It wasn't a great final, but it wasn't a bad one either. Of course, Howard Webb did his best to cock it all up. What did his wife say? "He can't control the kids at home so I don't know how he can control the Final". Well he couldn't!
Was the goal dodgy? I don't think so, the Dutch guy tried to run through a gap that didn't exist, he wasn't body checked as the men in orange were trying to claim. Anyway, Robben apart, the Dutch had played like thugs throughout and so got their just desserts.
Webb managed to find his red card eventually, though how Van Bommell stayed on the pitch for the first 45, never mind the whole game, must be a mystery to everybody other than Webb. He should have sent Vidic off in the League Cup Final too so he has form for this. FIFA appointed him knowing that, so they can't complain.
Good to see Fabregas play the killer pass for the goal. £50m for Torres? I reckon Liverpool should take £10m after seeing him pull up lame again. I'm not sure we will ever see the guy at his best again - there are shades of Michael Owen here! Poor Woy must have been shaking his head in disbelief!
35 comments:
The fact is that if Webb had sent off the 2 Dutch players in the first half, we would of had a blood bath. He was very sensible not doing that, and he prevented a disaster. Good job Webb.
I think that Webb did a very good job considering the tactics the Dutch used. He could have been a lot stricter and sent a couple more of the Dutch players off but that would have ruined the final even more than the negative Dutch tried to.
And if the Dutch had won 1-0 with a second half Van Bommell goal Dan? You can't make up the rules as you go along.
2239, so you are saying that if a team play like thugs, you reward them by not sending off their players! Iniesta got the same punishment for taking off his shirt to celebrate scoring as Van Bommell got for a karate kick to the chest. Do explain the logic of that please!
I wouldn't have sent Van Bommel off for the karate kick, that was De Jong...
This is your worst blog yet. And there's been some utter shockers of late. He did an amazing job considering one side go down at the drop of a hat and one team were determined to kick the crap out of everyone in a Spain shirt.
He kept the final flowing, and so he didn't see some of the dirty tricks?!?! The right team won, the goal was good. Get over it.
Also take your blog off of westhamnews.net because every time I look and get excited there's a news post it's just some ill thought out diatribe from a self involved maniac who is very very rarely right about anything.
What?
HF you are too harsh on Howard Webb who did as good a job as could have been expected under the circumstances. When one team goes out with a blatant tactic of kicking the better team into the submission, the ref has only two options - to referee the game to the law, or to turn a blind eye and risk the game becoming a farcical kickfest.
The Dutch should be ashamed of the way in which they endeavoured (if there was any) to win this match, as had they played football it may have been a great match.
FIFA also deserve a brickbat for the stupid laws which exist regarding removing one's shirt after a goal. Imagine if Iniesta had been booked for diving earlier in the game (he could have been - look closely). We would have then been left with the farcical situation of the World Cup winning goal scorer being sent off straight after scoring. Which perhaps would have been fitting given the nature of the game.
What a disappointment. Well done Spain though.
No I'm not saying teams that play like thugs should get rewarded what I am saying is that I think Webb did a good job. He could have sent off players but he used some common sense to ensure the game as a whole was better. I prefer to see 11 players stay on the pitch unless there is no other option such as with Heitinger and that is what Webb did today. I know you prefer to criticise but given the circumstances of the match Webb did well and deserves some credit.
Howard Webb completed a shocking World Cup for England. His inept performance in the first half meant that the side that tried to play football was kicked out of it. A bad foul is a bad foul and deserves a red card. Holland deserved two. Webb lost all control. It's just by pure luck that the footballing side won. Van Bommell is a disgraceful player, and should not even have made it to the final. His history of fouling and negative play should have got him a red card earlier in the tournament. I'm just sorry Holland got as far as they did. With Van Bommell and Robben's constant cheating/diving they were a disgrace.
Was Webb in charge out there? No. Did he stamp his authority on the game? No. Did his decisions put a stop to the Dutch thuggery? No. How many yellow cards were dished out in total? Had Webb spoken to the Dutch captain after the first two fouls and warned, "I'm going to show and red card and soon if this continues", would the Dutch have continued to kick Spain out of the game? Of course not. He lost control of the game because the players saw that he was frightened to use a red card. Full marks to Spain for not retaliating in kind, which was what the Dutch were hoping for.
hahahaha tankman37 yet again HF mugs himself off "I wouldn't have sent Van Bommel off for the karate kick, that was De Jong..." I love they way he doesn't credit you and just tries to ignore it - like the Dutch he is a disgrace!
to be fair Webb was booed by both sets of supporters he managed that rare feat and managed to upset everyone.
