ... fifteen feet in the air CRASH right plumb in the centre of the two lanes ; cars , trucks all taking avoiding action .

Smashed all the feet , ripped the upholstery .

Oh no!

As my Mum used to tell me, "yr hen a wyr, a'r ifanc a dybia", which roughly translates as 'the old know their stuff, whereas the young think they know best'.

That'll teach him not to listen to his old man!

You will find that I have not defended the South African team at all. So what what you are doing is mere whataboutery. What I'm calling for is consistency, whether it be with simulation in soccer or various dodgy actions in cricket. Faf was punished for his action (too leniently I think--he seems to be caught between outright denial and saying 'it wasn't as bad as' what the aussies did). The three Australians have been punished appropriately. Hansie was punished. With regard to Hansie, the whole mess was investigated here by a full judicial commission of inquiry. Quite a few other players were implicated. Had there been any evidence of complicity by the management it would likely have come out. Hansie only escaped jail because the judge was convinced that he had come clean about the whole affair.

I see that CA say that Lehman didn't know about it and sent Hanscombe on to find out what was going on. If no evidence emerges to the contrary, fair enough. But I'm sure you can understand why questions were asked about him sending Hanscombe on.

Bould did the pre match press conference because Wenger is ill and has lost his voice. Not sure how the team will cope at the weekend without Wenger being able to bark orders at them for 90 mins.

Other punchlines available.....

Now that they have some free time on their hands ...

Hardman All Black Keith Murdoch dies .

Sent home from a tour of the UK in 1972 after punching a Welsh security guard ..... well who could blame him those Welsh can be pretty damn annoying .

A man of mystery after that .

Got off the plane in Singapore , disappeared into the Australian Outback for most of the rest of his days ......rarely returning to NZ .

Weak team managment ; " you want him out , we all go home " should have been the call .

I saw him at the horse races here , drinking in a little bar a decade later

Armed with pen and racebook

Me ..... "Gidday Keith ... any chance of an autograph "

Murdoch ...." No "

https://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national ... rdoch-dies

Haven't followed boxing in a while. I was at a pub with various expats. It was suggested that Anthony Joshua is dodging Deontay Wilder.
Yes___
No___
It's complicated____

The Meyer player seems quality but we need a strong Vieira type box to box defensive center mid. The Watford center mid would suffice for now.

England getting revenge ...... NZ currently 53 for 5 ...send the Pommie bastards home

You can hold fire on that Kiwi, just woken up and it's 189-6. Test match 50-50 from here .

Just seen the Warner press conference. I for one have had enough of all this crying. Ok mate, you've got yourself in trouble but the world hasn't ended - get a grip for *%^@ sake.

There was not a single post between 2.16 pm 29th March and 9.04 pm 30th March (I presume Australian time). That's 8 minutes short of 31 hours. I wonder if that's the longest 'zero post period' so far on the forum?

Died this day 2001.

RIP Rocky.

The dullest interlull in history.