Wolves vs Arsenal 25.01.2025 - KO 15:00

[HCZ_Reborn]

First Away game that’s a Saturday 3pm kick off in almost a year (last one was Burnley last Feb)

Although since we’ve been back in the Champions League and no longer playing Thursday night football we are playing more games on Saturday afternoons…(though many of ours get bumped back to Saturday evening…we’ve had six teatime kick offs already this season)


We’ve won on last three visits to Molyneux (and won a total of eight times there in ten previous visits) but we usually make a bit of heavy weather of it and we’ve only won once outside London in the league all season (against Villa back in August). It would be good to get a few morale boosting wins, starting tomorrow and then in Spain on Wednesday before facing City

Fortunately we seem to have players starting to come back from injury

Anyway 0-3 Steve Bull hattrick

[Niall_Quinn]

Easy win. Wolves are shit. Only way we can fuck this up is if we play conservative football at a slow tempo. And why would we ever do that?

[Mac76]

3-0 Hwang hatter

[Letters]

I hope we win, tbh

[HCZ_Reborn]

No Odegaard even on the bench

Saliba and Nwaneri start

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wolves: Sa, Doherty, Bueno, Agbadou, Semedo, Andre, J Gomes, Sarabia, Ait-Nouril, Cunha, Strand Larsen.
Subs: Dawson, R Gomes, Lima, Doyle, T Gomes, Bellegarde, Guedes, Hee-Chan, Johnstone

Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli, Havertz.
Subs: Neto, Porter, Tierney, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Kiwior, Jorginho, Sterling, Butler-Oyedeji.

[Mac76]

Apparently Ode is ill rather than injured, tbh I don't think it does any harm to give him the day off, we should beat Wolves anyway

Glad to see Ethan starting as well :good:

[HCZ_Reborn]

Yeah I saw that and I tend to agree, think Nwaneri does better on the wing but he should do ok in the middle

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Maybe it's Trossard in the middle.

[Marc Overmars]

May as well give up if we don’t win this one.

[Mac76]

May as well give up if we don’t win this one.

I'm sure Michael Oliver will give Wolves every opportunity to win

[Mac76]

Sarabia should score there, a let-off

[Mac76]

anther over-complicated FK routine comes to nothing...

[Marc Overmars]

Doesn’t sound like the brightest of starts.

[Niall_Quinn]

Lack of a striker cost us the lead there.

[Niall_Quinn]

Another open goal missed by Havertz. Should be 2-0 now. Was harder to miss.

[Niall_Quinn]

OMG! Partey - why the fuck is he playing again.

[KSE Comedy Club]

My god our play is so predictably shit.

[Niall_Quinn]

Foul on Martinelli on edge of box. Play on. Would be 100% given if we were doing the fouling. In fact it probably will be given later in the game.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Of course Partey's shot goes miles over the bar - even I could shoot the fucking thing on target!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Where's Odegard? Injured again? Already?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Sons genetically modified twin coming on for Wolves.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Where's Odegard? Injured again? Already?

He was ill apparently :shrug:


Again.

[KSE Comedy Club]

ffs get him off the pitch, he could literally roll over he's so close to it

[Niall_Quinn]

That's embarrassing from Timber. Get up you nancy!

[KSE Comedy Club]

That's embarrassing from Timber. Get up you nancy!

Thought the same, he didnt even hit his head

[Niall_Quinn]

Gomes complaining about being booked for booting the ball away. Their best passage of play really. If we can't beat these useless shithouses we have no hope.

[KSE Comedy Club]

We make everything so hard for ourselves, every game it's the same.

Too slow, too many touches, slow passing, poor decision making.

Our entire attack plan is about as potent as a midget guff in an F5 tornado :doh:

[Niall_Quinn]

FK on edge of box. Let Partey take it!

[Niall_Quinn]

That was Gomes again - why no yellow I wonder?

[Niall_Quinn]

You get booked for kicking the ball away and wasting 3 seconds, but you can take up to 5 mins to take a FK.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Another FK wasted - wtf was that Saliba!?!?

[Niall_Quinn]

Straight into the wall, really poor effort from the youngster.

[Niall_Quinn]

Appalling. We get the ball right in front of goal and IMMEDIATELY it goes wide. This is like a dumb AI from EA.

[KSE Comedy Club]

If our players ever shot we would be dangerous

[Mac76]

Oliver does it again - fucking anti-Arsenal cunt, no-one else gets sent off for that

[Marc Overmars]

Fuck off that’s not a red?!

[KSE Comedy Club]

How the fuck is that a red card???!!!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

Crazy straight red for MLS. Absolutely unbelievable. Literally, beyond all belief.

[Marc Overmars]

Fucking hell, that’s a yellow all day long. I’ve never seen a red given for deliberately preventing a counter. Happens in every game of football?!

[Niall_Quinn]

VAR confirms red, serious foul play. There are no rules left in this game, they are just made up as and when the officials want to change a result.

[Niall_Quinn]

Anyone who says now there isn't a concerted effort from the official to wreck our season obviously haven't seen a single match.

And now 7 mins extra time to see if Taylor can get a HT lead for Wolves.

And THAT'S why you need a striker to make it 0-2 before any of that shit even happens.

[Mac76]

We should just refuse to play again this season in protest, what the fuck is the point?

[Niall_Quinn]

Crazy thing is it should have been Gomes that was sent off for an almost identical foul on the edge of the box - but not even a yellow. It's so blatant.

[KSE Comedy Club]

Oliver is corrupt as they come, when will the corruption in this league be called out

[dazthegooner]

And Oliver again backed up by his Jimmy Saville fan club founder member Mike Dean.

[Niall_Quinn]

We should just refuse to play again this season in protest, what the fuck is the point?

We should certainly refuse to play if Taylor is reffing.

VAR is trying to pretend the initial contact was above the ankle with the studs. That's just a straight lie. And the commentators on my stream are just parroting it. You can see it with your own eyes but these officials and their mates in the commentary boxes simply rewrite reality. Queue the headlines in the chip-wrappers tomorrow - Disciplinary Woes for Arteta!

[Niall_Quinn]

Martinelli and Havertz are playing like paper bags in a gale. All over the place, totally random.

HT and the biggest, cheated red you'll ever see in your life.

[Niall_Quinn]

My stream has just diverted to a South African show called (not joking) Who Is Niklas Bendtner?

He has his own show!

Surreal. First the red and now this. Am I awake or asleep?

[Marc Overmars]

Can’t be bothered watching the second half after that pathetic decision.

Fuck football.

[Niall_Quinn]

Gomes kicks the ball away again, having fouled his opponent. Play on! Nothing to see. Also, his foul was above the ankle which we now know is a straight red.