As a referee for 15 years, I think De Jong should have been sent off in the first half; Van Bommel's lucky he was on the pitch the entire game. Webb did a good job of issuing yellows and talking to players to KEEP them in the game when he could have easily had a game that was 10 v 9 or worse. Remember -- referees don't give cards, players earn them and in this game the Dutch played like a bunch of thugs. Both coaches should have gotten their players refocused at halftime, given the number of cards in the first half, but they didn't. Casilla was the better goalkeeper with a couple of great saves. Holland blew some opportunities on set plays. I don't think anyone should be whining about Howard Webb. Think about the reffing in the opening rounds. What do you think would've happened with one of those refs as center?
0503, I'm struggling to remember a nasty Spanish challenge. Webb did well not to respond to the one incident of Spanish "retaliation", although the replay showed the Dutchman taking a terrible dive. I wanted Holland to win at kick off, by the end I was cheering on Spain. Generally speaking, I think the referees did well in the tournament; Webb's was one of the worst performances in my opinion.
0010, I could have deleted the comment had I been so inclined. Yep I confused my De Jongs with my Van Bommels. It was hard to tell them apart when they were all wearing hoodies and wielding knives!
HF,
I don't think Webb was as bad as you say. The Dutch made it a difficult game to referee. What referee wants to send of a player in the first 30 minutes of the World Cup Final and perhaps ruin it as a competition and potentially a spectacle... not that it was much of a spectacle in the end anyway, but Webb didn't have the benefit of hindsight. Looking back now though, he might wish he'd had a word with the Dutch captain early on, as you suggest.
Clearly you know nothing about how football referring. I find your posts irritatingly frequent and utter rubbish at the best of times but this one is ridiculous.
That was an astonishingly good referring display, and the fact that Webb's worst mistake was NOT sending off a player in the first half of a World Cup final filled with tackles, players asking other players to be booked, diving is outstanding. He kept an open game with 22 players as long as possible, not a single linesman decision was incorrect and compared to the performance of some of the players, the referring teams performance was exemplary.
You need to really start thinking rationally and stop being so sensationalist, I respect your opinion less every day that passes.
In what was one of the most boring World Cup finals, Howard Webb cheated the Netherlands and made Spain world champions after displaying one of the worst, most pathetic refereeing displays in his career.
FIFA needs to acknowledge the importance of replays and implement them in the game, but then again they are the biggest beneficiaries from the scandals and errors made in big games.
Webb's mistakes not only proved crucial, but they were ridiculous as well. De Jong should've been sent off for playing kung fu on Xabi Alonso , while Puyol should've been sent off for the challenge preformed on Robben, while the Dutchman was one-on-one with Casillas. Robben later ran furious at Howard Webb, demanding to know why Puyol wasn't sent off, only to be booked by Webb.
Spain and the Netherlands wasted unbelievable chances, most notably Robben, who should be criticized for wasting such chances, and most important of all, hogging the ball more than needed. He could've changed the game had he been more generous with his teammates.
Webb later sent off Heitinga for tackling Iniesta. Replays showed that the Spaniard took a dive after being merely touched by Heitinga, and to add insult to injury, the Dutchman was raising his hands when Iniesta dived to show that he wasn't making a challenge and that he wasn't even the last defender in Holland's defence, as replays show .
However, Webb thought otherwise. Iniesta fooled Webb with ease, and Holland were 10 men with less than 10 minutes to go.
The worst part was Heitinga's first yellow card was a very soft one, and Iniesta made a tackle no less insulting than that of Heitinga's seconds later against Sneijder, only for Webb to give only the foul.
But the highlight of Webb's mediocre performance was the goal that the Spaniards scored. Holland had a foul, Sneijder shot the ball, which hit the wall in one of the most obvious deflections in the World Cup, later to be saved by Casillas into a corner.
Webb gave it as a goal kick, and it was unimaginable how someone would miss something so obvious. Seconds later, Elia was fouled by two Spaniards, Webb amazingly waved play on, while Spain played on and scored from Webb's mistakes.
Holland's players must be respected for their ability to hold their temper in what was yet another display of how Spain and Barcelona seem to get it easy in their games—Ballack running furious at Overbro when Chelsea played against Barcelona was the exact reaction displayed by Robben against Spain, both players furious by the referees call (Pique handball with Barcelona, and Puyol's foul on Robben).
To make matters even more annoying on Webb's behalf, he started giving the Spanish players yellow cards after they scored, as if it was going to make any difference. Iniesta made many rash tackles, and should've been sent off along with Puyol and De Jong. However, Iniesta received a yellow card after scoring the goal for talking his shirt off.
They were lucky not to get one or two players sent off, whereas Holland got the wrong man sent off. The Spanish wasted more chances than the Dutch, but perhaps they were overall lucky as Webb's inadequacy as a referee proved vital.
