Portland Bill

15 minutes ago, Robin101 said:

Not sure I'd fancy Wrexham away...

Imagine their fans reaction if they drew us . 

35 minutes ago, In the Net said:

Ah, would that be the same Exeter who currently have 5 loan players in their squad, the same as us?

Just joining the thread. I take your word re the 5 loan players. 
But Exeter’s academy is something special, and has been for the last two decades. They have at least 5 playing in the first team that have come through the club. If you add in the talent that they have sold, it’s an academy to be very proud of. 

3 minutes ago, joe jordans teeth said:

I wouldn’t suggest watching the Italian or Spanish leagues,it will end up with you jumping of the suspension bridge if this gets you so angry 

I watch a lot of Spanish football, I find it far better to watch than games like tonight’s!.

While I’m having a moan!!!

Jack Grealish, £100 million. No left foot, little pace, constantly loses the ball. Must rank as the most overhyped footballer I’ve ever watched. 

3 minutes ago, Super said:

Yes only prem league players cheat. I love Alex Scott but the guy always throws himself to the floor.

I could have mentioned all footballers cheat, but as the topic was two premier league teams, I left it at that.

The WC was so refreshing seeing teams go out and play great football, exciting games. 
Now I spend more time looking at my phone than the tv, that 45 minutes was sending me to sleep!. 

4 minutes ago, Lew-T said:

It’s so dead watching Man City at the Etihad isn’t it?

Well that’s how it comes across on the box… Just completely flat

That sums up the whole Prem imo.

A turgid league of pampered and cheating footballers, soulless grounds, 90% of games boring.

Its very rare to actually watch a thrilling game in that league.

4 hours ago, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

I once had a go at school but otherwise no. The point is I understand how difficult the job is and it's not my intention to belittle those that do it, but there appears to be a general consensus now among football supporters and even among retired referees that the standards of refereeing in the UK is at an all time low.

I don't think the job had been made any easier by constant fiddling with the laws of the game, including the introduction of VAR, and interference by the football authorities, but rightly or wrongly I feel today's officials lack the backbone or moral fibre to stand up to the beauracracy or even to have the courage of their own convictions. Too often these days games seem to be managed remotely when the matchday officials should be the sole arbiters and allowed to apply the laws of the game without outside interference. However, how often do you see a referee stand by his decision instead of wimping out and changing tack often incorrectly. The likes of Clive Thomas, Roger Fitzpatrick etc would never have stood for it. 

I don’t see any of that in General refereeing. It’s only in games with VAR where that potentially does happen.

The big change in the current generation of officials is that ‘everything is now filmed, and filmed from every angle possible. The officials ( outside of the PL) only get one angle, the angle they see things from. Every incident is scrutinised on social media, everybody has their own opinion of it. Officials are under scrutiny more than they have ever been. 
Clive Thomas and the like were allowed to use common sense back in the day, as they were not scrutinised to the extend todays officials are. Nowadays there are NO grey areas, you apply the laws of the game, or face the wrath of the accessors, and the accessors are brutal.

This is partly why so many officials are quitting the game, plus the behaviour of the players on the pitch. Cheating and play acting are rife nowadays, every player will cheat at any stage. There are no exceptions. 

All in all I think the current officials are as good as they have ever been, they are far far fitter than previous generations, and as always… make far far less mistakes than the players on the pitch ever do!.

On 25/01/2023 at 09:38, RoystonFoote'snephew said:

Including the Championship and Premier League. I know they've sponsored in Scotland but isn't it about time Specsavers sponsored refs and linos in England. 

Genuine question, have you ever refereed a game?.

10 hours ago, SBB said:

They also have Matty Hale as academy director.

David Horesman as well.

5 minutes ago, 1960maaan said:

He probably just missed the fouls 

The sort of response I expected!.

I guess people have to know the laws of the game to notice!.

9 minutes ago, tin said:

Spot on. And while it’s not a big deal tonight, imagine decisions like that go against us in a knockout game, or even a semi-final or final. We’d all be going mental.

What I don’t understand is they had VAR don’t to a tee in the Euros. How has it regressed so much in the 18 months that’ve passed since? 

Quick question, I haven’t time to trawl back through this thread, but has anyone mentioned the two great advantages the referee played for England’s third and fourth goals ?.

1 hour ago, Robbored said:

My comment is based entirely on my experience of seeing Latino players diving, rolling around, trying to con referees not only in the PL but in the Champions League - take Athletico Madrid as a perfect example, managed by an Argentinian and probably the worst of all was the infamous ‘Hand of God” by that cheating shit Maradonna.

