Thought it was notable that as all the Chelsea players were only interested in trying to intimidate the ref, it was left to Hendo to go an console and encourage a clearly devastated James.
Yep. Refs who are willing to talk about the game (think Clattenburg) are fairly open about them feeling pressure to even up games. They know they’re going to get stuff wrong so rather than call everything on merit and risk the balance of of when they’re wrong being heavily weighted to one side, they consciously keep a tally in their head to try to balance out borderline or big decisions. If a team can make the ref feel like they are being hard done by there is then a natural reaction to alter how he refs the rest of the game.
My final word on the pen (who am I kidding)…I think the way it hit his arm was fine and not something I’d have given a pen for. However, it does look like he panics, unsure whether he’s going to be able to keep it out and then looks to scoop it away after it’s already hit him. So for me its not that it hit his arm per se, but that he looks to try to put extra oomph on it to keep it out. It’s borderline, but I’m fine with it.
What that said, Taylor only watching a freeze frame on VAR was an abomination. You can reach the right decision but if you do so with the wrong process that still deserves to be called out.
That is not what happened though. The ball came off his thigh but continued toward the goal. To prevent the ball crossing the line he used his arm (which started at his side) to push the ball away from the goal. So the mitigation is just was it instinctive or deliberated and in all intents and purposes that doesn’t matter, or does it?
These rugby tackles on Mané are the ones that get me the most as they are so frequent and just as frequently ‘overlooked’ by the refs. It’s like Mané is deemed too good so allowing rugby tackles on him is just leveling the playing field. The number of times it has happened surely makes the conspiracy theory valid in this case as how the hell can a ref let such blatant cheating go?
Yeah, I really dont get it about Mane. It’s like refs look at him like he’s strong enough to be able to deal with it so just let it go. I think it was City 2 seasons ago he was running in on goal, about to shoot, when a CB who was chasing him clipped his heel. It was a clear red card and free kick in a dangerous area and it wasnt even a foul.
Not talking about any agenda or conspiracy theories, but the fact that bad decisions and performance on the pitch isn’t related doesn’t seem logical to me. Small things and decisions do matter to the players on the pitch and how they are performing. Again the bad decisions alone aren’t responsible for us not performing, but the reverse is as applicable.
@Colossal_centre_back Aye, we cant judge things as a handicapped contest. It’s fair to debate how influential dubious refereeing actually is, but the argument we should be able to win against a really good side in the face of shit refereeing doesn’t make much sense.
FWIW, I think we are particularly susceptible to the effects of this in ways that are pretty pernicious. A big part of what make us effective is the suffocating pressure we put on teams. We may not create the same number of clear cut chances as a side like City, but where we excel is in applying enough pressure to a side that eventually they crack. If a ref is constantly refusing to give fouls in the attacking third for situations like Kante climbing on Mane’s back, or constantly allowing them an out by falling over the second we go near them in an attempt to win the ball back, it provides them an easy out. it doesnt require big decisions to not go our way, the sort that will be focused on during MotD. It just requires that picky decisions go against us in a way that allows the opposition to get a release from what would otherwise be our sustained pressure
At no point did I address you with any sort of insult, so wind your fucking neck in before you engage in an adult conversation.
Unless you are really fucking blind you couldnt miss the handball on Saturday. Or naive.
As for your “fucking lemmings” jibe, you might be in the fucking sheep camp that believe everything is always fair and equal.
I actually had an odd premonition about this match, mainly due to the fact that Chelsea had matched all our results so far. I thought it was going to a draw based on that, just wasn’t sure what the score was…
Well considering the only time they rigorously enforced it was just to send a Liverpool player off, maybe not. I remember Mascherano getting sent off, and the very next week, United players doing much worse, but no punishment at all.
Brought in the week after Ashley Cole quite simply refused to engage the referee, Mascherano sent off for asking that bald prick Bennett if he could possibly do something to stop Torres being booted all round OT. Great times.
Woke up yesterday frustrated, but realized that it could have (theoretically) been worse — we could have missed the penalty and still been kept out by 10-man Chelsea.
tackles on our players and the same against Leeds yesterday 