Comments on: About Last Night

By: WhiteSpeedReceiver

WhiteSpeedReceiver — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:51:48 +0000

I haven’t seen the match or his comments yet (stupid family weddings…) but I’m sure that you’re spot on. My one complaint about SAF is that he’s always going after someone when United loses. That and the tapping up.

By: Kevin

Kevin — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:39:49 +0000

Great "Studs Up" comic on Sir Alex and referees.

By: Magnakai Haaskivi

Magnakai Haaskivi — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 14:18:18 +0000

I agree with you except for the bit on Marriner. I though Marriner was far too hesitant to call fouls on either team in the final third of the field for most of the match (Ovrebo syndrome?), and I immediately also thought Carragher was going to be sent off. I also thought both teams had a legitimate penalty shot turned down, and although he did well with both sending offs they were both pretty clear (both players committed an obvious yellow card offense when they were already on a yellow).

That being said, he was uniformly bad; it wasn’t about the Anfield crowd, it was about the fact that this is a huge game and he was hesitant to do anything in it, probably because he believed (rightly) that he was going to get raked over the coals for screwing up a call by either Benitez or Ferguson. That’s the net effect of years of referee abuse by most of the top level managers, and unless and until the FA does something about it it’s going to continue.

It’ll be interesting to see if the FA charges Ferguson for a repeat offense after this.

Also: Shout outs to Lucas, who performed admirably yesterday. I’m not sure he’s the answer, but he’s done nicely in two Manchester United matches in a row now (don’t forget, he took Xabi Alonso’s place back in March of last season).

By: Two Yellows

Two Yellows — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 13:36:27 +0000

For as much grief as Wenger gets for his endless “I didn’t see it” when an Arsenal player commits a clear transgression, you would think that Fergie would take more grief for never ever accepting that his players weren’t good enough on the day. Liverpool’s pace, especially through the midfield, KILLED United yesterday. The Torres goal was a result of pace, the last goal was a result of pace, Liverpool ran them to pieces yesterday. Scholes, Giggs and Carrick, while good individual players, playing in a unit together with the completely underwhelming Nani, simply aren’t fast enough to keep up with the midfield pace of Liverpool when they are on point.

His endless whingeing at referees is SO tired. Marriner did a fine job yesterday. Accept the loss and shut the fuck up.