Referees revisited

[Father Jack]

Speaking as an Enfield Town fan since day one, I would like to disassociate myself from recent postings on this forum concerning the alleged partiality of referees in the Essex Senior League. Two individuals in particular are responsible for these comments, and I would hate to think that all Town fans may get tarred with the same brush.

 

I doubt that these people have ever played the game - they certainly have never refereed one. As a spectator, of course referees seem biased against your team - that is a perfectly normal fan's paranoia! A useful exercise, if you get the opportunity, is to watch on video a game you have previously watched live, and were convinced that the ref had it in for your team. With a stiff drink in hand, and the benefit of a different angle, I guarantee that the ref will seem a whole lot better. To suggest that referees are biased is garbage; as a rule they're crap not bent, and to hint at an ESL conspiracy against Enfield Town is stark raving bonkers - just produce the X-file or shut up!

 

Of course we are already tarred a little with the same brush: Abbeynut's post may have been semi-literate and abusive, but I can understand why he felt so miffed. Essexboy04 (think I got the name right) also said much the same thing in marginally more elegant terms, and again he has a point.

 

Anyway, the point of this rambling post is to confirm that there are just a few Towners out here who can still think rationally about referees - actually, I suspect there's more than just a few!

 

As a footnote, is ESLRef still out there? Your thoughts on the subject would be interesting.

[MbrunoB]

another interesting thing to do is to go to a match in which you have NO interest and stand on the side away from any supporters,keep an eye on the lino and when a decision is made see if you agreee and listen out for the supporters of both sides having a go.This can be a very enlightening experience in decision making.

[Manor_Born]

Interesting and it must be said you are probably right, however, most of the posts are directly after the games, therefore apart from being full of burgers and beer, we are full of emotion, especially if we had a few bad decisions by the ref or lino. I don’t mind admitting that after our game Saturday I was really upset with the officials, despite the ref’s brave attempts to plead his case in the boardroom after the game,

I still believe they cost us a point, but a few days on and the anger has disappeared, I will approach the next game hopeful that we will get a win, and get the rub of the green with the officials. I think this is fairly typical of all of us. No one truly believes there is a conspiracy against their team, its all heat of the moment stuff and shouldn’t be taken seriously.

 

I can understand the reasons behind your post, someone I guess must pour common sense into the over reactions to referees.

 

In saying that, at times I must hold my hands up and say “guilty as charged”

 

Regards MB

 

[lovely stuff]

Quote:

Father Jack said:
Speaking as an Enfield Town fan since day one, I would like to disassociate myself from recent postings on this forum concerning the alleged partiality of referees in the Essex Senior League. Two individuals in particular are responsible for these comments, and I would hate to think that all Town fans may get tarred with the same brush.

I doubt that these people have ever played the game - they certainly have never refereed one. As a spectator, of course referees seem biased against your team - that is a perfectly normal fan's paranoia! A useful exercise, if you get the opportunity, is to watch on video a game you have previously watched live, and were convinced that the ref had it in for your team. With a stiff drink in hand, and the benefit of a different angle, I guarantee that the ref will seem a whole lot better. To suggest that referees are biased is garbage; as a rule they're crap not bent, and to hint at an ESL conspiracy against Enfield Town is stark raving bonkers - just produce the X-file or shut up!

Of course we are already tarred a little with the same brush: Abbeynut's post may have been semi-literate and abusive, but I can understand why he felt so miffed. Essexboy04 (think I got the name right) also said much the same thing in marginally more elegant terms, and again he has a point.

Anyway, the point of this rambling post is to confirm that there are just a few Towners out here who can still think rationally about referees - actually, I suspect there's more than just a few!

As a footnote, is ESLRef still out there? Your thoughts on the subject would be interesting.

Hello Father Jack (one of Jim Cunneen's 'reporters' i presume.) <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />


If some of those comments above are refuring to me,then i refute them....i have never accused ESL refs of 'cheating' (look through my previous posts).

I have accused them of costing us points....i have accused them of making awfull decisions,i have accused then of 'bias',of favouring opponents(probably subconciously).

I'll repeat what i said a few days ago.

'I do not think ESL refs cheat....Its probably incompetence combined with a slight bias,that makes it look that way.'

[Father Jack]

I am usually one of Jim's reporters Mr stuff, but wasn't on Saturday. Anyway, 'incompetence combined with a slight bias'- what's the difference?

 

Manor Born, I agree, and I freely admit to leaving many a football ground with steam pouring from my ears, but surely we have all calmed down a bit by the time we get home and log into our computers!

 

 

[Manor_Born]

 

If only Father Jack, if you have discovered a new drug that works please let me know!

 

Regards MB

[Arkwright]

It's much easier to blame Referee's than your own team if they don't win, which is fair enough.

The trouble at the moment seems to me that we've forgotton how to defend a lead & have started to let in comical goals ie Ilford's second on Saturday.

I was one of Jim's reporters on Saturday & stand by what I told him, the Ref wasn't biased, just not very good.