Holland have faced yet another heartbreak, and at an even worse manner. Poor Heitinga left the game when he did not deserve to, and Webb has ruined the ending of a tournament that occurs once every four years.
This leaves the fans and critics wondering how is it that FIFA chooses these idiots as referees for a final, especially one of the most hated and controversial referees in England, known for his generosity with Manchester United at Old Trafford and his mistimed yellow and red cards.
Congratulations to the Spanish fans. Overall, their team was better.
Webb has broken the record for most bookings in a final. The previous record was set in the 1986 final, with six yellow cards, while Webb has issued 15 yellow cards and one red.
I catagorically disagree with everything that 12.38 said except that Spain deserved to win. With the players acting in such a disgraceful manner, both in diving and asking cards to be issued and the disgusting fouls performed by Van Bommel, De Jong, and yes 'poor' Heitinger I think it is absurd that morons such as yourself jump on referees. Refereeing did not affect this final, Holland set up to play a certain way and were damned lucky to finish with 10 players.
The dutch were not robbed, they played poor football and deserved to lose. Having said that, Robben had a chance to score twice and spurned them both. Had he decided to either go down outside of the box or shoot when available they would have led. Instead he stayed up until he was in the box and he could go down for a cheap penalty.
Heitinger was justly sent off, he pulled a player back when Iniesta was through on goal, it was minimal but entirely fair. Heitinger couldnt catch up with him and so accepted his fate. To his immense credit, he didnt argue.
You give the dutch credit for not reacting but several of thier yellow cards were given because of their reaction Robben and Mathiason to name two. This is where 12.38 really shows his stupidity. They barracked the refs at the end of the game, unjustifiably considering their infringements and unsuprisingly due to Van Bommels arguing at every point in the game.
Can idiots please stop deflecting the inadequacies of the players onto the referring, which was pretty immaculate on the whole considering the amount of work THEY had to do. It makes everyone that comments on Webb being bad look idiotic and just wanting to settle an agenda because they dislike him. It is pathetic and makes a mockery of blogs like this as a valuable form of media.
I catagorically disagree with everything that 12.38 said except that Spain deserved to win. With the players acting in such a disgraceful manner, both in diving and asking cards to be issued and the disgusting fouls performed by Van Bommel, De Jong, and yes 'poor' Heitinger I think it is absurd that morons such as yourself jump on referees. Refereeing did not affect this final, Holland set up to play a certain way and were damned lucky to finish with 10 players.
The dutch were not robbed, they played poor football and deserved to lose. Having said that, Robben had a chance to score twice and spurned them both. Had he decided to either go down outside of the box or shoot when available they would have led. Instead he stayed up until he was in the box and he could go down for a cheap penalty.
Heitinger was justly sent off, he pulled a player back when Iniesta was through on goal, it was minimal but entirely fair. Heitinger couldnt catch up with him and so accepted his fate. To his immense credit, he didnt argue.
You give the dutch credit for not reacting but several of thier yellow cards were given because of their reaction Robben and Mathiason to name two. This is where 12.38 really shows his stupidity. They barracked the refs at the end of the game, unjustifiably considering their infringements and unsuprisingly due to Van Bommels arguing at every point in the game.
Can idiots please stop deflecting the inadequacies of the players onto the referring, which was pretty immaculate on the whole considering the amount of work THEY had to do. It makes everyone that comments on Webb being bad look idiotic and just wanting to settle an agenda because they dislike him. It is pathetic and makes a mockery of blogs like this as a valuable form of media.
Thought WEBB done a good job in a dirty game.Considering it was a WORLD CUP FINAL he did everything he could to make it a spectacle.If he had sent players off early it would have ruined the match,he used a bit of savvy,cautioning the player concerned that was their last chance.Having said that the DUTCH tackling was way over the top,the DE JONG karate tackle on ALONSO was the worst of all,but second half the bad tackles were largely cut out,no doubt after strong words by the ref to both dressing rooms at half time.Great result best team of the tournament won.Even though they did lose their opening match against SWITZERLAND it was a fluke,SPAIN should have won that game easily.
Firstly, I have no criticism of the assistant referees, I think they did a very good job and got all the major calls right. My issue is with the way Webb failed to control the Dutch players. I said that he needed to call the Dutch captain over and lay it on the line. "I am going to show red the next time a player plays the man and not the ball, now tell your team and don't complain if that red comes out. And Van Bommel is on VERY thin ice so tell him and your coach!"
Everybody is in agreement that Holland tried to kick their way to victory and yet are defending Webb in the same breath. The job of a referee is to prevent that from happening! He didn't. He was like an inadequate parent yelling at his kids but not really doing anything about it. Yellows mean nothing if the players believe a red won't follow, and Webb made clear he wasn't prepared to show that red card. Had he given a clear, unequivocal warning, the Dutch would have changed tactics. He didn't and a showpiece final became an exhibition of football thuggery.
