I've tried to wait a couple of days and take out the heat of the moment and look back again slightly more rationally.
The red card
For me it's not a red, the ball is played over the top looking for his pace, Mane has eyes for the ball, he does look at the keeper but only to assess what he's doing, there is no intent to hurt, he is trying to nick the ball past the on coming keeper
Now do we expect players at this level at that pace of a game to stop mid flow? To take out the competitiveness of the moment? One of the main reasons it happens is the competitiveness of the keeper... He can't use his hands because he's so far from goal so he tries to head the ball, stooping somewhat
Dangerous play? But by who? Just Mane? Or both? Just because the keeper gets hurt is he not putting himself in danger by going there with his head? Is he not enacting dangerous play? To himself but still..
Brave by him some would say, stupid by him some would think.
Look at the reaction of all the players around, look at the managers.. Not one is looking for a red card, not one player asks for one close to it, they are all surprised when the ref pulls it out.
Dangerous play, if you have played the game is still where there has to be an element of intent, like if you know by going off the ground over the top of the ball, there is danger attached to that intent.
If you throw an elbow, there is intent..
If you bite someone there is intent.
This situation is two players going fully committed to get the ball for their team and neither had intent to hurt in mind.. Sadio would have thought, I'll nick that and I'm in.. There is no intent to hurt whatsoever like there is with an over the top tackle or an elbow or a bite.
The keeper thinks he can get the ball, but he's out of his box and therefore can't use his hands so is putting himself in danger.
I would think the exact same had it been Aguero on Mignolet.
I genuinely think the ref who wasn't up with play and is behind not only Sadio but a city player reacts to seeing the keeper on the floor
He will have got the card for dangerous play, but there for me has to be intent and I just don't see any, both players played a part in the end result.
We have watched Sadio long enough now, and watch him going forward he often brings the ball down high up when breaking the lines
It's genuinely not blinkered, I've watched it back so many times and it's nothing more than an accidental clash, a yellow at best.
It happens a lot, it even happened again yesterday but often refs don't over react.
Think had it been a clash of heads but one player was a shade late? Smashes heads together.. I'm not sure he sends the player then and it's no different.
The keeper was brave but ultimately put himself in danger
It ruined the game at that point.
To be honest I'm not too fussed what happened after because the way we play it can happen in this this type of situation. I'm more concerned how we react going forward.
People need to take a breath though and not over react, I've read and hard some sh*te since Saturday, just think, we have made big big strides under Jürgen, we will continue to do so... His way.
This is only the second game against the big 6 we've lost under him, he's not the type of manager to sit 10 behind the ball at 1-0 down, he will chase it and it can happen.
Let's just bounce back
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