Fran - are you sure about this? Mane spends half the game on the deck, Long and Tadic don't need much contact before going down. I don't like to see this and would be delighted is RK had a word with them to stop it before it spreads to the rest of the team and we end up being an embarrassment like Chelsea
I think it was a solid performance by the referee. For some reason we expect perfection from a referee that we would never expect from a player. Not even Messi goes 90 minutes without making a mistake. Initially I thought Ivanović dived, he fell to the ground in such a theatrical manner and I didn't spot the contact until I saw the replay. I imagine it was also hard to spot it for the referee, and Ivanović's theatrics certainly didn't help to sway the referee to decide in his favor. The second incident was a yellow card offence, but I can accept, for instance, that it was Matić's first foul in the second half and the referee decided to be lenient considering Matić was already booked. Other than that, it was a very good performance by the referee.
My interpretation there was he was unsure if he could pick it up, as Jose had played it a couple of times.
apart from his near post ones.... then he seemed to imagine a much tighter angle than was really there.
I knew someone would mention that. I was going to go pre-emptive and mention it first. I bet if you added it up, his near-post stuff was no better or worse than any other goalkeeper. But obviously it is memorable because he was SO good everywhere else!! Anyway, he was the best goalkeeper in the Championship during our promotion season and you can't do much better than that.
I think Tintin forgot his angry pills again. We'd be top of the league with Kelvin and Corky still in the team LFF
Have to admit I thought the referee had a good game. I think we all have to remember the referee makes judgements on what he sees not what he guessed happened. The Chelsea shout was a difficult call in my view even with the help of replays. The Chelsea player was caught there was no doubt in my view, but whether he contacted Tadic or Tadic tapped him is definitely a doubt. So can understand the referee's decision or indecision if you like. As for the referee not booking the player for his foul on Mane ..........he was late in the tackle and was a bit lucky. Not much else to say about it really. The ref just gave him the benefit of doubt for the challenge lucky for the player.
We need to find someone else his penalties are just dreadful. If he takes the next one the keeper will just stand still and save it! Surely ward prowse or toby or pelle or clyne or mane or !!!!! would be better
