Original Dub wrote:No matter how you sit on this, we can all agree it's yet another controversial decision that we ended up on the wrong side of. Another in a loonnnnnnng line of similar decisions.
In fact, it is almost every single game these days.
Discussing the reasons why we got fucked over each time is all well and good but the biggest issue is the fact that it is getting more common year on year to the point that we are amazed if we're fucked over in one single game.
Add that to the long line of controversial decisions that the rags in particular have benefited from this season and it's astounding.
Basically, if the laws of the game had been applied properly and across the board, we'd be four points behind Chelsea in second and at least 10 points ahead of the rags.
Officials will yet again play a huge part in the outcome of the premier league.
Isn't that a fun fact.
The beautiful game
All very true OD. I think this season in particular, there does seem to have been too many game changing and as a result, league table changing decisions gone against us. Whether you believe it's intentional or not.
What I find more insidious though is something that happens every game and is easy for the ref and media to brush over.
That is, how easily our players pick up yellow and red cards. some are warranted no doubt, but the one Sterling got and the one Jesus got last weekend are perfect examples.
Week in week out we see our players kicked around with impunity and first tackle we make the card is out.
These things affect a game every bit as much as a goal being ruled offside or not. How often have we seen Fern/Zabba/Sagna/ add any name get a questionable yellow very early on and we all think, 'he's going to have to watch himself now for the rest of the game'.
While up the other end Aguero and Silva gets kicked around without protection, until one or other of them lashes out and picks up a card immediately.
This has as much bearing on how we can play as anything else and is a far more subtle way of hampering us.
Add to that the inevitable suspensions that we got and will get. It all adds up.