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So in short, the refs being in consistent and not applying the rules isn't helping them.

So in short, the refs being in consistent and not applying the rules isn't helping them.

The referee is not a robot. There has been and always will be variations in how particular referee deals with the game. Surely you have watched enough football to understand this?

You have never been in a changing room where a manager/selector/team mate has said ref x "doesn't like holding inside" or ref y "is very strict with the number of steps you take"?

[What happens when one ref (MR2) decides it's ok to speak to players and another doesn't? You could be giving away 4 or 6 points every other game.]

This is getting silly, I responded to your post which you deleted after you questioned my performance, that's when I said your head is lit, uou took the 'hump' first you were the one that asked about had anyone watched the games.

You didn't like the response threw out that the ref wasn't competent and was unfair on me to be asked, I'll say no the next time. You are going to send me the video, classy. Then go on about Gough did a game and he was brilliant, was there linesmen and umpires at these other games?

As I said I'll look forward to the feed back from the board/supporters on how the 'professional' refs do this year when they are all mic'd up with 8 officials on board.

Be interesting the games at Corrigan this year

That's some spin on it 😂😂😂

I said Gough had more exposure and experience at it. I'd said it was obvious your first time. I ensured the post was respectful but deleted them after because I didn't want for you to be offended or for anyone else to come in and read it for sound bites to be taken.


Again, those are all opinions and perspectives which have been misinterpreted....... But the one thing remains MR2

Let's keep this really simple. You thought it was ok to apply judgment when players (not nominated) speak to you.

You failed to advance the free 50m because you didn't know this rule and thought it was open to judgement.......

You didn't apply the rules of the game. True or false?

Come back to me on that single point once you fact check it! I'll share the link if it helps

to be fair MR2 on another thread said hed no issue with chatting to players and it was discussed that it was fine as long as it wasnt abusive. that is 100% the best way to referee and as long as players dont over step the mark its fine. again theres a difference between abuse and genuinely asking a question.

I dont think there is anyone in the country will have a problem with referees using this logic.

I don't think anyone would disagree with that on a personal level but the rules state no player other than the captain or nominated player should speak to the ref.

When you apply common sense you've different people applying different rules.

What happens when one ref (MR2) decides it's ok to speak to players and another doesn't?
You could be giving away 4 or 6 points every other game. 

The rules, if we agree or not, are there to be applied across the board and remove those judgement calls in order to have a more balanced game.

Most of the complaints around refs come from either people not understanding the rules or refs making a judgment call which sometimes they get wrong!

Why have the issue? If a player speaks 50m, if he doesn't hand the ball back 50m

Again they might not be the best rules but it's what's past and unless refs all get on the same page it'll be them that suffer the (wrongful) abuse

ask the referee before the game? players know what referees they can talk to and those that cant, same way some refs are harder on certain rules etc, youll see some refs blow every small jersey tug others let a bit more go. You adapt to the ref

You don't adapt to the ref! You play the game by the rules

You're opening yourself up there!

What if a ref doesn't like a particular player or club? Jesus man come on here!

 

Referee's will always have particular things they are strict on e.g. Gough is a stickler for holding inside.  Some refs let the game go and plenty of physical contact others are more whistle happy.  There are different styles of how to ref the game that was the case before the rule changes and will no doubt be the case going into this season. 

To be promoted

Kildare 5/4
Clare 5/1
Fermanagh 5/1
Sligo 13/2
Laois 8/1
Offaly 11/1
Antrim 12/1
Leitrim 40/1

So we have a lot of people to prove wrong here 

Not an overly strong Divison Three on paper alot of teams will fancy the top 2, but at the same time could be involved in a scrap to stay up.

To be promoted

Kildare 5/4
Clare 5/1
Fermanagh 5/1
Sligo 13/2
Laois 8/1
Offaly 11/1
Antrim 12/1
Leitrim 40/1

Opening round fixtures

Saturday 25th

Leitrim v Laois - 2:30pm
Kildare v Fermanagh - 5pm

Sunday 26th

Antrim v Clare - 1pm
Offaly v Sligo - 2pm

Kildare generally flatter to deceive 5/4 looks short to me.  Sligo moving the right way may be the value here. 

[Galway v Armagh - 5:15pmTyrone v Derry - 6pmDublin v Mayo - 7:30pm]

10 days away.

To win the title Paddy Power odds.

