http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/play-fair-garry-monk-calls-7879705 Great to see a Swansea manager recognising this and trying to rectify it in the right way. Putting together a presentation of all the fouls for and against Swansea and showing it to the people that matter is a notion that would not only take a lot of time and effort, but it's hard to turn away from if you're the Referee's Association. Gone are the days of Swansea managers sitting back, staying calm and just accepting the referee's poor performances. We see it every week that teams kick lumps out of us and get away with it, while we only have to brush our opposition to get booked. As Monk wants his players to try their best to not crowd refs and stay on our feet (even fining them for it if done in training), we certainly need the referees to know that this is our new mantra and then support it. If they want more clubs with players trying to stay on their feet and playing by the rules, it would be a good decision to not punish us for fair play and reward the opposition for foul play - we'll only end up dropping back to their level again. Wickham last week was a disgrace and I'm glad it was highlighted in the press. Support us and you'll see more and more teams following suit. Every team wants to get referees decisions. Once teams see that you get referees decisions by playing fair, not by cheating, then you'll start to see change. Right now, cheats are rewarded so regularly that it's no surprise that other teams decide to continue to test the boundaries of the game. The referees have the power to change that. Reward fair play.
Well said, we've had a couple or three very poor refereeing performances. I just hope making public the discussion managers have with referees in private doesn't backfire.
**** team, **** city. And I am letting them know it, if they bite back I will just remind the dullards their own has a created a thread about how **** their city really is
The standards in refereeing is declining rapidly in my opinion. There are 1 or 2 I am happy to see at The Liberty, Mark Clattenburg being one and Michael Oliver for being young is a tidy referee. However there so many more I cringe whenI see them refing us. BK I agree with what you say, but somethings will never change despite the issues being identified. I just wish sometimes refs had the bollocks to come out and admit when they get things wrong. Like Foy who must have watched Rangel's second booking last week. Just admit it wasnt a booking and escind it. you will be thought of with in the game a lot more for admitting mistakes than hiding behind the cloak of the refs board. Who is the ref today?
Monk is spot on. One thing that has impressed me with Monk is that he isn't afraid to step on toes if it means protecting the club and team. There's no bullshit, he says it as it is.
Man U v Swans - Ref Mike Dean - Swans 14 fouls,4 yellow cards - Man U 20 fouls,2 yellow cards Swans v Burnley - Ref Craig Pawson - Swans 14 fouls,2 yellow cards - Burnley 13 fouls,1 yellow card Chelsea v Swans - Ref Kevin Friend - Swans 11 fouls,3 yellow cards - Chelsea 12 fouls,0 yellow cards Swans v WBA - Ref Paul Tierney - Swans 10 fouls,1 yellow card - WBA 8 fouls,2 yellow cards Swans v Southampton - Ref Jon Moss - Swans 11 fouls,1 red,1 yellow card - Southampton 15 fouls,4 yellow cards Sunderland v Swans - Ref Chris Foy - Swans 13 fouls,1 red,2 yellow cards - Sunderland 15 fouls,2 yellow cards Total cards - Swans 13 yellow,2 red cards - Opposition 11 yellow cards Statistics seem to confirm what GM says,and we've all seen the poor refereeing decisions for ourselves.
The type of fouls that we've been getting booked for are also a joke. Anybody last week could see that Wickham was just falling over as soon as Williams came near him. Yet, the referee kept giving fouls and then booked Ashley for 'repeat infringement'. What is Ash meant to do? Give Wickham 2 yards of space and let him take the ball down on his chest? It must be remembered that football is a contact sport. If Wickham wants to fall over to avoid contact under the high ball, then he should not be rewarded for being a pansy. Rangel's second has been mentioned already. While I can see why he was sent off, this rule where yellow cards can't be rescinded is an absolute joke. You can see that Rangel doesn't move into the opponent's path, he just stands his ground and takes the contact. Defenders are not required to move out of the way. The fact that this yellow, and others like it for all teams, can't be rescinded is a detriment to the game of football.
Monk is right to point this out but I do fear that this will be laughed at by other fans and pundits when they put our recent disciplinary record alongside it, even though Rangel's secod yellow was harsh. Let's be honest most refs have nothing against the Swans but because our players are honest we're getting punished for it. Personally I'm happy that our Club has that philosophy even if it costs us points, and I for one used to cringe at Chico's daft antics.
This is where I like Monk as he wont give a toss what others think, just like I think 99% of us lot on here won't give a toss either.
I thought someone would pick up on my use of the word 'fear'. It wasn't used in its usual context. What I meant was this will be laughed at my many when you look at our diciplinary record which, let's face it, is poor right now. I support Monk in his stance though.
I actually think you could see more managers adopt this approach. If it makes referees better and fairer then I'm all for it.
We've been on the wrong end of unreliable officiating for a few seasons now ( how do you go seasons without a spot kick for starters). The Sunderland game was a particularly bad outing against us . Laudrup eluded to it in the past and Monk is holding up the flag on the subject now ... well done Garry , give em both barrels , they deserve it .
I admire monk's effort on this. However, if he cannot muster support from other clubs and start a movement he is going to be farting against thunder. Numbers have both safety and impact.
Nice piece of analysis - and what it doesn't take account of are the 'fouls' not given (one on Taylor last week was so late it was attack, ten ask Dyer how many times in a game he's hammered and no foul given) ,also the amount of times players from other teams are in the ref's face asking for players to be yellow carded - Southampton were at it from the kick off, Sunderland not much better but it was the John Terry sending off of Chico last season that has to be the most disgraceful. I also don't think our crowd gives bad refereeing the response it deserves - we really need to get on the back of the officials from start to finish.
Are we likely to see Siân Massey in charge of a Prem game. As an assistant, I don't think I've ever seen her get a call wrong, she doesn't bottle decisions and when necessary has stood her ground against attempts to intimidate her. Her refereeing of women's international games has seemed to be very good. I'm sure she would be better than some of the incompetents we see on a fairly regular basis.
I haven't see the lovely Sian do a game for a while. Agree 100% Bob, I think she's a top official, didn't the lovely Pardew give her stick some seasons ago and she wasn't intimidated by him at all.
No probs with Massey taking on a game , not because shes a woman , because she seems a very balanced official. Like blob says , never seen her get a call wrong as a linesperson
Agree RJ, Massey does seem to be well balanced and fair in her decision making. Hope she continues. Doubt Monk'll get support from any clubs though Yankee as each club is only interested in themselves and not the game as a whole.
Stumpy ... I think it would fall into two camps anyway ... those clubs with the philosophy and players that play football on the carpet and need protection and those that prefer to thump the ball and the player - sort of us vs Stoke of old.
