Nevertheless, despite these close run races, the best team will ultimately out. Chelsea might argue that had the referee given Wigan a penalty when Rio Ferdinand handled on the final day of the 2007-08 season or had under-pressure Atkinson not awarded the Blues a disputed free-kick during last year’s clash with Ferguson’s men that the championship trophy would have ended up in different hands.
This is not to give in to the old cliché that Steve Bruce likes to exploit when he is feeling pragmatic that; “decisions even themselves out over the course of the season” because for many sides, they don’t. However, opportunities will present themselves – if you are good enough to take them then moments of glory and success will follow.
Even in the face of the worst refereeing performances imaginable, you cannot allow any excuses over decisions to remain. Think back to Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Barcelona at Stamford Bridge in that Champions League last four tie from 2009. Whilst the five time semi-finalists rightly felt aggrieved about the quality of officialdom that night, it is often forgotten that Didier Drogba and Juliano Belletti missed golden opportunities to make sure that the perceived injustice did not count against them. As it was, Barcelona scored with their only shot on target during the whole match and went on to win Europe’s premier cup competition, landing plaudits the world over. Scarcely deserved, you might argue, but in a black and white world, Chelsea had only themselves to blame.
Ultimately, you cannot simply rely on every refereeing decision to go your way – from a manager’s point of view, put your faith in anything other than your own team’s performance and you are courting trouble.
There were 90 minutes in which Arsenal had the chance to put Sunderland away on Saturday, but with one eye on this week’s trip to Spain, Wenger’s men hoped that should they turn up and drift a win would be easily attainable. Some sides are able to take that risk and come through matches of that sort unscathed, however in a closely packed title race the cost of that attitude can be unimaginable.
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You have completely ignored the fact this whole debate will stop when video playback technology is brought into the game to protect clubs and officials.I do not accept the argument it will slow down the game as this happens already with fouls and subs.The FA cannot go on with its dogma against it the longer it does go on the more people will think of corruption until I hope all will explode with a newspaper sting as with cricket and snooker !!!.
This is pure bs…
Of course it can be decisive for the championship and the cup’s
We have seen that time and time again.
Are you completely mad? Man U have benefited from refereeing decisions year in year out. An academic study of the first decade of the premier league showed that of all decisions given in the premier league all clubs except one had between 45% and 55% of free kicks given in their favour. Man Utd received 71% in their favour. That evens out over the season..NOT.
Similarly, 5 or 6 seasons ago Mike Riley refereed 41 games not involving Man U and gave just one penalty. He also managed 8 Man U games and awarded 9 penalties……..all in favour of Man U. Now for anyone whose going to argue that it’s coincidence or it’s because Man U attack more etc etc etc., do the maths. Those sorts of odds are akin to winning the Jackpot on the lottery.
Anyone who says these things even out over a season is merely doing just that……..saying it. Actually take a look at the numbers before coming out with utterly meaningless and misleading statements.
And just for the record, in case you’d coveniently forgotten, Man U started against Chelsea with Rooney, a player who should have been serving a three match ban………..except for the fact that the FA chose not to punish him for a deliberate elbow in a previous game. No preferential treatment there then.
Absolute nonesense
Where’s the argument there, buddy?
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