United v Coventry: quick thoughts from the upper tier

[grafikhaus]

Benefit of the doubt on that one for me. The ref had yet to mark the ball and walk the yards and mark the line. He was just being too slow sorting things out. No harm done in the end.

This pathetic 'shaving foam' stuff is, like the 'extra officials' behind the goalines at some Euro games, designed to assist the ref. but does exactly the opposite. McEvely didn't 'pace' out his ten yards, it was more the kind of stride you'd take when walking the dog but it still put the wall back further than the 7 yards the ref. was obviously happy with. The ref. made his pathetic little line, the Coventry wall shuffled onto it and the free-kick was blocked.

Simlilar thing happened in the first half for a United free-kick at the Bramall Lane end.

I'm used to refs. at BDTBL failing to act upon blatantly cynical (but 'early' in the game ) fouls by the opposition. This sets out the ground rules to the offenders and they know they can get away with similar fouls as the ref. is weak. When one is finally shown a yellow for persistent offending, the away team simply assign another player to rough up one of our more effective players (such as Murphy yesterday).

This wasn't the case yesterday. The ref. - with his sending off of JB - was clearly showing that he wouldn't put up with that kind of challenge. However, as the game wore on, he rapidly lost the plot and was just making it up as he went along (for both teams). A ref. is up against 22 conmen plus the antics coming from the technical area. As soon as he shows weakness, they'll tear him to bits, as happened yesterday.

 

[grafikhaus]

The strangest refereeing decision that I was baffled with was when he awarded us a free-kick when Basham was pushed over from the back. He had his back to Coventy's goal and was pushed over, towards our goal but ended up on the floor with his feet still in the box. How could the push have taken place just outside the box where the free kick was awarded?

Answers on a post card please, addressed to Howard Webb.

I thought Basham simply collapsed under a weak challenge.

 

[Hodgyman]

Maybe so but the ref saw it as a foul, he gave a free kick. Because it may have been a weak challenge doesn't mean the ref can "transport" the offense to outside the box though

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

I think if people want to leave early having watched a mainly dire performance then that is their right as paying patrons.

That said I would never leave early, but each to their own.

Except it ruins your viewing pleasure when you have to keep standing up to let the dickheads past....

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

A tiny bit. It's unimaginably difficult.

I'll only criticise refs who are particularly poor or want to be centre of attention. Aside from that, refs will always make a number of mistakes in every game - it's normal. Saturation (and increasingly forensic) football coverage has made the job even harder for them.

The worst part is when the score is 1-1 and the fat kid who has been crap all game at full back it the dying moments gets near the ball in his own penalty box and controls it with his hand.

The feeling after blowing the whistle is gut wrenching.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Points from yesterday's match

• Baxter's sending off correct
• Referee inconsistent but got most of the key decisions correct
• Poor defending both goals
• So called 'fans' leaving at 0-2 with 15 minutes to go when Freeman is brought on as sub
• Freeman changed the game
• Excellent point won in view of the Baxter sending off and 0-2 down with only 12 mins left
• Why did the groundsman have the sprinklers on at half time down the South Stand touchline - it was a sea of mud in the second half - did not help Brayfords runs and short passing at all !
• We appear to have accumulated a lot of dickheads as 'supporters' who haven't a clue about football full stop !

On your last point we've had a few managers that fit that description.

 

[Worksop II]

The worst part is when the score is 1-1 and the fat kid who has been crap all game at full back it the dying moments gets near the ball in his own penalty box and controls it with his hand.

The feeling after blowing the whistle is gut wrenching.

You calling Mceverley Fat ?

 

[Darthblade]

Agreed. Baxter flew in two footed and caught the fella. The ref took his time, asked the other officials for their views, then made the right call. Good refereeing.

He might have booked another of theirs for a collision with Murphy, but other than that he did well.

I cannot believe that you thought that pathetic excuse for a referee "did well".
He got the red card right, yes, Baxters jump in gave him no option.
He should have sent Pressley to the stand for encroachment and he steadfastly refused to punish their players for a series of fouls including a nasty one on both Doyle & Murphy.
He was crap ...... but not quite as crap as the incompetent moron vs Swindon.
UTB & FTP

 

[MBoreman]

Felt like for a while after the red the ref avoided booking anyone so as not to look like he'd lost control.

 

[Darthblade]

Refs are under instruction to book players for pulling back opponents. Good decision and poor play from Harris.

No-one else threatened to see red barring Baxter who would have gone for that tackle 95% of the time I reckon.

I seem to recall referees have also been told to crack down on professional fouls and players crowding round them and players asking for other players to be booked / red carded ....

He was a shit referee ....
UTB & FTP

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I think if people want to leave early having watched a mainly dire performance then that is their right as paying patrons.

That said I would never leave early, but each to their own.

And that's the difference between Supporters of a team, Fanatics of a team, and customers. Can't love the Blades and give up on them for a poor performance. If you aren't happy, then stay to the end and make your opinion heard.

 

[Fiery Blade]

The ones that left early got what they deserved !
Is 90 minutes too long for them - Does their concentration wane after 70 minutes
There are many matches over the last fifty years that have been won and lost in the last minute of the game !
I actually thought yesterdays game a really good afternoons entertainment Good and Bad, Ebb and Flow, just lacking the winning goal from Doyle in the last minute - instead he decided to put the ball on the kop roof !
Why is it when I go to Bramall Lane, I end up apologising for the moronic element that tends to 'follow' United Does us all a favour and go somewhere else on a Saturday afternoon and Tuesday evening !!!

