You're right, he recklessly dives in all to often. I don't think he's that great a RB either, he's just a younger version of Glen Johnson in that he's good going forward but not great defensively but he still has the hunger for the game that our Glen's clearly lost.
Is there anyone one the forum who is a pro or semi pro ref who can give some insight as to why the standard is just so bad? I really do not understand why it is getting worse. What is the solution, unfortunately technology appears to be the only way or possibly reduce the technology, ie only allow a few camera angles and no replays of footage (tho interweb will go viral within secs of major cock ups) I definitely think that refs should have to front up like they make the managers do (think its stupid asking managers straight after a game btw as that just asks for trouble), or we - the public - should have access to the refs reports to see and understand why they made decision, oh and defo mic'd up during game
I'd assume its because there aren't many referees out there? Its probably quite easy to get to the top of the refereeing ladder. Plus football is a really quick game with a lot of ambiguous laws. It leaves referees/linesmen just giving educated guesses on most decisions meaning they're bound to get half of them wrong. And it means the fans don't know themselves if the decision is a correct one.
Most refs probably haven't played the game, especially not at a decent level therefor sometimes don't understand the difference between a mistimed tackle, and a bad foul. You often see someone slid in and the other person gets the ball a fraction of a second before the tackler. This may look bad and ref normally gets a yellow or red but if it was 0.1 second earlier would have been clean and no foul. It also pisses me off when you see a defender shield the ball, get a tiny touch, flop over and get a foul, yet a forward does the same and it's nothing or a yellow for diving. Same with shirt pulling in area, refs will give defenders a free kick, but not a pen. Too scared to make a big calls that may result in a goal but take easy option that just gives defence a free kick.
It pisses me off when an attacker is allowed to use his arms to push off a defender. The laws state that you can only tackle a player who has control of the ball. Therefore in this instance the attacker is really commiting an unprovoked attack - it's a foul!! Equally you could say that most players who have played "at a decent level" have not refereed a game. Part of the problem is that referees have allowed their standing to be undermined. They are the final arbiter of fact on the pitch. Therefore they have authority and they should use it and not allow players to mob them and disrespect that authority. Even with the use of technical assistance (which I believe should be adopted) their decisions -right or wrong - should not be reviewed. However, unless you are going to allow us to hear the reasons for their decisions then we should be allowed to see their reports.
we need more refs like that bold one who had the balls to stand up to the players and wasn't scared. isnt webb a black belt or something, and he looks like he is easily intimidated or persuaded. also isnt it about time the fa enforced this no surrounding the refs to try and influence decisions and only captains allowed, ****ing irritates me that certain teams get away with that ****e, isnt that another form of cheating in todays game lol
look its simply a fact of life when ex refs like gallagher are only waiting to crucify current refs to make money in the press. refs are out for no 1 and if that means whistling every defender diving as a free for the diver... no problem.. if that means letting players off in the first 10 mins once you look see if someones leg is broken fine.. they don't care. they just want to advance themselves and get the junkets like WC 2014.
