There have been a number of comments about the ref and liners on Saturday but I am going to defend them. I played for 25 years and have reffed junior and some adult games, so know how hard it is and bear in mind the PL is 10 times quicker. Apologies for the long blog The Carew goal at normal speed with the players all close together and Craig Gordon rushing off the line gave the linesman a split second to make that decision. With the mayhem around the ball he would have had to be brilliant to spot that Carew was beyond the keeper and second to last defender. At normal speed unless you specifically concentrate on Carew alone, it is impossible. The referee could not give it either from where he was. The second goal was also complex. At normal speed with Carew ducking into the ball it is nigh on impossible to see it has gone off his head onto his arm. Without a doubt there was no intention to do that anyway so no deliberate handball. The ball then bounces towards the empty net. If it had not touched Huff he would not have been offside as he would not have been interfering. I think the linesman did not and could not see if the ball hit Huth as he was on the opposite side of the pitch, Huth had his back to him and it hit his side. I think he based his decision on Carew's header, thinking he had scored. The referee may have seen it touch Huff but as he was not directly in line and the linesman did not flag he would have assumed he was onside. The only way that the linesman could have realised Huth had knocked it in, was if he had watched the goal celebrations but within 2 seconds or so they were all celebrating together and linesman tend to do a runner to the halfway line. Personally I think they were plain unlucky and to get either decision spot on would have been first class. Slow motion and repeated showings are sometimes not very fair for those sort of split second decisions with 17/18 players in the area. They can't be compared with the decisions at Sunderland where it was blatantly obvious at first viewing and the referee had clear sight or for example the Neville second booking at the Brittania. Both poor decisions at slow or fast speed.
Agreed, I really felt for Sunderland after seeing the replays, but in a full-on goalmouth scramble at that sort of speed, from half way across the pitch, it would be highly unlikely the linesman could see clearly enough to make a definitive call. Sunderland supporters have aevery right to complain about their luck, and even criticise the match officials' performance, difficult as their jobs may be. However, the abuse of the fans, our team, and the city that certain Sunderland supporters have spewed onto our board in the days since the game are disgraceful. The majority of them didn't even have the excuse that it was in the heat of the moment just after the final whistle.
Nothern Great post and yes, we got some luck. But IF the Sunderland fans want too complain fair enough. What does gripe with me when they say. The ref didn't spot this, that. They don't even mention that they should have actually had a player sent off. The foul on Etherington, which led to our third goal? I'll let someone else tell me and you who that was. Already booked and it was a defo yellow card for that 2nd offence. Off topic slightly. But, i'm not too happy that it seem's MANY Stoke fans are slating K.J. Yep, he's lazy but he was being pulled, jumped on, shirt pulled all afternoon. IF I was K.J. I would just go down once in a while. Maybe,just maybe the ref might give him/us a decision. That said, I think he still needs a kick in the preverbials. Maybe Huth should have a word in his ear. !! I would also like to see, Fuller and Carew start v Birmingham, the thought exites me. Carew has great ball control for his size and Fuller the pace what a mix it could be. THAT might just send a message to K.J. As for the ref's Northern, I'm sick to death of seeing SO MANY bad one's. It goes around I guess but, it shouldn't be like that. The F.A. needs to look at how they perform more closely but, they won't. Just going back to Carew's goal the first goal Northern. WHY and I know as the law stands he was offside. IF as was the case v Sunderland they had a player on or just behind the goal line. But, Carew was offside? I KNOW the rules more or less but, it seem's ridiculous that an opposing player can actually stand behind the goal line, thus making Carew offside. Thoughts mate cos it's complicated enough already.
Peadar I had to DELETE ONE thread from a Mackem a STOKE fan complained to me as a Moderator, it was dealt with Sure, they have every right to be upset with the ref's Lino's. Its NOT OUR fault surly they know/knew this before shooting off!
I thought that too Potts, by that any defender should be able to run off the pitch, leaving any attacking players offside, which is just silly.
Re the carew goal-if you are talking about the guy on the line then there has to be goalkeeper plus one or two outfield players. As the goal keeper was in front of carew when the header was made, Carew was offside as there was only the player on the line left. If it was another Sunderland player who went off the pitch then he has to have permission and so would not be able to play carew offiside. Thats my understanding
Ah, that makes sense. I'd just assumed he didn't count because he was over the line, and therefore off the pitch.
Thanks Northern, I STILL don't think it's right though! Pistol, that was why I was asking the question. I mean we see it often. A winger will be in an offside position but because he doesn't touch the ball, his team mate does he's not offside. And, I blame Craig Gordon cos he was too far out anyway to deal with it.
