Rafa's 'facts' (January rant)

[rudedog]

"You can see every single week how they put (referees) under pressure, we
know this. We have seen it before. We have seen players sent off at Old Trafford and we do not see our opponents sent off.

"It is part of the game. But to complain and to always have an advantage is
not fair.

"We had a meeting in Manchester with managers and FA about the Respect
campaign. And I was very clear, forget the campaign because Mr Ferguson was killing the referees, killing Mr Atkinson, killing Mr Hackett.

"But he is not punished. How can you talk about the respect campaign and
criticise the referee every single week?

Red card AND a penalty today - Is it possible Rafa's 'attack' on Fergie may have had a little to do with us finally getting some deciscions at old trafford?

[ric.williams]

no. they were easy decisions to make. two pens and a red

[Exiled_red]

It's difficult to tell as the decisions were so clear cut, even the most biased ref couldn't have failed to give them (penalty especially)

I still think alot of the 50-50 decisions went their way

[rudedog]

no. they were easy decisions to make. two pens and a red

not at all - the Ref could have given a free kick on the edge of the box for the penalty and technically Vidic wasn't the last man (even though Gerrard was through) so a bottling ref may have only booked him.

How many times have we seen Man Utd get away with clear decisions like this at Old Trafford in the past?

[ric.williams]

not at all - the Ref could have given a free kick on the edge of the box for the penalty and technically Vidic wasn't the last man (even though Gerrard was through) so a bottling ref may have only booked him.

if andy gray says all decisions were right they were stone wall

[Exiled_red]

not at all - the Ref could have given a free kick on the edge of the box for the penalty and technically Vidic wasn't the last man (even though Gerrard was through) so a bottling ref may have only booked him.

How many times have we seen Man Utd get away with clear decisions like this at Old Trafford in the past?

There was no doubt the foul was in the area for the pen.

The sending off, it was the nature of the foul (so cynical) that meant he had to go, if it was a 'less cynical foul' ie one where he at least looked like he was trying to get the ball I agree he'd probably have got away with it

[simey85]

All easy decisions if he didn't give them someone woulda had to give him a smack!

[shanks69]

not at all - the Ref could have given a free kick on the edge of the box for the penalty and technically Vidic wasn't the last man (even though Gerrard was through) so a bottling ref may have only booked him.

How many times have we seen Man Utd get away with clear decisions like this at Old Trafford in the past?

i don't know how you can say vidic wasn't the last man,there was no way rio could have got to gerrard before he had an effort on goal.once gerrard got passed vidic he would have taken the shot.

[rudedog]

if andy gray says all decisions were right they were stone wall

Your missing my point - I'm not saying they weren't stone wall

I can think of quite a few 'stone wall' incidents that we (and other teams) just haven't got in the past at OT.

[rudedog]

i don't know how you can say vidic wasn't the last man,there was no way rio could have got to gerrard before he had an effort on goal.once gerrard got passed vidic he would have taken the shot.

I know that lol, I even said so in my post ! - I'm just pointing out what a bottling ref might come up with as an excuse

[ric.williams]

How many times have we seen Man Utd get away with clear decisions like this at Old Trafford in the past?

missed this bit due to edit. this is a fair point indeed

i agree with shanks and exiled_red though

[red g]

i was watching with 4 mancs......and those bunch of cunts didnt complain and you know it stonewall if thats the case

[rudedog]

i was watching with 4 mancs......and those bunch of cunts didnt complain and you know it stonewall if thats the case

I give up, people just aren't getting what I'm trying to say here.

[red g]

I give up, people just aren't getting what I'm trying to say here.

red yr post again bear in mind they had won a penalty first always helps an opposing team to win one, so that was the first and the red card......i think it has nothing to do with Benitez rant , never a clearer red have i seen for the second....if it was 50.50 fair enough but it wasnt

[Exiled_red]

I give up, people just aren't getting what I'm trying to say here.

I know what you're saying, that refs tend to bottle decisions at Old Trafford, and I agree that has been the case in the past. But most (not all) decisions that have been bottled could have had some element of doubt in them, but I just believe that that wasn't the case today.

The true test would have been if the decisions were not so clear cut. It may be that the ref had those comments in his mind and they may have affected him, so you may be correct. But I don't think you can judge the effect of those comments off the back of the decisions that had to be made today alone.