I don't know about Spain but I can't hardly think of a team that so not deserved to Win the World Cup than Holland! Shame on all the players and their coach! Shame Brazil conldn't get through so that we could all enjoy a good final. The Dutch got exactly what their play deserved.
HF been coming here for 12 months (and never post) and 99% of what you spout is total bollox but on this one occasion you are right!
LOL 1721 call me Domestos! Thanks for the backhanded compliment and keep visiting and disagreeing!
How can anyone think Webb did a good job on that final. He bottled out of the hard decisions which could have left the cheating Dutch team as world champions. Why was Van Bommell and de Jong still on the pitch at half time, why did he book a spanish player for kicking away the ball but failed to punish Robben for the exact same offence.Pop said he kept the game flowing, were you watching the same game as the rest of the world?
Kuyt has came out and stated that Webb favoured the spanish, what drugs is this guy on or is he the most stupid player to participate in the worls cup.
But mick, none of that matters! It is all about keeping 22 men on the pitch apparently! Unbelievable. I would love to hear what these Webb apologists would say if West Ham were on the wrong end of the physical battering that the Dutch handed out!
Your missing the point HF.If WEBB had sent a man off after ,what was it ten minutes,what a let down the final would have been.This is the creme de la creme of football,eleven v eleven was a must.Sure he was lenient but the game called for it otherwise everyone would have been saying he ruined the final being too red card happy.
No one is saying the red card should have come out after 10 minutes. I don't believe a red card was necessary at all. I believe that Webb just had to make clear that he wasn't going to stand for any more. He needed to draw a line after about 15 minutes. Do you think De Jong would have made that challenge had he done so? Do you think the Dutch would have opted to go down to 10 men? Of course they wouldn't have! But Webb failed to draw the line, he effectively green lighted the Dutch thuggery. What if Holland had won with a De Jong goal? How wrong would that have been? Webb and FIFA were spared huge embarrassment by Spain scoring the winner. Tell me, what did kids watching that game learn?
Personally I rather enjoyed the Dutch no-nonsense approach to what is supposed to be a contact sport !! Watching a team prepared to dive in and tackle against players going down like they'd been shot every tinme they got touched, was quite refreshing and took me back to the days when football was a man's game plaid by real men like Billy Bonds & Frank Lampard Snr. when you basically had to rip a players head off to get booked (& only got sent off if you sh*t down his neck after) rather than the namby pamby virtual non contact sport of today played by preening overpaid prima donnas!!!
Fair enough 1903. Then you are presumably fine with Ashton's career being ended prematurely by Wright-Phillips' tackle?
Like it or not, the game has moved on - and most believe that the game is now better because the flair players are no longer scared to dwell on the ball. I loved Bonds but the West Ham way owes more to Brooking and Di Canio than to Bonds and Frank Lampard Senior surely?
Regardless of preference, Webb was tasked to referee in 2010, not in 1975.
HF - There's a difference between full blooded challenges in matches ... & SWP tryingh to get over his little man syndrom in a practice session
I really must disagree with the crap about flair players being allowed to flourish, especially in the over-hyped cr*p known as the premiership, whether "most believe" it to be better or not!! Genuine flair has been sacrificed at the alter of speed & athleticism
Show me a player in the Premiership with an ounce of the flair once displayed by the likes of Frank Worthington, Tony Currie, Devo or George Best
These players all managed to shine without diving every time someone got near them or calling for a yellow card every time they got tackled. In fact the ability to RIDE tackles is one of the things that MADE them the players they were imho.
Sorry but football leaves me cold nowadays, a non-contact sport played by whinging overpaid primadonnas who are totally out of touch with the lifestyles of the people that pay their wages
VAN BRONKHURST as the DUTCH captain was involved quite a few times with the ref reminstrating over something.So WEBB must have made it very clear to him about their reckless play .It's up to the captain to calm his players down and spell out the ref's warnings.It could have ended up a free for all if WEBB addressed all the DUTCH players together.You could see some of those DUTCH players were on a very short fuse.
So, if you give a clear warning and the warning is ignored, what do you do? You pull out a red card. You don't give chance after chance after chance for the sake of the game. The referee has a responsibility to ensure fair play, not to keep 22 players on the pitch because it is a World Cup final. Webb committed the cardinal sin of allowing the occasion to shape his performance. The same rules apply in a World Cup final as in a World Cup group game. A red card would have been produced in the first half in EVERY other game in the tournament.
1935, perhaps Worthington, Currie and co stand out because they were few and far between! Don't get me wrong, I love a full blooded tackle, providing the player plays the ball. The Dutch were not playing the ball though were they?
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