RateTheRef

Saw it on replay so knew the decision for the RC - has all the hallmarks of a red card challenge and certainly 'justifiable' - was just a pity (though noy wanting anyone to get hurt) there wasn't an 'impact' on the fouled player with the leg that comes over the top, then there would have been no debate

An unfortuate situation, but as pthers have said not one that officials can take any action on, and as not the last game of the season not sure that they should.

Going back into the past I remember back in 2008 Man U and Chelsea on the last day both going for the title, John Terry got a head injury in the first half so long delay, so at Wigan v Man U they had a 25 minute half time - due to somthing happenign 100 miles away -  so both matches kicked off second half at same time

Watched this last night, as you say some interesting decisions.

First red card (2 yellows for left back in first 10 mins) both in isolation are probably cautions at that level, one slide in late and one shirt pull. Its one of those as the ref where though we deal with whats in front of us, you probably wouldn't want that in the first 10 mins of a game you are reffing that you know being filmed. Only slight issue with ref (though it may be editing) is he seemed to take a long time to get cards out which makes it look like he was reacting to the calls for a red, rather than working it out for himself.

Now I have no idea, but the 15 is an ex PL player, who Hashtag bring on after the first red card and with no evidence, I think they bring on to kill the game, sit in centre mid and potentially 'manage' the ref a little, and ends up getting 2 soft yellows - for dissent and simulation in his own third. The commentators argue that it was unfair but I think more he just kept on at the ref, was trying to ref the game itself and then the ref finds an excuse to get rid of him. Not saying right or wrong, but probably understandable.

Late penalty was a funny one, i think striker is already on the way down and defender falls on top of him - actually not as clear cut as some may think - but as it ends with defender lyign on top of striker, so penalty was correct.

Overall i think management of the game would have been hard after giving 2 yellows/red in first 10, as then every slide in and shirt pull became a yellow, thus leading to dissent and a bit of a farce. Potential answer would have been to manage the situation in the first 10 mins rather than give 2 yellows (potentially manage the first one), but also see if someone dives in after 3 mins giving yellow is fine, but you would hope that would calm the player down

First visit to Old trafford for myself in 4 years, and first for my 6 year old ever - so wasn't fully focused on the referee, but overall a solid performance.

From in the stadium as a few others said free kicks were a little random first half (though included in this was -from our view up 10 flights of stairs - a very soft yellow, that on TV viewing shows to be correct) but certainly there was a couple where very little contac twas made and free kick given, followed by a hefty tackle ignored.

Again, it is not a hot topic at that level, but I would like to see everything a bit stricter on dissent, Maupay (who BTW on that performance is stealing a living as a footballer) was giving his opinion on everything, from tryign to get Shaw booked for a push, to havign a go at the assistant around a throw in, culminating in giving the 4O a spray as he was subbed off. As I say I know theere is less cards for dissent at the top level, but some still do need to be given

Watched it this morning, only watched from 88+ plus knowing what was to come so can't comment on iother timewasting before- From the moment Pope went down to the time play restatrted was 85 seconds, and apart from that additional time ran smooth, for me the time for the final whistle was when Liverpool brought the ball clear from their own penalty area when stopping the Newcastle attack, middle of the pitch at about 96:40 - for whatever reason he allows Liverpool to break back, win the corner and then score from it. Small error with big consequences

Haven't Marriner and Liverpool got previous for late goals? Sure it was he who gave them the late penalty at the Emirates that was scored in 102nd minute  - and I'm pretty sure the board for that one was definitly less than 12

Go on then, I'll keep biting, I can see the other POV but just don't fully agree

As per the pictures

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]
As Grealish plays the ball (top image) the defender about 8-10 yards ahead has to stretch to make contact with the ball (bottom image) as if he doesn't the ball will go through to the attacker behind him.


The ball then deflects and fall to Kane who IMO has gained an advantage by being in this offside position when Grealish played the ball and is therfore offside


One comment of 'The defender has ample time to consider playing the ball, and unfortunately plays the ball to Kane.  The quality of the play, or the intention is not relevant.' To me 8 yards from Grealish fizzing a pass isn't 'ample time' and you can see from his stretch he's not in a natural position to play the ball so this is a deflection/block not a deliberate playing of the ball.

To add a further note of confusion what would the decision have been if the player (apologies can;t see from image who - but in inside left channel) who the pass was attempted to had also been in an offside position? Would we still say no offside? Because to me trying to pass to someone who is in an offside postition, and then it deflacts to someone else who is should definitly see a flag go up - but I feel not all wouldd agree.

I promise this is the only time I will bring his name into this forum, but on the radio this morning Neil Warnock said ' the last 15 minutes were un-refereeable (sic.) and actually the lad did quite a good job.'

And rather annonyingly I think I agree with Colin

Having just seen the highlights - but does anyone know how the 'powers that be' would see the decisions in the game?

To confirm 2 of the goals were penalties, both for handball - neither given on the pitch but VAR alerted the ref, who went to the reveiw area, studied the video and gave both. Then red card for DOGSO in the last seconds, again not seen on the pitch but given after VAR review.

From my opinion the two handballs being missed were understandable both in crowded penalty areas with a lot going on, and VAR noticing them and bringing to attention just shows VAR working. Probably should have got the red at the end, but I can see defender was close to the ball and so maybe could have grazed it.

But to my initial question - technically the refereee has missed 3 KMIs in the match, at a lower level this would lead to a poor mark and no prominent games for a while, but is this the case here - or is the fact the 'team' got the decision in the end mean there is no black mark against the ref?