[Niall_Quinn]

Timber bundled over in the box. Not really a pen but would have been given against us. VAR manages to check it and say no in literally 5 seconds. NO! Now what was the question?

[Niall_Quinn]

Havertz misses again. It's tragic. Should be 3, 4 by now. Absolutely terrible.

[Niall_Quinn]

Wolves starting to make their 4 man advantage count.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

We're really suffering with Martinelli on the right.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

10 v 10 :haha:

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Missed the 1st red and wanted to accuse the ref of compensating...but that was a truly terrible challenge.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Missed the 1st red and wanted to accuse the ref of compensating...but that was a truly terrible challenge.

It’s Michael Oliver there was no danger of that

[Niall_Quinn]

Gomez sent of for actual serious foul play but he only got a second yellow. Scandalous. Even Oliver couldn't ignore that one.

[Marc Overmars]

Wow, Oliver has actually given us something for his fuck up.

[McNamara That Ghost...]

CALAFIORI!!!

[Niall_Quinn]

So the commentators have figured it out - a studs-up ankle breaker is NOT above the ankle so not a straight red. Whereas MLS tapping that diving cunt with the top of his boot ABOVE the ankle - straight red and possible investigation by the police.

[Marc Overmars]

GET IN

and get fucked PGMOL

[Niall_Quinn]

Wow, Oliver has actually given us something for his fuck up.

He had zero choice - would have been too obvious to ignore.

Califiori 0-1

All of Oliver's work undone.

[Niall_Quinn]

Nice finish that, better than any of our front lot could have done.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Hopefully we keep up the pressure and get a second

[Niall_Quinn]

Watch out for the dodgy pen now. 15 mins plus whatever made up extra time to go. Think we'll need a second.

[Niall_Quinn]

What's the idea behind taking 323 touches before fucking up getting a cross in?

[Niall_Quinn]

Raya with a crucial save, but Wolves bloke was as useless as it comes. Clean through. Wolves are really very shite.

[Niall_Quinn]

Partey is a truly terrible footballer. Absolutely useless.

[Niall_Quinn]

Tierney on for Martinelli.

Wolves changing their whole team by the look of it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Tougher chance but Havertz fluffs it again. Good first time cross by Tierney, we might have run up double figures against this Wolves rabble with a bit more positive play.

[Niall_Quinn]

Fucking Partey - it's ridiculous!

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Wolves 0-1 Arsenal, FT! :bow:

[Marc Overmars]

Fantastic 3 points that

[Niall_Quinn]

Havertz has given up. Shameful lack of chasing and hustling from him.

FT 0-1

Dodged a carefully aimed and fired bullet by Oliver. He should be investigated now, but they'll all circle the wagons and pretend we can't use our own eyes to see reality.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Missed the 1st half but it seems the red card to Wolves was what got us over the line here.

Arteta needs to prepare his team to still be able to take the initiative when they are one man down cause like I said the last time, we got a few more red cards coming our way.

[Niall_Quinn]

Missed the 1st half but it seems the red card to Wolves was what got us over the line here.

Arteta needs to prepare his team to still be able to take the initiative when they are one man down cause like I said the last time, we got a few more red cards coming our way.

Actually though we did okay 10 vs 14, but maybe down to Wolves being one of the worst teams I have seen in a while. Surely they are going down?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Collected three points and collecting Cunha too.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Actually though we did okay 10 vs 14, but maybe down to Wolves being one of the worst teams I have seen in a while. Surely they are going down?

Once we scored I thought we'd push on a bit, seeing as they've got the worst defence in the country and they were clearly a bit stunned. But every subsequent attack was just players wasting time and not being interested...they might have the worst defence but that doesn't mean they can't score a late stunner.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Collected three points and collecting Cunha too.

Do you want him after that performance?

Based on what I saw from the 2nd half he's cleary talented, but Jesus vibes were just strengthened.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Maybe but we are a team with rock bottom confidence at the moment. Had this been a year ago I think we would have gone on and got another couple.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Do you want him after that performance?

Based on what I saw from the 2nd half he's cleary talented, but Jesus vibes were just strengthened.

I like him and as I said the other day he could be a good long term replacement for Trossard as well as Jesus

I think we need to encourage more creativity all over the pitch. Stop playing Rice at 8 has got to be where it starts, it slows down the attack he doesn’t have the natural attacking instincts to pass and receive quickly.

[Niall_Quinn]

Once we scored I thought we'd push on a bit, seeing as they've got the worst defence in the country and they were clearly a bit stunned. But every subsequent attack was just players wasting time and not being interested...they might have the worst defence but that doesn't mean they can't score a late stunner.

Yeah, I mean we did alright BEFORE they had that serial fouling bastard with 12 get. out of jail cards sent off. After, it was poor, particlarly Martinelli and Havertz who were like headless chickens all match. And Party, what's left to be said about that bloke? Califiori and Tierney did okay though. And Rice kept plugging away which was actually vital on several occasions.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Well, with his talent he could definitely play across the forward line and even a bit deeper, but I'd hate Arteta to sign anyone who isn't the solution to our problems and continue with the same wastefulness when we get in the box.

[Niall_Quinn]

Do you want him after that performance?

Based on what I saw from the 2nd half he's cleary talented, but Jesus vibes were just strengthened.

He reminded me of exactly the type of shite we've bought in the past that will turn into an overpaid journeyman. Didn't see anything about him that would help us.

[21_GOONER_SALUTE]

Yeah, I mean we did alright BEFORE they had that serial fouling bastard with 12 get. out of jail cards sent off. After, it was poor, particlarly Martinelli and Havertz who were like headless chickens all match. And Party, what's left to be said about that bloke? Califiori and Tierney did okay though. And Rice kept plugging away which was actually vital on several occasions.

Rice had a good game and played a very important role in driving the attackers from what I saw.

Unfortunately that has been quite rare for someone we spent so much money on.

[Niall_Quinn]

Rice had a good game and played a very important role in driving the attackers from what I saw.

Unfortunately that has been quite rare for someone we spent so much money on.

Why'd he leave Jorginho on the bench? You'd think he would have been ideal in terms of keeping the ball when we were a man down and then using it it when all of Oliver's plans blew up.

[Niall_Quinn]

Somehow we've still only lost twice, despite the frenzied efforts by the totally fair and incorruptible officials since the season kicked off.

[Niall_Quinn]

Seen elsewhere:


"At this point Arsenal need to break the bank and sign Michael Oliver. He is literally the game changer we need."

Doubt we could outbid his middle-eastern friends.

