[Archived] Nickos Thread

[John]

Mascherano was a complete idiot today and fully deserved to go.

Acted liked a immature tw*t. As soon as he got his first yellow, I knew he would be off. He just could not keep his mouth shut.

[Hasta]

I don't quite get what your on about. Mascherano made around four fouls, two of which were bad, and kept giving the ref stick for no apparent reason. His team mates were hardly surrounding the referee. It was suicide. It was like he wanted to go off. I can't fault Bennett for sending him off, you could see it coming from a mile off.

Mascherano ruined the game and let down his team, not anyone else.

I can see why he got sent off.

What I'm on about is that the situation was caused by Bennett not doing his job both with the fouls on Torres and then by booking Torres for complaining about being kicked (as Ronaldo did several times). It was Bennetts own inept decisions and pretentious attitude that caused Mascherano to go over to him. Even then Bennett still had the choice as to whether to send him off or not. As I have said, had he let it go no-one would have really noticed. However Bennett wanted to prove that he was 'The Man' as ever.

Aggyblue - true 70,000 spectators there loved it. However there have been several sendings offs at Ewood, and I'm sure elsewhere, whereby technically the offences might have been two justified soft yellow cards. However by deeming them to equate to a red (and I know thats the fault of the rules) Rovers have been reduced to 10 men. I have sat there and said "Why do I pay £20 to come and watch this and then to be frustrated because the ref has no common sense"

Finally, as I've said, there were several times Ronaldo went down, didnt get a free kick and threw his arms up in a childish petulance at the decision. Yellow cards. Nope. Bennett would not have dared to dothat if it had been a Man U player.

[nicko]

Finally, as I've said, there were several times Ronaldo went down, didnt get a free kick and threw his arms up in a childish petulance at the decision. Yellow cards. Nope. Bennett would not have dared to dothat if it had been a Man U player.

Bennett has sent off Ronaldo a couple of times at least in his career. So he may be pompous but he is even-handed in his pomposity. [if there is such a word]

[herbergeehh]

Looks like you're discussing two different issues here, one being Mascherano's sending off - which no one who watched the game can deny was the right thing to do, and the second being Bennett's general behaviour.

To be honest, I don't see a single thing doing Mascherano any favours, he looked impetuous from the kick off, and as mentioned above gave stick for no apparent reason every time he was (correctly) whistled against. Nothing Bennett had done can justify such childish behaviour, he let his team down, and I think Benitez will say the same as soon as he can see the highlights on TV, and as soon as the media is out of hearing distance.

Bennett did get a few decisions wrong, but we knew after Cole's scene the referees were going to make themselves heard. There is a difference between throwing arms up in the air and sticking them in a referee's face by the way. And the way Mascherano was behaving, he would not have stopped for quite some time..

[doctorryan]

.....pomposity. [if there is such a word]

Yes Alan, there is such.

[ABBEY]

It maybe Le C that I am still riled by referee Rileys inept decision that cost us 3 points against Fulham the other week, it may be the fact that I still havent got over the referee sending Henning Berg off versus manure some years ago after a marvellous tackle, maybe its the fact that we have seen numerous yellow cards thrown at Rovers players over the past 4 seasons compared to other clubs who just dont seem to given the harsh treatment that some Rovers players get or maybe its the fact that I just plain and simple cannot abide pompous referees

Bennet contrived to brandish the card rather than simply put himself firmly in charge of the players, having already given the yellow card to Macherano. Thats where, IMO he lost the game. He should have sent Torres off IF he had been consistently bad over the 90 minutes, he failed to do so in the process making himself as inept as referee Riley and Dean.

At Ewood yesterday we saw Samba given a straight red for a "hands on" offence which saw heskey buckle like he had been hit by a train. Now I am a big lad but please, it would take a bloody big push to make me fall like he did. On the other side, we saw Palacios commit at least 5 bookable fouls BEFORE he eventually got a yellow and THEN it still took another 4 fouls to get himself the second yellow. At the same time how Brown didnt follow him after persistently fouling and gobbing off is beyond comprehension.

