I saw a reaction to the last few games. The bodylanguage after the game looked to me like a unified team who were disconsolate. These things can make a team better as long as heads dont drop (and there is no reason they should let that happen)
Collectively the players showed their appreciation by applauding the crowd as group rather than individually which imo showed that we are all in it together whether on or off the pitch , no one said this PL lark gets any easier and it doesn't for as club such as ours so today's performance hopefully, is a turning point in the right direction
I know there was a 4-4 v Rotherham but I'm not sure it was from four down. It definitely happened in the Stockport game. Just got an old program from 2nd April 77 out and in the manager's notes Harry Griffiths says "In the home game v Stockport where we went four goals down before fighting back"
Yes. I remember Potter in goal having a mare. I think three of their goals went through his legs. Never forget the last home game either. We went 0-4 down v Watford by half-time but couldn't fight back. Missed promotion by a point, I think.
Well it wasn't that long ago we had a team who would never come back from going behind. The players showed a lot of fortitude today. Terrible defending for the first two goals though. Davies needs time out and Taylor should come back, at least for a while.
Just saw the penalty on MOTD. Ref you're a ********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************** tw*t.
Pozuelo didn't look out of place today. Much better playing in that position. Not bad for £0.4m. Only just turned 22 as well.
Absolutely scandalous, feel totally cheated as did our players at the final whistle, they had worked so hard to come from behind to be within seconds of a worthy win only to be denied by an inexperienced ref who seemed hell bent on giving Stoke everything he could. So many wrong decisions starting really early on with numerous free kicks against us for no good reason, Stoke's first goal had Ash waiting on the touchline trying to get back on and once they were ahead there was obvious time wasting by their keeper and players who went down and stayed down whenever they had the opportunity. As for the penalty it was a complete joke, the original free kick against Angel for handball was wrong as it hit his chest not his arm, it then went for a corner which was cleared away only for the ref to give it again for what I have no idea. Then to cap it all he gives handball against Routledge when the striker infront of him ducks at the last second and it just brushes past the top of his arm without him attempting to touch it, even Match of the Day were on our side for once but it does mean we have been robbed of two precious points which might have an impact later in the season.
...and the free kick against Rangel that led to the corner wasn't handball either. The ref should be pulled from the Prem until he's got more experience. He has to be certain to make those decisions.
When a ref has to make a decision, and you've been barking at him almost all game for this and that - especially Rangel, but not just him - do you really think the bastard is going be moved to give you the benefit of the doubt. I doubt it. One of things we need to stop doing is arguing with the ref. It's totally futile. It's likely to produce cards for descent. And, when push comes to shove you, you get ****ed at the drive through. Even when the ref is a total dip ****, you have to stroke their egos and make them feel like you're their best friend. Just so that at moments like today, at the end of the game, they magically go blind in your favor.
Our players in fairness don't tend to be too lippy though yankee do they ? What was winding up Rangel and others was the complete injustice through out the whole game not just at the end,stoke were getting every 40-60 never mind 50-50 !! As bad a ref performance ive seen for a while and after the last 2 seasons in the prem league I think its fair to say the ref standard has got a lot worse. We can play a part in this though. we need to start making the liberty far more indimadating for officals, we give them far too easy a ride these days, we need to badger them more IMO. its the only thing that can possibly make a bit of difference. We are a small club and like other small clubs the pressure isn't on the ref[s when then fook it up ,they know the press wont be all over it in the same way as if it was Man utd V Chelsea . We as fans perhaps need to play our part a bit more .
Q. Would the ref have given that penalty AGAINST Man U at Old Trafford? Answers on a postcard..............
Mmmmmmmmm let me see!!!!!!! If he wanted to leave Old Trafford alive then NO. Would never bee given against any of the big boys.
Come on PG you are going to get splinters in your bum with this sitting on the fence - say what you really mean I must admit Rangel does seem to have got into a habit recently of delivering a fair bit of vocals but that is by the by and in no way excuses that decision. Lets take advantage of the break now to get together hopefully Ash rests his ankle and we turn a display in at Fulham like we did 2 seasons ago and that will be the end of Martin Jol. Although I think there is a good chance Jol might have gone by the time we play them and it may the "new manager factor" could be Pulis or dare I say Malky
Nothing excuses a disgraceful piece of refereeing, but this is a professional game. the players must stop acting like petulent children and start acting like pros. when you're busy losing your **** with the ref as a player you are not focsing on what the other team is setting up, what your role is in the coming set piece, where the player is that you need to be tracking, etc. and then you're creating an "enemy" not a "friend". there are going to be moments when you need that ref to give you the benefit of a doubt and when you've done nothing but call him a prick all afternoon it's just not going to happen. for rangel and others this is becoming an increasing problem. the best person to work the officials is the manager who has the ear of the 4th official all game. the designated complainer should not be on the field.
I don't think our players reacted any differently to all the other players in the Prem when faced with an injustice, and I thought the ref got a hell of a lot wrong before the pen so there was a lot to complain about. Being 'friends' with the ref usually means you get **** all from him. The only thing I really disagreed with was Chico's antics. Absolutely dreadful.
