Liverpool Vs Everton | Pienaar receives red card for second yellow

Description of incident: After escaping a red card earlier in the game, Pienaar eventually received his marching orders deep into injury time. He challenged for a header with Gerrard; Gerrard won the ball and ended up on the floor, clutching his head. The ref showed a second yellow, then red to Pienaar.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: David Richardson & Darren Cann

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Liverpool | Loser: Everton

Players Involved: Steven Pienaar (Everton) & Steven Gerrard (Liverpool)

Summary: It was a challenge borne out of frustration as he was clearly late and video replays show he was also looking at the player, not the ball. This still doesn't explain to me why Gerrard went down holding his barnet, as Pienaar did not come anywhere near his head with any part of his body. Regardless, it was a stupid challenge and Pienaar has no one to blame for his red card other than himself. Right decision, second yellow & red card.

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Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Everton | Kyrgiakos receives red card

Description of incident: Fellaini was in control of the ball in the middle of the pitch but it was skipping tantalizingly away from him. Enough to tempt a challenge from Kyrgiakos. He was clearly on the ground, so it could not be classed as a high challenge, but it did appear two-footed. Fellaini also prepared for the contact and both players ended up in agonising heaps. As Kyrgiakos was just about to get back on his feet, the ref brandished a red card.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: David Richardson & Darren Cann

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Everton | Loser: Liverpool

Players Involved: Sotirios Kyrgiakos (Liverpool) & Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

Summary: The ball was racing away from Fellaini, so Kyrgiakos was entitled to attempt to win the ball. However, he clearly went in with both feet which is an illegal challenge deserving of a red card under the current laws. In his defence, video replays suggest that Fellaini also went in two-footed, he certainly came down dangerously on Kyrgiakos' shin - which the defender complained about after receiving his red. It was a strange one because I cannot ever recall seeing red cards given to two players for one tackle on each other - but maybe there was a case for it here. I've gone for right decision overall though, only one red card warranted.

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Cheers,
WB

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Liverpool Vs Everton | Pienaar high challenge on Mascherano receives yellow

Description of incident: Pienaar came in with a high challenge on Mascherano, connecting about knee high on the Argentine, leading with his studs. The ref gave a free kick to Liverpool and booked Steven Pienaar despite loud calls for a red card.

Date of Game: Saturday 6th February 2010

Home Team: Liverpool | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Martin Atkinson | Linesman: David Richardson & Darren Cann

Decision Type: Red card | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 3/5

Affect on Result: It would have put Everton down to ten men prior to Liverpool losing a man, so it's impossible to tell how different the game would have been had Pienaar received a red | Winner: Everton | Loser: Liverpool

Players Involved: Steven Pienaar (Everton) & Javier Mascherano (Liverpool)

Summary: Pienaar's challenge was awful. I don't like seeing players sent off but, under the current guidelines, it had to be a straight red. Jamie Redknapp, commenting for Sky Sports, said he was amazed that it didn't result in a broken leg for Mascherano, which I think summarises what type of challenge it was. The ref bottled this one, maybe because it was the first major incident in the game, but he definitely got it wrong, it should have been red not yellow.



Cheers,
WB

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Wigan Vs Everton | Fellaini goal ruled offside

Description of incident: The ball was played into the Wigan area which Cahill latched onto. His cross-shot deflected at least once before landing at Fellaini's feet for him to roll in from a yard out. Only then did the linesman raise his flag. I can only assume from the timing of the flag that it was raised for Fellaini.

Date of Game: Saturday 30th January 2010

Home Team: Wigan Athletic | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Lee Probert | Linesman: Gary Stott & Andy Halliday

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: Everton went on to win anyway so none | Winner: Wigan | Loser: Everton

Players Involved: Marouane Fellaini & Tim Cahill (Everton)

Summary: Both Cahill and Fellaini were on the brink of offside as the ball was played into the area but were just the right side of the Wigan defenders. When Cahill played the ball across goal, Fellaini was behind the ball so could not have been offside at this moment. The huge delay on the linesman raising his flag suggested that he struggled with this decision. Unfortunately for Everton, he got it wrong.

Full match highlights from

Wigan Athletic v Everton
by liverdeliverz

Cheers,
WB

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Everton Vs Sunderland | Cahill goal ruled onside

Description of incident: Fellaini picked the ball up on the left hand side of the Sunderland penalty area. Moving the ball onto his right foot, he curled a cross in towards goal which Cahill flicked on into the far corner of the net. There wasn't much protest and the goal was ruled onside.

Date of Game: Wednesday 27th January 2010

Home Team: Everton | Away Team: Sunderland

Referee: Phil Dowd | Linesman: Mick McDonough & Scott Ledger

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 5/5

Affect on Result: Set Everton on their way but too difficult to say which way the game would have gone if this goal had not stood | Winner: Everton | Loser: Sunderland

Players Involved: Tim Cahill & Marouane Fellaini (Everton)

Summary: It was a really tough offside decision to make but from simply seeing one specific camera angle of the goal makes it clear that Cahill was definitely offside as the ball was lobbed towards him. I don't place much blame on the referee however it is arguably a decision you would expect your linesman to get right. Unfortunately between them they conspired to get this one wrong.

Cheers,
WB

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Everton Vs Manchester City | Saha penalty

Description of incident: Saha took a pass in his stride, under close attention from Richards. Entering the Man City area, Saha remained on his feet and in control of the ball when the referee blew for a shirt pull by Richards, penalty Everton.

Date of Game: Saturday 16th January 2010

Home Team: Everton | Away Team: Manchester City

Referee: Andre Marriner | Linesman: David Coote & Richard West

Decision Type: Penalty | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 2/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Everton | Loser: Manchester City

Players Involved: Louis Saha (Everton) & Mica Richards (Man City)

Summary: Richards was quite clearly pulling Saha's shirt. There is the argument that the shirt pulling took place outside the area first of all but I don't think that matters. Advantage was played and then there's subsequent shirt pulling inside the area - penalty, right decision.

