Michael Oliver. Officiated us at Stoke [when he didn't give City a 50/50 penalty for a foul on Campbell.]
Can't be as bad as some we've had then - they didn't give us a pen when it was a 90/10 nailed on certainty. Maybe the 10% doubt always goes in favour of the "elite" clubs? On the other hand, it's OK for Eto'o to kick the ball out of Marshall's hands because he plays for Chelsea.
This is the main reason why I have not enjoyed the Premier League at all. There is no doubt in my mind that the 'big' clubs get all the decisions.
Judging by Mr Oliver's performance at OT last night, it looks like a player can get away with a sharp elbow to the head without seeing red.
The referees in this league are all **** and get the majority of "big" decisions wrong. Not sour grapes I watch a lot of football on Sky and BT and they either bottle decisions or a just cheats. Rant Over Cmon City
blaming referees constantly is pathetic and despite what people have said here, the top division refs are far better than the ones in the championship. i even saw the jacks moaning that they would have won against arsenal had the referee given them an extra minute to play, laughable and clutching at straws. oliver is also a good ref, though whoever the ref is against west brom will have very little bearing on the result.
You're right swamp, the ref on Saturday will not have much effect on the outcome. My point was that when teams play against the 'big' clubs the refs seem to give the benefit of any doubt to the top five or six clubs. This is not sour grapes due to our position but applies to most premier league matches.
I don't think the refs are fking **** tbh.......I just think they can change results 2 suit sky sports drama and they fking do I tell thee. lets be honest here guys.....how can the ref not send of that man u player last night when it was clear for him 2 see it was deliberate/......they only reason I can see for not sending off was 2 try and keep the game interesting for joe public (the foreign voyers) our game is corrupt from top 2 bottom and its showing each and every year the tv money goes up.
My observations this year is, they definitely favour the bigger well established clubs. Against us. Rooney should have gone, Gerrard should have gone, Lloris should have gone. If you asked the other supporters of teams around us i think you will get the same story. Look at last nights UTD V Citeeeh game. The hair bear bunch should defo have had his marching orders...did he...Obviously not.
I have to say we should not be discussing the referee BEFORE the match - this is a game we need to win irrespective of the man in the middle. I have already given my opinion regarding penalties this season, but that doesnt take away from the fact that we have patantly not been good enough for the majority of the season. Nor does it take away from the fact that if we play like we did in the first 45 against liverpool, for the rest of the season, we will stay up whoever is refereeing. Not to disagree with your article necessarily, I just dont think the referee selection should even be on our radar. We need 6 points from the next 2 - cant wait to make the (fairly short) journey to the west midlands on saturday! Bring it on!
'87 - agree it's all a bit pointless talking about ref decisions, but that doesn't stop it being a fair point of discussion between supporters on a message board. Referees ALWAYS merit talking about - it's part of football culture.
