Borussia Monchengladbach Show Real

I posted this yesterday on twitter having seen it on World Soccer.  Its an impressive show real from Borussia Monchengladbach showing what a passing force they have become this season.  There transformation has been impressive given they were strugling last season in the Bundesliga but this season they have climbed the table.

The pace at which they move the ball around is scary at times.

Stoke City win Delap Appeal

Stoke City have won their appeal against Rory Delaps sending off against Crawley at the weekend.   

The Football Association upheld Stoke's appeal and Delap's three-match suspension has been withdrawn. Tony Pulis after the match said: "If you look at the referee, he actually gives a throw-in, not even a free-kick. "The fourth official has told our coaching staff he made the decision because there was excessive force."

Assistant Referee hit by "missile" thrown by fans - Belgium League

During a recent Belgium league game an assistant was injured when he was hit on the head by something thrown by a fan.

It appears though to be a piece of cardboard!

Parklife - Nike Ad

Randomly heard Parklife by Blur this morning on the way to work.   Why dont we see ad's as good as this anymore?

Assist or hinder?

If your lucky as a Referee to go out on the field supported by two neutral assistant referee's, you have to have complete confidence in them.  You may never have worked together before, but after 10 minutes you need to have faith in them.   A good assistant can make a referee look great, a bad one can make him look incompetent.  A brave assistant can help a referee when he maybe is about to make a mistake.

This week in the Europa League match there was an incident where Stuart Atwell gave a penalty.   However his assistant assistant referee (the guy by the goal) stepped in and appeared to inform him that it wasn't a penalty.  This meant he restarted with a drop ball.   A situation like that you have to be confident that the assistant is correct, but you must also be sure that your wrong.  Unfortunately I cant embed a video to this so follow the link.   I expect in a situation like this the conversation is already going on over the headset, and the Ref just goes across for visual confirmation to the players.

If you look at the incident yesterday in the Man United vs Sunderland game.  The assistant referee signals for a penalty against Vidic for handball.   After being consulted by the Referee he changes his mind.   Its brave to come in the first time, its even braver to change your mind.   However I suspect that the assessor will not have been to impressed.

Manchester United v Sunderland by xixiprovi
Manchester United v Sunderland by xixiprovi