RateTheRef

Dean Whitestone is getting plenty of middles in L1/2, but has not refereed a Championship game since Cardiff v Preston on 10th February. This seems strange to me as he has always struck me as one of the better SG2 referees. Any reason I wonder?

I am sure I read somewhere that he picked up an injury towards end of 2023 and missed a few weeks. His gradual return via the lower leagues seems to have gone a bit erratically - maybe still not fully fit - hence his non return to SG2 so far

Is that the same Saka who missed the recent England games through “injury” but made a miraculous recovery for Arsenals game v Man City? If so tonight was clearly not his first case of simulation

I'm pleasured to say that I've watched all of Grandad Graham's games live this year, the downside being he's only had 3.

And I have to say, for the 3rd time, I'm really impressed. Unfortunately after 6 months without a prem game, he's decided to bring his yellow, I didn't know it took more than 6 months to wash a blue top!

I think his foul detection was good. He's kept up with play well. A couple of good advantages, very good decision not to give Palace a penalty on 87'. I wish we could see him more, rather than having to see him on what must be his 10th tour of the UK touchlines now!

That’s good to hear in one sense but also sadly reaffirming the poor way he has been treated this year. And still they persist with the likes of Coote….😡

Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Mon 25 Mar 2024 16:24

Good to see James Linington back in the middle in what, I guess, may be one of his last games as an SG2 in the Championship.

Why?

I suspect the fact that Liningtons string of 4th official duties, combined with someone on RTR saying a friend of his had seen Linington in a track suit at one of the referee meetings doing his coaching exams, has led to speculation that he is about to take up a new role. Not sure what credence, if any, to attach to this

Agree with everything said, been a pleasure reading such detailed reports from Alfie and can’t really quibble with anything he says.
I thought Gardner was excellent again, he has a real affinity with what is unfolding around him and communicates so well with the players. It’s a shame so much time is being spent arguing about the final penalty; by the letter of the law it was a correct decision. Some of the so called pundits and comments from supporters on other sites do themselves no credit whatsoever. Talk of “inept”, “biased”, “bent” etc Aussie refs is ridiculous and stinks to me of poor sportsmanship and bad losers. Gardners sympathetic refereeing helped to make the game so absorbing.
What a Championship overall! Of the 15 matches played 2 matches were settled by 1 point, 3 by 2 points, 2 by 3 points and 2 by 4 points, as well as the France v Italy draw. That’s two thirds of games where the max margin was 4 points. I can’t recall a Six Nations as close as this but will stand corrected

Quote from: Whistleblower on Tue 12 Mar 2024 10:26

Quote from: Lionator27 on Mon 11 Mar 2024 15:11

Quote from: Acme Thunderer on Sun 10 Mar 2024 15:18

Quote from: RCG on Sun 10 Mar 2024 14:01

"Mike Dean seemed unimpressed by Gill apparently signing autographs at half-time"

As Dean was such a shy, retiring wall flower who never courtes the limelight?!?!

I think it was very unwise of Sunny to be signing autographs at any time during the game, and I hope someone has a word with him about it p.d.q.

I’d like to know why not? He had a minute or two waiting for the players, and those children were interacting with him. Those two children may in future choose to be referee’s as a result of that interaction. Or simply it may have improved their day. Referee’s aren’t robots and humanising them is incredibly important.

Although I instinctively dislike the notion of the "celebrity referee", that is where the game is heading and so, on balance, I think it is right for a referee to sign an autograph for a child; a refusal just makes the referee appear aloof and stand-offish which is not an image the officiating profession should seek to foster.

As a joke I once asked Peter Jones for his autograph. He gave it and said " in a hundred years time that'll make your grandchildren very wealthy " he had a great grin on his face as he said it.

As a very young Missy bmb I had Dave Allison's autograph, also had signed photos of Clive Thomas, Keith Hackett & Joe Worrall. Still have 3 signed programs from Puhl Sándor and bmb jr has a stack of signed programs from Kassai Viktor along with various signed photos from him and his team, plus Clatts & Andre, which are housed in one of my display cabinets. Also within the bmb household are signed shirts, match worn, Euros and World Cup ones and a few very precious ones from Hungary. Jr would tell you the Kassai ones are the most precious but anyone who knows me will guess which ones are precious to me!

“A signed photo of Keith Hackett” 😱. That is a very brave thing to admit!

Perhaps we are all getting a little bit carried away over 1 incident in which there is clear diversity of opinion.
What we can all surely agree on, whether we support Liverpool, City or are just neutral observers, is that this was the Premier League at its most thrilling, with 2 magnificent sides managed by 2 of the best going at it hammer and tongs for 90 minutes and refereed by Englands finest official of the past 10 years.
If this is the last Pep v Klopp encounter its was an epic to finish on, very much in keeping with other games over the last 7 years. What a credit these games have been.
And what a stark comparison with the dross served up by the poorer relations of Manchester and Liverpool yesterday!