The thread for discussing referees.
And
Howard Webb has retired.
Liverpool fans might have strong feelings about him, the same as we do about Pierluigi Collina and Martin Atkinson. But I kind of liked him. He seemed honest, at least he admitted when he got things wrong
This will always be what he's remembered for and to be fair he was fighting a losing battle. He cut this figure of utter desperation at times. As though he was back in his days as a cop trying to control a riot. He seemed to be pleading with players not to force him to send them off in the world cup final for their own sakes. The shame of being sent off at such a global event should have been deterant enough and yet Van Bommel, De Jong, Pedro and Busquettes were more than happy to show their arses on the most public of stages. Ironically few people remember that John Heitinga did actually get sent off. All the way through Webb looks like he's tying to reason with the players, like they're young men burning down their own neighbourhood as a form of protest. Honestly I started to pity him. He got two decisions wrong in the middle of the pitch early on and from then on the players just bullied or ignored him.
Anyway fair well Howard Webb having been a cop and a ref I can only assume he's quit to take up tax collecting, TV licence inspecting or traffic wardening. Fair play to him.
And
Howard Webb has retired.
Liverpool fans might have strong feelings about him, the same as we do about Pierluigi Collina and Martin Atkinson. But I kind of liked him. He seemed honest, at least he admitted when he got things wrong
This will always be what he's remembered for and to be fair he was fighting a losing battle. He cut this figure of utter desperation at times. As though he was back in his days as a cop trying to control a riot. He seemed to be pleading with players not to force him to send them off in the world cup final for their own sakes. The shame of being sent off at such a global event should have been deterant enough and yet Van Bommel, De Jong, Pedro and Busquettes were more than happy to show their arses on the most public of stages. Ironically few people remember that John Heitinga did actually get sent off. All the way through Webb looks like he's tying to reason with the players, like they're young men burning down their own neighbourhood as a form of protest. Honestly I started to pity him. He got two decisions wrong in the middle of the pitch early on and from then on the players just bullied or ignored him.
Anyway fair well Howard Webb having been a cop and a ref I can only assume he's quit to take up tax collecting, TV licence inspecting or traffic wardening. Fair play to him.