KingArthur

Have to say Villa were in a bit of trouble with ManU press in the first half. We are really bad at playing through press atm so interesting to see how Howe does it on Boxing day. Elanga to start?

City’s style doesnt help, but doesnt look like Howe player

God no. Totally lost defensively and too expensive

I think you are right. Refs dont want to make a decision, they think that if it was a howler VAR will fix. And then they can say VAR didnt intervene when nothing happens. I understand they dont want to make mistakes, but not everything has to be looked at by VAR

I have stayed away from this thread for like 20 years. Why is it so difficult to have civil conversation about this, when I just happen to diaagree with? Everyone here knows football fans are biased, still I am here being called all kinds of names for saying that.

This was just an example out of head, that this happens. And opposite fans say Gordon is diving left right and centre etc.

Well, you can also live in your bubble were refs have a conspiracy against 19 teams.

I think the point of a football forum is to talk with people that disagree with you in some things. I have no need to call you names, and dont even know you.

Yea but it is not just this time. Sometimes when we draw against Brighton or something, people are here saying ”ref was poor” or ”didnt give us anything”. It has become automatic thing to say: anyway, ref was shite.

I say. Because I know that Burn/ Schär etc moment is right around the corner. I like to talk about football with my mates and how good NUFC was yesterday. What is the point of complaining about referees? It doesnt get you anywhere. But it being ”what football is all about” really is mental take. I prefer through balls by Bruno, thunderbastards from Schär, last ditch tackles from Burn etc. Usually no need to mention ref a single time. You remember bad decisions but not the game itself? Trust me, PL has pretty good refs in global perspective

Gordon goal was ok. Havertz almost kicked Longstaff to half and Bruno elbowed Jorginho from behind. EPL panel later stated goal was ok but 2 reds were not given. That is really poor refereeing. Other was potentially career-ending tackle.

I think Gordon on VVD was with a much greater force. Garnacho and Xavi were not so dangerous, but they were high. with Brobbey the thing is he was on a yellow already IIRC. If ref blows that he is off. I think he just bottled it.

No I dont keep. But I know that we have gotten ridiculous decisions in our favor, and that is why I choose not to whine when we dont get some call. And like I said: every group of fans think refs are shit and corrupt. But it is never in their favour. Seems impossible to me.

Fans being biased is a fact though? So when we here write we are being done by refs you accept that it is quite biased opinion? Yesterday might be done by them, and some other game decisions went in our favour. Like this season already. There are million mistakes done in a game. ManU (IIRC) a while back scored from a corner that wasnt a corner. Refs fault? Well it is easier to blame him than say we defended the corner poorly. And for me, mistakes even out cause I have seen us getting ridiculous red cards and many times red cards or penalties not given against us for some reason. Because every team complains about the ref, except the one who is winning the title. They always think ref was ok.

Honestly you are missing the point. I dont care if Liverpool or Man United have factually gotten decisions. It is the feeling in EVERY fan base that THEIR team is being shafted by ref. Yesterday I listened to few Chelsea fans complaining how ref didnt give them anything. Here I read that ref was giving them every call. It is just getting boring that when your team doesnt win, blame the ref.

Yea, I know where we are. Mad idea that other teams fans think exactly like people here, that ref is bent against their team when they dont win? In football, I think we get wrong decisions that benefit us and ones that cost us. Because that happens constantly and refs make a lot of mistakes, it is pretty much the norm nowadays. So I think saying ”we lost bc of the ref” when we miss 3-4 good chances is not very smart. In life in general, injustice doesnt even out.

It really isnt. If there is no conspiracy against any team, then mistakes will even out in the long term. Of course those teams that attack more get more penalties etc. For example we have been getting more calls under Howe than under Bruce I would guess. Some of them clearly wrong, but that happens.

Ok lets say it doesnt even out. Which are the teams benefiting from this injustice? Cause whichever fan forum I look into, they think THEIR team is being shafted by the ref. Liverpool and Arsenal fans are the worst in that. But here people are saying bigger teams are the ones getting the decisions. To my knowledge it is always other teams and especially the ones you hate/your rivals that ref likes Aston Villa got a horrible decision that cost them millions last season. I think their fans think we always get the calls etc.

They didnt, but most likely in the last 50 years they have had outrageous decisions going in their favor. Especially with VAR the home advantage / home refereeing of bigger teams is not so meaningful anymore. VAR makes it easier to give penalty at OT etc.

I agree refs make mistakes. But they are not always in favor of other teams. People say yesterday was ”worst refereeing ever” when couple years ago when won v Arsenal 1-0, there were 2 red cards not shown that should have. But we won so no one cares anymore.

You don't get it. I am taking stuff that has happened in the past, to prove people have selective memory when it comes to fouls. Every football fan thinks ref is against their team and bent and corrupt. It is just boring thing to use as an excuse.

He very rarely is, and I dont think he has once gotten any kind of sanction (like Arteta or Klopp for ex have) for being an ass towards referees. I think this is a forum anyone can share they're opinion though.

My point: people (of all football clubs) complain about dog shit referees, but only remember when decisions goes against them. Spurs fans were saying they are robbed against Liverpool yesterday. Couple of seasons ago Liverpool was not given perfectly good goal against Spurs because refs fucked up on the radio. I mentioned Gordon case v Brentford because if you say this or that is/is not a penalty, then you have to use the same logic when things are other way around. Otherwise you are having double standards. It all evens out in the long term, especially now with VAR. It gives too easy explanation to a poor performance usually. I am glad Howe very rarely whines about refs post match. In fact I dont remember him doing that once. I get that refs make mistakes, and they make a lot of them.

This Logic baffles me. Couple years ago we got a penalty against Brentford when ball was going out and Gordon jumped infront of Flekken who made a (quite small) contact with him. But now the same thing doesnt apply?

I dont think he was good either, but hard to look beyond a guy who scores twice