The Man Utd vs Spurs Freak Goal Blame Game: Nani, Heurelho Gomes Or Mark Clattenburg?

Ollie Irish

1st, November 2010

14 Comments

By Ollie Irish

Get away from me! I will only accept complaints from Mr Rio Ferdinand

So, lots of fun and games at Old Trafford, where Nani’s unsporting and freakish goal – we can at least agree it was unsporting and freakish – settled the game in Man Utd’s favour.

No one involved came out of it well, but who was most to blame for the bizarre chain of events that doubled United’s lead? The candidates:

Referee Mark Clattenburg – Said he saw Nani’s deliberate handball but then played advantage to Tottenham. And when no advantage was forthcoming, surely Clatters might then have reached for his whistle. He didn’t have to award the goal because of something refs don’t use often enough: common sense and discretion.

Spurs keeper Heurelho Gomes – Gomes didn’t use the ref’s advantage, because he didn’t seem to understand what the hell was going on. Brain freeze by the Brazilian, or is he innocent? Either way, when confusion reigns, a swift kick into row Z is usually the best option.

Man Utd winger Nani – Played on 100% correctly if unsportingly (urged on by his team-mates and the prospect of a bollocking by Fergie, it should be said) but, knowing he handballed in the area, should he have done the sporting thing and let Gomes play the ball first?

My vote goes to Clattenburg, who is a good ref and often sensible. But put simply, there was no advantage in his advantage. The hapless Gomes hardly covered himself with glory either, but in his defence it wasn’t clear what decision the ref had made. As for Nani, he is blameless, surely – 99% of Prem players would also have played to the whistle.  My only gripe with the Man Utd winger, who had a fine game overall, is in how wildly he celebrated his goal. Not quite deserving of a backflip, fella.

Who do you think was most at fault? Vote with your favourite finger…


Posted in Man Utd, Opinion, Tottenham Hotspur

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14 Comments

  1. anon says:

    What about shooing the Spurs players away and then letting Ferdinand stand there?

  2. George says:

    Definitely not Nani, like you said, he didn’t really have a choice. United were only 1-0 up against a quality team and they have a habit of conceding late goals. The blame lies somewhere between Gomes and Clattenburg. Clattenburg should have been clearer that no free-kick had been given, and Gomes should have played to the whistle.

  3. Stroller says:

    Still going on about this? Surely time to move on.

  4. The Truth says:

    Ref should not have allowed the goal and Gomes was an idiot for gifting the ball to nani. 50/50 between ref and keeper for me.

    Also, nani is a diving shit but it’t the norm these days.

  5. pieman says:

    If common sense was being used then Nani would have got two yellows diving, and handball and ferdinand would have been sent of for intimidating the ref, but this is Utd we’re talking about so obviously their players need to be included in any decision making by officials.

  6. pieman says:

    If common sense was being used then Nani would have got two yellows diving, and handball and ferdinand would have got one for intimidating the ref, but this is Utd we’re talking about so obviously their players need to be included in any decision making by officials.

  7. Nozza Spurs says:

    As a long time patient Spurs supporter, so what is the poblem? The problem is that we could not score a goal, so irrespective of the stupid officials’ decision, we lost.

    We have the potential to be one of the best teams in Europe (a win against West Ham and Wigan, instead of losing to them, would place at number two in the Premiere), but we are awful against the best away from home. Where are our decisive strikers Harry? Can’t you give Pav a consistent starting run so that he can feel the turf beneath his feet and fill his boots with a goal or two?

  8. […] a post-match media blackout if they charge him for his criticism of referee Mark Clattenburg, re: Nani’s freak goal at Old Trafford on […]

  9. Well, says:

    it didn’t really settle the game. Plus united should have had a penalty just before the handball. But the blame lines between Gomez and Clattenburg.

  10. alex says:

    When you assume you make an ass out of you and me! Gomez assumed that the whistle was blown and he could take the free kick, but like it said, he wasn’t paying any attention.

  11. CheekyChops says:

    “We’re Man United and we’ll do what we want !!!!!!!!!”

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