[HCZ_Reborn]

We’ve been terrible this season and plagued by injuries. Yet arguably we could be leading the way if not for the ridiculously harsh refereeing

4 points extra against Brighton
1 point extra against Bournemouth
2 points extra against Liverpool
2 points extra against Man City
2 points extra against Villa

[Niall_Quinn]

We’ve been terrible this season and plagued by injuries. Yet arguably we could be leading the way if not for the ridiculously harsh refereeing

4 points extra against Brighton
1 point extra against Bournemouth
2 points extra against Liverpool
2 points extra against Man City
2 points extra against Villa

Fair, but chop in half because I'm sure we had a few go our way too. Even so, the refs have had a big influence on the way the table looks. What I'd like to see is a comparison of gambling patterns and the table over the last few seasons. Has anyone ever done something like that, given we have stats for everything else these days. And surely it should be something the officials keep a careful eye on anyway?

[McNamara That Ghost...]

Do you want him after that performance?

Based on what I saw from the 2nd half he's cleary talented, but Jesus vibes were just strengthened.

I didn't see it but even so, judging on one game would be too much anyway.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Fair, but chop in half because I'm sure we had a few go our way too. Even so, the refs have had a big influence on the way the table looks. What I'd like to see is a comparison of gambling patterns and the table over the last few seasons. Has anyone ever done something like that, given we have stats for everything else these days. And surely it should be something the officials keep a careful eye on anyway?

At most the only decision I would say has gone our way was the non corner that we had at home to Spurs. If it all balanced out, or if we had anything approaching half the favourable decisions other teams get against us I might cut that in half.

[Niall_Quinn]

At most the only decision I would say has gone our way was the non corner that we had at home to Spurs. If it all balanced out, or if we had anything approaching half the favourable decisions other teams get against us I might cut that in half.

I mean even if you cut it half, there's the 6 point gap. And our recent form is similar, our defensive record similar, it's just that bloody obvious elephant stampeding and shitting around the place, the lack of a striker so our goals scored could be similar.

Not that anyone is going to do a damn thing about these refs, so we need to accept we'll always have to get more points than most other teams just to stay level.

[Mac76]

I'm sure Michael Oliver will give Wolves every opportunity to win

Me :bow:

He failed this time though, well done the lads :clap:

We HAVE to appeal that and demand that c*** never refs any of our games again

[Mac76]

Do you want him after that performance?

Based on what I saw from the 2nd half he's cleary talented, but Jesus vibes were just strengthened.

Yes I was underwhelmed tbh, I also think he showed a bit of petulance that Arteta in particular wouldn't get on with

[Niall_Quinn]

Me :bow:

He failed this time though, well done the lads :clap:

We HAVE to appeal that and demand that c*** never refs any of our games again

Arsenal vs City on the 2nd Feb - wonder if city's favourite boy will be reffing it? Maybe not now, surely that would be a bit too obvious even for them. Will have to be backup Taylor then I guess.

[Ollie the Optimist]

The thing that baffles me the most is not the MLS red card (although Oliver should be sacked and the PGMOL disbanded) but the justification for the red card was serious foul play. This was upheld by VAR yet int rh same game, Gomes gets a yellow for what is arguably a worse foul and way above the ankle, which is what they used to justify MLS red card, yet neither Oliver or VAR decide to issue a red. They just make it up

[Mac76]

Arsenal vs City on the 2nd Feb - wonder if city's favourite boy will be reffing it? Maybe not now, surely that would be a bit too obvious even for them. Will have to be backup Taylor then I guess.

I'll tell you one thing, the crowd will be so up for it, we've all the proof we need that we're not just playing Man City but the whole fucking system, the Emirates is all we've got to fight back with, can't wait

[dazthegooner]

Well apparently the pgmol have footage of Lewis-Skelly's challenge that proves it was high and late and with AI have also managed to show proof of MLS pulling out a 9mm with intent to kill. <_<

[HCZ_Reborn]

Well apparently the pgmol have footage of Lewis-Skelly's challenge that proves it was high and late and with AI have also managed to show proof of MLS pulling out a 9mm with intent to kill. <_<

This siege mentality that PGMOL adopt when any of their officials are criticised helps no one.

Feels like the media have finally started waking up to it as well. Skysports article on the matter actually acknowledges that we seem to be reffed totally differently from the rest of the league

[Niall_Quinn]

Well apparently the pgmol have footage of Lewis-Skelly's challenge that proves it was high and late and with AI have also managed to show proof of MLS pulling out a 9mm with intent to kill. <_<

And he killed JFK, which is about to be revealed when Trump releases the documents.

Here's a good take on it by a very irritable person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmvX5eQIkCk

Splitting away VAR from their effective bosses is the MINIMUM that should happen. But it won't because somebody, somewhere is making a ton of cash.

[dazthegooner]

Even Jamie O'Hara has questioned why he's still officiating our matches he said "I don't know why he keeps getting Arsenal games. Why do you keep giving him an Arsenal game? He causes too many issues."

[Niall_Quinn]

This siege mentality that PGMOL adopt when any of their officials are criticised helps no one.

Feels like the media have finally started waking up to it as well. Skysports article on the matter actually acknowledges that we seem to be reffed totally differently from the rest of the league

The media is stuffed with every coward they could scrape out of the gutter. If they had ever done their jobs in the first place (even to a small degree) we'd never have gotten here in the first place. If the PGMOL is the bad guy, the media is the stench from the scum that rose to the top of the overflowing sewer that enabled these silly little men to insert themselves into a supposedly professional sport. Never ever forgive the media for anything, they are the worst of the worst of the worst. There's nobody worse ever, in all of human history.

[HCZ_Reborn]

And he killed JFK, which is about to be revealed when Trump releases the documents.

Here's a good take on it by a very irritable person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmvX5eQIkCk

Splitting away VAR from their effective bosses is the MINIMUM that should happen. But it won't because somebody, somewhere is making a ton of cash.

Crikey…that’s actually a bloody good idea.

And you’re right of course that it won’t happen

[HCZ_Reborn]

The media is stuffed with every coward they could scrape out of the gutter. If they had ever done their jobs in the first place (even to a small degree) we'd never have gotten here in the first place. If the PGMOL is the bad guy, the media is the stench from the scum that rose to the top of the overflowing sewer that enabled these silly little men to insert themselves into a supposedly professional sport. Never ever forgive the media for anything, they are the worst of the worst of the worst. There's nobody worse ever, in all of human history.

I think you’re being incredibly unfair on Hitler, Stalin and Mao…they really went the extra mile

[Niall_Quinn]

Even Jamie O'Hara has questioned why he's still officiating our matches he said "I don't know why he keeps getting Arsenal games. Why do you keep giving him an Arsenal game? He causes too many issues."

