new football season 2007/8

It's looking ominous for the Arse again as well!

There seems to be SO much resistance to tech-aids for refs from everyone in the biz, but every footy fan I know is all for it!
There are many things footy could learn from rugby, respecting the ref being the main thing, for me. 15 minute sin-bins & video refs could also work. Gaining 10yards at free kicks I'm not so sure about, as sometimes, a free kick can be too close to the goal to get the ball to dip/swerve sufficiently. If the 10 yard gain was optional, then maybe.
Matt.

10 yards further at free kicks for dissent was tried for several seasons and then outlawed by UEFA because johnny foreigner didn't understand it.

Hiya Scotty,

I am (genuinely) sorry about the result today, I may have mentioned before that I have always had a soft spot for West Ham and the brand of football they (at least try to) play.

I know what you are talking about when you mention that trio of teams - may I just add Liverpool, i.e. to make up the "big four" (my arse)? Not only their antics, but the amount of decisions that go in all their favour when up against the so-called lesser teams. We all know it happens, refs are scared to make the big decisions against all the boy wonders who make up these teams. It's like they know it is so high profile and they just bottle it.
Yes, I am biased, but I have heard many "neutrals" talk about the imbalance between teams getting or not getting important decisions in their favour.

Remember the discussion about penalties being awarded at Old Trafford? Anyone who saw the Meseyside derby at Goodison earlier this season witnessed one of the most incompetent refereeing displays of modern times (Mr Clattenberg) - even Alan Hansen described an Everton penalty claim as "assault", which wasn't given. And Dirk Kuyt's (is that really a porn star's name?) two-footed kung-fu attack on Phil Neville which escaped punishment? Stevie "One Man Team" Gerrard's quiet word in the refs ear to get Hibbert sent off. The list could go on.
The point is, there's one rule for those 4 teams and one rule for the others. OOOHHHH YES!

Mark

Quote"top 4 teams decisions going their way... but I have heard many "neutrals" talk about the imbalance between teams getting or not getting important decisions in their favour."

So Chelsea got special treatment today for a blatantly wrong sending off decision?

no but they got a penalty which never was and everytime john terry asked the ref for a decision he got it! todays ref was very weak.
best league in the world with the worst refs.
chelski are an excellent team probably the best thats been to our manor but i hope they win f**k all this season because of their antics.

+3 other bad decisions?

quote:

Originally posted by BigH47:
Quote"top 4 teams decisions going their way... but I have heard many "neutrals" talk about the imbalance between teams getting or not getting important decisions in their favour."

So Chelsea got special treatment today for a blatantly wrong sending off decision?

Howard,

Well if you raise your hands and push someone then it is not a "blatantly wrong sending off", but we have all seen a lot worse incidents that have gone unpunished.
The problem lies with the inconsistencies of our "professional" referees. Since they gave up their amateur status there really hasn't been any improvement.

Mark

quote:

The problem lies with the inconsistencies of our "professional" referees. Since they gave up their amateur status there really hasn't been any improvement.

I have to agree the "pro" pay was supposed to change their attitude and consistency it just seems to make them think they are stars like the footballers. Mind you they ain't exactly anything to use as a role model either.

For some reason it's something that hasn't really been picked up on. One would think that Sky, for example, who analyse everything to the "n"th degree, would comment on the fact that there hasn't been any improvement since they went "pro". I would like to see them become more accountable and at least come out and explain some of their rather bizarre decisions.
Any idea how much they are paid now??

Mark

And just to balance things out a little, I would also like to see the players show the ref a bit more respect.
Footy just ain't what it used to be.........

Mark

Apparently P League refs pay is £49,000 PA + match fee.
Jeeze I could be that crap for that money.

quote:

P League refs pay is £49,000 PA + match fee

And worth every penny - especially Uriah Renee and Steve Bennett - sometimes they are more interesting than the game. I think they should pay the ref at least that for our next championship game - he is very welcome at Portman Rd - a great bloke, one of the best. I can help him out and make things easier, by saying that our forwards always time runs to perfection and are never offside so no need for lots of whistle - also we never foul anybody in our half of the field so no need for lots of whistle there either.

I never criticise a referee and it is stance I'll never change, not even for that idiotic imbecile who officiated our game in the cup against Pompey and had Liam Trotter banded for three games for nothing.

said it before...say it again - best league in the world with the worst refs. lumpalard was sent off for nothing which is laughable...and boy we laughed
yellow to lumps and rigamortis would have been plenty punishment. refs just want to get their names on the back pages, they are meant to ref a game not STAR in it!
scotty

1-0!

2-0!

That'd be Leigertwood - QPR must be on good form to roll over Stoke.

Mark, are you sure it's only 2-0?

3 - 0

QPR 3-0 Stoke. What a result!

ROTF

We have been a little erratic of late but results like this have been on the cards for a while. We have been consolidating and looking to play the right way. Sometimes this means a step backwards, but it's getting there. Look out next season!

great result for the hoops mark and playing the game the right way too.
a friend of mine has also been praising QPR for the style of football they try to play.
scotty

QPR are a good side - I think they'll have great run for the rest of the season. Thing is no need to overdo it, for example, no point in QPR turning in one of their best performances on 29th March when they'd be better off resting some players and taking it easy and, perhaps, letting the other team get the points on that one occasion.

Great result Mark - I really rate Stoke and you annihilated them.

ATB Rotf

rotf,
are you coming to the forum get together in ashford next week ?

2-0 against Man City and 3-1 against Portsmouth shows real intent. Please please please let us take that coveted 4th spot in the league. Surely there's a few neutrals out there who are on my side..............????

Mark

And in my totally unbiased way, were Liverpool really good value for their win today? I saw bits of the first half, Bolton hitting the woodwork and then the rs scoring one of the most bizarre goals of the season. Typical!

Mark

quote:

Originally posted by markah:
2-0 against Man City and 3-1 against Portsmouth shows real intent. Please please please let us take that coveted 4th spot in the league. Surely there's a few neutrals out there who are on my side..............????

Mark

Go on Mark, I'll champion the Toffees to get that 4th spot and break the dominance of the Big Four.

Come on you blues!

Mark