Back to referee Riley. Rovers have often been the victim of his inadequecies, Fulham being the latest. he should have sent Cole packing the other night but failed to do so losing all respect from everyone in football. In that one game he had the chance to let all footballers know just how unacceptable that sort of behaviour is on the pitch and it would have carried such a big message to ALL footballers, ALL potential footballers, ALL referees and potential referees and ALL supporters of the beautiful game. Instead, he continued in his normal way and made himself look like a right t*t.

Thats my take and believe me, there is nothing to evidence that referees have got it right yet. They are so inconsistent, some are so obnoxious like Bennett,Wiley and Styles and some of them think that the supporters are there to watch him and his two side jockeys. They dont come out in the media to explain their mistakes as they hide behind The FA and Keith Hackett. They would be so much more professional, if just for once, they came out and talked about the errors to the fans. It would go such a long way to making relationships on the pitch so much better.

There is no finer example of a good referee than Collina, the Italian referee. His presence and standing, the way he ran a football match, the way he talked to players, managers and the media is an example that ALL referees shoudl aspire to.

Until then, The Bast*** in the Black remains just that, until he sorts his sh*t out.

y ou can also add ...cruz thru on goal fouled .190% certain and nowt given and it should of been red... as waz says the free kicks we didnt get were amazing and how the player wasnt booked for going thru on bents??I think.if the ref was dishing out to the letter of the law against samba surly at least a yellow was warranted for it.Anothe rpetty gripe was the ex nobender kept taking the corner from outside the corner markings ,again if the ref wants to use the rules he shouldnt have turned a blind eye to it............IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO REFS WANTING TO GET THEMSELVES NOTICED AND FAMOUS ON TELLY OR ELSE ITS CORRUPT.

[bellamy11]

y ou can also add ...cruz thru on goal fouled .190% certain and nowt given and it should of been red... as waz says the free kicks we didnt get were amazing and how the player wasnt booked for going thru on bents??I think.if the ref was dishing out to the letter of the law against samba surly at least a yellow was warranted for it.Anothe rpetty gripe was the ex nobender kept taking the corner from outside the corner markings ,again if the ref wants to use the rules he shouldnt have turned a blind eye to it............IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO REFS WANTING TO GET THEMSELVES NOTICED AND FAMOUS ON TELLY OR ELSE ITS CORRUPT.

When Cruz was through on goal it was 200% not a penalty. It was a very good tackle. I actually thought so at the time, and it was proven on TV afterwards.

1864, this point has been made before - the Fulham game when we were "robbed" by the ref - how exactly did we score again? Too many on here remember the bad things and conveniently forget the ones that go for us.

[thenodrog]

Maybe if Lee Mason had dealt with Mascherano in the same way as he dealt with Aliadiere last month instead of bottling out then Mascherano would have realised that he is not immune from adverse refereeing decisions just because he plays for one of the despised 'big 4'.

[Dunnfc]

Peanut head maschcrano is like that every game though and he argues every descion what goes against Liverpool its like having Lucas Neill and Robbie Savage molded in one. Im glad he was sent off because if it had not been him it would have been another player and probably from someone like us and then people wouldn't take notice but to send this argentine pratt of shows the refs are willing to send you off if your a gobby t### and its good that theyve made a Liverpool player an example becuase more people will take note now. I thought the referee was very brave but correct with that descion. Now make an example of Chelsea and send some of their moaning idiots off.

I think we should get rid of the top "4" and just have a league between ourselves, us 16 clubs should just breakoff and watch the top four cry because the top four are nothing without the rest of us and its time they respect us more don't you think?

Who else saw people in their local town/city today walking around with a man utd shirt on?, true supporter yea bloody right.

[American]

When Cruz was through on goal it was 200% not a penalty. It was a very good tackle. I actually thought so at the time, and it was proven on TV afterwards.

1864, this point has been made before - the Fulham game when we were "robbed" by the ref - how exactly did we score again? Too many on here remember the bad things and conveniently forget the ones that go for us.

Bingo, was just about to make the point that the ref gave us a point against Fulham...

[ABBEY]

i have not seen it on telly but from where i was stood in actual real time then the ref must have had eyes like a ###### house rat when the plagues in time because it looked a penalty....if it had been rooney it would have been given or heskey

[Hughesy]

I think the point some people are trying to make is that the big 4 get different treatment.

