Video Only Two Games?? from Steven Goff's blog Jeez, I guess this cheap shot is half as bad as Andy Herron's elbow. And now for the very rare:
I can't conceive of how that doesn't merit, like, a month or something. What a terrible foul. Did he think nobody would notice if he launched himself into the air and hit Victorine with a cross body block? Good Lord.
The best part is, the ref looks to be within 10 feet, and watching. Seriously, at least 5 games would have been a start. Nice work MLS.
How ridiculous. He changes direction to go out of his way to take a flying cheap shot to his opponent's head, well after the ball is gone. If Herron deserved four (and he did), that should be AT LEAST a quad.
Did I read that right - a yellow card for that shot? I hope I did... Are MLS refs afraid to go direct for Red on a clear intent to injure, like that shot?
If Mehdi Ballouchy played for Columbus he'd be done for the season. MLS is very inconsistent, there is no way that is worth only two games.
I can only say that the refs angle was bad, and he might have thought it was just a collision. The other view of it clearly shows what Mehdi was trying to do. Two games is nothing, should be more like six.
It sure looked like the intent was there, but I really don't think Ballouchy connected on it. Regardless, it's dirty play.
Here's a question...has Ballouchy been suspended before? If not, mebbe 'repeat offender' is a factor.
I agree it was a dirty, intentional foul, but he didn't throw the elbow, he threw his whole body into Sasha. In a strange sort of way, I'd think this foul has less a chance to injure than what Herron did (albeit that Herron had good reason to do what he did and should not have been suspended for as long as he was) Should have been a straight red.
How is that not a red card? Even if the center ref had a poor angle he had a duty to confer with his assistant. The 2 game suspension too short by half.
Is anyone here really surprised? I think it'll be a cold day in you know where when the MLS starts growing some balls and become consistent.
Wow. Thirteen posts and nobody has made fun of his name. Ball-ouch-y Ball-itchy Ball-pouchy Ball-touchy
2 points. Medhi changes his direction and had the intent - should be straight red and heavy fine/suspension. Sasha made a meal of it. Contact was more glancing rather than blunt force trauma. Unquestionable intent to crack someone's melon open, questionable amount of actual contact. I don't know what MB got in the form of card - but no question in my mind that red should have been shown and heavier suspension and fine should have been leveled.
He was being a thug when we played RSL before the all-star game. I think he got a yellow in that match.
BallBoy threw an intentional elbow at full speed after gaining momentum by jumping at the player. If Herron got four this is worth at least two more games. This is ignoring the fact that Herron should have had two of those games lopped off because it was HeapsOfCrap he took out, he did the league a favor. Sasha just has the misfortune of having been named for a girl. And that should have been a straight red, no question.
I don't think he did. Ballouchy missed the jaw and elbowed him right in the Adam's apple. That hurts like hell.
Agreed... this was so much more obvious than Herron's offense, and looked much more vicious (leaving his feet, etc). OTOH, reading down on that post (assuming the comments are true), maybe it is the fact that Herron holds the dubious distinction of being co-record holder for games suspended (got suspended for 6 while w/ the F*re) that he got the 4 this time. OTO-OH, Mr. Ball-bouncy has generally been a thug; this isn't like innocent, long-suffering Big Bird finally smacked Oscar a good one (sorry, I've got preschool age kids). I say five games for this attack--plus a mandatory make-over (he's also an UGLY thug) by the Beckhams' "image team"... -RC
Intent to hurt yes but I still don't see him throw an elbow in that. The contact is made with the elbow, but he doesn't throw it. I can't help but think that contributed to the lesser suspension. It all looks very natural movement with the jump... I think first glance looks worse than it really was.
I couldn't disagree more. He doesn't throw it per se (whip it around like Herron did...but Heaps was behind him)...he doesn't need to as he is leaping right at him. What he does do is raise his elbow. Watch the clip again. There is nothing natural about the way his elbow comes up.
I absolutely think you're right. It's like high-sticking in hockey -- you're responsible for your stick. If you intentionally change your direction and leap into a guy, you're responsible for whatever contact occurs. If the elbow catches him, it's YOUR problem, because YOU did it.
So, he's looking in the opposite direction of the ball (even red-card-able slidetackles make an attempt on the ball). SV plays the ball, MB takes another step (from about 10 ft away) and blasts off into the guy... regardless of whether he threw the elbow or not that was effing awful