Canvey Island V Sutton

[Amber Aleman]

Well, at least it was January before we saw our first 0-0 of the season.

Is it open to the club to write to the League requesting that we aren't given this ref again this season (or at all)?

Until the latter stages I thought Canvey had slightly the better of a poor game, though a lot of their pressure came from corners and free kicks. We did at last begin to stretch them in the final 15 minutes, but Mel Capleton and an errant linesman's flag denied us a goal.

It's good to have got this fixture out of the way. Leaving aside the top three, we've now played away at all the sides in the upper half of the table.

[taz]

Rubbish game. I'd say Canvey edged it on possession, but we probably had the better chances. And that was without doing too much at all!

Still, a point away from home. Keeps the run and some momentum going. We're at the right end of the table and just have to keep things ticking over.

Naturally, all the above was completely irrelevant. As we acutally all paid £9.50 to watch that cock in the middle ruin what would have been a poor contest even without his coinstant and tiresome whistling. Awful. He was exactly the same on the opening day at Harlow.

As for the Nicholls incident, from what I heard in the bar after, sounds like the ref may have let previous events dictate his decision. And when I say 'previous', I don't mean today.

[oohaah]

Hmmm, 'Simulating an injury'.
I suppose we can all be thankful that they are now introducing fully medically trained referees into the game

[frakey]

Says it all about him & his highly inflated opinion of himself does it not?

I feel highly justified now about my tirade at him as he left the pitch - & I didn't swear at him either!!

[holmes]

We were below par with a makeshift back line and several players on the pitch who were ill or carrying injuries (Collins, Billy Dunn, Hughes). We did well really, given the circumstances. Not pretty to watch, but did enough to deserve a draw.

To the officials. Today you saw probably the worst display from the men in black this season. The linemen were weak willed and subservient to the dominance of the idiot in the middle, to the extent that they even waited for him to tell them which way the throw-ins should be . Then there's the imbecile in the middle. Yellow cards for incidents that were minor, pedantic decisions on firm but fair contact between players (who did not even appeal at times!), bizarre decisions relating to injuries. The man continued to break up the game in order to hear the sound of his own whistle.

The Nicholls incident was a disgrace. The man needed treatment for over four minutes after receiving a blow to the head, but the imbecile in black stood there watching, booked the player for faining injury and then rounded it all off by giving Canvey a free kick. No-one in the ground could say that they knew what was going on. Even the Canvey players looked shocked and bewildered . I heard the same rumblings in the bar as Taz, and this does go some way to explaining the ref's behavior during this incident. What confuses me is that the ref did not see, or acknowledge the original clash, which, intentional or not, was a pretty hard coming together. He allowed play to continue for nearly a minute before noticing Paul lying on the ground and stopping play. HE then called the trainer onto the field and then watched the treatment. At no time did he consult his assistants but he did converse with some players. How then did he come to the decision that Paul had dived and fained injury. Referees are only supposed judge what they see and what their assistants see. He saw nothing of the incident yet still cast judgment. HOW .

Then we had the Matt Hann bizarreness. Having run through for a 50-50 ball that the keeper took well at his feet, Matt caught the keeper and went over him leaving both players down. From where I was standing behind the goal, Matt looked OK but frustrated at his missed chance. THE REF called on both trainers WITHOUT consulting Matt to see if he needed treatment. As the trainer ran across the pitch, Matt got up, dusted himself down and declared himself fit. The trainer ran straight past Matt and off the field. The ref, who is now obviously a medical expert, then informed Matt he had to leave the field because he had received treatment. No-one had touched Matt and the trainer only came on the field because THE REF called him on.

This guy is incompetent and in my view should not be allowed to officiate at this level. It looks like he is another crap product of the FA's fast tracking policy for referees.

Rant over. Let's hope the boys recover quickly from their ailments and injuries and keep going!

[pay]

If there were so many injuries and illnesses why not give some of the reserves a chance , im sure they would surprise you and why keep bringing in players on loan when you have good players in the reserves who are waiting for their chance.

[holmes]

We may see some of these players given a run out in the league cup game (if it goes ahead). While I do not doubt that there are some promising players in the reserves, the fact remains that there is still a significant jump from the level of football the reserves are playing at to the first team.

If PD felt these players could cope with the standard he sets for the first team, I'm sure he would give them a go. We have to remember that PD is looking for promotion and he has a set standard for the first team. While we may have some promising players coming through, PD is thinking of the now and if he does not feel these players are ready yet, it is his descision and he will instead look to bring in players of the same level as those who are injured.

While it may sound cruel, football is a results business. I can't speak for Paul, but I am sure he is looking at every option, including reserve players, when we have players out, given the club's budget. I doubt he would close the door on players who have the potential to reach first team level.

[frakey]

I understand your frustration but that's what we did last season and look what happened!! Whilst not the total reason for our demise it was a contributory factor.

Billy Dunn has been one to come out of the ressies while Tom Hughes and Charlie Ottaway have both been given contracts. The RL is tough and uncompromising and experience is important.

[os]

Having just realised that this was the ref who allowed play to go on after PN was clattered at home to Billericay and when added to the 3 incidents on keepers yesterday you do have to wonder?

On the face of it the decisions appear to lack consistently but all 4 having given the oppos advantage and resulted in 2 yellow cards, a goal line clearance and a player being ask to leave the pitch without receiving treatment.

You have to ask yourself if the ref had a good angle on the goal and knew it was onside whether he would of overruled the linesman and given it?

[The Editor]

Interesting to read the Canvey write up... especially the bit where Dos brought on Tommy Dunn!

"Sutton manager Paul Doswell must have been disappointed with his side’s first half performance as he brought on the experienced pair of Steve McKimm and Steve West for Billy Bingham and Tommy Dunn"

Report: www.canveyislandfc.com/archive/matches/2008-2009/sutton_united_h.shtml

[frakey]

Jesus, shows how fans see things so differently. The CI forum reckon that's the best ref they've had all season!!!

My God, I thought we had had some bad ones but if he was the best God help football at this level.

[medibot]

Another photo to ram home the referees utter incompetence...

Look at this shockingly violent and completely deserving of a booking challenge by Billy Bingham ...

[holmes]

Ah, now I see why he was booked