If heskey went down under the challenge on RSC yesterday then it would be a penalty, as it would if it was Ronaldo, Fabregas, Drogba etc. But because it was dirty blackburn it is looked at different.

In many games we put in similar fouls to the opposition - we get punished, the opposition dont for more or less identical challenges - its very frustrating.

[bellamy11]

I think the point some people are trying to make is that the big 4 get different treatment.

If heskey went down under the challenge on RSC yesterday then it would be a penalty, as it would if it was Ronaldo, Fabregas, Drogba etc. But because it was dirty blackburn it is looked at different.

Why? Because Wigan are one of the big clubs? Hell, they're less glamorous than even us! I bet the Premier League don't much fancy having them in the Premiership at the expense of a 'big club' either!

Are you trying to say that, even though the decision was completely correct, we have grounds to complain because another team may have got it?

Also, as an aside (I think he's a cheating barsteward as much as the next person, and completely deserves it), Ronaldo gets many bad decisions when claiming for a penalty now. It's his own fault because he built his own reputation, but nevertheless.

I know I can't be the only one here when I say it's annoying hearing the ridiculous persecution complex that people have on here. It's completely childish and more often than not it's just blue and white tinted biased nonsense.

BTW, Abbey, I sit about 10 feet from you and I could see it wasn't a penalty. Watch a replay as well. The ref got this one right. As much as some people wouldn't like to admit it.

[ABBEY]

say hello ....not meant in grumpy way..but you must have good eyes because id say 19,999 thought it was,in real time

[bellamy11]

say hello ....not meant in grumpy way..but you must have good eyes because id say 19,999 thought it was,in real time

20/20 mate

[RoversSG]

It maybe Le C that I am still riled by referee Rileys inept decision that cost us 3 points against Fulham the other week, it may be the fact that I still havent got over the referee sending Henning Berg off versus manure some years ago after a marvellous tackle, maybe its the fact that we have seen numerous yellow cards thrown at Rovers players over the past 4 seasons compared to other clubs who just dont seem to given the harsh treatment that some Rovers players get or maybe its the fact that I just plain and simple cannot abide pompous referees

haha, 1864rover, was that the sending off in our championship winning season? If i remember correctly, we lost the game 4-2. That was not some years back but 13 years back

[philipl]

...and the blatantly biased refereeing decisions in both the Manc games that season still hurt.

Courtney at Palace is still an open wound.

[thenodrog]

...and the blatantly biased refereeing decisions in both the Manc games that season still hurt.

Durkins still goes down as one of my all time bent referreing decisions ever.

[bellamy11]

Durkins still goes down as one of my all time bent referreing decisions ever.

It was about the worst decision I've ever seen. Roy Keane didn't even appeal for the free kick. In fact, none of the United players did.

Still, how boring would Anfield have been if we'd won the league a game early?

[Wolves_Rover]

I have my gripes at referees but I thought that Masch deserved to go yesterday even if he became the example made for dissenting against referees.

I thought Samba deserved to go too - no need to put your hands on Heskey - talk of going down easy is irrelevant, Samba should not have given Heskey the option.

I will be worried however if Clive Oliver, who reffed the Wolves-Qpr game at the weekend ever makes the premiership ref list as that was an abysmal display of refereeing that scared me quite a bit.

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Nicko,any news on a possible Rovers takeover?

6 very animated Asian business looking types 'stood' in the JW suite over the players tunnel on Sat....maybe me seeing more than there is but storys suddenly of Hughes to be given serious coin this summer?

[nicko]

Nicko,any news on a possible Rovers takeover?

6 very animated Asian business looking types 'stood' in the JW suite over the players tunnel on Sat....maybe me seeing more than there is but storys suddenly of Hughes to be given serious coin this summer?

Interesting...which part of Asia?

[SIMON GARNERS 194]

Thai/far East.

Anyone else confirm this sat in the JW lower?

[Silencio]

It might be the guys from Air Maritius (sp)...

[USABlue]

Shocking result - same old problems.

Play-offs should have been made, any side with something about them could have made sixth.

No keeper, no real left winger...no excuse.

If you want to be taken seriously you have to spend.

Not happy.

Was looking at your clarrots fiends (intentional sp) league table, they are still only 4 points off the pace, results must have gone favourably. Don't give up nicko, but don't spend your winnings just yet.