The thing that really pisses me off about that tackle on Diaz is the complete indifference to it. If Tierney saw it as a yellow, or even just a foul, then I’d still think he was wrong put put it in the category of a difference of opinion.
But to just wave it away as a coming together, part of the game, is fucking bizarre. Needs calling out.
Also on a side note, we need to get rid of all 4th officials and have them replaced with stewards or other type of security…what are they there to actually do? Oversee the incompetence of the onfield ref and ensuring nothing dramatic happens on the touch line? They never do. They’re standing in figures who are always remonstrated with by both sets of managers in virtually any game you see. Get them out and replace with actual professionals who can prevent a situation getting out of hand.
They are there to do administrative shit, but mostly to act as a reserve in the event one of the initial officials cannot continue. It only happens rarely, but in today’s high stakes and packed schedule, you dont want to cancel a game because the linesman pulls a hamstring.
Thats fine, then for emergency purposes keep them inside the dressing room far away from the pitch or dugouts, they are not trained to act as peacemakers between 2 teams benches.
So its ok for Mason, Moyes, Arteta to whine like kittens. Its ok for Mourinho to incite trouble. For Arteta to blithely ignore technical area etiquette.
Its acceptable that Guardiola is a fucking fraud.
Its fine for all of this, but the best manager we could hope for is now judged by his own supporters in this manner.