Will they have the balls to give him the city game? That would be hilarious, in a bloody minded sort of way. How committed are these cunts to being in charge? I don't think they will, mainly because they are cowards so will always look for a less visible way to enact their agenda. They'll probably instruct Taylor to rig that game. And Oliver might be farmed out to the Liverpool match so he can work for city there.

[Niall_Quinn]

I think you’re being incredibly unfair on Hitler, Stalin and Mao…they really went the extra mile

Nope. I'm being incredibly fair to the average man in the street who tolerates evil. Let's just say, these people have their own troubles and can't find the time and resources to engage with evil. The media willingly embraces it and then deploys its time and resources to promote it. We'll always have evil little fucks like Hitler, but he's just a bad artists unless the propaganda machine brings him to the attention of the distracted masses. It takes true evil to enable potential evil.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Nope. I'm being incredibly fair to the average man in the street who tolerates evil. Let's just say, these people have their own troubles and can't find the time and resources to engage with evil. The media willingly embraces it and then deploys its time and resources to promote it. We'll always have evil little fucks like Hitler, but he's just a bad artists unless the propaganda machine brings him to the attention of the distracted masses. It takes true evil to enable potential evil.

Maybe doesn’t help if you treat the media like a gestalt entity. They largely pull in all different directions depending on who owns them. Case in point with Hitler, his financial backers allowed the National socialists to buy out newspapers to turn them into his propaganda machine before he even came to power.

Ultimately unless you are self employed, to a degree we all have to know who Daddy is

[Niall_Quinn]

Maybe doesn’t help if you treat the media like a gestalt entity. They largely pull in all different directions depending on who owns them. Case in point with Hitler, his financial backers allowed the National socialists to buy out newspapers to turn them into his propaganda machine before he even came to power.

Ultimately unless you are self employed, to a degree we all have to know who Daddy is

And independent journalists in Nazi Germany continued to print the truth and were rounded up and executed. Let's not rope them in with cowards who went along to get along.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'd love to clue you in on my true relationship with government, but they might find it and use it against me. Let's just say, I actually do put my money where my mouth is, or NOT put my money in certain places. And I'm going to pay for it, I know I can't beat them because I don't have the support of enough courageous fellow citizens. But I don't just say these things, I do them. And I'm more than prepared to face the consequences. That said, if they come for my family then I'll buckle. And what about that - the mere possibility our public "servants" would come for my family? They have done it to others. Pure scum. The whole system from top to bottom. But they ones who say all is well - they are the worst, the very, very worst. There is no forgiveness for that vermin.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I'd love to clue you in on my true relationship with government, but they might find it and use it against me. Let's just say, I actually do put my money where my mouth is, or NOT put my money in certain places. And I'm going to pay for it, I know I can't beat them because I don't have the support of enough courageous fellow citizens. But I don't just say these things, I do them. And I'm more than prepared to face the consequences. That said, if they come for my family then I'll buckle. And what about that - the mere possibility our public "servants" would come for my family? They have done it to others. Pure scum. The whole system from top to bottom. But they ones who say all is well - they are the worst, the very, very worst. There is no forgiveness for that vermin.

Should I expect to see something in the papers about a drink sodden loud mouthed malcontent which will almost certainly all be lies and character assassination, because in truth you’re a fiercely heroic crusader?.


Yes I hope your family remains safe as well (not that I credibly think they face any danger, any more than I think you do other than strongly written letters from the HMRC) .

[Niall_Quinn]

Should I expect to see something in the papers about a drink sodden loud mouthed malcontent which will almost certainly all be lies and character assassination, because in truth you’re a fiercely heroic crusader?.


Yes I hope your family remains safe as well (not that I credibly think they face any danger, any more than I think you do other than strongly written letters from the HMRC) .

No, not at all. I've figured out that violence doesn't actually solve anything without first presenting a logical case for necessary and dutiful violence in the form of self defence. We haven't even approached the stage where the logical and sane conclusion is to remove government, we are nowhere near that. So I would never advocate half-baked violence no matter how well intentioned. That doesn't remove the urgent requirement for the government to be eliminated permanently, of course. But we must live within the bounds of what is possible in any given moment.

[dazthegooner]

Michael Oliver has had threats made against him and police are investigating. While they're doing so might want to check for any financial irregularities (but that's another matter in itself)

[HCZ_Reborn]

Michael Oliver has had threats made against him and police are investigating. While they're doing so might want to check for any financial irregularities (but that's another matter in itself)

Why would someone do that?

It’s utterly self defeating apart from anything else. It’s allowed PGMOL to take the moral high ground.

There really is no limit to stupidity

[Letters]

Why would someone do that?

It’s utterly self defeating apart from anything else. It’s allowed PGMOL to take the moral high ground.

There really is no limit to stupidity
As Einstein almost certainly didn’t say (but it’s oft attributed to him)

“There are only two things that are infinite, the universe and human stupidity…and I’m not sure about the universe”

Obviously this is moronic, but the lack of accountability for these guys who are at best grossly incompetent and at worse blatantly corrupt is sickening.

[Ollie the Optimist]

People are genuinely questioning if the abuse happens, and this includes normally sensible people like arseblog etc, on basis that if Michael Oliver doesn’t have social media etc, where is the abuse coming from? Guess someone could have found his home address or something but it says a lot that people are questioning the PGMOL over that statement as no one believes it

[HCZ_Reborn]

People are genuinely questioning if the abuse happens, and this includes normally sensible people like arseblog etc, on basis that if Michael Oliver doesn’t have social media etc, where is the abuse coming from? Guess someone could have found his home address or something but it says a lot that people are questioning the PGMOL over that statement as no one believes it

Oh I believe it happened. I actually came across tweets where people were honestly suggesting that he be doxxed and someone go round there and beat him up. But PGMOL have pounced on that to defend itself

[Marc Overmars]

Social media is a cesspit of losers who wouldn’t dare spout the garbage they do face to face. I don’t think anyone would condone this behaviour but let’s not lose sight of the real issue here and that’s the horrendous standard of officiating

[dazthegooner]

Well from what Shearer has heard (yeah I know) PGMOL will not overturn the red card.

[Mac76]

Well from what Shearer has heard (yeah I know) PGMOL will not overturn the red card.

ofc not:

a) it's Arsenal
b) they're a bunch of c****
c) they're too concerned about their 'reputation' (which is in tatters but they're too up their own arses to notice) to do it

even Adrian Durham on TalkShite yesterday described the decision as 'highly controversial' which is saying something, given he hates Arsenal almost as much as the PGMOL

[Niall_Quinn]

Michael Oliver has had threats made against him and police are investigating. While they're doing so might want to check for any financial irregularities (but that's another matter in itself)

Shocker! Some idiot online slags the ref. Never happened before, whole world might come to an end because of this. Why don't the pigs spend some time investigating burglaries or (throwing it out there) tackling knife crime? I would assume serious coppers, rather than desk jockeys scanning the net for easy wins, know how to tell the difference between BS and actual threats to life. Or maybe not, after all they let that Southport animal roam free after he virtually phones them up and included them in his plans. What a world we live in. If the "experts" can possibly find a way to get it exactly wrong they'll leave no stone unturned.

