Premier League 2018/19

[Cornpattbuck]

The general reffing level of the Champions League is outstanding, from the games I've seen. Why is the Premier League so utterly incompetent? What's stopping the Prem from drafting in the best refs from around the world? I genuinely don't know.

Thought the ref yesterday was dreadful! Four or five Ajax players should have been booked in the first half for cynical professional fouls during our attempts to counter attack...

 

[Kempus]

Thought the ref yesterday was dreadful! Four or five Ajax players should have been booked in the first half for cynical professional fouls during our attempts to counter attack...

That was dreadful? Jesus, whats your weekly anaysis of Premier League refs if that performance was dreadful?

 

[wakefieldyid]

The general reffing level of the Champions League is outstanding, from the games I've seen. Why is the Premier League so utterly incompetent? What's stopping the Prem from drafting in the best refs from around the world? I genuinely don't know.

I've just had a look at the financial results of Premier Game Match Officials Limited, who are contracted by the FA, PL and EFL to officiate at all their matches. In the 2017/8 season, PGMOL charged their 3 clients almost £18 million, out of which the referees and admin staff trousered just short of £10 million in salaries, averaging just short of £80k each. (If you go back 4 years to 2013/4, the comparative figures were £9 million and £3.5 million, i.e. the cost of referees has doubled during that period and the salary bill has almost trebled.)
Although it's not specified in the accounts, a hard core of "select group" officials (i.e. the household name referees) officiate all the PL games and will inevitably be taking the lion's share of the salaries
No doubt the referees would claim that these increases are fully justified, but you can see exactly why they would rather not weaken their cozy little monopoly by having to employ match officials from elsewhere in Europe.

 

[Sandros Shiny Head]

From what I've seen, the refs we had for the semis are just as bad in their national leagues, Antonio Mateu is the Spanish Mike Dean

 

[aliyid]

Final day of the season tomorrow.

I’m hoping for a city draw/defeat alongside a Liverpool draw/defeat so the Liverpool squad can spend the next three weeks before the CL final thinking “we had it but didn’t take our chance”.

If we could also mix in a 96th min penalty after a Salah dive where Milner goes to place the ball but Salah steps up and skies the ball over the top that would top things off nicely.

 

[Hakkz]

Final day of the season tomorrow.

I’m hoping for a city draw/defeat alongside a Liverpool draw/defeat so the Liverpool squad can spend the next three weeks before the CL final thinking “we had it but didn’t take our chance”.

If we could also mix in a 96th min penalty after a Salah dive where Milner goes to place the ball but Salah steps up and skies the ball over the top that would top things off nicely.

A couple of injuries to Pool players would be lovely.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Talking of referees ..
.
Mike Dean is doing the Burnley v Arsenal game.

 

[Krule]

All referees for today's games....
https://www.premierleague.com/news/1212084

I can see the headlines now "Mike Dean controversially awards Arsenal ten penalties".

 

[nailsy]

I know that the title race has been exciting this season, but the fact that City are probably going to win it with nearly a hundred points again is terrible news for the rest of the league. What chance is there for other clubs if they're going to be hitting the high nineties every season? Liverpool have spent £400m (£100m net) on players since Klopp arrived and they still can't win it. City could dominate this league for years to come if Pep stays and they continue to back him in the transfer market.

Just to be clear I'm hoping for a City win today, so this isn't sour grapes because I want Liverpool to win the title.

 

[scat1620]

Come on Liverpool today. I have 4 Liverpool-supporting friends and we've decided that it would be fairest for them to win the PL and us to win the CL, so they've agreed to ring Klopp and let him know what the deal is for 1st June, and I now have to get on the phone with Chrissy Hughton this morning and confirm to him that his Brighton side do have my permission to take points off Man City.

Relax, it's all going to get sorted and everyone will be a winner.

 

[hughy]

Come on Liverpool today. I have 4 Liverpool-supporting friends and we've decided that it would be fairest for them to win the PL and us to win the CL, so they've agreed to ring Klopp and let him know what the deal is for 1st June, and I now have to get on the phone with Chrissy Hughton this morning and confirm to him that his Brighton side do have my permission to take points off Man City.

Relax, it's all going to get sorted and everyone will be a winner.

I'd take that scenario. However I want as much pressure on Liverpool as possible going in to the final. If they've already won the league they won't feel under any pressure to win the CL.

 

[WorcesterTHFC]

I've just had a look at the financial results of Premier Game Match Officials Limited, who are contracted by the FA, PL and EFL to officiate at all their matches. In the 2017/8 season, PGMOL charged their 3 clients almost £18 million, out of which the referees and admin staff trousered just short of £10 million in salaries, averaging just short of £80k each. (If you go back 4 years to 2013/4, the comparative figures were £9 million and £3.5 million, i.e. the cost of referees has doubled during that period and the salary bill has almost trebled.)
Although it's not specified in the accounts, a hard core of "select group" officials (i.e. the household name referees) officiate all the PL games and will inevitably be taking the lion's share of the salaries
No doubt the referees would claim that these increases are fully justified, but you can see exactly why they would rather not weaken their cozy little monopoly by having to employ match officials from elsewhere in Europe.

In other words, a closed shop, to all intents and purposes.

 

[stevenurse]

Burnley to beat arsenal, united to beat Cardiff. Arsenal finish 6th.

The for Watford to win the FA Cup and Arsenal to lose the EL final. Arsenal are on their way to Malta in July. Pleeeeeease make it happen football gods

 

[TheChosenOne]

Burnley to beat arsenal, united to beat Cardiff. Arsenal finish 6th.

The for Watford to win the FA Cup and Arsenal to lose the EL final. Arsenal are on their way to Malta in July. Pleeeeeease make it happen football gods

I heard somewhere that Arse have a USA summer tour scheduled in that same time frame as the two legs.

That would be a delicious thing to collide.

 

[Danners9]

We have Brighton vs Man City live tonight. Suppose that makes sense; they want to show the title being won.

 

[TheChosenOne]

Peter Crouch fit and available for Burnley.
.

 

[L-man]

Martin Tyler on SSN saying they should give City and Liverpool a trophy each

 

[TheChosenOne]

Martin Tyler on SSN saying they should give City and Liverpool a trophy each

Pathetic. Blithering idiot.

 

[tobi]

Is it me or is the media conveniently forgetting that Liverpool had a nine point lead over City at one point this season?

They've been very consistent and I'm not being cynical but that's a big lead that they ultimately surrendered.

The truth hurts.

 

[Krule]

Is it me or is the media conveniently forgetting that Liverpool had a nine point lead over City at one point this season?

They've been very consistent and I'm not being cynical but that's a big lead that they ultimately surrendered.

The truth hurts.

As you quite rightly say....conveniently forgotten. It's making a mockery of the league suggesting two trophies.