I think we must move beyond the ‘we’re all excellent referees with slo no.’ At some stage there must be proper accountability. These people get a decent salary and, in my view, cannot keep hiding behind that tired old hogwash. If they cannot adequately referee then they must retrain or consider an alternative profession. They are meant to be the best, after all.

Referees get 98% of decisions spot-on and they have to make a large number in the course of a match.

Willo makes up 42% of facts, but ardently believes that referees are always right, believes a conversion involves repeating the same view over and over again, and looks up 0% of his player knowledge on google/wiki.

In his defence, I am happy to accept this as an honest mistake. From the few indirect free kicks I've seen from back passes I can't remember any going in. It's not really in the spirit of the rule either. We didn't do enough to win last Saturday.

I am not knowingly a stranger to the truth and make up statistics as part of any agenda I might have - I certainly don't have a difficult relationship with the facts.

In actual fact it is your good self who has gross inaccuracies in your assertion that I believe referees are always right.I have repeatedly stated that referees DO err from time to time and it would be ridiculous to say otherwise.

Finally, I don't rely on Wiki/Google for player information as a matter of course.Somehow I manage to retain a knowledge of players and as one chap said to me a while ago in front of my wife "You are a walking encyclopedia on football" after I engaged in conversation with him in a bar, well away from any PC.Now that I am 65, whether I retain the knowledge is a matter for conjecture.

Of course I have to research certain topics for information but to assert that I rush off to Wiki/Google each and every time to present details on HOL is wholly inaccurate.

Edited by Willo (06 Dec 2017 6.26pm)

This incident would have formed part of the post match evaluation where every decision would have been forensically scrutinised using the match footage and 'ProZone' to measure the Michael Oliver's performance.

At the end of the day Zaha and Foster came very close together as Zaha attempted to intercept the pass and the referee from his angle might not have had the best viewing position to judge whether Zaha had made contact with the ball or not.Happened very quickly the players came close together and the referee had to make a split-second decision.Only Michael Oliver will know and he would have had to make his opinion known as part of the assessment.

If he got it wrong he got it wrong - does he deserve to be hung,drawn and quartered ? We are all excellent referees after watching 'Slow-Mo' umpteen times.

Given you my opinion - nothing more for me to add.

Edited by Willo (06 Dec 2017 3.56pm)

I really don't believe they can be categorized as such so I dismiss your allegation out of hand.

Yes there will be moments when they will frustrate us and moments when their judgement can be called into question but they are only human and have to make split-second decisions with the naked eye in fast moving situations.

And let's not forget that these referees are under enormous pressure with their every decision disected with 'Slow-Mo' etc etc.This is often forgotten.

Edited by Willo (06 Dec 2017 6.35pm)