Did anybody notice that Gardner was about to escape his booking until a United player told the Ref to book him? Please somebody else say they saw this. Next thing Gardner is taken off and our organisation and discipline goes out the window. Thought the substitutions were a bit suspect today. That and players being played out of position towards the end of the game. Anybody has got to question Ji on the left. Still the odd silly mistakes right across the back four too. The Central Defence cost us a point today. Roberge Should be calling for that and JoS should know it's going too far over him to clear safley. May sound nit picky but mistakes cost you games at this level. Negatives out the way on to the Positives! Lee Cattermole where have you been you sexy bastard! Commanded the midfield like the captain he his (earn it back son!). Set a proper example. Bet Paolo wishes he had been fit for the Start of the season. Giacc- Wow, I can tell already he's going to be one of the best 6 million that we've ever spent. His passing, vision, work rate, clear love for the game, quick, tricky, stronger than he looks, the lad looks world class to me. Only 6 league games played in a struggling team, he's wasted no time in settling in. He's going to get better and better as he learns the league and the language. Overall, We didn't disgrace ourselves did we? That front three has goals on it, ki is immaculate, imo he's not the key who unlocks defences, he's the bridge that connects defence with attack and we've really missed that. I'm happy with the starting lineup and the overall performance. At last Gards put in a performance in the middle of the park and was **** on by the ref imo. Defence still looks shaky but feel much better having Roberge to pass the ball out, i even think it inspired JoS to play the ball on the deck until we went behind. Dodgy Subs but I'm happy enough overall. Improved.
Good summary. It was clear that the ref forgot he'd booked Gardner for the same thing. All the manc's did was remind him. Left him with no choice really. Doesn't make it right but I guess most teams would've reacted the same way. I still think we're not far off the pace. Just a bit of luck and some inspiration from the new guv'nor could make all the difference.
Am I missing something? That doesn't make sense to me. Both Nani and Evra handballed and got away with it, the Mancs went screaming to the ref who was allowing play to go on and he THEN booked Gardner.
You're right, they did get away with it. The point I was making was as you just said, "they went screaming.... then booked Gardner". But he'd given a free kick to the manc's so he had seen the handball but forgotten he'd given a yellow card to us earlier for the same thing.
Fact remains an 'impartial' referee changed his decision based on the advice of an on field player. Surely it warrants sacking.
Not having a go bonny lad but you have still lost me! What yellow card had he given to us earlier for the same thing?
Not sure what he means either. What I saw was Gardner give away a free kick and the referee make no attempt whatsoever to reach for his cards until a united player sprinted 10 yards to tell the ref to book him, to which the ref obliged. The most unethical decision I've ever seen made by a referee on a football pitch.
I saw it Bri - my ST is in the East Stand Library and I shouted "just tell him when you want a pen as well" everyone looked at me as tho I was crackers
Well that's why I posted the OP, I was in the pub, plenty of sunderland fans there too and I was the only one who spotted it. Everyone just silently watched me ranting with blank expressions. I'm glad some of you lads saw it as I was starting to think I was going mental.
you are correct the ref had given them a free kick and everyone was running back to take up positions and Carrick (I think it was) started going on at Foy who initially waved him away then Carrick had another go at him and he turned round and booked Gardner. If it was because of a deliberate attempt to stop them from breaking then 2 MU players should have been booked earlier. Evra was one of them and I was already going nuclear about that - can you imagine if Jacko had got a 1 on 1 with him and he had already been booked? There is a news item at the mo about match fixing in non league and they are complaining about the FA doing FA about it (think its fifa that are investigating). When I see things like that I just wonder and I think back over the years and I just wonder even more(i.e. remember Kieran Richardson getting sent of???).
Something ain't right. The ethical standards in reffing this season has been appalling. I demand accountability!
I counted 3 or 4 times in the first half where a Utd player "took one for the team" (as Gardner did) without actually having to take one as the ref didn't have the bottle to give out a card. 2 in particular there was a handball almost identical to Gardners and a foul on the half way line by Jones where Giaccherini was away from him so he got fouled - yet no card was shown. What Gardner did deserved a yellow no doubt, but so were 5 or 6 of what Utd's players did without any punishment
TBH mate it may have been a yellow card but the ref only issued it because of an opposing players request. Nothing wrong with players appealing. It's well within their rights but for a referee to be swayed at a players request and change his mind is so unprofessional.
Agree totally Bri - in the first game of the season Iago Aspas was booked for waving an imaginary card at the referee - that is no different to what Carrick did today yet the ref just booked our player. It was a yellow card offence but the manner of it was disgusting
