0% Villa: Liverpool's goal today

[BannedUserIAT]

How often do we see players tap the ball to someone else before a free kick is taken?  Well, not anymore I'd say!

Villa did it more than once against Wolves.

[davevillan]

According to the Beeb Atwell hasn’t been assigned a game this weekend so the law makers must have been unhappy with his decision or are they just protecting him from any potential flack, I’d go with the former.

They dont do games every week, on the radio yesterday they said he had already been appointed 4th official at our game at Spurs.

[Chris Jameson]

I've only just seen it and it confirms really what an utter and complete fuckwit this Atwell bloke is, idiotic moments seem to follow him around, just hope he isn't reffing the Killinghall Nomads Under 8's this weekend. If he'd have allowed play to continue when Turner took it quickly there wouldn't have been any debate. Seems he doesn't ever apply the common sense rule.

After attending a ref's course a couple of weeks ago I have no respect whatsoever for people who choose to take it up as a profession, they must be the most anal people in the world, especially if they also happen to be fans of Gary Numan.

[eastie]

In fairness to him he told them to retake the kick and the ball was in the right place the 2nd time- harsh maybe but I think turner has to take the blame as the ball was in the right place and he touched it back-brave decision but a fair goal!

[davevillan]

I've only just seen it and it confirms really what an utter and complete fuckwit this Atwell bloke is, idiotic moments seem to follow him around, just hope he isn't reffing the Killinghall Nomads Under 8's this weekend. If he'd have allowed play to continue when Turner took it quickly there wouldn't have been any debate. Seems he doesn't ever apply the common sense rule.

After attending a ref's course a couple of weeks ago I have no respect whatsoever for people who choose to take it up as a profession, they must be the most anal people in the world, especially if they also happen to be fans of Gary Numan.

WTF!!!!!
Why attend the course then, and how can you say that when you havent met or know these people.
People take up refereeing because they want to be involved in football, and give something to the game.
Due to the level i was involved in, i have met many ex prem league officials/football league officials, and some are amongst the best blokes you could wish to meet, who certainly wouldnt stoop to such low levels by making crass insulting statements like the above comments.

[not3bad]

After attending a ref's course a couple of weeks ago I have no respect whatsoever for people who choose to take it up as a profession, they must be the most anal people in the world, especially if they also happen to be fans of Gary Numan.

I'm sorry but that's plain wrong - listening to Gary Numan indicates you are emotionally aloof and have a cold attention for detail.  Surely that's just what you need in a referee?

[Dave]

We can bang on about rules and laws until the cows come home. Any fool can see that the defender was leaving the ball for the goalkeeper to take the free kick, apart from the fool who was in charge of the game of course. He wasn't even watching. Fine, Liverpool took full advantage and took the ball forward in an unsportsmanlike manner, even though the Sunderland players stood like statues in amazement.

That referee has made a rod for his own back and has set a precedent which will make the officials lives just that bit more difficult. Still, rules are rules eh.

Only he didnt leave it, he kicked it backwards, and therein lies the problem. Had he left it where it was, it wouldnt have been a problem. The ball was where the ref wanted it, thats why he ran off....i dont think ive ever seen a team take the ball back unless instructed to do so, and even then, its inch by inch....But once Turner kicks it from the position its in, the ball is then in play, whatever his intentions where.
I disagree about making refs lives more difficult, as players will now be more aware, and i doubt it will happen again.

As I said on Saturday, as Winter says in that post above and pretty much every referee who has commented in the media has said, although in terms of the laws Atwell was correct - there was absolutely nothing stopping him from blowing his whistle, having it retaken and avoiding this whole ridiculous palaver.

[deanl123]

The referee couldn't win on this one. I heard it said on MOTD2 that everybody in the stadium knew he was not taking the free-kick, and yet the Liverpool players thought he'd took it, and personally, I think the player knew he'd had took it. He just underkicked it.

There would have been a lot of noise about the referee if he had disallowed, what looked to Liverpool players and fans, a definite goal.