Kerry 11/4
Donegal 9/2
Galway 5/1
Armagh 11/2
Dublin 6/1
Tyrone 13/2
Derry 9/1
Mayo 11/1

Opening round of games

Saturday 25th

Galway v Armagh - 5:15pm
Tyrone v Derry - 6pm
Dublin v Mayo  - 7:30pm

Sunday 26th

Kerry v Donegal - 1:45pm

Could have had Armagh Galway at 4.00pm and made a "Super Saturday" out of this on TV.  Last years AI finalists and then a big Derby in Ulster would have had alot of neutrals wanting to watch especially given the massive rule changes. 

MR2 - are there any plans for referees to go out to clubs before the season and do an explainer on the new rules? Running my eye down the FAQs (linked below) and any referee is going to have some job this year!

https://learning.gaa.ie/FRCFAQ

It is totally unfair on referees. Bringing that many rules in at one time was such a stupid decision.

Heard that Sean Hurson done a bit with the clubs in Tyrone which was good forward thinking from them.  The issue again goes down to eliteism, Sean is an elite ref and will no doubt have the finger on the pulse as he knows he will get big games in Croker later in the year.  The same may not be the case for the referee who regular does Junior games and will be expected to do games with no impartial lines men, umpires etc.  Totally unfair on refs. 

A point gained. Forest are a very tough team to play, especially at their ground.  If Liverpool had been flat the whole match I would be more worried but they threw the kitchen sink at it in the second half and were unlucky not to have got the win. The game changed when Jota came on - Liverpool were transformed.  With a fully fit squad apart from Gomez, Liverpool should have the options to get the wins they need over the coming weeks.  Though Brentford away is another tricky one.

 

Jota performance was a big positive to add to his goal in the cup on Saturday. With his injury record though I am sure Slot is mindful to mind his minutes.  Against teams parking the bus he's an excellent option due to his movement, finishing ability and understated ability in the air. 

Could be a very important point come the end of the season.
Chelsea and City also dropped points tonight and hopefully Arsenal do tomorrow night.
Only for their goalie we could have won, and that centre back was also excellent for them.

Yeah, I'll take that point. Much improved in the second half against a very awkward opponent who still have most of the big teams to come at home. Diaz was absolutely awful. Nunez would arguably have been a better option against those big centre backs.

Anyway, hopefully they can build on it away to Brentford this weekend.

Not sure with the form that Nunez is in currently he would have been the better option.  Diaz was terrible.  Brentford away will be tough but they will try and win the game more than Forest did and that should suit Liverpool. 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c1kmn7jjvkjo

pretty disgusting. 

Will Tierney get regular games now?

Wouldn't have thought it, Califiori, Zinchenko, Miles-Skelly and Timber (when White's fit) are probably ahead of him in pecking order. 

Is there any refixed date for the Crossmolina v Ballinderry game? (Awful circumstances RIP)

Schools football is the worst of all football, absolutely no doubt about it, but especially so in Ulster. A grade football from Rannafast on is approached with the mentality & intensity of inter county championship.

Managers who have got eyes on bigger things looking results has made it much worse as well I reckon. Its a career pathway for a 2nd job.

I would say you would have to go back a long way to find when St Colman's didn't score in a half of football.  I was talking to a guy at the Abbey St Pats game on Saturday and it wasn't much better. 

Long time since I have saw social media so active after a third round fa cup win. Deserved to be ahead, not sure what Dalot was thinking for second yellow they hung in well after that. There was a sense of inevitability about the result when went to penos.

He's wierd about GKs, let 2 crackers go, brought in a prospect then let him go to settle for a Spaniard, has a touch of the Wengers about him in that regard

He was with Pep when they won the league without a striker so I don't think he's sold on the role, prefers a sixth midfielder

Weird is one way of putting it, I would say he's made a pigs ear of goalkeepers since he got there. Leno has been good at Fulham but was bit out of his depth, but letting Martinez go was a huge mistake. Then got Ramsdale after a year then decided he didn't fancy him before going to Raya. Should have kept Martinez who is better keeper than Raya.

Poor game, played in heavy fog in 2nd half. Abbey looked to be cruising 3 pts up mid way through the 2nd half, but fair play to St Pats who pulled it back and probably had more chances to win it from there (but Abbey had their share of chances and will be sick im sure). St Pat's goalie probably MOTM, saved a few goal chances in the first, scored the equaliser from a 45 at the death snd saved 2 pens, a good night's work!

Magherafelt (or Maghera) will make short work of Armagh unless there is a huge improvement imo.

What year did st pats move away from being a grammar school?