Unfortunately refs are now getting as arrogant as players, they now seem to think they are infalible. In regards to the relegation of refs, i personally agree with it. I have a mate who reffereed to Div 1 standard (linesman at Championship games) and he says the difference is noticable on elite list refs, there decision making is quicker, they are fitter (he still had to work 39hrs a week, as well as train to keep his fitness up, on top of doing 2 games aweek, Elite list refs dont generally do 39 hr weeks with other jobs). I also have other mates who ref at a varity of levels from confrence down to sunday league, and while they are good and honest, i wouldnt want them referring a premiership game. Personally I think the leagues should be banded and refrees work in teams (ie ref, 4th official, 2 linesmen work together all time), so Premiership and Championship would be together (both play quick football, have quality players so demand the better refs), Div 1 and 2, and so on. So in reality Atwell would be down to Div1/2 standard.
Atwell is badly let down by his linesman in that Watford game. Did it never cross the lino's mind why a Reading player would be trying to keep the ball in play if it was going to be a Reading goal before he flagged to say it was over the line for a goal? All it takes is for Atwell to see the other header being made and be distracted by some pushing before it hits the bar and he's thinking the lino must be flagging because he's missed it cross the line there.
Dermot Gallagher said on one of the big penalty decisions at Old Trafford( which the officials got wrong )that all lino had to do was wait for a second before sticking his flag up. If every single player from both teams just carries on playing and doesn't even look at the ref then nothing could have happened. That's common sense and the Lino in the Atwell 'ghost' goal didn't apply any. That said it was shoddy, at best, on Atwells part to give the goal.
I'd describe the boy (and I think I can technically get away with calling him 'boy' as I might just be older than him) as "a picky little ****er". At least that's what I always seem to say whenever I see a game with that picky little ****er in charge.
Not bad, Correct. The interesting bit is that the Hull City v Blackpool & Southampton v Leeds games are all being done by SKY and the West Ham v. Cardiff games are being done by the BBC.
He was lucky to be allowed to do any sort of refereeing after the ghost goal, the guy must have a complete deficiency of common sense
Ignore this. I didn't read the thread before posting. If I remember rightly, that wasn't so much his fault as the linesmans wasn't it? Or am I getting them mixed up? He was alright for us on his debut I thought.
Interestingly he remains one of England's 8 FIFA International referees. But it seems like his assessments have been lower than expected this season so he has dropped off because of that rather than any specific incidents, which is fair enough. I am sure he will return in a year or two.
The ref's ultimately in charge, none of them can have seen the ball cross the line or if not that then they should have realised straight away that there was an issue and not award the goal. It gets me when refs seem to lack judgement, it should be a key part of their job rather than doing things to the letter of the law and not taking a few seconds to consider things.
