http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/s...ld-harass-refs-like-manchester-united?cc=5739 Jack Wilshere has urged his Arsenal team-mates to copy Manchester United by harassing referees more in order to gain an upper hand in next year's Premier League title race. Wilshere, 19, admits it will be a "100 per cent disaster" if Arsenal do not pick up a piece of silverware in the 2011-12 campaign, having thrown away multiple opportunities to break their six-year drought this season. The England midfielder is currently preparing for the Three Lions' Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland, after Arsene Wengergot his way and the teenager was not selected for the Under-21 European Championship. Wenger had suggested that Wilshere was suffering from burnout, but the youngster does not blame physical or mental problems for Arsenal's disastrous end to the season, instead preferring to highlight United's treatment of referees as the area where the Gunners can improve. "It's no use just Robin van Persie going because it looks like it's just him having a go at the ref. If we all get round him..." Wilshere said. "You just see the other teams do it and you think 'we need to do it as well'. Man United are the best at it. They get round the referee. We have to be more of a team and be more aggressive and show more authority." Arsenal face a fight to keep their top stars this summer, with Barcelona skipper Carles Puyol recently commenting that he is almost certain Cesc Fabregas will arrive at Camp Nou before the end of the summer. Wilshere admits the Gunners are in dangerous territory, and trophies are the only answer. "It will be a 100% disaster if we don't win a trophy next season," Wilshere said. "We know that. The fans feel it. We feel it. We just need to win a trophy. Arsenal are a big club and we need to be winning trophies. "We need to win them to keep our big players. We must be more aware and have a bit more aggression. We've got some players that can do that but we have to go as a team."
Slightly misleading article because I think we do try to influence refs, maybe not as much as the likes of chelsea and barcelona but we do it nonetheless. I don't approve of it though.
Good to hear. I hate it I must admit, drives me mental, worse than diving in my opinion, should be a yellow card offence in my opinion.
Barcalona are definatly worst for surrounding the ref, followed closely by Chelsea. I f I was ref I would give players a verbal warning to get away from me and then after 5 seconds give every single one of them (bar captains) a yellow. Why don't refs simply do this? After a couple of games there would be no surrounding the refs!
As well as following Stoke, I have played hockey for many years. On a hockey pitch the captain is responsible for the behaviour of his/her team and if players do not act in an appropriate manner, not only can they be cautioned/sin binned/sent off, but the captain also, even if they are not one of those misbehaving. This could easily be introduced to football. With the odd exception, both rugby and hockey players show much more respect towards referees, and I see no reason why footballers cannot do the same. Many have inflated egos and consider themselves to be far too important and its about time they were put in their place. (Rant over!)
Apart from Stoke, I am a Rugby man and only the Captain is allowed to speak to the ref, otherwise any small sign of dissent, otherwise back they go 10 metres, and again and again. Also the Refs are 'wired up' so everyone can hear what's going on and why - at International and big games levels. Anyway, good to see Arsenal taking a cue from Barcelona (and the Roy Keane bulging veins in neck mob!!) - I wonder if Arsene has read the article
I had high hopes for this guy but the more I hear from him the more I am disappointed. If you are going to start pressing the ref en-masse the last thing you should do is make it public. He's showing himself a niave idiot though I still wish he was in our side.
What we really need is a red card and a fine to be donated to charity every time a player abuses the ref. That would be a far more effective "respect" campaign than the half-hearted attempt we have going on now.
Pathetic in one word, Wilshire acting like this. If you think about the referre job as a whole, it is a VERY VERY stressful one. Any sports ref, but especially football, being as popular as it is. You are constantly in the public lime-light, you've got to use your own judgement, be taken on/confronted by "certain" firey players, then you've got scandal and media-hype if you make a wrong decsion, as you know that you have the guilt of potentially sending down a club/knocking them out of a cup tournament or whatever (lets say a penalty was given and scored). It is a very difficult job. It really infuriates me when referees roll over and die when Man United protest about fouls, diving and handballs etc. it seems 99.9% of the time THEY always get their own way. Many a time, I think to myself: "Stoke wouldn't have been given that!" etc etc. Because its true. Some refs need to toughen up, it takes a brave ref to disagree with Fergies lot.
