The ref wasn't just piss poor today, he was an absolute joke and really should be given a talking to for that. We're not just talking bad decisions but he didn't protect the players at all and that's what he's there for, he was just having a laugh today, taking it easy not worrying about the players or fans who'd paid to see a game he nearly allowed Watford to ruin. I said to the people with me after the first few minutes that it was evident, as OLM has said, that Watford had come to play anti-football and spoil it and it would be a big test for the ref today, I also predicted that we'd end up getting more bookings than them despite this and that at least one would be for a brilliant tackle. I could just see he has going to be a tosser. I was right on all accounts as he let Doyley, Dickinson and Deeney off yellow cards in the first half and effectively promoted them to carry on. For both of their goals they took over two minutes to finish their celebrations getting every outfield player into our half, which they had obviously done just to waste some time and annoy us (it's also a psychologocial thing making us wait for them but I'm not going into that) did the ref care? Not a bit. After we scored the winner he couldn't wait to book Cairney for celebrating (which obviously wasn't time-wasting, more jubilation). McLean got booked for the best tackle of the game, just 'cos the ref fancied it and at one point John Eustace had one of our players on the floor (can't remember who) and kicked him twice with the ball completely absent and everybody was looking. Nothing. What was I saying a week ago bout the Rooney thing? It wouldn't happen to a player that nobody cares about. Seems I was right there too. Seconds later the same guy commits possibly the worst tackle I've seen in my life on Dudgeon with the ball completely gone, nearly splits the poor bastard in two and gets nothing, not even a foul. The whole refereeing system and football rulebook needs a good shakeup. It's just nonsense at the moment, they want to rule out tackles completely and at the same time promote cheating and anti-football. Refs are absolutely predictable in everything they do; they will never give a 50-50 decision to the attacking side because it's too scary that a goal may occur, and things like backpasses might as well not be in the rulebook because the refs are so scared to give one. It's becoming a joke.
^this. The Watford second goal celebration made the ref look a totally inept pointless TW at ! No control, completely out of his depth. What was his name? Let's hope we don't get the useless clunt again eh ! UTT
What is it about these southern teams - DQPR Charlton and now Watford that they seem to have to cheat and time waste. Their GK put the ball down and proceeded to walk past it on every occasion as if to shout or converse with his own players before getting behind the ball to kick it - so blatantly timewasting but the Ref couldn't see it. My wife's a southerner - good job shes not a cat tonight.
I know what you mean, I haven't seen Watford like that before though, that Dyche must have got them playing like that.
We are missing a hard barsteward in midfield though - someone in the Ash mould please if we are to taste ultimate success. That w*nker Eustace would have been put right in his place (again) if we had.
Ok, ease on it anyways stick to Bev Tiger. As for the performance, First half well...we will leave it at that. Second half, we came out, believed we were gonna win, both our strikers got on the score sheet, and we got what we deserved. Watford where dirty, leading to why Brady was brought off. Can't go wrong with the result and I am really looking forward to my trip to Forest next week
In fairness, he owed us that goal as his piss-poor defending was the reason for their second goal going in.
True and he was beaten several times by simply being too scared, something I thought he'd stopped doing. But the creativity he gives us is worth it I think.
Absolutely spot on, was very poor. But in fairness, Iwelumo did well for them today, kind of player we are missing. like I said, creeped out
Scott Loach start ran out the area with the ball in his hands! Couldn't believe he didn't give that! McLean's tackle that got him a yellow - he won that fairly, not a chance it being a yellow. and Dickinson - what a w@nker!
That was the worst case of time wasting and poor gamesman ship since John Gregory brought his ****e QPR side to the KC. The officiating was of utterly ****ing piss poor standard, a catalogue of school boy errors. WTF with the new/no TVs in the concourse that aren't turned on? Install one per 2,000 people, mount them in a frankly stupid location so you can't see the screen because of the light reflection from the concourse windows....not clever! That aside, great result, Koren needs his contract extending, and keeping in CM. Rosenior needs to be made captain. Leads by example and just truly outstanding far better candidate than Hobbs IMHO. I think the only area we need to strengthen is 2 players, 1 centre half (loan), 1 centre forward (permanent). I think we really need to sign a 'quality' centre forward, we don't have enough up front. That should see us through!
You're right about the handball and the McLean thing but it didn't surprise me at all, they were both just typical modern refereeing. Refs won't give a 'keeper handball in this country unless he's 5-6 yards outside of the box, whereas if it was in Europe they would give it and send him off, English teams always suffer in Europe because of the drastic difference in refereeing standards. As for Dickinson, ex-Stoke tells you all you need to know. Stoke have a knack of signing players and suddenly turning them into thugs. Look at James Beattie when he went there! Leeds are the same, when did Ross McCormack get so ****ing terrifying, have you seen him these days? Imagine if you bumped into him in a dark alley!
The ref gave a free kick that wasn't a free kick, that led to the first goal. Mclean got a yellow card that wasn't a yellow in a million years. Their man should have walked for the raised hand on Brady. Their keeper handled well outside the box(those are just the ones I remember off the top of my head). I thought he had a nightmare, the time wasting was pantomime, the fouling was ignored, he gave at least half a dozen free kicks the wrong way, all in all, he was an inept ****er. Iwelumo is good at what he does, but what he does is climb on people and be a dirty bastard with little talent. I'd rather have him than Adebola, as he's certainly capable of doing a job, but the job he does definitely doesn't include being a quality footballer.
Also there were two sets of scuffles in between the technical areas. The first was just a bit of harmless shoving that ridiculously resulted in two bookings (neither of which were deserved) one for Brady and one for Dickinson. The later in the second half there was a scuffle when one of their players kicked Evans on the ground (who the tried to kick out in retaliation) and neither of the players were booked. The second incident was FAR worse than the first!! Incredible inconsistency. By the way, just thought I'd say I thought Joe Dudgeon had a great game today and that James Chester had a really tough day and definitely his worst game in a City shirt (he was up against the dirty, fouling, cheating coont Iwelumo, in his defence!!!)
Lets just blame the ref for us being ****e!! Basso was wasting time in the first ten minutes, taking the ball to the opposite side. So who can blame them. It was a foul for their goal. Rosenior didnt jump he made a back. The hand ball is debatable, hopefully see it later on tonight. I thought he handled it well with Brady. Brady kicked out at him as their player was on the ground. Iwelumo is just what we want.
You didn't see the Evans one then? Where Eustace just booted him twice, while he was on the floor, with everyone looking straight at them and the ball already dead? Or Eustace's disgusting tackle on Dudgeon a couple of seconds later? Both worth straight reds.
I went to bed last night here in China, disappointed as City drew 2-2 with lowly Watford. The BBC World Service gave that scoreline, my internet was down. I went to bed at midnight disappointed. This morning the internet was back and City had won 3-2....well done to the BBC
