Premier League Gameweek 15

Huh, this guy has tracked it back as far as 2007 and raised a smile with his David Blunkett comment.

https://mikewhalley.wordpress.com/2008/04/05/last-on-motd-the-stonewall-penalty/

The phrase still makes me cringe though, especially the conviction with which people say it, like it makes the claim indisputable.


This Guardian article is from 2000:

STONEWALL - WHERE DID IT COME FROM?

What is the first recorded use of the word "stonewall" to mean "absolutely certain", as in "it was a stonewall penalty"? The Chambers Dictionary lists "stonewall" as a verb, not an adjective. asked Seamus McCann last week.

"I believe that stonewalling was originally an Australian term used by politicians for delaying tactics," says Ray Routledge. "There was also an American Civil War general, Thomas Jackson, who was nicknamed Stonewall because during the Battle of Bull Run in 1861 he stood firm, 'like a stone wall'. In a sporting context I think it was first applied in cricket when a batsman would play constant defensive shots, blocking every delivery so as to minimise the risk of getting out."

But Mark Power claims: "Chambers is right: "stonewall" is a verb, as in "to block obdurately, or Defensively". I suspect what Seamus or Ron have seen is a stone-cold penalty, as in "dead obvious", or "a no-brainer".

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2000/dec/13/newsstory.sport5
 
I agree. Thank God Liverpool are shit this season of they were up against last seasons Liverpool we'd have a problem.



I feel it's more a problem with their defence than their forward positions, they look very shaky defensively and are making a lot more errors than usual.
Yeah, I agree with that. I still think they have enough though, probably closer title race this year.
 
What a pile of sh*t this Fulham team is. What an idiot Robinson is.
 
Robinson has exactly the face of someone who is going to ruin it for everybody
 
Pathetic, cowardly performance by Fulham after the equaliser. They were begging to concede at the end. Fcking cnuts.
 
Why the emotional investment? City will win the league by about 20 points.
 
Could see it coming!!