Sunday's ref

[kingfunk]

Liverpool against the world.... Jesus Wept.

[Craig_H]

The problem with this, is that it's not remotely surprising. When numerous supporters can actually practically PREDICT that it'll happen - and then it does - that makes you ask questions.

Webb was the 4th official for the Pompey game when SG didnt get sent off - and the one for which he didnt get banned. Ferguson bleated in the media about it...and from that point onwards, it was obvious what was going to happen. And, as per the script, in wades Webb right on cue.

Nobody 'knows 100%' that the league is 'bent' (at least, nobody who isnt working within the authorities of the game) but it's certainly not that easily dismissable for me. Why should we just dismiss the notion? Things keep happening a disproportionate amount of times, for the same team, in exactly the same situations - eg, at home, when they're in a spot of bother. Lest we forget the 'penalty' Webb gave the scum at home to Spurs last season, when Gomes' 'crime' was smothering the ball.

That goes beyond simple coincidence. And if it happened in Italy, why couldnt it happen here? Why? What's so special about english football that makes it immune? Nothing.

Wherever there is such huge amounts of money at stake, there's always scope for potential corruption. I dont 'know' the league is corrupt. But i dont know that it isnt - and therein lies the problem.

[pondus]

The problem with this, is that it's not remotely surprising. When numerous supporters can actually practically PREDICT that it'll happen - and then it does - that makes you ask questions.

Webb was the 4th official for the Pompey game when SG didnt get sent off - and the one for which he didnt get banned. Ferguson bleated in the media about it...and from that point onwards, it was obvious what was going to happen. And, as per the script, in wades Webb right on cue.

Nobody 'knows 100%' that the league is 'bent' (at least, nobody who isnt working within the authorities of the game) but it's certainly not that easily dismissable for me. Why should we just dismiss the notion? Things keep happening a disproportionate amount of times, for the same team, in exactly the same situations - eg, at home, when they're in a spot of bother. Lest we forget the 'penalty' Webb gave the scum at home to Spurs last season, when Gomes' 'crime' was smothering the ball.

That goes beyond simple coincidence. And if it happened in Italy, why couldnt it happen here? Why? What's so special about english football that makes it immune? Nothing.

Wherever there is such huge amounts of money at stake, there's always scope for potential corruption. I dont 'know' the league is corrupt. But i dont know that it isnt - and therein lies the problem.

[Shanks]

Webb was the 4th official for the Pompey game when SG didnt get sent off - and the one for which he didnt get banned. Ferguson bleated in the media about it...and from that point onwards, it was obvious what was going to happen. And, as per the script, in wades Webb right on cue.

In wades Webb with what??

[GraciousGooner]

The problem with this, is that it's not remotely surprising. When numerous supporters can actually practically PREDICT that it'll happen - and then it does - that makes you ask questions.

Webb was the 4th official for the Pompey game when SG didnt get sent off - and the one for which he didnt get banned. Ferguson bleated in the media about it...and from that point onwards, it was obvious what was going to happen. And, as per the script, in wades Webb right on cue.

Nobody 'knows 100%' that the league is 'bent' (at least, nobody who isnt working within the authorities of the game) but it's certainly not that easily dismissable for me. Why should we just dismiss the notion? Things keep happening a disproportionate amount of times, for the same team, in exactly the same situations - eg, at home, when they're in a spot of bother. Lest we forget the 'penalty' Webb gave the scum at home to Spurs last season, when Gomes' 'crime' was smothering the ball.

That goes beyond simple coincidence. And if it happened in Italy, why couldnt it happen here? Why? What's so special about english football that makes it immune? Nothing.

Wherever there is such huge amounts of money at stake, there's always scope for potential corruption. I dont 'know' the league is corrupt. But i dont know that it isnt - and therein lies the problem.

Are you serious?

Honestly?

The one last season was a tough decision where it wasn't clear from all angles what had happened.

Today, almost everyone i was sat with said penalty as their first reaction. So again not a criminal decision.

Presumably it'll all come out eventually though, like Italy.

[Craig_H]

In wades Webb with what??

A penalty for a foul outside the box.

[Craig_H]

Are you serious?

Honestly?

The one last season was a tough decision where it wasn't clear from all angles what had happened.

Today, almost everyone i was sat with said penalty as their first reaction. So again not a criminal decision.

Presumably it'll all come out eventually though, like Italy.

To be honest, 'serious' is one thing i cannot take you.

[Shanks]

but have we not had decisions that have gone in our favour when maybe they shouldn't have?

Why always pick up on this when we get beat and not when we win?

It's just glossing over the real issues.

Aurelio and Dossena scored last time we played..
What does that tell you..

[Craig_H]

but have we not had decisions that have gone in our favour when maybe they shouldn't have?

Why always pick up on this when we get beat and not when we win?

It's just glossing over the real issues.

Aurelio and Dossena scored last time we played..
What does that tell you..

I'll say it again...

When the same team, continues to get a disproportionate amount of game changing decisions, in the same circumstances, then IMO, there's a question to be asked. It's got to the point where it's become easy to predict what's going to happen. It's not just a case of 'you get some, you dont get some' - when it's a crucial time and they're in a spot of bother, they pretty much ALWAYS get them. It's beyond the realistic realms of likelihood.

Last time i checked, most of the games we win dont feature Man Utd (or Howard Webb), so i dont see the relevance of bringing up a point about Man Utd getting 'get out of jail penalties' when we've won games that they havent featured in.

[Shanks]

So the fact that we have won the last three fixtures...

What happened then?

[Craig_H]

Well what opportunities did the officials have to give them major decisions?

Gerrard was brought down by Evra, and that was clear cut as anything. What did they do at Anfield, to give the ref any chance of giving them a peno? Nothing.

And IIRC, Webb was only in charge for one of those, i think.

If you disagree, that's fine. I have no desire or interest in persuading you or anything, you're entitled to your view and i'm entitled to mine, it's all good.

[Guest]

What are the real issues then? We are too negative and should have fielded 6 attacking players against United at Old Trafford? Great insight that. We deserved at least a draw from last nights match, we missed a couple of clear chances and on that alone we deserve more. Webb cost us the game.

[inijjer]

It might not have been a penalty. It was however a sending off. We would have lost anyway playing 80 min with 10 men.

[Ben_Itez]

No it wasn't as Mascherano was nowhere near to being the last man.

[Craig_H]

Carragher was easily in a position to make a challenge or block. Not a penalty or a red card.

Unless you're using Webb-rules.