The Latino’s call that “street craft” and they see it as a positive……..jeez………

The VaR officials today were Uruguayan and  that says it all…………..

Robbo, you will find that even players from your local Nailsea and Tickenham  football club ( you probably have never watched them though!) try and con referees.

It’s a world wide phenomenon nowadays, cheating and trying to con the officials, but of course it’s always the fault of the referee, the Lino’s or the var officials

4 minutes ago, wayne allisons tongues said:

Thanks, they have dropped a few levels, surprised Mangotsfield was in there as well. Is that the old Toolstation/screwfix league now.

I didn’t realise they were in it, perhaps the bottom half of the Southern league south go in it as well ?.

1 hour ago, wayne allisons tongues said:

Hadn’t realised Clevedon Town had dropped so many levels and are now in the Vase. 
 

Can’t work out why they are in it, for they seem to be a higher level than Hallen and Brislington as an example. Have the leagues been restructured and that’s the competition they have to play in?

Western League clubs and below go in the Vase. Clevedon are in the Western League prem, Bridlington and Hallet in Western League 1.

10 hours ago, Ska Junkie said:

He IS right though, naff all wrong with the disallowed goal. Just a pity for the corrupt officials that Qatar are soooo bad that they can't even cheat their way through.

All about ££££ where Qatar are concerned and I hope they get totally humiliated in their 2 final group games.

Except it was offside!.

20 minutes ago, redkev said:

Love this to be 6 or 7 nil stick it right up fifa ass 

What difference does it make, USA,South Africa and Russia have all recently held World Cups, none of those three had any chance of doing well.
Qatar and their neighbours run European football with their money nowadays. The last 8 of the Champions league will probably be all teams with oil cash backing them.

FIFA and UEFA don’t care if Qatar lose by 10, but fans of football should question why they hate the World Cup venue, but dote over the champions league!. The cash comes from the same places.

20 minutes ago, Numero Uno said:

When the ball was kicked?

No, when the attacker and keeper attacked the ball, the attacker got the last touch, the Ecuador player who played it next was in an offside position. No conspiracies, just var that most on here wanted… before they all realised it would spoil the game!.

On 15/11/2022 at 22:57, Slacker said:

A few shouts for Messi.An awesome player but am I right in saying he has never really achieved at international level?

Got Argentina to a WC Final, won the last Copa America. Scored 91 International goals ( so far ) mostly against South American sides which are much stronger than the European cannon fodder teams!.

He has carried the Argentinian side for years, getting them through qualifying on his own at times, finally it looks like they have a decent side to back him up now.

Still probably the best player on the planet ( after 20 years at the very top), not too bad I would say!.

After 40 years of watching City home and away ( roughly 75 away league grounds) I can 100% say that I now prefer watching non league football.

Pay your fiver or tenner, have a drink, no hassle, no jobsworth stewards, no posturing on the terraces, stand where you want, no hassle parking, more entertainment on the pitch, no falling over when touched, and very little diving and cheating. 
What’s not to like!.

14 hours ago, Gillies Downs Leeds said:

An ex local manager had a 3 yr ban imposed for betting on football matches involving his own team.

Several ex Taunton Town players got done for this a few months ago!.

3 hours ago, BigTone said:

Most Pacific Islanders have turned out for NZ in the past which is why they have always been so strong. Now being said that they are now being more loyal to their traditional heritage hence why the islands are now much stronger. Fair play to them.

Even Lebanon have a competitive team because most play in the NRL. For those unsure there is a very large Lebanese community in Oz especially Sydney. The after game interviews they all have Aussie accents. 

A lot of the Samoan squad will have  been born and bred in NZ, Auckland alone has about the same amount of Samoan’s as the actual country of Samoa has!. 

For instance, in the last Rugby Union WC, 18 players in the Samoan squad were born in New Zealand!. 

3 hours ago, cidercity1987 said:

England 90 Samoa 30 over two games or something like that?

6 of Englands squad play in the nrl. 
In all seriousness the NRL is streets ahead in quality. The intensity is something else. 

1 hour ago, BigTone said:

Indeed it does. Wouldn't rule out Samoa winning the final. Going to be a good game I think.

Personally I think the Aussies will be too strong, but it will certainly be a fierce one!!.

The NRL league comes out as the big winners. It’s proved ( if it actually needed proving) that it’s a class above the Super League. Samoa have 8 Penrith Panthers players, the NRL winners.

Think we also have to remember that NZ lost the worlds best winger to a head injury due to the red card incident. Woodman is a try scoring machine. So even though England were down to 14, NZ lost probably their best player for 65 minutes!.