Cheers,
WB

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Special mention to Peter Walton - Fitness

In a season where the fitness of referees has been called into question quite publicly, I wanted to highlight referee Walton's position for the Steven Pienaar goal in the Arsenal Vs Everton game. A sweeping counter attack for Everton left almost everyone behind as Pienaar raced through to delicately lob the ball over Almunia. Peter Walton was one of the very few people anywhere near the incident; arriving at the edge of the penalty area as Pienaar finished with aplomb.

It was early enough in the game that you would expect the referee to have plenty of energy however, it was the pace of the attack and the ability of Walton to keep up with play whilst keeping out of the way of all players that impressed me.

Well played Mr Walton.

Cheers,
WB

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Arsenal Vs Everton | Saha offside

Description of incident: At the second attempt Saha put the ball over the line...just.  Manuel Almunia's attempts to claw it away were in vain.

Date of Game: Saturday 9th January 2010

Home Team: Arsenal | Away Team: Everton

Referee: Peter Walton | Linesman: Nigel Bannister & Simon Beck

Decision Type: Offside | Verdict: | Decision Difficulty: 1/5

Affect on Result: N/A | Winner: Arsenal | Loser: Everton

Players Involved: Louis Saha (Everton) & Manuel Almunia (Arsenal)

Summary: This was a really easy decision, Saha was so far offside. However, I have included it because Saha eventually put the ball over the line which means the decision disallowed a goal and if Saha thought he might get away with it then it qualifies.

Cheers,
WB

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Manifesto: Judging Premier League Referees' Descisions

I've decided to start reviewing the most critical decisions made by Premier League referees.  Those that have a direct affect on the outcome of the game; offside, free-kick, penalty, red card & goal line decisions.  Consider that an inclusive rather than exclusive list.

This is not spawned out of any particular dislike for referees or any perceived injustice against the team I support, I will be looking for the good as well the bad.  And it will extend, where necessary, to decision of the linesmen (or, officially, Assistant Referees - but that is the last time I will refer to them as such) and 4th officials.

Rather than looking to publicly lambaste referees on a weekly basis, my gut feeling is that I'll demonstrate what a difficult job they have, how often they actually get key decisions right and how, even with hindsight and slow motion video replays, it can still be difficult to come to a definitive conclusion.  Don't get me wrong, I am as big a critic as anyone else when I'm watching a game so I'll just as happy if my gut feeling turns out to be wrong.

The analysis will be restricted to Premier League games only, looking for any patterns that may emerge from the performance of referees.  This will become more apparent when reviewing the 2010/11 season in full however, I hope to provide some insights into the 2009/10 season even though I am kicking off in January 2009.

As a bit of a warm-up, I took a look at the FA Cup games that took place yesterday (Saturday 2nd).  And if this is anything to go by, my gut feelings will be proved right as we see a really good day for referees:

1. Reading vs Liverpool | David Richardson | Linesman | Not flagging Kuyt offside when he dummied Gerrard's shot for Liverpool's goal | Decision:
   
2. Nottingham Forest vs Birmingham City | Steve Bennett | Referee | Awarding a penalty to Forest for a foul on Anderson | Decision:
   
3. Middlesbrough vs Man City | Stuart Atwell | Referee | Not giving a penalty to Middlesbrough & booking O'Neil for diving:
1. No penalty | Decision:
2. Booking | Decision:
4. Everton vs Carlisle | John Flynn or Darren Drysdale (TBC) | Linesman | Flagging James Vaughn offside when he "scored" his second | Decision:
5. Everton vs Carlisle | Jon Moss | Referee | Awarding Everton a penalty for a foul on Agard | Decision:
6. MK Dons vs Burnley | Anthony Bates | Referee | Awarding Burnley a penalty for a foul on Fletcher | Decision:
7. MK Dons vs Burnley | Michael Murphy or Ian Smedley (TBC) | Linseman | Not flagging Fletcher offside when scoring Burnley's second | Decision:
8. MK Dons vs Burnley | Michael Murphy or Ian Smedley (TBC) | Linseman | Not flagging Morgan offside when he scored MK Dons' consolation goal | Decision:
9. Aston Villa vs Blackburn | Howard Webb | Referee | Awarding a penalty to Blackburn for a foul on Reid | Decision:
10. Aston Villa vs Blackburn | Howard Webb | Referee | Sending off Diouf for a (truly awful) foul | Decision:
11. Aston Villa vs Blackburn | Howard Webb | Referee | Awarding Aston Villa a penalty for a foul on Carew | Decision:
12. Tottenham vs Peterborough | Lee Mason | Referee | Awarding Tottenham a penalty for a foul on Rose | Decision:
13. Fulham vs Swindon Town | Anthony Taylor | Awarding Fulham a penalty for a foul on Johnson | Decision:
14. Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | Eddie Ilderton | Referee | Awarding Blackpool a penalty for foul on Omorod | Decision:
15. Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | Eddie Ilderton | Referee | Sending Evatt off for Blackpool | Decision:
16. Blackpool vs Ipswich Town | Eddie Ilderton | Referee | Sending Edwards off for Blackpool | Decision: (but it was a foul)
17. Preston NE vs Colchester Utd | Colin Webster | Referee | Awarding a penalty to Preston for a foul on Parkin | Decision:

So, onto the real thing - kicking off with mid-week analysis of any key decisions in Stoke vs Fulham on Tuesday and Arsenal vs Bolton on Wednesday.

And this will be, by a massive distance, my longest post ever.

Cheers,
WB

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