Ref Watch City Games - 2023/24

[Paladin]

I think conscious decisions might be overstating it.

The tackle happens, and he moved to blow the whistle. Haaland unexpectedly gets up, and he changes his mind, motioning for play to move on. This happens in about 1.5 seconds. Haaland plays the ball, and he changes his mind and has decided to blow before the ball gets across the half way line. That last bit happens in less than half a second.

I suspect he's seen Jack with three players around him, and has made the mistake of thinking it's just not going to reach him, so blows up. By the time he whistles, something like a quarter of a second after beginning the motion that he's going to, the ball is with Jack.

Imagine if any of us had to decide on a foul, put a whistle to our mouths, make a decision on playing on, motioning to play on, and then weighing up whether to blow - knowing that if he left it too long the Spurs players would complain. All in front of 50,000 people, millions on TV, and in a high pressure, adrenaline fuelled match. The rule for advantage used to involve two arms, but was changed so one is allowed, because it was needed so quickly and it wasn't physically possible for refs to move their bodies in the time. All in about a second from the first non-whistle, to the actual whistle. Most of us would probably have tripped over our own feet, as our brains tried to work out what to do.

Yes, we expect the best referees to be able to make very quick decisions, but I see it as three in a very short space of time, and it looks to me like he's just been too hasty under pressure.

Slight flaw in your argument. What possible reason would the Spurs players have to complain about if Hooper had not blown at all, and Grealish had scored? That notion was not even a possibility.

 

[Zabbasbeard]

He does blow the whistle whilst the ball is still in the air and not past the defenders to be fair. It’s still a shocking time to do it though.

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I don’t think he realised it was as good an opportunity as it was as he’s looking at three spurs players and one of ours. It doesn’t make any of it forgivable though.

If he was doing his job even handedly he'd have continued to play on as per his initial signal.

 

[bluenova]

Slight flaw in your argument. What possible reason would the Spurs players have to complain about if Hooper had not blown at all, and Grealish had scored? That notion was not even a possibility.

Grealish doesn't score in every possible scenario that could follow.

 

[Paladin]

I said most games, so I have to pay for a subscription to City+ or something, then fast forward (but not too fast, as I don't want to miss it) through games till I find some.

Honestly, you've told me you never see something that is happening in most matches, so I am sure that if I wasted an hour doing that, you'd probably have lost your glasses or something. Keep your eyes peeled, and next time you see one, come say sorry :)

Deal. And if you see one before I see one, let me know so that I can check it out.

 

[meltonblue]

If he was doing his job even handedly he'd have continued to play on as per his initial signal.

He clearly didn’t give it long enough.

 

[Paladin]

He didn’t give us the first chance as he pulled it back before we had chance to use it.

He played and signalled advantage. That was his decision in respect of the foul. He can only stop play after that point if another separate incident occurs. One didn't. He blew up anyway and gave City their second chance after wrongly denying them a much better first chance.

 

[Zabbasbeard]

He clearly didn’t give it long enough.

He didn't and in my opinion he knew exactly what he was doing in that instance.

 

[meltonblue]

He played and signalled advantage. That was his decision in respect of the foul. He can only stop play after that point if another separate incident occurs. One didn't. He blew up anyway and gave City their second chance after wrongly denying them a much better first chance.

Assuming you’re working your way through the replies but that’s not correct.

 

[meltonblue]

He didn't and in my opinion he knew exactly what he was doing in that instance.

Which is fair enough. I think the opposite and he hadn’t a clue what he was doing! Neither are good though and I find it ridiculous he’s retained for the next game rather than demoted for it.

 

[Bluefen]

Your standards must be extremely low
Overall he applied the laws differently depending upon colour of shirt, he was very quick to punish City players yet he allows Spurs to get away with identical offences I could make an argument that his performance yesterday was worse I’ve seen all season He has form as well

Grealish booked for kicking the ball away… no action when the spurs player did it…

I’m not a great believer in the corrupt conspiracy theory but performances such as hoopers yesterday (and some of Atwells) make it hard to justify anything other