I've often hoped Sunderland would remonstrate with the referee, as everyone else seems to, but we're normally too polite. At QPR a few ran over to the referee but the others went towards Colback, other QPR players who'd piled in or to Bellingham to see if he was injured ... ... it wasn't just a mass protest to the referee as has been said. The QPR players had no just reason to run over ... ... they did it solely to try to influence the referee, nothing but that. It was clear from kick off that Ainsworth had wound them up, he's to blame for the red imo.
During the match on here some blamed Ballard for not getting his head in the ball on the long throw in trying to climb over one of our players for their goal. Seconds before in giving away the throw in he'd been pushed into the hoardings by their big no.9 and was furious at not been given the free kick. As Smug and others have alluded too had the Ref got a firm grip earlier on the red card might not have happened as at least 2 Rangers players would already been in his book and we'd be a goal up from the non penalty award. Players have a responsibility not to cheat but the Ref had the biggest responsibility by doing his job properly from minute one.
In my opinion some referees have their own agenda that influences their decisions and the Laws of Football are ignored or bent.
Quite right, look at the Rotherham game when he overcompensated for 'the big boys' ... ... some of the decisions were ludicrous and clearly looking after 'plucky Rotherham'.
This is a decent write up from their point of view. https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/footb...871/colback-bears-gift-to-former-club--report
It is, although the lad is starting to get a bit carried away with himself. The thing that stood our most was his repetitive criticism of 'Moany Tony' ... ... there's no one worse, on the touchline, than Ainsworth the gobby scarecrow. If he's not pulling up his pants or tucking his hair behind his ears he's ranting at the fourth official And, for any QPR saying Mowbray doesn't have a Plan B ... ... he took off a full back, at half time, and put on a winger but played him inside. It worked a treat.
I don’t think it’s a criticism of Mowbray so much as one of the officials randomly enforcing some new directives and not others. Much like timewasting, diving etc. all teams will do it to some extent but the away bench were getting visibly irate over some really minor decisions in the build-up to the red card.
I actually thought TM kept himself on a tight leash during the game. He was a lot more vocal v Ipswich which funnily enough involved another next to useless referee. Perhaps these officials could try a bit harder in doing their jobs without showing favour to either team, after all its not rocket science.
Hmmm, can't agree there tbh. Ainsworth had obviously wound his players up to intimidate our young players. It's reasonable to expect a degree of protection from the referee ... ... timewasting is one thing, which QPR started at 1-0, but injuries to kids starting out in the game is something else. Bellingham was very lucky not to have gone home with a big boot on his foot.
Think it was quite an effective plan and generally well within the rules before the moaning. I’ve always liked O’Nein as a player. Versatile and does the ‘dark arts’ stuff well but I think it’s to be expected that teams will test him physically if he’s played at centre-half.
It may be but I'm just pleased we don't have to suffer it every week. Sunderland play some fabulous football and the kids are an absolute joy. In our previous games, such as Ipswich and Southampton, we've not had much of this rough stuff from our team and very little of the complaining to the officials, etc. Against QPR it seemed to be a case of fighting fire with fire from the off ... ... the moral of which is, I'm afraid, it you don't like it back don't dish it out. Sadly you'll have more of it this season because, with Ainsworth, you'll reap what you sow.
I don’t think we really did get it back. I don’t even think we particularly dished it out. But yeah Southampton and Ipswich are nice tippy-tappy ‘proper football’ teams too. Blackburn and Cardiff perhaps less so but I’d expect you to beat both.
Was watching sky the other day and they were talking about Southampton. How poor they were against Sunderland. Never once mentioned how good we were. Then they started going on about the Leicester game and how good Leicester were. No mention of how poor Southampton were (and they were)!! Ridiculous how biased the pundit La were
Duncan Watmore springs to mind, he wasn't quite so lucky, just another casualty, of our Gareth and his brutal football philosophy. I used to be taken in by his insincerity but not any more, hes a thug first and last.. I was shocked by Colback, and am relieved that more damage wasn't done by his reckless behavior but he is not and never has been a dirty player, so perhaps all those who rant at him on this forum could welcome him back to Sunderland in view of his performances for us, and show just what football can be about, far better than sinking to Ainsworths level imo.
Mowbray makes a big point, every week, of saying how he approaches each game, in a different way, according to the opposition ... ... we all knew what it would be like against an Ainsworth side, glad it's over tbh. It's good of you to defend your manager but I don't envy you mate, it'll be a long hard season imo.
Think he’s playing to the gallery a bit. We’ve had 14 yellows in the first six and hadn’t had a red for ages.
He did a decent one last year too. Not bad at all. Bit carried away with the Moany thing but fair enough, they got beat, youhavecto tqist about something! ( TM usually rarely says that much anyway mind, probably realising its wasted breath).
