Ref for Everton v Man Utd game has been changed to...guess who

[Shanks]

The pen today was a stonewaller IMO so maybe Riley had Moyes' remarks in his mind.

As soon as that was brought up about Riley and the Mancs, my first thoughts were about how it could go against them.

He's in a no win situation.

When I was watching games as a kid, you wouldn't even know anything about the ref, not even a name and if you did, it wouldn't really count for anything.

[Shaggy]

I'm thinking back to when Cahill could have been one on one with Foster (potential England keeper ) and I didn't see anything wrong.

Yep that and some dire corner/goal kick decisions. Plus every single 50-50.

[Joe King]

Yep that and some dire corner/goal kick decisions. Plus every single 50-50.

Yep, Fellaini, despite being unbelievably clumsy at times was unfortunate for the majority with that dirty cunt and the merking prick winning the decisions.

[dww]

The pen today was a stonewaller IMO so maybe Riley had Moyes' remarks in his mind.

However everything else went to the Mancs. There was a spell in extra-time when he gave the Mancs some unbelievable decisions.

To be honest I thought he was doing well enough until the penalty decision. Then he did what all referees seem to do when they think they ****ed up - namely giving all decisions to the team they worry they might have wronged.

[Shaggy]

To be honest I thought he was doing well enough until the penalty decision. Then he did what all referees seem to do when they think they ****ed up - namely giving all decisions to the team they worry they might have wronged.

It appears so blatant when refs do that.

[Craig_H]

The pen today was a stonewaller IMO so maybe Riley had Moyes' remarks in his mind.

However everything else went to the Mancs. There was a spell in extra-time when he gave the Mancs some unbelievable decisions.

Moyes played a blinder saying what he did to the media - i'm sure that if he hadnt said that, Riley would've given it as a pen.

[Neil Young]

I didn't watch the game but none of what I've read here surprises me about Riley. I don't think he deliberately makes bad decisions because of bias; I think he's just poor at dealing with pressure and that's why if he's one of the best in the country then we're very badly served (dww's point about refs elsewhere notwithstanding).

I don't really think Moyes deserves any praise for putting him under even more pressure even though I'm glad it seems to have had the desired result.

[Craig_H]

If Riley messes up decisions when under pressure, and Moyes comments put him under pressure, then indirectly, Moyes is responsible for Riley not giving the peno

[Neil Young]

Well, yes, I pretty much said that. Still, that doesn't make it a good thing really. More bad decisions - no matter who benefits - simply make things worse.

Also we can look at it from the point of view of our own self-interest. Given that it looks a pretty clear penalty and that all media coverage is saying it was, alongside comments from the likes of Ferdinand ("Referees won't give us penalties"), then domestic referees now might feel a little pressure to give them more marginal ones than before. So while it may have thwarted them in the Cup it could help them in the League. Then again it may not so there's no point worrying about it.

[Craig_H]

So really, what Rafa needs to do now is come out and pinpoint the notion of refs now leaning towards giving them a peno, to 'make up' for the Riley decision.

Basically, just keep up the idea that any ref who gives them a penalty is doing it for wrong reasons

[Neil Young]

I'm admitting defeat on this.