First of all -well done the team for their determination not to let outside factors prevent them from sticking to their task and getting what was in the end a well earned point. Even though -especially after substitutions we were the better team and should have had the win.
Well done the crowd too... maybe the 19000 of us home supporters there last night are the real core fans - because the atmosphere and backing for the team was excellent....... really enjoyable
Now Drinkwater ... I was OK impressed in his play at Southampton but he was strategically limited to the right wing area...... but last night he showed us - in my opinion -real class.
Always available to receive ball in space his movement created, his instant control and vision made his next pass seem simple -thats what class midfield is about. He honestly reminded me of Scholes and his error count was so low compared to touches ... fantastic signing. I know there is popular belief about keeping winning team -but to see Gally and Dyer on the pitch for the first half and Drinkwater on the bench must have mightily pleased Mowbray.
In all that was good last night , have to say Mills was not up to par and at times was outright a liability. Maybe a cloud on his shoulder -called Morgan. I would not have signed him -but he is now a squad player and I would not have been surprised if he had come on at some stage.
Finally In my time as player and coach I very rarely seriously questioned a referees attitude to a game and independence- they have difficult job and with varying degrees of success at least try to make fair judgements. I exclude last nights referee from such tolerance and have written to FA to say as much.. truly did his best to spoil the game
Beckford .... well told you so !!
we signed Scholes.... did we?
posted on 2/2/12
How do you contact the FA about referees - I will be happy to send them additional 'feedback'
posted on 2/2/12
I just posted to Leicestershire FA Holmes Park Dog and Duck Lane -marked for Gareth Roberts CEO and asked it be forwarded to FA London referees Division
posted on 2/2/12
John,
Agree with you about Drinkwater. I don’t want to get too excited after one cameo performance, but I was very encouraged. I always think the best midfielders look like they have more time and space when they receive the ball than ordinary players and can pick out passes accordingly. Drinkwater instantly looked like he had this ability and, rather than Scholes, he put me in mind of that other ginger haired midfield master – Neil Lennon.
Also agree with you about the referee. You get games where the referee might get abuse because he’s incorrectly given a penalty or sent a player off. In a way you can accept this as a one off because, unfortunately, everyone makes mistakes. You would also expect a not so impartial football crowd to call the referee all sorts of names if he called a major decision wrong against them.
The referee didn’t make a call last night that directly cost us the game, but was still universally vilified by all sections of the crowd. Why? because he was simply incompetent from start to finish in the worst refereeing display I’ve seen for some time. Looking at his facebook group (made because he’s so bad) it looks like it’s not the first time. Surely, if this is a common theme, the FA should look beyond coincidence or parochialism.
In every industry I know you have to be accountable to your customers. Referees will never get respect until they are accountable to the paying customers who pay their wages.
posted on 2/2/12
The referee was abysmal, although he did not get all the decisions wrong that the crowd booed him for. Unfortunately he looked as if he wanted to be the centre of attention - otherwise why, after the apparent dressing room spat with Pearson, did he wait until Nige came back on the pitch before theatrically sending him off in front of the crowd?
I was also very impressed with Drinkwater at Southampton. Last night he looked good on the ball. It's encouraging to have someone in midfield who can thread the ball forwards with the opposition in close attendance, rather than looking to pass back.
Beckford was quality last night.
posted on 2/2/12
One of my colleagues at work is a Coventry fan (poor lad) and when we were discussing our forthcoming opponents, he told me that "they tried to kick us off the park...loads of bad tackles from behind.....and the referee sent two off and booked a load more"
Clearly we didn't get the same referee last night but the opposition seemed very familiar!
posted on 2/2/12
Whilst I agree with the sentiment behind 'you should always keep a winning team', I do really think it's time to drop Gallagher and Dyer. They're very limited footballers who have probably reached their peak and will offer very little to us in the short or long-term. Now we have quality like Drinkwater and Marshall in our ranks, there is no need to have Gallagher and Dyer in the first team. Both would make good subs but neither are cut out for starting places.
posted on 2/2/12
"Now we have quality like Drinkwater and Marshall in our ranks"
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It's interesting how many people are putting Marshall in their team before he's actually kicked a ball in a Leicester shirt.