Referees

Could try the Roman method where the crowd show thumbs up or down?

 

Doesn't work like that. PL Assistants are NOT qualified to referee PL matches. In fact, they probably aren't able to referee football league matches.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sian_Massey-Ellis Some interesting facts about her, some I was not aware of previously.

 

I'd certainly give Sian Massey a go.

 

Really...I thought they were all refs.

 

Isn't there the danger that the crowd would mainly be homers

 

For the record I am a retired ref Yes he had a very bad first half yesterday and did not ever attempt to get a grip really. As for the wider point... I haven't seen that much of the season but I don't get a big impression of a standards crisis. They do at least manage the promotion of young refs to the PL now after the Attwell disaster.

 

Conference level refs (but most of them go "full time" assistants for a year or two)

 

Thought so.

 

I thought the referee was ok for the Man U game, however it did seem that Arsenal did get the rub of the green - i.e. they were getting a few decisions that we did not seem to be. Now I don't think there is a bias, however certainly top teams do get a bit more luck. Agbonlahor's red card yesterday is another example.

 

Anthony Taylor was outstanding today, and we've got him for the Chelsea game.

 

That's what the Christians said, didn't get 'em anywhere, there was no appeal committee.

 

A breath of fresh air in the Officiating department, hope he does a fair job.

14:05 Southampton v Chelsea Referee: Anthony Taylor. Assistants:- G Beswick & D Cann. 4th Official:- A D'Urso

 

Boxing Day: 15:00 Crystal Palace v Southampton Referee:- Mike Dean. Assistants:- J Brooks & H Lennard. 4th Official :- L Collins

 

Mr Oliver doing Liverpool v Arsenal, may need an A4 Autograph Book?

 

Quite how that wasn't a penalty on Long I will never know. It was the most obvious spot kick I have ever seen. Not to mention any of the other terrible decisions. Unbelievable.

 

I think Long's problem is that his movements are so exaggerated...he looks like he's being theatrical even when he is not.

 

I think Cork would make a great ref

 

Probably because he didn't roll around on the floor for 5 minutes like other strikers.

 

Long's 'problem' is that he is brave or foolhardy enough to put himself in places where most other players won't go. That short, low leg-lift sprint that he musters gets him into danger areas and it surprises players. I've heard plenty of defenders comment that his great strength is that he's always there, making their jobs much more difficult, because they always have to watch him, and that makes it easier for his teammates. He's not blessed with the most outrageous skill or vision, but by heck does he put a shift in.