 

[sitwell]

I was talking to a ref the other day who knows the ref who did the Swindon game ,and he was distraught the day after. He admitted it was his worse performance ever as a referee and said he just had one of those days. It was used at the Notts referees association refs get together a couple of weeks ago. He s supposedly the jewel in the Notts area referees crown and is being fast tracked to the premier league ,either next season or the one after. Watch out for the name David Coote ,he is also genuinely a really nice guy apparently and saved Ilkeston Town (our feeder club ? ) from getting in a lot of trouble.
My friend should be on the list for league football next season ,so we may get him at the Lane. Oh and Graham Poll is a cunt ,all referees agree.

 

[crucialkneeligaman]

Agree with most of that. Surprisingly Freeman changed the game with his energy and enthusiasm.
I think today showed we need a dominant centre half and that we need Basham in midfield

When Scougs returns from injury, I would play him at Centre Half or Holt for that matter, both of them could jump higher than McCleveley

 

[Fiery Blade]

I was talking to a ref the other day who knows the ref who did the Swindon game ,and he was distraught the day after. He admitted it was his worse performance ever as a referee and said he just had one of those days. It was used at the Notts referees association refs get together a couple of weeks ago. He s supposedly the jewel in the Notts area referees crown and is being fast tracked to the premier league ,either next season or the one after. Watch out for the name David Coote ,he is also genuinely a really nice guy apparently and saved Ilkeston Town (our feeder club ? ) from getting in a lot of trouble.
My friend should be on the list for league football next season ,so we may get him at the Lane. Oh and Graham Poll is a cunt ,all referees agree.

Say it as you find Sitters !! Don't beat about the bush !

 

[bladesman3]

Coutts was carrying a thigh strain.

Teams are setting up to frustrate us at home.

I thought all played crap for 70 mins but Thought Coutts worked really hard...

 

[bladesman3]

He got the Baxter decision right as far as asI could see.

But looking at the foul count and the fouls he and the useless lino missed, how did they finish with 11 men ?

Big fan of Basham in central defence but not convinced in midfield until today. He gave absolutely everything - nothing left on the pitch after his 90 minutes - well played.

Agree totally re Basham.....

 

[longinthe toothblade]

Coutts was carrying a thigh strain.

Teams are setting up to frustrate us at home.

Both sound like very poor excuses to me.

Surely, if he was carrying the kind of injury that was going to impact on his performance he shouldn't have played.

Getting really bored of hearing about how teams come to the lane and are "setting up to frustrate" as if we are Barcelona? Form wise there are at least four teams better than us in this league and presumably the rest of the league "set themselves up" to frustrate these teams too. Fact is, they are better than we are at finding their way round it. MK Dons have found their way round it at least 66 times so far!

I think a few of our fans [generally those who think that we are a lot better than we are] need to wake up and smell the coffee!

 

[Fulwood Blade]

just lacking the winning goal from Doyle in the last minute - instead he decided to put the ball on the kop roof !

When I saw the ball dropping on to Doyles left foot, I very quickly saw him becoming a cult hero, of scoring the winner in the kop goal, after being 2 nil down until 12 minutes from the end, against his "old" club Coventry....................but then after he fluffed his lines, I remembered it was Doyle I have always known!

ahh well, you can dream sometimes, and perhaps another time for Doyle to be a hero.

UTB

 

[Silent Blade]

I have never left early - nearly did many years ago when Sunderland were doing us 0-4 at home - think Michael Gray scored all four !

Michael Bridges scored two. He was an excellent player who had bad luck with injuries

 

[Fiery Blade]

That's right Silent - I got the wrong Michael Think it was the year they went up !
Old age and dementia setting in !

 

[JasonEllis]

Except it ruins your viewing pleasure when you have to keep standing up to let the dickheads past....

People only the other day were saying how much better the atmosphere is when they stand at football matches

 

[JasonEllis]

And that's the difference between Supporters of a team, Fanatics of a team, and customers. Can't love the Blades and give up on them for a poor performance. If you aren't happy, then stay to the end and make your opinion heard.

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive tbh. You can love the blades and still leave the match early due to a poor performance if you so choose, I don't think it's a bigger blade issue

 

[MBoreman]

If you boo or leave early you're not a good fan...and I probably dislike you.

 

[HillmortonBlade]

I don't think the two are mutually exclusive tbh.

And I think it is!. But all Blades together.

 

[JasonEllis]

And I think it is!. But all Blades together.

For 75 minutes at least

 

[Silent Blade]

That's right Silent - I got the wrong Michael Think it was the year they went up !
Old age and dementia setting in !

Nov 1998. Steve Bruce's last match as a player

 

[HillmortonBlade]

For 75 minutes at least

Sorry, had a think about it, why turn up to watch YOUR team and then walk out, giving succour to the opposition, because they are not playing well. Does anyone enjoy hearing "Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio". Nope, fans and supporters stay, customers walk.

 

[Taramasalata]

Sorry, had a think about it, why turn up to watch YOUR team and then walk out, giving succour to the opposition, because they are not playing well. Does anyone enjoy hearing "Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio". Nope, fans and supporters stay, customers walk.

From where I as sat, a decent performance but could do better. Roll on west Lancashire next week...easy win there.....

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

People only the other day were saying how much better the atmosphere is when they stand at football matches

True. If we were all standing it wouldn't be such a problem. They could just turn and leave instead of having to squeeze past a row of people sitting with their knees in other people's backs.