[JUAN PABLO]

I love Pleasure Principle and Replicas..      Awesome albums...   

[Dave]

Personally, I think the player knew he'd had took it. He just underkicked it.

There would have been a lot of noise about the referee if he had disallowed, what looked to Liverpool players and fans, a definite goal.

A player who had taken the free kick and underkicked it wouldn't have then started strolling upfield while Torres sprinted past him and then (rather than turning round and running after him) shrugs his shoulders and looks confused at the referee.

And he didn't have to disallow the goal. When it became obvious that something silly had happened he just needs to blow the whistle and get it retaken before Torres is even at the edge of the penalty area. I've no doubt that if he had been paying attention and had been looking at the ball when it all happened, it's exactly what he would have done.

[Lee]

I love Pleasure Principle and Replicas..      Awesome albums...   

They certainly are.

[Chris Jameson]

WTF!!!!!
Why attend the course then, and how can you say that when you havent met or know these people.

I was pressured into it and I honestly can't see why anybody would wish to take it up as a PROFESSION unless they like the bit where you are told you are God on the football pitch.

I sat in a room for 2 and a half hours having my enthusiasm for junior football slowly drained out of me.

[davevillan]

Personally, I think the player knew he'd had took it. He just underkicked it.

There would have been a lot of noise about the referee if he had disallowed, what looked to Liverpool players and fans, a definite goal.

A player who had taken the free kick and underkicked it wouldn't have then started strolling upfield while Torres sprinted past him and then (rather than turning round and running after him) shrugs his shoulders and looks confused at the referee.

And he didn't have to disallow the goal. When it became obvious that something silly had happened he just needs to blow the whistle and get it retaken before Torres is even at the edge of the penalty area. I've no doubt that if he had been paying attention and had been looking at the ball when it all happened, it's exactly what he would have done.

All in all, its just an unusual situation.
Its ok people in the media saying 'id do this/that or the other' in the heat of the game thats easier said then done, and ex refs say he should have run backwards etc. We are also told to make use of dead ball time and to get into position, which is why Attwell sprinted like he did, to get into position for the game to restart quicker. He couldnt have expected Turner to do what he did. I cant recall in over 20yrs involved in the game, a team having a free kick in that position, yet the centre half knocks it back to the keeper!! Normally they'd leave the ball alone for the keeper, or try to pinch a few feet when the ref wasnt looking (tho the A/R should be checking).
But once Turner did what he did, he put the officials in a lose/lose situation, as whatever they did, they were going to get criticised.
One thing is for certain, it will be a long time before we see a similar incident!

[Chris Jameson]

After attending a ref's course a couple of weeks ago I have no respect whatsoever for people who choose to take it up as a profession, they must be the most anal people in the world, especially if they also happen to be fans of Gary Numan.

I'm sorry but that's plain wrong - listening to Gary Numan indicates you are emotionally aloof and have a cold attention for detail.  Surely that's just what you need in a referee?

Good point! A tip for any people who use ebay, never, ever sell anything relating to Gary Numan, Tubeway Army, hair weaves etc, trust me it's just not worth the hassle.

[davevillan]

WTF!!!!!
Why attend the course then, and how can you say that when you havent met or know these people.

I was pressured into it and I honestly can't see why anybody would wish to take it up as a PROFESSION unless they like the bit where you are told you are God on the football pitch.

I sat in a room for 2 and a half hours having my enthusiasm for junior football slowly drained out of me.

Chris, it only becomes a profession at Pl level, the others all have full time jobs.
If anyone on the course said you were god out there, id disagree. You have to be respected out there, but that respect has to be earned, by how you conduct yourself. Respect is a 2way thing.
Anyone who goes out there with the attitude 'im in charge/im god' shouldnt be reffing in my opinion.
But as a ref, if you go on to the F.O.P with the right attitude, get your key decisions correct, and manage players, you will be respected (by most).
If you do end up doing games, just enjoy them, trust me, if you have a game between 2 teams who want to play football, and you let them, you will be amazed at how much you enjoy it. Also the respect you will get back from them.