Our disciplinary record is looking a bit sick at the moment; Is it down to a) players ? b) refs ? c) management ?
Beat me to it bob , was just going to start a thread .The players are playing without disipline, from tackles to tempers to not sticking to positional play . We better get it worked out and soon.
All of the above. Players give away bad fouls and get carded primarily because they are out of position, too slow, or too lazy. I don't think we have any malicious players in the squad, which would be the other reason. Referees are going to call it the way they see it regardless of what we think. But we've brought focus on us and are going to get the bad rub of the green because Monk has decided to speak out and our players over the last few seasons have turned the occasional mouth off to the ref into a bit of a habit. Even the best refs at some point get tired of it and when you need the 50-50 call to roll in your favor, they don't. Management ... they set the tone. When you play well you take the ref out of the equation by commanding possession and scoring goals. When you don't, the ref becomes an increasingly important factor. We have not been as commanding as we have in past seasons IMO. Also the manager has set a marker down with his commentary ... he hasn't made any "friends" and he hasn't done anything to tease the favorable bias out of the ref on 50-50 calls. Little by little it all adds up and it doesn't take much for an imbalance to become a factor.
combination of bad refereeing and stupid actions from players. 70% ref's 30% players 0% management they are not on the pitch....
Just a theory - as Monk is persisting with being Mother Theresa on the diving front (not knocking that) is it frustrating the players a bit? Montero could have bought a pen today no problem.
I'm not sure he would have had to 'buy' it, he was fouled when he had control of the ball. Dyer and Routledge have always done the same I don't mind that as long as refs acknowledge it my giving us free kicks when Swans are fouled.
I was taking bought as in gone looking for the foul, e.g. when a player deliberately trips over an outstretched leg. Either way it was a foul whether he hits the deck or not.
Yes, I can see that. I actually applaud Monk's stance but I can't help but feel he's pissing in the wind AND it's actually hurting us.
Wouldn't disagree. Can you see us getting the backlash from refs (post yesterday's meeting) as the season continues? It was brave to stand up to them but I'm not sure if it had an affect on the yellow card count today!
Scary thing for me today was Bony riding the edge of a 2nd yellow card....we almost had 2 players off , not good.
Maybe we're like the only honest guard in a prison full of crooked ones. Feels good about himself but drives home in a beaten up old Mini.
You have to stand up for what is right. Cheating must never win or it stops becoming what all games are a sport. We need more honest managers to speak up and not hide behind managers like monk but agree with him.....
It seems the problem is managers don't agree with him. And it's probably time for him to shut up with the big headlines or we'll have more to moan about not less.
We 'need' more honest managers but where are they Dai? We see the likes of Hughes come out and crticise the FA for not punishing Monk for callng Moses a cheat when that's exactly what he was. Some managers have made supportive noises but how many of them will be tearing their player off a strip for not going down in the box rather than patting them on the back and saying 'well done, son'?
Dragon you are right, when you have people like Hughes, clearly happy for his players to cheat, it is like pissing against a gale force wind. I am happy for Monk to make noises as it has to start somewhere. With the appalling desicions going against us this year, it is clearly frustrating for him and he feels he has to make some sort of stand. Unfortunately the only other manager who really came out against cheating was Pullis and he is no longer with anyone. What is the most frustrating is the total lack of consistency in referees and its not just us in that it is in nearly every game I watch. Referees need to be made more accountable. Is anyone watching Man c v Man u I see Oliver is at it again. Booked a Utd player rightly and then for a very similar foul failed to book a city player. Then leaves a clear penalty go. Got the red correct though. I suppose he has to do something right.
I think Slade up the road agreed with Monk but he doesn't really carry much weight other than around his waist.
Don't believe that for one minute. there are plenty of managers who agree with him but wont do anything in case of reprisals. I hate cheating in anything and dont mind losing than cheating my way through life....I have more respect for someone who says we were beaten by the better player or side on the day than anyone who thinks its ok to cheat. Once you cheat the game ceases to become a sport and becomes a farce that ends any fair play to the game and you might as well not play....
