scholes

Who's Droggy Bats?

batman

The chap who scored this goal ....

I wish I had claws.

smiffy

Sadly we won't get the chance to make amends this year Come on Barnsley

I May be getting older ,but I refuse to grow up

smiffy

Can you imagine how good he would be if he just got on with the game

I May be getting older ,but I refuse to grow up

batman

I'd rather not!

I wish I had claws.

DB7

Personally by 'respect' I think they mean 'stop pointing out our gaffes'. People talk of refs being harangued, well strange that Luke Young approached Bennett over a penalty decision (again, an error on Bennett's part) after the Villa/Boro game in the solitude of his changing room - and was comically carded. Bennett is something of a super-ref as he even managed to send-off Alonso at Highbury (again, in error) whilst looking in the opposite direction.
Opta Investigate: Bennett record - Setanta Sports


That two yellow cards for Mascherano, a near-weekly Premiership event, has everyone from the FA chairmen to Platini chipping in is very odd. Maybe it's the gentrification of football, where dissent is viewed a greater offence than our previous red; Crouch's studs-up tackle on Mikel. Eduardo must be sitting watching all the furore in a state of some amusement wondering when refs are going to start protecting players - the cause of both Torres and Mascherano approaching Bennett.


Imho another factor is this article from Keith Hackett after the Ashley Cole incident. It seems criticizing refs is fine - just so long as it's in a national newspaper.
Officials should have sent off Ashley Cole - Football News - Telegraph
Howard Webb, by far the league's best ref, was originally due to officiate the Old Trafford game but he "wasn't involved because he was in action at Villa Park yesterday, but the real reason is that I've encouraged him to take some time off because he has a young family". So 24hours between a Saturday or Sunday is spending time with the family! So in comes Bennett, no doubt to make quick amends for his midweek error (he's good at spotting dissent, not so hot on dirty tackles)


So Bennett goes into the game with Hackett having put in print "Having said that, it was unfortunate that Steve didn't come in to say to him that it was a red." No pressure there then.


And Hackett's closing comments? " I have seen some remarks directed at me regarding Ronaldo apparently not getting sufficient protection in the league." That'll be the same Ronaldo gesticulating at Bennett in the previous clips - but thanks to some earlier mind-games from Fergie, Bennett lets it pass.


I don’t think referee’s on the whole need protection because most are competent at their job; Rob Styles I wouldn’t even trust to officiate a pub game.

penfold

Football's been gentrified?? News to me. The crowd or those at home perhaps, up to a point, but not the game, certainly not the players.
Dissent has always been viewed as a serious offence...so much so, that back in the day, players didn't do it. As an example, a reds legend from the past; Tommy Smith; he might kneecap a striker as soon as look at him (This was probably before they invented metatarsals and cruciate ligaments) but he would not have unleashed the abuse at a ref in play like Mascherano did, and others do on a weekly basis. Players do have far more protection now...that's a good thing...but incidents like the Eduardo/Taylor tackle will always happen when two people want to get their feet to the same ball.
Whenever a pundit wants to put in a cheap shot at a ref, they always say "Of course, he never played the game [at this level]" I for one, would like to see one of those jokers - Andy Gray, Shearer, name your own bete noir - go out and ref just one match, to be taken to pieces by refereeing pundits at the end of the game. Perhaps then peace would then prevail and the referees get a break from the abuse coming from all directions.
Re. your comments about the match, loath him as we both do, you have to admit Ferguson outmanaged Benitez. It was obvious the Man Utd players had been drilled to take it easy with the ref after the weeks reports, and that Benitez had not done the same thing. You might also say that if Mascherano had been one of Ferguson's players, he would have been subbed before he was carded the second time.

Bit of a Bay Window, what??

DB7

Certainly to an extent. I've seen players (Smicer, Garcia) that would have run home to mummy if faced by pre-Sky era football. Keepers also are now more or less untouchable whereas back-in-the-day it was a goal if you shoved keeper and ball over the line.

I would say that modern players are actually quite poor at the art of tackling cleanly, and far too many leave the ground in an attempt to win the ball rather than trying to cleanly win it.

billy bentley

First up, I've come late to this referee chinwag, so stop me if you've heard this one before. Residing in NYC I only watch what Premiership is on Fox Soccer Channel and some Champions League on ESPN. I am the "old man" to two football crazy American lads and so there's a fair amount of chat about the modern game versus the old days. As I remember it, back in the day if you swore at the referee and he heard you were off, no question - am I wrong ? A referee is doing a crap job, for little financial reward, just lots of abuse and ninety odd minutes of power. It's not exactly like a teacher or a nurse, but to me it's not a million miles away. The key to the job being dione properly is respect. The referee must be respected, whether it be out of talent or out of fear. Now some might say that some of the modern players no little about respect, but I disagree. How many players do you hear effing and blinding about their managers or the people that pay their wages ? Very, very few. If the modern player gets sent off for swearing at the ref consistently, he will so get the idea. It worked for the thugs of yesteryear, no reason why it can't work for the overpaid Jessies of today.

smiffy

I agree with everything you say billy ,the point of the debate is that whether the referee is right or wrong he must be respected.Roy Keane has been quoted as saying today ,that how can some managers ask their players to respect officials when they themselves are being sent to the stands for indiscipline .
I can't stand to see players get away with blatantly swearing (and I include all players in this ) at somebody ,that is abuse,and until players learn to talk to referees in a proper manner we will always have this problem .
Alan Shearer was a past master at getting referees onside by having a quiet word at the right moment ,not chirping away at them constantly pointing out what a crap game they are having .It is time for a new code of conduct to be introduced that every professional player and manager signs ,to be held with their registration , along with a fairer appeals system ,to implement consistency and show that when a referee does make a mistake it will be acted upon .

I May be getting older ,but I refuse to grow up

David Brent

The Special One said to be currently in private talks with Inter Milan.

Dave.

batman

Indeed ... lucky Inter Milan. He should do well there.

I wish I had claws.

DB7

Platini's gone off on one again about the English game. The youth poaching, foreign owners, foreign players, investment and money etc etc.

I'm sure it's nothing to do with a fear that English clubs might dominate Europe again.

David Brent

Too right DB.

Platini seems to have a problem with all aspects of the English game.
His latest rant that he will take measures to stop Arsenal poaching young players from Europe is ludicrous.

I think Blatter and Platini are wrapped up in their own importance.
Maybe if we all ignore them they will go away.

Dave.

David Brent

There is also speculation that, if he gets the job with Inter, Jose will also take Lamps and Drogba with him.

Dave.