In hockey it's the same - if a player complains about a foul they have conceded or shows dissent the ref can move the location of the free hit forward 10 metres. He can continue doing this for as long as they show dissent. Soon shuts up even the most obnoxious of players.
Going by the little bits i have read, to me, it sounds like young jack is hankering a move to stoke, but will TP buy another cage player(which jack is), or will after the 3 year plan, actually, get people who can pass the ball? The mind boggles.
I think Wilshere, like the rest of the Arsenal teams should just grow some! What an idiot the guy is, I mean. What does Wilshere mean when he say's " We have to be more aggresive"? Yeah of course you do Jack. STOKE get SLAMMED by the ARSENAL fans, as do Bolton for being aggresive. I KNOW what Jack meant Mr Wenger, seem's that at least ONE Arsenal player at least, realises this. Apart from Utd, Chelsea and John Terry are amongst the worst whinger's I have ever seen. I think that many of those who complain about roughing teams up do NOT remember the Dave Webb's and Norman Hunter's who played in years gone by. THINK about it, Utd fair play too them. Do NOT whinge because some teams try and rough them up. They can take it and dish it out! As for surrounding the ref, THAT is exactly what I would call cheating Jack. It needs ref's with some balls too STOP IT! Off my soapbox for now cos this topic really hacks me off.
I think ref's should be fitted with mikes. Would shame the players in to not swearing or influencing officials.
They did do that once didn't they? In the early 90's or late 80's? The referee was David Elleray. It was during an Arsenal game, but a representative from Arsenal forgot to tell the Arsenal they were doing this and Tony Adams swore most of the game by the looks of the footage. They scrapped the idea after that.
Well I thought that Wilshere was a genuine player until the game up at the Brit. He is now pathetic. I hope that ArseNIL do not pick up any silverware for another 6 years if they keep surrounding the ref when a foul is committed! I hope he does not carry on playing for England quite honestly if he wants to bully others or be more aggressive. They were plainly dirty at the Brit! Well pleased I had a word or two at Stoke station with them before heading back south! Maybe Mark Hughes resigned as he has been offered the Arsenal job
Well maybe it will take time to have an influence. Seems to work well in rugby We all know Wilshire is a reasonably dirty player, but don't pretend that he is somehow worse than everyone else because that is complete bullshit. I doubt you are actually offended by his behaviour on the football pitch so stop being sanctimonious and grow up.
Robin Fair enough, tenter might have gone slightly ott! But, what is Wilshere really trying too say? Arsenal WILL IMHO anyway win more games if as I think Wilshere is implying, we get stuck in! Surrounding the ref is nothing new. He did put in a few hard tackles v Stoke though, I was there just as Tenter was. My point being. HOW come it's taken a 19 year old and yep, very talented football player too tell everyone what Arsene should already be telling his players. Get stuck in but don't cry foul every time a player fouls an Arsenal player. I think, that was partly the point tenterpotter was trying too make. I honestly can not see the Gunners winning anything unntil they toughen up and there is nothing wrong with that side of the game. Or is there Robin?
Wenger's been talking about getting taller players in, that isn't the only thing they need, they need them to be tough. Chris Samba from Blackburn would be perfect for Arsenal. They need a defence like Dixon-Keown-Adams-Winterburn who were tough as a brick wall.
Course there isn't, but sometimes people justify things which should be treated far more harshly by saying 'football is a physical game' and I hate that. Going in recklessly with 2 feet of the ground is not acceptable. Competing with intensity is one of the best parts of football, talented players being forced out of games due to injury is one of the worst. This applies to everyone, I am not one eyed enough to be blind to some of Eboue's tackles. The reason that some people associated with Arsenal can get so angry about tackling is all the snapped legs we have had and the perceived 'it was an accident, just part of the game' attitude reported in the media on occassions.
We do need toughness, but I don't think Samba would be suited for us because of doesn't have the speed to operate in our high defensive line, and on the ball he is pretty poor.