Anyway, isn't this what Oliver wanted? Attention? Now he's bitching about it? Make your mind up matey. Piss in the face of 60K people and what exactly are you expecting? Do I agree with people making threats against him online? No - if it actually happened and this isn't the PGMOL trying to change the focus. Do I have an ounce of sympathy for the attention seeking whore? Absolutely not.

[Niall_Quinn]

Well from what Shearer has heard (yeah I know) PGMOL will not overturn the red card.

They're in real trouble here and they know it. Looks like they've decided to put to the test the idea authority alone is what decides reality and outcomes and the rest of us better shut up and put up. If there's not a single person in that organisation who can admit, okay, we fucked that up, then what practical use do they have? Let's just get rid of them altogether, clear out the whole infested nest and start again.

[Mac76]

Do I agree with people making threats against him online? No

Me neither and while I don't defend it, a reason sometimes people get angry is because they feel powerless and this is about people investing a lot of time and money into watching their club and seeing the PGMOL just waltz about acting out their petty biases on the pitch

The PGMOL are their own judge and jury and it's frustrating as hell

I wish the Premier League would realise the damage this is doing to their 'product' - though tbh they probably are quite happy to see games ruined as long as it creates clickbait and 'talking points'

[HCZ_Reborn]

I think it’s because there’s no incentive to do anything about it

I wonder what would happen if Arsenal fans boycotted a game which Michael Oliver was put in charge of for instance (especially if it happened to be a home game)

[Mac76]

I think it’s because there’s no incentive to do anything about it

I wonder what would happen if Arsenal fans boycotted a game which Michael Oliver was put in charge of for instance (especially if it happened to be a home game)

I think for sure the club should be insisting he doesn't ref one of our games again, the stats show he's completely biased against us

[HCZ_Reborn]

To be honest, I don’t think he’s fit to be in charge of any game. Even take away what he does with us, his favouritism towards Man City completely compromises him. He needs to be suspended pending an investigation. I haven’t had any knocks to the head lately but I also agree with NQ that another thing to do would have a completely different organisation in charge of overseeing VAR from stockley park. It will if nothing else completely eliminate the perception that on field decisions are just being rubber stamped by their mates.

[Mac76]

To be honest, I don’t think he’s fit to be in charge of any game. Even take away what he does with us, his favouritism towards Man City completely compromises him. He needs to be suspended pending an investigation. I haven’t had any knocks to the head lately but I also agree with NQ that another thing to do would have a completely different organisation in charge of overseeing VAR from stockley park. It will if nothing else completely eliminate the perception that on field decisions are just being rubber stamped by their mates.

well I don't think that's a view NQ alone holds :lol:, PGMOL is totally unfit for purpose, if there was a referendum among football fans it would be 100% get the fuck rid of the lot of them

[Niall_Quinn]

well I don't think that's a view NQ alone holds :lol:, PGMOL is totally unfit for purpose, if there was a referendum among football fans it would be 100% get the fuck rid of the lot of them

Yeah, it was the suggestion that Utd numpty was making in the video I posted. And it seems kind of obvious, like so many things that don't happen. Of course you have an entirely detached organisation take care of VAR. It eliminates so many nasty possibilities such as hierarchy, the old mates club, and collusion. Where's Colina these days? What's he up to? Why don't we just throw a shedload of cash at him to come over and set up an independent team that can keep the crazy refs at least partially honest? If we're the top league then put the top ref in charge. Alsthough I suppose he's well out of it, reclining on a beach and well deserved. Doubt he'd want any part of this shitshow. Could ask him though.

[HCZ_Reborn]

I assumed he was dead, but that’s probably because to my mind he’s always looked ill

[Niall_Quinn]

I assumed he was dead, but that’s probably because to my mind he’s always looked ill

Well that's not ideal, but he'd still do a better job and we wouldn't have to pay him as much.

[Niall_Quinn]

Also nobody is talking about that horrific cheat Doherty. The way he went down screaming, it was absolutely pathetic. He's not the only one, of course, but he shouldn't be allowed to slink away from his part in making it more difficult for refs. And when refs are this bad and the players know it, when they choose to add to the drama of every challenge they are seeking to gain an unfair advantage by cheating and they should be condemned for it. I also don't like professional players saying, I thought he was taking one for the team, good lad. No. If we're going to start praising any kind of foul play then why complain when the refs engage in it too? If they are just a bunch of cheats then there's nothing to see, is there?

[HCZ_Reborn]

Dermot Gallagher does his best job of trying to defend Oliver

But ultimately says it’s a yellow card offence

Which it is, it’s a cynical foul to stop a break….its a “take one for the team” foul and one MLS would have expected a yellow card for, and not an early bath

[Niall_Quinn]

Dermot Gallagher does his best job of trying to defend Oliver

But ultimately says it’s a yellow card offence

Which it is, it’s a cynical foul to stop a break….its a “take one for the team” foul and one MLS would have expected a yellow card for, and not an early bath

The yellow for Gomes' later challenge, why haven't they also addressed that? The player barely had an ankle by the time Gomes had finished with him. What's the bad for a second yellow these days? Will that persistently fouling bastard be back on a pitch before MLS? And you can even mention the outrageous inconsistency with the Rice red - again. Why is Gomes not given a second yellow for that? These are all fair questions to ask a so-called professional body that pompously explain the rules to fans who have been watching the game for decades.

PGMOL could even be said to be throwing their own guy under the bus in one way. They keep shifting the focus back to Oliver and away from that utterly incompetent bunch in the VAR studio. They've made an even bigger error than the ref. The ref views it all in real time and can make a mistake. In this case one of the most obvious mistakes you'll ever see. VAR is supposed to be there to correct this, that's the whole point of it. It's not there to support their mate come what may. There should be a lot more heat on these blokes in the booth, more questions being asked about them, more focus on them. Why haven't they done the job they are paid to do? And who is going to hold them accountable?

[Mac76]

Ironically Wolves tabled a vote last season to get rid of VAR - I think they were the only ones to vote for it


Even if it's not getting rid of it, all the PL clubs need to push for some kind of change, at the moment it's a joke - a completely unfunny joke which is mainly on us, unfortunately

[Niall_Quinn]

Another round of cock-sucking on Sky. I think Redknapp wants to have Oliver's baby. Give it a rest you twats, or else find out what it was like on an 80s terrace before you go on about how awful the fans are. It's the fans' fault for that shitty decision, the fans' fault that a handful of people make threats online, poor old refs, unless we sit on our hands and let them cheat then we won't have any refs. Go on the Carragher - show us some evidence to back that claim up? If we had refs in the 80s then there's nothing that could happen in the soppy seats that would put these prima-donnas off.

