Avram meanwhile has been having a good old moan. He believes we have suffered more than most because of refereeing decisions this season, tallying up 10 points that we have lost somehow. I agree that Jones cost us a place in the Cup and Clattenbung had his money on a draw at Wolves, but those apart, I don't think we have done too badly. Tomkins fouled Saurez in the box against Liverpool and a penalty wasn't given, for example. Avram needs to look at the other side too for a true picture.
And he's gone off on one about the international break too, as if it doesn't hurt Man Utd in the same way as it hurts us. It's not the FA's fault that Capello has one rule for the big clubs and another for the West Hams of this world.
Avram should shut up and focus on the game. Making excuses in advance helps nobody except the opposition - and they don't need any help!
I think that Ferguson has oft times influenced referees before games by coming out in the press and bemoaning his side's lot, just as I believe he is attempting to do as we approach the business end of the season and with United showing uncharacteristic signs of choking.
ReplyDeleteIf Avram's utterances are designed as a counter-balance to that, and I believe they may be, and if the referee is even partially influenced on a touch and go decision that could potentially go against us, I say he has done his job.
He chooses his words carefully by reinforcing the difficulty of the ref's job but has a subtle moan at the same time. Good management I'd say (in the modern context, that is!).
I think he's starting his defence for the hearing he's got coming up. But I agree, it's ill-timed, he should be thinking of the team, not himself.
ReplyDeleteI agree with headmaster on this one: played it deftly, made the point but did so in a generally complimentary, reasonable fashion. Don't think it will hurt, but quite possibly, at just the right moment, could help.
ReplyDeleteHow refreshing that, Stani apart of course, people are arguing Grant's corner at last!
ReplyDeleteGrant is right in what he says:
ReplyDeletePiq handball at wolves
Penalty at birmingham last minute
Penalty and sending off vs Blackpool
Free kick that never was leading to dempsey's goal vs Fulham
Piq sending off vs everton
Cole offside goal that never was vs west brom
I make that 14 points HF.
And if you think the tomkins 'foul' on Suarez was a penalty then you really are clueless, besides, we should of had a penalty that game aswell.
wow you see things through claret and blue glasses! What about the Harewood goal at Upton Park that was wrongly disallowed for offside? THAT was an appalling decision that went in our favour. The Jacobsen penalty claim against Birmingham wouldn't be given 70% of the time. The penalty awarded to us at Wolves was "soft" in the opinion of most of the experts. Yes the Piq sending off was absurd but he broke the stupid rule so technically the referee was right to show the second yellow wasn't he? And anyway, Piquionne isn't a defender so who is to say that Everton wouldn't have equalised anyway? The ONLY obvious one was the Piquionne "goal" at Wolves and that was balanced out by the Harewood disallowed goal. I wouldn't want Blackpool to have 2 extra points at the moment!
ReplyDeleteOh, and the Cole disallowed goal at west brom!
ReplyDeleteWell I'm only agreeing with you HF. Maybe I should have agreed with Grant. Not sure which is the lesser of the two evils though.
ReplyDeleteI think headmaster has got it right, and I think on balance, we have lost a few extra points we blatantly should have got.
ReplyDeleteSaw the OS briefly on Sky News this morning and it looks a lot more promising than in the photographs on this site.
ReplyDeleteAlso watched the reserves play Man U reserves yesterday. Thought McNaughton and Olefsun, or whatever his name is, were brilliant under difficult conditions.Must be our centre backs of the future. Faubert had a stroll. Illunga excellent played like he used to when he first arrived.
Re the points required to stay up. Surely Grant should be looking to win our remaining 3 home games. That would give us 41 points and is the very least we should be aiming for. What’s brilliant is that mad Ian Holloway reckons Blackpool only need 39!
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