Man U v Arsenal, the other night

[Wiltshire Exile]

At last! A referee, Michael Oliver, who was not afraid to book players who cheated when falling to the ground after minor contact. As for Di Maria, what an utter plonker, getting sent off for pulling the ref's shirt!

Good on yer Mr Oliver; keep it going! Who knows, perhaps, just perhaps, a start has been made, at last, in cleaning up the game?

[Bristol Red Rover]

Brilliant clear and confident performance by him throughout the game, don't think I've seen much if any better. I heard an interview with an ex ref (head of referees union or something??) on Radio 5 this afternoon who praised him, and mentioned how he would have been helped by his assistants - wiorth noting.

He also positively discussed the use of sin bins and post match video evidence especially regarding cheating.

[grayx]

Yeah, I thought he didn't do a great deal wrong. But fcuk me, what a poor game quality wise. It was like watching two pub teams play. I lost count of the number of times possession was given away. I can't believe the genius , that Van Gaal is supposed to be, tells his team to lump it forward to that big clown (Fellaini) up front. His days are numbered,surely.

[The Red Baron]

I thought Oliver handled the Brentford game very well - even though I am still puzzled as to why he gave THAT penalty. Mind you, our players didn't protest much.

[Wiltshire Exile]

Brilliant clear and confident performance by him throughout the game, don't think I've seen much if any better. I heard an interview with an ex ref (head of referees union or something??) on Radio 5

Keith Hackett

[Padge_DRFC]

Remember when he sent Joe Hart off for pushing his head into his face.  Oh wait.

[Mike_F]

I saw the perfect retort to that on twitter last night. Ok he got that one wrong, do we have to call for him to keep getting things wrong for the sake of consistency?!

[Mr1Croft]

Depends if your a United fan (closet or otherwise).

Referee's will never always get things right 100%, given the circumstances and the foul play going on how can they?

But many a Referee would have sent the Arsenal left back off last night, gave a penalty and probably cracked under pressure in front of the Stretford End. Mr Oliver stood firm and made some brave decisions.

The sad thing is how much his performance has sent shockwaves through Football. Is this how bad refereeing has become?

[Askern_reds]

well thought it was a cracking game realy, the ref was brill typical cup tie, if that was two pub teams I wish we were called black bull or wool pack. utd and gunners would hit us for six, think some on here not been watching us all season

[GazLaz]

It amazes me that a ref gets praised for getting obvious decisions right. He didn't even get the di Maria right. He should have given him a straight red not a second yellow.

[idler]

It amazes me that a ref gets praised for getting obvious decisions right. He didn't even get the di Maria right. He should have given him a straight red not a second yellow.

That is because it is now the norm to see poor referees and linesmen most games. Didn't Graham Poll also admit the thought of Sir Alex shouting in his ear as he left the field put him off giving certain decisions. When managers and players deter you from making honest judgements it needs a rethink. We need to start punishing the cheating and play acting and officials can concentrate on other aspects of the game.

[Wiltshire Exile]

It amazes me that a ref gets praised for getting obvious decisions right. He didn't even get the di Maria right. He should have given him a straight red not a second yellow.

Like everything in life, it's a matter of opinion. Some of us think player x had a crap game last week, others think the opposite. Whenever a referee makes a decision there will always be those who think otherwise. The point is, he is the ref. , the independent arbitrater if you like. It's he who makes the decisions and it's always "in the referee's opinion." Not in the players', managers' or supporters' opinions.....to state the obvious.

[nortikorner]

ashley young should gave been given a straight red for the kick out on ramsey after is foul

[Donnywolf]

ashley young should gave been given a straight red for the kick out on ramsey after is foul

Cant believe I missed a Man U indescretion / outrage ! Must watch more carefully in future

If they have been fouling disrespecting gamemanshipping then I for one hope they finish 5th as a punishment !

[southwestexile]

Yeah, I thought he didn't do a great deal wrong. But fcuk me, what a poor game quality wise. It was like watching two pub teams play. I lost count of the number of times possession was given away. I can't believe the genius , that Van Gaal is supposed to be, tells his team to lump it forward to that big clown (Fellaini) up front. His days are numbered,surely.

Good idea, sack the guy who has them in 4th spot in his first season

And bring in Danny Wilson

[Donnywolf]

Yeah, I thought he didn't do a great deal wrong. But fcuk me, what a poor game quality wise. It was like watching two pub teams play. I lost count of the number of times possession was given away. I can't believe the genius , that Van Gaal is supposed to be, tells his team to lump it forward to that big clown (Fellaini) up front. His days are numbered,surely.

Good idea, sack the guy who has them in 4th spot in his first season

And bring in Danny Wilson

I will do the job MUCH cheaper them Danny Wilson - in fact I would pay them !

[grayx]

Yeah, I thought he didn't do a great deal wrong. But fcuk me, what a poor game quality wise. It was like watching two pub teams play. I lost count of the number of times possession was given away. I can't believe the genius , that Van Gaal is supposed to be, tells his team to lump it forward to that big clown (Fellaini) up front. His days are numbered,surely.

Good idea, sack the guy who has them in 4th spot in his first season

And bring in Danny Wilson

Bit of a stupid comment don't you think?
Even if Man U managed to finish in the top 4 (I can't see it personally) ,would you say that is good enough for a manager who has just spent 150 million on players? The quality of their football is way below that which the old trafford faithful have come to expect. Yes it takes time for a manager to adapt, but the bloke comes across as a bit of a stubborn bully (bit like Capello was) and he seems no closer to knowing what his strongest 11 is. Look at Giggsy's body language. He lives and breathes Man U and he looks  like he hates being there at the minute. I think he'd have done a better job.

[idler]

Maybe if Giggs and his mates had helped and respected David Moyes a bit more rather than laughing at him and referring to him as Everton then maybe they may have been a bit further down the rebuilding road.
I'm turning in to Sammy with sentences that long. 😜

[Mr1Croft]

Yeah, I thought he didn't do a great deal wrong. But fcuk me, what a poor game quality wise. It was like watching two pub teams play. I lost count of the number of times possession was given away. I can't believe the genius , that Van Gaal is supposed to be, tells his team to lump it forward to that big clown (Fellaini) up front. His days are numbered,surely.

Good idea, sack the guy who has them in 4th spot in his first season

And bring in Danny Wilson

Bit of a stupid comment don't you think?
Even if Man U managed to finish in the top 4 (I can't see it personally) ,would you say that is good enough for a manager who has just spent 150 million on players?

Yes.

A Champions League spot is a trophy on its own and guarantees income next season which will pay for the money spent on players.

Anyone who thought Manchester United could challenge for the title after the debacle last season were kidding themselves.

[Sammy Chung was King]

Man utd looked to have the quality with the signings they made to well, except they badly needed a right back and two centre half's.
Rafael is a liability i don't know what Ferguson saw in him and his brother, Smalling is indecisive, Evans is terrible.
Van Gaal has chopped and changed you can't build a team doing that, his''Training them in in the brain'', has stunted what creativity they had.

He said he needed a 20 goal a season striker, when he has played Rooney in midfield, understandable in some ways as he has a physical presence
But he put faith in Van Persie who only does it when the teams doing well, and Falcao looks as though injuries have caught up with him.
Di Maria needs to put some bulk on, he get's knocked off the ball easily, Mata the best creator they have doesn't play, because he wants 'Blunderbus' Fellaini in there for more physical presence.

They made a mistake letting Vidic go, he could have settled the young kids into their roles, some very strange decisions made there, not much better than Moyes did.

[idler]

Vidic wanted to go though and had been for a season.