Linesmen only seem to exist to indicate which way the ref has given a throw in these days. They are, by and large, effing useless
We all turn into our parents eventually. I realised I'd become my father a few years ago when I heard myself say "when you're ready squire" to an overworked barman
I’ve been suggesting it’s time to recall Bachmann, but I’m probably wrong about that as Hamer did well yesterday. Sure, he’s not great and makes mistakes. Did drop a cross last night, but it wouldn’t surprise me if it was a foul the ref missed. But those two saves he made in the second half were top drawer. Also I’m thinking, no way would Bachmann have kept his cool in that type of game. He would have picked a couple of yellows for dissent and we would have ended with 9 men (8 if you don’t count Rajovic).
I enjoyed the game last night as for some reason it's always enjoyable when you're up against it through no fault of your own. Bayo red card was incredibly harsh. I lost count of the things the ref got wrong but it was an astonishing number. One of the worst refs I've seen in a very long time. Once again it was nice to see players that get a fair bit of stick produce good performances last night Hamer - Certainly a few weeks back everybody thought he was utterly useless and is now the number one keeper. Some good saves last night and seems decent with the ball at his feet Morris - Not the most talented but always gives everything and thought he was excellent for the last 30 mins Porteous - I imagine he knows he's not been great this season but last night he was the centre back I see play for Scotland. Much improved and hopefully the start of a return to form Bayo - Seemed to be able to hold the ball up much better than recent showings and was more involved than usual Rajovic - Best performance since he arrived. Held the ball up, battled for every ball and brought other players in to it. Chak - I was surrounded in the LGT by around 25 Georgi fans who had come to see him. I like him and with Kayemebe missing in January and Louza probably leaving I think he will be important. Carries the ball better than most and was really unlucky to hit the bar in the second half Asprilla - Bit different from the others as some think he's brilliant, others believe he doesn't do enough but I thought he was excellent last night and easily the best player on the pitch And finally, the support. Why can't it be like that at every home game. Really good support in the last half hour Plymouth away next and another winnable game but injuries and suspensions are beginning to mount up which is a concern.
Chakvetadze was entertaining last night. A month ago I doubted he was up to this league, but he has moments and his positive running energises the team.
A bit disappointing to have a player sent off yesterday evening. I genuinely think we would have won that game if it wasn't for the red card. After watching Stoke last night I can understand why they are struggling this season, they looked a poor side. Defensively Stoke was a bit of a mess but we didn't have that quality to find a second. I do honestly think we would have scored again with 11 men. Decent enough point considering the circumstances and the fact it was 10 men against 12 out there. Did that referee win a competition to ref a championship football match for the day or something. Genuinely witnessed better officiating watching pub football on Sunday mornings than what I saw at the Vic last night.
Does anyone know when ‘the referee’s a vvanker’ died out as a go to chant? The tweens in the 1881 bit always go straight to ‘the ref’s a c*nt’ after even the most minor 50/50s that doesn’t go our way and that naturally never takes off. But last night ‘this ref is sh*t’ seemed to win out over the old classic.
We probably would have won that game with 11 men. Stoke were as bad as QPR & Rotherham IMO. But due to that ****** of a ref we will never know!
Yes....that's a fair take. With 11 men we win. Stoke were as bad as anyone we've played at home to date.
What a shame. I shall make it my aim to resurrect it,on my return to the Vic. Shortly before being banned,that is!
The ref was so out of his depth it became laughable. Got nearly every decision wrong- our goal came from a corner that should have been a goal kick and Bayo’s sending off was never a red card. The linesmen were about as useful as umbrellas in the Sahara. Chakvetadze i thought started slowly but grew into the game and was positive and direct. Maybe he showed why he doesn’t start but hopefully a solid run in the side will give him a boost- he could be a real asset. Whatever the result, whatever the performance, we will always follow this team. See you all in the New Year!
From the Stoke forum. Bit puzzled by that last comment given the behaviour of their players last night.
I was shocked that many Stoke City fans were happy with that performance and thought that it was much improved. They must have been really bad before. I agree they looked every bit as bad as Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham. 99% of this division comfortably beats this side with 10 men for 50 minutes.
7 fouls were awarded against us and our players got 4 yellows and a red. Stoke got a booking early on (after the ref had correctly played on to our advantage), but no more. Bayo was hauled down several times but no fouls given. The ref's attitude seemed more and more anti-Watford the longer the game went on, and I strongly suspect he was influenced by the crowd's (justified) hostility. I understand this was his first Chamlionship game amd I wonder if his inexperience allowed his emotions to get the better of him. Anyway, Irishorn's suggestion of him having to run through the video with a competent ref alongside before a stint in National League South is a great one.
Lloyd was hardworking, committed and reliable. He was aware of his limitations and so very rarely did anything more than defend. Morris has the potential to be more expansive than that, and overall he looks like a more natural footballer. With Lloyd, I was always surprised when he came out of a tight situation with the ball. You could see him concentrating on every move he made. He was one of those players that played to his maximum virtually every game, and that’s why we loved him.
. When they get to SG2 (Championship) or SG1 (Premier League), I think it becomes standard practice that every decision - including throw-ins, corners, non-decisions etc. gets revived by a member of the training team. They then get given an accuracy score (usually around 97% if memory serves) and then ranked by their averages over the season allowing the better performing officials to be identified for potential promotions/4th official duties in the Premier League. I highly doubt he'll be moved down into the National League, but I imagine some questions will be asked of why there were an unusually high number of incidents where AR advice was ignored/overruled. Unfortunately for Bayo, I don't think, having seen it again, that he'll get away with his sending off because any movement of the arm to the head is risking it, but agree with others who've said he played into Stoke's hands by doing it.
I preferred the more polite song: Who's your father, who's your father referee? You aint got one, you aint got one Your a ******* referee! maybe it's my age!
Seems to be a bit of a dispute on their forum about their performance which probably says it all. https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com/thread/311380/stoke-fans-pathetic Probably right though - they had been really poor under Alex Neil beforehand.
I know Stoke fans are d1cks, with Tom Jones fixations, but why were they constantly booing Martins? I just didn’t get that. Also, there was a largely than normal police presence. Not sure why that was the case either.
We chatted to some Stoke lads who told us they had been on the pi55 since 10 in the morning. I suspect the high police presence was due to both sets of fans having the opportunity to partake of liquid refreshments for most of the day?
I agree, I don’t think it’ll get overturned albeit had the ref correctly stopped the game for the fouls on Bayo immediately prior to it then it would never have occurred.
They booed Martins because they thought he dived to try and win a couple of free kicks and also tried to influence the ref for a couple of corners including the one we scored from.
We weren’t beating them with eleven men, so it’s hard to know really how badly the sending off affected us.
He gave them the finger after the corner incident that led to our goal. Also, Stoke fans are mainly inbred pissheads, there's always a big police presence when they're in town.
If only we had a third choice RB as backup as good as Morris is on the left. We'd have a few more points in the bag.