Absolutely pathetic, Sky. Let's see you all say it's a red five times a game over the rest of the season. There won't be a peep.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSn0aLQYDXU

[Niall_Quinn]

Ironically Wolves tabled a vote last season to get rid of VAR - I think they were the only ones to vote for it


Even if it's not getting rid of it, all the PL clubs need to push for some kind of change, at the moment it's a joke - a completely unfunny joke which is mainly on us, unfortunately

Interesting, didn't know about that. Good for Wolves. But has the club mentioned anything about the awful decision on Saturday? I'm assuming if they hated what VAR was doing to them back then they still feel the same way when it goes for them? I hope so anyway.

VAR has been twisted into a tool that is now used to authorise every stupid, incompetent decision made by refs who can no longer be questioned and are rapidly becoming infallible (in the imaginary world of PGMOL at least). Wouldn't mind that myself in my job, just fuck up all the time and have a gang come in and coo, Good JOB!

[Letters]

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1152947219768237

:haha: Count on the fingers of one hand how many mistakes he's made. Boy is his hand deformed. Prick.
He's right about the online abuse, but Oliver is either an incompetent or downright corrupt. Either way he should be sacked.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Jamie Redknapp is a lazy eyed cunt like his Dad

I don’t know what’s at play here, his Spurs bias or his Liverpool bias. As for Liverpool fans, more front than Brighton. I don’t remember us calling for a game to be replayed because of poor refereeing, apart from anything else at least the officials acknowledged they made a mistake rather than double down using mealy mouthed minutiae (sorry for the alliteration). Yet they have the nerve to claim we are just exhibiting a victim mentality.

Arsenal is the third biggest club in English football historically, we have a massive fan base home and abroad. Is it really wise to engender such ill will with the club and its fanbase. I don’t hide behind excuses, I don’t think we’ve looked remotely like title challengers this season….but I’m not going to accept how badly we are being treated here.

[KSE Comedy Club]

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1152947219768237

:haha: Count on the fingers of one hand how many mistakes he's made. Boy is his hand deformed. Prick.
He's right about the online abuse, but Oliver is either an incompetent or downright corrupt. Either way he should be sacked.

What's more interesting is that Michael Oliver doesn't have an 'online presence' or social media account - so where exactly is this abuse coming from?

Are there gangs of Arsenal fans stood outside his front door, taking turns to knock and shout it at him?

[Niall_Quinn]

What's more interesting is that Michael Oliver doesn't have an 'online presence' or social media account - so where exactly is this abuse coming from?

Are there gangs of Arsenal fans stood outside his front door, taking turns to knock and shout it at him?

Wouldn't matter if Oliver saw the material or not, there's no need for a victim with these online laws. All that is required is that the material might cause offence or constitute harassment. Some puffed up little twat probably took offence on Oliver's behalf.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sounds like we've actually had to appeal the card. So PGMOL sticking to their bullshit and now I wouldn't be surprised if the card isn't even overturned. Who makes that decision? The same twats who sit in the VAR booth or somebody else with a brain and functioning eyes?

[Mac76]

Sounds like we've actually had to appeal the card. So PGMOL sticking to their bullshit and now I wouldn't be surprised if the card isn't even overturned. Who makes that decision? The same twats who sit in the VAR booth or somebody else with a brain and functioning eyes?

ofc we've had to appeal

and no they won't overturn it, the best we can hope for is it becomes a 1-match ban instead of a 3-match ban but given they're a bunch of c**** I don't hold out much hope

[HCZ_Reborn]

ofc we've had to appeal

and no they won't overturn it, the best we can hope for is it becomes a 1-match ban instead of a 3-match ban but given they're a bunch of c**** I don't hold out much hope

Don’t get me wrong I thought they wouldn’t either. But they have overturned it

[Letters]

I'm a bit surprised too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce8y682lx76o

The system works!

[Letters]

So the next question then.
What's the consequence for Oliver and/or the VAR people?

(Obviously I know the answer...)

[dazthegooner]

Well hopefully they'll learn from this (yeah laughing as I type).

[Niall_Quinn]

Don’t get me wrong I thought they wouldn’t either. But they have overturned it

That was very, very fast. Looks like they blinked. Unless it's not the VAR team that adjudicates this, in which case whoever it is should be made the VAR team.

[Niall_Quinn]

Webb should resign now. He's the boss of a system that clearly doesn't work and they need to get somebody in who can change it so it does work.

[Niall_Quinn]

Sunday's match:

Match officials:

Referee: Peter Bankes. Assistants: Eddie Smart, Nick Greenhalgh. Fourth official: Anthony Taylor. VAR: Paul Tierney. Assistant VAR: Craig Taylor.

Don't think Taylor can do much as 4th official (famous last words)

Oliver has been inflicted on the Saturday game Ipswich vs Soton

And the Wednesday Everton vs Liverpool.

So he's kind of been rewarded for his BS.

No sign of Darren England though. Hope that continues.

[Mac76]

I'm a bit surprised too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce8y682lx76o

The system works!

Can't believe it - 'someone does the right thing shock'

Win/win for MLS, a let off and he didn't have to play the second half :lol:

Imagine how sick we'd be if we hadn't won anyway though

[Marc Overmars]

Looking forward to watching that shitty Howard Webb show where he runs through the VAR dodgy decisions. That’s if he has the nerve to show his face for this one.

[Niall_Quinn]

I'm a bit surprised too.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/ce8y682lx76o

The system works!

Well I suppose, the system works. Like airbags in a car wreck.

[Niall_Quinn]

Can't believe it - 'someone does the right thing shock'

Win/win for MLS, a let off and he didn't have to play the second half :lol:

Imagine how sick we'd be if we hadn't won anyway though

We'd feel sick as an Asian gambling syndicate that put down a ton on a draw.

[HCZ_Reborn]

We'd feel sick as an Asian gambling syndicate that put down a ton on a draw.

