joeyt

I've never openly heard referees or former referees talking about 'protecting the product', are there any examples of this? There's always supicions obviously but I'm surprised if any have openly admitted to that being the case

I was more focussed on the worrying parts that referees have been asking for it. How have they been asking for it?

I think it's worrying that some in this thread feel like the refs have 'had it coming' when it comes to the Mitro red card. Even more so that the ref made the completely correct decision. Even if he hadn't, you can't be handling the ref

Women's hormones going to be all over the shop with him in charge, the handsome bastard

Ban

This is dangerous nonsense

I do wonder if we've overcomplicated his game to get him to fit into our style of play

"Great argument you put across."

Okay I'll bite: Howe doesn't make half time substitutions when the game is in the balance He'd just been involved in our goal Howe moved him up front to avoid straining the hamstring further but Howe said he felt he was still being effective in the game so didn't want to take him off We know ASM is always picking up injuries What's your argument based on?

Think you need to work on your chat up lines

Christ

Apart from Longstaff in the cup final I can barely remember Howe taking off someone at half time. And that was because we were 2 down We sat through about a dozen lacklustre performances from Wilson yet he didn't get taken off

The sake of the team that just scored with ASM heavily involved? Or because he was genuinely injured?

Well no but all the conspiracies only seem to come out with ASM. It's very rare Howe makes half time changes unless he absolutely has to.

You think our manager was lying about his injury despite ASM having a key contribution to the goal and Howe said himself he was being effective

Of course

Remember when he first came in and we played Everton off the park at Goodison with a split striker formation which was Jones' prefered formation Steve and Alex Bruce were fuming that Jones got all the credit for it

Why?

Wonder if Rico Henry will be looked at as a potential option at left back

@Froggy think there's any chance you'll make Weghorst permanent? Ten Haag seems to play him every game (aware you haven't got many other options) but clear he trusts him. Guess you'll be looking for one or two high profile strikers in the summer though

Lee Dixon has been at his insufferable worst in this game

Another great arsenal goal

Martinelli on fire

Also is there any truth in Kaiz's claim that VAR is working perfectly in other countries and that it's just the PL using it wrong? I'm not a huge watcher of European football but there's been recent champions league games completely ruined by the use of VAR