Any manager in the world would of complained about that though. Atkinson is a twat and the whole world accepts it.
any ref that is CONSISTENT is fine with me. lets be frank here. atkinson sent rodwell off wrongly then saw felliani commit the exact same foul, though from a different angle, saw actual contact and actual studs and did not even give a card. thats inconsistent. again. webb sent off gerrard... then proceeded to see rafael dive in two footed on meireles and the only difference is carrick went in and merieles pulled out. if one was a red so was the other.... inconsistent! If both sides know the score going into the game what a ref will do then noether side should have a problem! simple...... the best refs reduce their errors as much as possible but most importantly apply common sense, use thier assets like linesmen and advantage rule and are consistent in decision making. this game requires someone who will take a couple of seconds to be sure about something, make the decision based on the incident not what proceeded it in the game and will be consistent. simple really. Webb is a home town ref, he allows floppers to profit all over the pitch until it gets to the penalty area where he then changes to not giving anything unless you are assaulted, he clearly applies prejudice against a lot of players based on reputation.... its that simple. the disgrace of a world cup final he reffed is all the evidence anyone needs to show a guy who bottles things. other refs who are "younger" or rather at the big table for less time like mason... .well... they are just too scared sometimes of the consequences to go do the right thing. the funny thing is i remember clearly a certain mr Poll.... who was IMO the sinlge worst most snippy, whistle happy, jumped up, so and so I ever saw.... debut and gradually over time seem to grow a common sense that by the end he wasn't too bad.... was that managers bashing him into line over time or him growing into the role?
The fact the issue of "who refs the game has come up so early" b4 the fixture, when the issue of who refs the the game for any other fixture never is even thought about, proves how much influence United have over referees
