Weekend Football: 10th -> 15th May - Looks like we've made it. - Page 2

Stew · 10th May 2008, 1:51pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warped

I have never been for the whole conspiracy thing, like ever.

Mainly because it's a load of bollocks. Referees at the top level in the United Kingdom spend years on end practicing, keeping up to date with rules and working up through the levels in order to referee at the top level. They spend a huge chunk of their life aspiring to be fair, just and the man in the middle who makes decisions as he sees them on the spot - sure, sometimes they make mistakes and it can cost teams points and in some extreme cases relegation or missing out on promotion, but I don't buy into the whole load of crap that they're biased or there are conspiracies behind the scenes.

These guys spend their life trying to be fair and making the best calls they possibly can in tough situations with likely 11 players, coaches, managers and thousands of fans screaming at them - I give them all the respect in the world.

Sure, in South America and a few cases in Italy there have been corrupt referees, but they've never gotten away with it, the truth has always came out.

So let's give this complete balls a rest on here and talk about football for once, eh. (Not directed at you, Danny, obviously.)

**Kenny Everett** · 10th May 2008, 2:01pm

ooooft, did anyone just catch Levien's interview on Setanta? I agree to an extent, he'll get hauled over the coals for that though :/

Stew · 10th May 2008, 2:02pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kenny Everett

ooooft, did anyone just catch Levien's interview on Setanta? I agree to an extent, he'll get hauled over the coals for that though :/

What was the just of it? I was watching the Championship semi-final play-off game and have absolutely no idea what he's got to be irate about other than his players clearly failing to turn up by the stats I can see.

Timmy · 10th May 2008, 2:03pm

I agree with the foreign refs, but will never happen as it requires fulltime refs, or extra expense that the spl can't afford.

AWESOMEUS MAXIMUS · 10th May 2008, 2:03pm

Obviously "a huge chunk of their lives" isn't long enough then, is it?
There was fuck all fair, impartial, or "top level" about any of that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

Sure, in South America and a few cases in Italy there have been corrupt referees, but they've never gotten away with it, the truth has always came out.

Need to laugh at the ridiculousness of this, though.
Are you serious?

If you don't get caught it never comes out.
You only hear about the ones that get caught, obviously.

DURP DE DURP.

Watty · 10th May 2008, 2:04pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

What was the just of it? I was watching the Championship semi-final play-off game and have absolutely no idea what he's got to be irate about other than his players clearly failing to turn up by the stats I can see.

Wait till you see the highlights

**Kenny Everett** · 10th May 2008, 2:05pm

Essentially, McCurry bottled the big decisions today. Hartson called it spot on in the studio, but Levein's account was slightly more heated and indicated a bit of bias.

Warped · 10th May 2008, 2:06pm

He bottled it, he knew what a big game it was for rangers, but he's gotta make the decision. Refs do have a hard job but the the quality of the refs in Scotland is poor as fuck. Rangers have had some fucked up decisions against them aswell.

I'm no saying the ref today was a rangers fan or anything, but he didn't give it because of the situation, it's cost Dundee united any chance of a place in Europe.

Stew · 10th May 2008, 2:06pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timmy

I agree with the foreign refs, but will never happen as it requires fulltime refs, or extra expense that the spl can't afford.

Ah - that's a cracking point from Levein but I'd imagine he didn't make his point in a way that doesn't seem like he's having a go at the Scottish referees and he'll get shit for it.

I was reading an interesting article in one of the world soccer type magazines that suggested that the major footballing countries in Europe (Y'know, English, Scotland, Germany, Spain, Italy, France...) operate a referee exchange system where they send off referees to officiate in other countries games in an exchange system to get the referees experience of different styles, cultures and to enhance the connections between the European countries. I thought it was an interesting idea for FIFA to take, but I can't see it happening soon.

AWESOMEUS MAXIMUS · 10th May 2008, 2:11pm

It's time they stopped getting so much protection and fucking pampering.
They ARE fucking shite.
Mike McCurry WAS totally pish.

It's all factual information from Levein, and he get's plaudits from me for actually having the nuts to say anything.

Same deal goes for Yogi down at Falkirk - a bit thick, but always says how he feels.

Stew · 10th May 2008, 2:11pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by AWESOMEUS MAXIMUS

Need to laugh at the ridiculousness of this, though.
Are you serious?

If you don't get caught it never comes out.
You only hear about the ones that get caught, obviously.

DURP DE DURP.

No offence pal, as you seem like a really decent guy from everything I've heard about you from other people etc, but for you to laugh at the ridiculousness of one of my posts in the football forum is coming close to making my head explode (further than the hangover is making it). I mean that in the nicest possible way though, it's not like you're talking balls or anything, it's just the way you keep going on about things.

If things look suspicious when it comes to refereeing decisions they're investigated, and if someone is found to have been corrupt or is even suspected there is a investigation and they're bumped down to lower levels of football and lose reputation. For a referee to spend his life to get to the top level of football and risk that he be banished to lower levels when he has worked so hard is going to take a lot of money - and money leaves trails. South America aside, because Brazilian, Peruvian and Argentine football has some really dodgy referees - but I'll say that European football has less of a problem and when Juve and other Italian teams looked like they got dodgy decision they were investigated and everything came out.

I think it's more the standard of referees in Scotland is poor, than the guys are biased or corrupt, to be honest.

Anyway, after 35 minutes it's still Ebbsfleet United 0 - 0 Torquay United.

Watty · 10th May 2008, 2:12pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stew

Ah - that's a cracking point from Levein but I'd imagine he didn't make his point in a way that doesn't seem like he's having a go at the Scottish referees and he'll get shit for it.

I don't think I've ever seen a manager so upset with a refereeing performance.

Stew · 10th May 2008, 2:15pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Watty

I don't think I've ever seen a manager so upset with a refereeing performance.

What about Zlatko Kranjčar when Graeme Poll booked one of his players three times?

Westy · 10th May 2008, 2:18pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warped

I have never been for the whole conspiracy thing, like ever. But i there is no other way to explain the ref today by saying he just didn't want rangers to lose. Its no like they where close decisions.

Come off it. Its just a poor standard of refs here in Scotland. I've said it before and i'll say it again, there needs to be some sort of punishment against incompentent refs. Ref/linesmen gave a fair few wrong calls to today. Rangers were onside and getting ruled offside.

Celtic benefit from ref's mistakes so that voids the whole conspiracy thing.

Anyway the game. Super Nacho. Nacho No Goals, ind you used to call him that Stew? What a goal the second was. No way I thought he was scoring.

What happened wae Cousin? I missed him getting booked.

Alexander celebrating with the CR was awesome.

TO MANCHESTER.

PS Chris, this tick tock patter is shite.

Watty · 10th May 2008, 2:21pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by Westy

What happened wae Cousin? I missed him getting booked

He stuck the nut on Wilkie. Lucky boy.