For me, "active" means you are following play, trying to compete for the ball. Rooney was doing that. I don't think you need to be the player who wins the ball to be deemed active.

For example, when someone is blatantly offside when walking back towards the halfway line. A defender calmly takes control of the ball. All that the offside player needs to do to become active is to change his walk into a run towards the defender carrying the ball. The instant he does that, the lino will flag him offside. It doesn't matter if he's touched the ball or close to touching it, it is his actions which make him active.

As a great man once said,

[iLiverpool's owners have been plunged into more chaos after a foul-mouthed email rant by director Tom Hicks Junior. The Texan told a Reds fan, who had written to the club to express his concerns over the financial future of the club: "Blow me **** face. Go to hell. I'm sick of you." [/i

Loved the ESPN commentators over-reaction to the 6 mins of 'Fergie time.' Away from home, down to 10 men against a team 12 games unbeaten, and 6 mins of injury time is an advantage to Utd?

Not as much as rooney or evra.

Need hargreaves back fit sharpish, stick him and fletchaldo in centre mid and we'll have a reasonable midfield.

God we are $hite.

We defended the corner for their goal like we didn't know what to do. Kuszczack, despite not been a bad shot stopper, does not command the box like a keeper should, and he still gives me the $hits everytime he has the ball, he's clueless and his distribution is awful. You can tell that the defence have no confidence in him / don't have a clue if he's staying or coming. A prime example was when decided to slide and kick the ball into touch when the ball deflected off Brown.

Brown looks very shaky without Vidic at the side of him. I agree with saintyick, only Paddy Evra and Rooney seem interested, although Rooney's passing has been as bad as Kuszczack's all season. It was interesting to see that Fergie chose Paddy as captain yesterday, perhaps a sign that he is likely to be the captain when Neville retires in the summer.

It was good to see Diouf get a run about yesterday, although I'd have preferred him to be given more time. Hopefully, he gets more game time in the next few weeks, he's fast, strong, got a good touch and a great strike on him.

We need a decent signing or two in January to kick start our season and give us any chance of competing for silverware. VDS, Rio, Vida and Hargreaves need to get fit ASAP for us.

I presume there was no mention of Wenger-time from the earlier game at the Emirates then???

He was very animated after that goal went in. Cracking free kick though. Just glad Milito got out of way. Some superb goals in that game. Maccarone's was a stonking strike.

Saw the end of the Arsenal game in the pub. Noticed they played 96+ mins but haven't seen it mentioned anywhere.

Well if your manager didn't make a penis of himself every other week whining about injury time then it wouldn't have been an issue with you either. But as he does, there is.

John Champion - suggesting the 4th official had been or hoping the 4th official hadn't been influenced by fergie - then being amazed at 6 minutes despite the fact it took over 3 minutes to restart the game after the own goal (while the brum players berated the referee - linesman.

He almost made Alan Greene sound like Paddy Crerand.

Fletcher probably should be a Brum player, I agree.

African Nations Cup:
Angola 4-4 Mali

What a start to the tournament Angola were 4-0 up with 12 of the 90 minutes to play, Then Mali scored through Seydou Keita (79),(90+3), Frederic Kanoute (8icon_cool.gif & Mustapha Yatabare (90+4)...

Bloody `ell sounds like a cracker

I agree about Ferguson, however anyone who suggests 6 mins of injury time with the score at 1-1 is an advantage to the team with 10 men is deluding themselves.

Sounds like a fix

That thought had crossed my mind too

No mate a berlin style wall is erected on the half way line on 90 minutes - to further hinder the oppositions ability to attack - only United are allowed to score after 90 minutes - any injury time is purely for United's benefit.

Exactly what I thought watching the game!

+3 and +4, where did the ref get that from?

Is Fergie the Mali manager or something?

Any unusual betting on that game?

Togo now want to return to the ACN after their Govt. changed their mind about wanting them home, but the Cup organisers won't allow them back.

He's now resigned from the Liverpool board and the board of Kop Holdings.

Bingo, that was my initial thought aswell. The first goal in the comeback was particularly dubious.

It goes to show what a foolish decision it was to give the World Cup to South Africa. Criminal gangs will be planning their attack all year, betting, looting, theiving, kidnapping, shootings etc it will all happen.

You would be a fool to go to South Africa without thorough knowledge of the country and security. A lot of those going for a typical World Cup drunken-English-idiot experience are in for quite a shock.