I don’t think illegal betting syndicates would last very long if they were thrown into disarray by one result that didnt go as they forecast

Plus they don’t tend to manipulate outright results, not enough money in it for them. There’s only so much you can get on odds from a result that can go only one of three ways. For instance with the Pakistani cricket team match fixing it wasn’t about throwing the match it was about No balls and wides at certain times to impact the in play betting market

So for example if there was money on Oliver producing a red card at a certain time, that would payout regardless of whether it was subsequently overturned or Arsenal won

[Niall_Quinn]

I don’t think illegal betting syndicates would last very long if they were thrown into disarray by one result that didnt go as they forecast

Plus they don’t tend to manipulate outright results, not enough money in it for them. There’s only so much you can get on odds from a result that can go only one of three ways. For instance with the Pakistani cricket team match fixing it wasn’t about throwing the match it was about No balls and wides at certain times to impact the in play betting market

So for example if there was money on Oliver producing a red card at a certain time, that would payout regardless of whether it was subsequently overturned or Arsenal won

I simplified things to allow for comedy and prevent TLDR issues.

[Niall_Quinn]

We do know this ref's on the take though. There's actual evidence of it.

[HCZ_Reborn]

By the way I get you were making a facetious remark, but just saying

[Letters]

We do know this ref's on the take though. There's actual evidence of it.

He's officiated games in the UAE, all paid for by City's owners. I mean, that's just facts.
Whether it influences his decisions. I'm sure he's above that.
It's probably just a coincidence he's given us 8 red cards in 55 games and Man City 0 in 50 games.

[HCZ_Reborn]

We do know this ref's on the take though. There's actual evidence of it.

Oliver? Yep basically a kick back innit. Put up in the best suite of the Abu Dhabi Hilton, a complimentary Thai hooker who knows all the disgusting things he likes to do that his missus won’t tolerate. Lobsters, Fillet Mignon and Johnny Walker Black coming out of his ears. And in return he refs some fixture in the UAE to legitimise it all as a business trip

[Niall_Quinn]

Oliver? Yep basically a kick back innit. Put up in the best suite of the Abu Dhabi Hilton, a complimentary Thai hooker who knows all the disgusting things he likes to do that his missus won’t tolerate. Lobsters, Fillet Mignon and Johnny Walker Black coming out of his ears. And in return he refs some fixture in the UAE to legitimise it all as a business trip

20K, lovely. And the best bit, nothing at all to see here. It's quite normal for refs to have these types of relationships with clubs they are impartially officiating. Which is why I want Wrighty to become a ref - can you imagine the wailing?

Johnny Walker Blue. You put Black in your bike if you get stuck between petrol stations.

[HCZ_Reborn]

20K, lovely. And the best bit, nothing at all to see here. It's quite normal for refs to have these types of relationships with clubs they are impartially officiating. Which is why I want Wrighty to become a ref - can you imagine the wailing?

Johnny Walker Blue. You put Black in your bike if you get stuck between petrol stations.

Tell that to the Arab Sheiks despite telling everyone they rule that it’s haram to drink…they go nuts for JWB

[Niall_Quinn]

Tell that to the Arab Sheiks despite telling everyone they rule that it’s haram to drink…they go nuts for JWB

well their petrol stations are hundreds of miles apart in the desert.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Personally I prefer MacAllan. Feels less like something you’ve picked up in duty free as an afterthought

[Niall_Quinn]

So what's going to happen now the PGMOL has been shown up as utterly incompetent and probably corrupt in front of the whole world?

Another Oliver - Holt - is on the case:


Revealed: The sickening death threats sent to Michael Oliver and his two-year-old daughter after Myles Lewis-Skelly red card and the horror that awaited his terrified family when he returned home, writes OLIVER HOLT

And from his mates in the media:


Arsenal youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial red card against Wolves OVERTURNED as FA release 46-word statement and Mikel Arteta condemns trolls who targeted Michael Oliver

Just because the standard of officiating in the richest league in the world has hit absolute bottom, that's no excuse not the change the subject.

Besides, what would happen to the likes of Holt if he had to write about football?

[Niall_Quinn]

Former Premier League referee David Coote could land a new role in football, according to a report.

Coote was dismissed as a Premier League referee in December 2024 after the emergence of videos earlier in the year that saw him call ex-Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp 'a German ****'.

Footage also emerged alleging to show him sniffing a white powder through a rolled-up bank note.

It was apparently taken during the summer's European Championship. The PGMOL found Coote's actions made his position as a Premier League official 'untenable' and the organisation headed up by Howard Webb terminated his employment with immediate effect.

This week, in an interview with The Sun, Coote revealed that he turned to drugs over fear of coming out as gay in the 'macho world' of the Premier League.

The same outlet now claim that the 42-year-old could make a sensational return to football as a VAR instructor.

LOL. Surely fake news?

[HCZ_Reborn]

I have a lot of time for Klopp, I think we absolutely missed a trick by bringing him to Arsenal. I think there’s no question in my mind we’d have won a league title with him. But from a referees perspective, corrupt or not corrupt “German Cunt” is probably about right.

[WMUG]

He's officiated games in the UAE, all paid for by City's owners. I mean, that's just facts.
Whether it influences his decisions. I'm sure he's above that.
It's probably just a coincidence he's given us 8 red cards in 55 games and Man City 0 in 50 games.

From the perspective of a corrupt ref on City's payroll, what would be the aim of this red card? City are already out of the title race, the only team helped by hurting us would be Liverpool.

[Mac76]

From the perspective of a corrupt ref on City's payroll, what would be the aim of this red card? City are already out of the title race, the only team helped by hurting us would be Liverpool.

City are fighting for a top four spot and Arsenal are one of the teams currently in the top four, OK so we're above everyone except Liverpool but hey when Arsenal have a player sent off every other week you might as well damage them while you can if you think you can get away with it.

Plus there's the wider North-West bias

[HCZ_Reborn]

I don’t know about outright corruption when it comes to us, his leniency on City is far more suspect when it comes to that

I just think PGMOL and referees don’t like us and that bias informs in the moment decision making. To put it plainly they think Arteta is an arrogant spic and our players are a bunch of southern softies so if we do anything that other players routinely get away with it’s us being violent, and if other players assault ours it’s just us being southern softies.

[Letters]

I just think PGMOL and referees don’t like us and that bias informs in the moment decision making.
Which is fine, but that's what VAR is supposed to be for.
What's the point of it if they're not correcting stuff like this? The fact it's been overturned is an admission that it was the wrong decisions, why didn't VAR sort it out at the time? I don't actually think VAR should be completely scrapped but dear Lord they need to improve the implementation of it.

[Niall_Quinn]

Yuo don't need to be passing envelopes stuffed with cash for corruption to exist. Corruption, rot that harms everything it touches. A pretty accurate way to describe PGMOL, as corrupt as it comes. At the very least an old boys' club that will support their mates even in the most blatant circumstances and regardless of the harm it does to the image of football and the outcome of sporting events that hinge on narrow margins. I happen to think there's a far deeper level of corruption because I can't believe incompetence can exist with such consistency. We could have shitty little bean counters at the PL rubbing their claws together at the increased interest generated by this appalling standard of officiating. I've already said, gambling markets could certainly be swayed. There's also big money at the end of the season where just a few places up or down in the table could mean the difference between progress and ruin. Whenever you get all this money sloshing around it's unrealistic to pretend there's not all manner of corruption behind the scenes. I don't believe football is somehow pure whereas literally every other industry in the world is crooked as hell and puts greed first, last and always. I mean look at City - could there be a more corrupt institution? Bleeding slavers from the Middle East running the shop! Don't tell me they've been on their best behaviour just because it's football.

Yeah, it's corrupt. We just don't have access to the details. The subject changing media and pundits make sure of that.

[Niall_Quinn]

Interesting twist on the supposed death threats sent to Oliver. I don't know if this is true or not, but some online commentators are now saying those death threats were made after the Utd Liverpool match and no threats were made after Arsenal Wolves. There was a lot of abuse after the latter, for sure, but the suggestion is the PGMOL roped in the prior threats even though they didn't mention them 3 weeks ago when they occurred. Yes, I know the Police have said they are investigating threats against Oliver and his family. But did they actually say those threats came after the match on the weekend? If there's a shred of truth to this then the PGMOL have gone way beyond crossing the line. That would be shameful propaganda that capitalises on the very behaviour they claim they abhor. People that malicious and untrustworthy would find a hard time justifying the position of good faith and trust they currently enjoy.

[Niall_Quinn]

Somebody on some show somewhere asked yesterday, "Name me the top 3 American football refs, what are their names? Top 3 tennis umpires? Top 3 refs from any sport other than football?"

And I thought, boxing, I could name the top 3, at least I once could. Because that sport is not rigged from top to bottom either.

[HCZ_Reborn]

Which is fine, but that's what VAR is supposed to be for.
What's the point of it if they're not correcting stuff like this? The fact it's been overturned is an admission that it was the wrong decisions, why didn't VAR sort it out at the time? I don't actually think VAR should be completely scrapped but dear Lord they need to improve the implementation of it.

Same refs who don’t like us are sitting on their backsides looking at the screen at Stockley park

But I think there’s also deference in play. Look at the three most recent controversial decisions against us. Brighton pel, Havertz handball and MLS red. All decisions ratified within a short amount of time. It conversely took almost five minutes just to check Martinelli’s toenail wasn’t offside against Southampton….the ref for that game was a newbie.


Senior refs Taylor, Oliver, Kavanagh…they’ll have someone on VAR likely to defer to them


The obvious solution is to have a completely different organisation looking at VAR

[Niall_Quinn]

Same refs who don’t like us are sitting on their backsides looking at the screen at Stockley park

But I think there’s also deference in play. Look at the three most recent controversial decisions against us. Brighton pel, Havertz handball and MLS red. All decisions ratified within a short amount of time. It conversely took almost five minutes just to check Martinelli’s toenail wasn’t offside against Southampton….the ref for that game was a newbie.


Senior refs Taylor, Oliver, Kavanagh…they’ll have someone on VAR likely to defer to them

I quite like the times when one of our players is being stretchered off with a dislocated body and the commentators go, "No VAR check, no need for a VAR check, VAR can't check that..." It's not just the shit VAR looks at but also the stuff it ignores.

[Letters]

Senior refs Taylor, Oliver, Kavanagh…they’ll have someone on VAR likely to defer to them
There's definitely something in that.
The fawning over Oliver over the last few days has been ridiculous

[HCZ_Reborn]

There's definitely something in that.
The fawning over Oliver over the last few days has been ridiculous

The best referees are the ones who you don’t remember their names

I first remember Michael Oliver from ten years ago, when we realised the Fergie hold on referees had finally gone (two years after he left) when he reffed a cup tie between us and Man United at Old Trafford and sent Angel Di Maria off (a United player getting a red at OT shocker)

But then I remember him in the fa cup final a year later and I thought “you look incompetent”

[Letters]

Some time ago WMUG opined that the level of abuse refs get - not just at PL level but all the way down - is such that the people who get to the top aren't necessarily the ones who make the best decisions but the ones who are bloody minded enough to put up with it. Maybe they even revel in it - we've all seen referees who seem to actively want to be "the story" after a game. There is something in that, I reckon. They keep talking about getting tough on abuse of referees but here we are in a game where a player can get a second yellow card for "kicking the ball away" but players can still surround the referee with no consequence.

[Niall_Quinn]

Some time ago WMUG opined that the level of abuse refs get - not just at PL level but all the way down - is such that the people who get to the top aren't necessarily the ones who make the best decisions but the ones who are bloody minded enough to put up with it. Maybe they even revel in it - we've all seen referees who seem to actively want to be "the story" after a game. There is something in that, I reckon. They keep talking about getting tough on abuse of referees but here we are in a game where a player can get a second yellow card for "kicking the ball away" but players can still surround the referee with no consequence.

Every fan who saw Collina was reffing their match just thought, fair enough. And there are refs in the PL we don't talk about, is that because they are bloody minded enough to just do their job and not be noticed? I think the ones who make it about them are obvious enough and, just coincidentally, they are the worst refs. It's their desire to be self important that makes them bad refs by default, they are missing the point of what they are hired to do. If they just got on with their job they'd quickly fall into obscurity, and so you have Oliver and Taylor and all those refs from the past that we remember.

[Niall_Quinn]

Here we go. The first stage of retaliation for us having exposed and humiliated the corrupt PGMOL.


Arsenal have been charged by the Football Association after players confronted referee Michael Oliver following Myles Lewis-Skelly's controversial dismissal in the 1-0 win against Wolves.

Oliver showed Lewis-Skelly a straight red card in the first half after the teenager fouled Matt Doherty, with the referee ruling it was serious foul play.

The Gunners appealed against the decision and the 18-year-old's three-match ban was overturned earlier this week.

Arsenal have until 3 February to respond to the FA charge.

[Niall_Quinn]

Again, a charge for us and nothing for the other clubs that do this regularly.

[Niall_Quinn]

So Areta is being slagged in the press, even though he was extremely restrained after the match. And now the team have been charged even though I have seen much, much worse this season. There's definitely something here. Maybe it's just a case of Arsenal are the best at showing these corrupt, incompetent wasters up.

[Mac76]

such an obvious example of deflecting the attention away from the huge error of the sending off itself - the confrontaion was not that bad, I didn't see any pushing etc, other teams do much worse

[Niall_Quinn]

I think we should be relegated 115 times.

[Mac76]

I think we should be relegated 115 times.

Many a true word...

[dazthegooner]

The FA again showing how narrow minded they really are.

[Niall_Quinn]

The FA again showing how narrow minded they really are.

Letter of the law, init?

[KSE Comedy Club]

Deflection is the 'go to' response when corruption is uncovered