<img src="/images/graemlins/chat.gif" alt="" />

[NLGOSPEL]

The refs' who are regarded as the best by players and coaches, are the ones' who will open into dialogue. Everyone has an opinion, but his counts. All of this instant decision etc. yes, but it's the stupid things that annoy people. Not being able to talk to refs' or ask for a reason. If you've made a decision then be brave enough to say why, not cover it up. Treat people like men and you will get the respect you need.

[lovely stuff]

Lets not paint a picture of ETFC fans as constant whingers....we only do it when we feel its justified.

 

Worryingly its been justified a bloody lot this season.(for whatever reason).

 

And saying we only moan when we lose or to excuse our defensive failings is inncorrect.

 

 

Town have only lost two league games this season...both at home..1-4 against Basildon and 0-2 against Romford,

 

On neither occasion did Town fans have any complaints about the referee.EVEN THOUGH WE LOST....because we lost fair and square....Surely if we were perenial 'whingers' who can't take being beaten,those defeats would have been an ideal oppotunity to blame the officials.

 

Let me say also,that the 'Ilford ref' was knowhere near as bad as the ref we had against Concord....I didn'f feel the Ilford referee's mistakes had an undue bearing on the result....unlike the Concord game.

 

 

Lastly Father Jack had the cheek to say 'i doubt these people have ever played the game-they certainly have never refereed one'. <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

 

Who do you think is most qualified to talk about such matters at ETFC...Jim Chandler,i hear you shout.!!

Did you see his comments on the Concord ref,in last weeks Gazette.....Words to the effect of 'well we didn't lose,but the ref made sure that Concord didn't either'....Jim has constantly been as hard,if not harder on the officals than the fans.

 

 

I,m getting fed up talking about refs....I just hope that we havn't got to mention them again for the rest of the season. <img src="/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

 

 

 

 

[Foxy2004]

Somehow LS I dont think it will.....

They are so poor and inconsistent that we'll all be slagging them off come Monday....!

[Jim Cunneen]

Father Jack, Arkwright, Fran, Peter Coath, my brother - there Ive outed them all and sane men (and woman) to a one!

 

Note that I have excluded Medders from this list.....

 

Thank you all for your help.

 

I have had the odd rant at the ref as well - it is just that i feel that this forum has taken it a bit far on occasions and does not do us any good.

 

 

[Pavagrotti]

Father Jack you confessional will overflow! Town fans want to move on up the leagues, passion is part of our culture and community. Most clubs in this league would love our fan base and passion support.

 

God help us if we all get to the end of the match and agree on everything (we would bore for Town)! I tell you what let's try it for the Bowers game. No Criticism of anysort on this site by a town fan. Nobody would bother to look at it.

[Father Jack]

Quote:

lovely stuff said:

Who do you think is most qualified to talk about such matters at ETFC...Jim Chandler,i hear you shout.!!
Did you see his comments on the Concord ref,in last weeks Gazette.....Words to the effect of 'well we didn't lose,but the ref made sure that Concord didn't either'....Jim has constantly been as hard,if not harder on the officals than the fans.

Which puts Jim in the wrong as well IMHO, but at least he has the excuse of being asked for his opinions in the heat of the moment after a game.

[Father Jack]

Quote:

Cleggy said:
I tell you what let's try it for the Bowers game. No Criticism of anysort on this site by a town fan. Nobody would bother to look at it.

Exactly where did I say there is anything wrong with criticism??

[andyetfc]

I'm glad I have only just read the threads.

 

It's good to know that some people agree with me. However, other don't. That's what it's like in a country with free speech because you can say what you want and when.

 

I like referees!!!!!!!!!! I will have my moans, but I will not shout abuse at them.

 

Let's get on with winning the league.

[SOS]

Quote:

andyetfc said:
That's what it's like in a country with free speech because you can say what you want and when.

Kilroy-Silk may have a thing or two to say about that statement!

[Pavagrotti]

Quote:

SOS said:
Kilroy-Silk may have a thing or two to say about that statement!

Andy would make a good replacement for Kilroy-silk!

[Steph]

andyetfc said:

That's what it's like in a country with free speech because you can say what you want and when.

 

However you should be prepared to accept the consequences of your utterances.

 

Voltaire would have defended to his death a person's right to freedom of speech but he accepted that one person's freedom may mean another person's death.

[lovely stuff]

Quote:

Father Jack said:

Quote:

lovely stuff said:

Who do you think is most qualified to talk about such matters at ETFC...Jim Chandler,i hear you shout.!!
Did you see his comments on the Concord ref,in last weeks Gazette.....Words to the effect of 'well we didn't lose,but the ref made sure that Concord didn't either'....Jim has constantly been as hard,if not harder on the officals than the fans.

Which puts Jim in the wrong as well IMHO, but at least he has the excuse of being asked for his opinions in the heat of the moment after a game.

'It puts Jim in the wrong'.....In your own personal opinion,FJ.

In my opinion....It was fair comment.

[andyetfc]

Wasn't Voltaire something to do with electricity? <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />