Figures 1-0 Football

That's not right. They get a fee per game for sure. I know two referee's who reffed upto Championship level and they always got a fee per game and expenses etc. We're both half right. £60k annual salary & about £1,150 per match. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2909239/Top-Premier-League-referees-earn-FIVE-TIMES-Football-League-officials.html

They earn about £100k a year here, apparently. They get an annual wage rather than a per-game fee. He's replacing Howard Webb, who was apparently their head off referees untill 11 days ago, never knew that - he must have travelled backwards and forwards for his TV commitments.

It was suggested Sky were helping Leicester to win the title by showing all of their games before Spurs, so that Spurs were constantly playing catchup and demoralised them. Does make sense, but could also have the opposite effect (as Hans has just said). Doesn't really matter though does it - the best team over the course of the season goes up/wins the league.

Apparently cost them £350k in payouts Doesn't cost them anything in reality though, does it? When millions of pounds are wagered on those bets and lose.

Spill the beans then? I still think he's the best ref in the PL though it's obviously subjective such is the job. By far the best Prem ref, possibly the best in Europe too. Cant blame him for sacking it off, he's already reffed the best occasions possible - may as well just try earn as much as he can now before retiring. An alarming lack of talent behind him coming through though.

Not defending Bruce, Villa or whoever. But this idea you can replace your best players with the money - largely never works. Nearly always in the short-term there is a step back. To have a player that is in effect "too good" for your team is extremely difficult because generally the team is only able to attract a lower standard of player. It's very difficult to make lightning strike several times. Southampton have managed it fairly well.

Arsenal are your modern day fanny squad. Like a team full of Gini's - good talent but shirk all responsibility when the going gets tough.

Lucky that Lewandowski, getting away with a Mitro assault on Ospina - it's a certain card, apparently.

Arsenal's season to end in February again tonight after a thumping in Munich.

Robben anytime @ 11/8 for my £50 Free £50 on 3-1 Bayern @ 10/1

Its hard to tell, again people I spoke to the other night said his football is very poor, but they can see some kind of light at the end. Its just that a lot of players can't be bothered or aren't good enough seems to be the issue. He started well I thought, but they are in a bit of a mess at the moment and now won't make the playoffs and could get dragged down towards the bottom of the table. We are lucky in that we have Rafa because we could be in Villa's position right now. They were in just as much a mess if not more than we were prior to relegation. At least we spent some money and bought decent enough players. They have been just as badly run as we have over the years and it sucks given just how big both clubs are and our proud history and traditions. Again, Villa, for all their weird out of nowhere seemingly hatred for NUFC, I find to be a good club with decent fans. Bear in mind I'm constantly working in the West Midlands and Villa Park was my first away game so again, I have a soft spot for them. Haven't they spent the most money in the Championship ever? Granted Di Matteo spent a majority of it but Bruce has also had a full transfer window and three months before it to prepare and make new signings for a team that should have already been competing near he top. Di Matteo was sacked after 1 win in 11 games (8 points) Bruce currently has 1 win in 9 games (5 points) The loan signing of a keeper who failed in League One last season was an atrocious decision by Bruce and he's already costing them points left right and centre. Other than the brief new manager bounce he got with Villa, the performances and results have been a lot worse than they were under Di Matteo. He also handled McCormack terribly and continued the low morale the squad/club already has. He's doing an appalling job, quite frankly.

Even worse than both of those editions.

Played a fantastic ball for the goal, but other than that he was the most turd I've seen a Newcastle player this season. Disgustingly bad at everything.

They'll linger around in this league for a few years as Middlesbrough did. I'm pleased they are encountering shit football and awful performances though, couldn't think of a more deserving bunch.

One point of note from yesterday was the linesman on our side of the pitch was absolutely atrocious Nearly every time the ball went out he waited for the referee to signal before holding his flag up in the same direction, when the referee didn't know it looked like he just made a wild guess. There were several times in the second half where he was so behind the play it was unreal, a few times our attackers looked offside but he couldn't give it because he was about 10 yards further back - he just never seemed to be in line with the last defender.

All three of our keepers are distinctly average like. Worries me that Elliot is a serious suggestion to start like, but Darlow and Sels have made individual mistakes far too often this season leading to dropped points.

More chance of Brighton falling out of the top two than us.

It would mildly amuse me to see Villa get into some real relegation trouble like.

I thought we played very well and if it wasn't for two individual errors then we'd have comfortably won the game. We had so many chances to win it but a combination of bad luck and poor finishing meant it wasn't to be. We were by far the better team like, other than the goals which were down to our own stupidity and two long range efforts they offered little/nothing whereas we carved them open time and time again. Gouffran offers absolutely nothing, no idea how he is still starting with Atsu on the bench. Colback was absolutely terrible, again, we looked about 100 times better when Diame replaced him. Lascelles was very shakey again but a good finish for the goal. Overall I'm probably happy with a point away from home against an in-form team who are very good at home. Especially as Brighton unexpectedly dropped points.

6:24

Christ - so many decisions are debateable and down to people's interpretation that video refereeing just wouldnt work. How often do pundits/supporters sit arguing after a match on whether or not contact was enough for the player to go down. Rather than investing in technology, they should invest in training more (and better quality) referees.

He was setup to fail from day one, media on his back immediately because he wasn't Ryan Giggs which undoubtedly undermind his position with the club, players and fans.

You could also argue Lascelles is interferring with the player who decides to mark him (rather than Mitro) which leaves Mitro free to tap it in. https://s18.postimg.org/vtxyjsim1/IMG_5517.png Either way, Lascelles was an interference. Not put the image on here due to the shit format.

Keep playing the video and watch where Lascelles runs... Yawn.