Martin Atkinson @ Wigan

[Bluemoon16]

The FA or whoever is in charge couldn’t find a better ref for tonight than Martin Athkinson.. Well, it’s pretty obvious to them that Lescot and Savic are going to let opponents pass them on the counter to avoid bookings, or get nervous as usual and make stupid tackles. Considering Martin Atkinson's record this season, if any of our players get sent off tonight I'll definitely join the conspiracy club.. We’ve got Tottenham next and are in no position to get any of our CBs sent off.

[lets all have a disco]

Great,i bet Silva gets his marching orders.

[Ted Hughes]

Tbh, we're in the same boat with all refs now. They are under pressure once the games get bigger and start making stupid decisions. The biggest percentage winners of decisions in that situation are the usual suspects.

[john@staustell]

This is definitely the worst crop of referees ever in my 51 years. Every week there are several mind-blowingly stupid decisions.

This week's prize - what the fuck was the ref doing in the Spuds match, taking the ball out of the goalie's hands whilst he and another player were recovering, then giving a drop ball 7 yards out - then giving a free kick to Wolves immediately as if to acknowledge his own stupidity. Never seen anything like that. Everyone in the ground and commentators were speechless.

[Ted Hughes]

This is definitely the worst crop of referees ever in my 51 years. Every week there are several mind-blowingly stupid decisions.

This week's prize - what the fuck was the ref doing in the Spuds match, taking the ball out of the goalie's hands whilst he and another player were recovering, then giving a drop ball 7 yards out - then giving a free kick to Wolves immediately as if to acknowledge his own stupidity. Never seen anything like that. Everyone in the ground and commentators were speechless.

But when other teams have contested a drop ball like that, there has been uproar (imagine Balotelli doing it ?) why no mention of Spurs' lack of sportsmanship ? ( no need to answer that )

[aaron bond]

This is definitely the worst crop of referees ever in my 51 years. Every week there are several mind-blowingly stupid decisions.

This week's prize - what the fuck was the ref doing in the Spuds match, taking the ball out of the goalie's hands whilst he and another player were recovering, then giving a drop ball 7 yards out - then giving a free kick to Wolves immediately as if to acknowledge his own stupidity. Never seen anything like that. Everyone in the ground and commentators were speechless.

But when other teams have contested a drop ball like that, there has been uproar (imagine Balotelli doing it ?) why no mention of Spurs' lack of sportsmanship ? ( no need to answer that )

Great points you both make there.

It was embarrassing watching the referee in that moment - he stupidly let both sides contest the drop-ball and then just made up a foul to get himself out of the dumb situation he got himself into.

[zuricity]

Don't expect any favours at all from Atkinson tonight. If, like against united, Clattenberg was faced with a 'fait acompli', then it seems to roll for us.

I don't believe for one minute ,( if we had not of gone 2-0 up brilliantly and the Red card for Evans was so obvious that Clattenc*nt must give it), not one minute do i believe that Clatterface would not have been prepared, ready and willing to give United something.
See how easily and with a smirk on his face - waiting for the restart , he produced a yellow for Mario. So he got maximum potential output it. ( Card was totally unneccessary. He could have carded Mario earlier , but no he waited for the restart at 1-0 at ot). Again Clatterbox at Chelsea with his Blackadder "Nun and the Hun pose" for the Chelsea penalty.

Atkinson hates us. He will be only too willing to give something / anything against us.

Let's see if we can get that early goal to open them up.

[paddyblue]

this guy is card happy, 91 yellow and 8 red in 24 games

[ashton287]

this guy is card happy, 91 yellow and 8 red in 24 games

Average 4 cards a game. Doesn't look like we will be allowed to play much.

Stop start stop start plays right along with the 11 men back defence we will probably face.

[paulmclaren]

Even when they have shite games you have to feel for some of the refs.
It's hard lol i know for a fact I'd get way more decisions wrong then what they do.
Anyone on here says otherwise is just a plain lier.

[Beefymcfc]

I'm going to criticise Atkinson after the game rather than before, and depending on how he does will determine how much criticism he gets.

[twosips]

To be honest it shouldn't really matter how bad Atkinson is tonight - we should be able to beat Wigan either way. Barring him sending two players off and giving them about four penalties obviously...

[Foreverinbluedreams]

Even when they have shite games you have to feel for some of the refs.
It's hard lol i know for a fact I'd get way more decisions wrong then what they do.
Anyone on here says otherwise is just a plain lier.

Well yes, but the vast majority on here haven't done refereeing courses and it's not their proffesion.

[carl_feedthegoat]

If he sends off one of our players I hope I'm not held accountable for my violent reaction.

[Mase]

Even when they have shite games you have to feel for some of the refs.
It's hard lol i know for a fact I'd get way more decisions wrong then what they do.
Anyone on here says otherwise is just a plain lier.

Well yes, but the vast majority on here haven't done refereeing courses and it's not their proffesion.

I've never done a refereeing course, but if I knew I did something wrong and had the chance to admit it afterwards I would most likely do so.

[Mase]

If he sends off one of our players I hope I'm not held accountable for my violent reaction.

Poor Bastard!

[paulmclaren]

Even when they have shite games you have to feel for some of the refs.
It's hard lol i know for a fact I'd get way more decisions wrong then what they do.
Anyone on here says otherwise is just a plain lier.

Well yes, but the vast majority on here haven't done refereeing courses and it's not their proffesion.

I've never done a refereeing course, but if I knew I did something wrong and had the chance to admit it afterwards I would most likely do so.

But if you are 'told' not to by your bosses ie the f.a.
What do you do then?

[Mase]

Even when they have shite games you have to feel for some of the refs.
It's hard lol i know for a fact I'd get way more decisions wrong then what they do.
Anyone on here says otherwise is just a plain lier.

Well yes, but the vast majority on here haven't done refereeing courses and it's not their proffesion.

I've never done a refereeing course, but if I knew I did something wrong and had the chance to admit it afterwards I would most likely do so.

But if you are 'told' not to by your bosses ie the f.a.
What do you do then?

Obviously then you've got no choice. But when you get called every name under the sun you've have to accept it and not moan.

[david yearsley]

Don't expect any favours at all from Atkinson tonight. If, like against united, Clattenberg was faced with a 'fait acompli', then it seems to roll for us.

I don't believe for one minute ,( if we had not of gone 2-0 up brilliantly and the Red card for Evans was so obvious that Clattenc*nt must give it), not one minute do i believe that Clatterface would not have been prepared, ready and willing to give United something.
See how easily and with a smirk on his face - waiting for the restart , he produced a yellow for Mario. So he got maximum potential output it. ( Card was totally unneccessary. He could have carded Mario earlier , but no he waited for the restart at 1-0 at ot). Again Clatterbox at Chelsea with his Blackadder "Nun and the Hun pose" for the Chelsea penalty.

Atkinson hates us. He will be only too willing to give something / anything against us.

Let's see if we can get that early goal to open them up.

I´m of the opinion that Clattentwat realised the cameras would be all over the incident and decided, against his "better judgement", to brandish a red. There was a moments hesitation because let´s face it many of us watching on TV didn´t pick it up. If the coont had thought he could have got away with not sending Evans off he would have kept the card firmly in his pocket - no doubt whatsoever! He cottoned on in this instance that there would be no hiding place in such an important fixture

[phips]

Had a good first half for me...he went downhill drastically in the last 3rd of the match.