RateTheRef

I accept that there are not many candidates this year and Mason is having a better season but this does have the look of "a Buggins turn" appointment.  A bit like FIFA badges. match appointments for Cup and Play Off Finals have less to do with earning them these days which can only lead to the further devaluing of what was always seen as an honour.

Very subjective views regarding the appropriateness and suitability of Lee Mason to officiate this final.
He is a Premier League official, has been for a number of years, has been considered to be in the top 21 officials in the country for some time performing to the standard required, which is better than most on here, who have worn the black shirt, will ever be.
He's eligible to officiate this final and 'his turn' is now, why are so many congratulating with questions and/or veiled criticism and comparing him with officials of yesteryear?  Their time was then, they didn't have the opportunity for a prestigious appointment for a number of reasons that are normally forgotten in time, Lee's time is now and he has earned his opportunity to receive the honour.

Well done for the appointment Lee Mason and team, hopefully you all enjoy the experience and have a good game.

Quote from: reflector on Mon 17 Feb 2020 16:42

I accept that there are not many candidates this year and Mason is having a better season but this does have the look of "a Buggins turn" appointment.  A bit like FIFA badges. match appointments for Cup and Play Off Finals have less to do with earning them these days which can only lead to the further devaluing of what was always seen as an honour.

Couldn’t agree more. When you think back to all the decent refs of yesteryear who never got a Final - names such as Les Shapter, Dave Allison, Mike Peck, John Martin, Colin Seel, Ray Toseland etc etc etc - the dearth of talent these days almost dictates that bang ordinary refs such as Mason will end up with a Final honour.

Quote from: Readingfan on Tue 18 Feb 2020 12:07

I don't see the issue with people questioning the appointment. It always seems odd to me when people go excessive on the congratulations for a final, as if they know the person or the person is likely to read it. If Simon Hooper is appointed to Chelsea V Spurs this weekend in the PL then no one is going to congratulate him but many would question it, so why should it be that much different for a final? In many ways, the more important the game, the more scrutiny there should be.

When Steve McClaren was appointed England manager, was no one allowed to qustion it because he'd been a manager for quite a few years and it was a big appointment for him?

For what it's worth, I have mixed feelings on the appointment. Lee Mason is an experienced PL referee and I think has had a solid season so it is reasonable that he should come under consideration. But equally I don't think it's wrong to question if he has been fortunate to spend 15 years or so as a PL referee or to ponder if this reflects an overall decline in the depth of refereeing at the top level.

I Don't Agree, A Cup final Is quite a big thing for a referee to get, (Yes I Know how undervalued the league cup is nowadays), why wouldn't you congratulate someone on it, Refs Generally work towards getting these appointments, it's not just a regular league game. Mason may have been poor in previous seasons, but he has in fairness to him been decent this season, it seems some aren't willing to give him any credit for that for some reason. he is getting this on merit this time.

Quote from: Hertsref123 on Tue 18 Feb 2020 14:14

Quote from: Readingfan on Tue 18 Feb 2020 12:07

I don't see the issue with people questioning the appointment. It always seems odd to me when people go excessive on the congratulations for a final, as if they know the person or the person is likely to read it. If Simon Hooper is appointed to Chelsea V Spurs this weekend in the PL then no one is going to congratulate him but many would question it, so why should it be that much different for a final? In many ways, the more important the game, the more scrutiny there should be.

When Steve McClaren was appointed England manager, was no one allowed to qustion it because he'd been a manager for quite a few years and it was a big appointment for him?

For what it's worth, I have mixed feelings on the appointment. Lee Mason is an experienced PL referee and I think has had a solid season so it is reasonable that he should come under consideration. But equally I don't think it's wrong to question if he has been fortunate to spend 15 years or so as a PL referee or to ponder if this reflects an overall decline in the depth of refereeing at the top level.

I Don't Agree, A Cup final Is quite a big thing for a referee to get, (Yes I Know how undervalued the league cup is nowadays), why wouldn't you congratulate someone on it, Refs Generally work towards getting these appointments, it's not just a regular league game. Mason may have been poor in previous seasons, but he has in fairness to him been decent this season, it seems some aren't willing to give him any credit for that for some reason. he is getting this on merit this time.

But is that not the very point we are making. Is he getting this appointment “on merit”? He may have had a better season than most of his 15 years on the PL. However if this appointment is made on merit then I can think of a few refs who have never had the League Cup Final and have been better this season, so why on merit have they not been chosen? Is it not more of a case of “we have a dearth of refs capable - the likes of Tierney, Bankes, Kavanagh are still young and will get it in due course - so who do we give it to this time? Ah, Lee Mason hasn’t had it so let’s give it to him”
This line of thought wouldn’t have happened in the past as the quality was much higher in my opinion and sadly the likes of some of those mentioned earlier never got the prestigious chance to referee a final. I still maintain that Mason is fortunate to have got the final by virtue of age, length of service and lack of quality around