Whitey Grandad

Last season Swansea were selling their season tickets for this season very early, in February I think. They were alot cheaper than ours, somewhere around the £250 mark if I remember correctly.

I’m pleased for the Watford fans. For our semi-final with them at Villa Park we were sitting just in front of a couple of them who were in the wheelchair area. They were lovely friendly people and I’d like to think they will have a great day out.

Indeed. I too have sat amongst the home fans and there is an etiquette that should be followed. I usually admit to my neighbours that I support their opposition and apologise in advance for any excited comments or gestures that I might make.

The officials are miked up but I don’t think they use them in the normal run of play. I think this was a case of the ref (Paul Tierney) doing what he should which was to allow us advantage because he thought it was a foul on JWP and then at the same time noticing that the Lino had flagged the other way. They always like to say that they work as a team so Tierney would have assumed that there was something that he had missed, maybe an elbow or something. The error here was Cann’s who got over enthusiastic and flagged too soon. Some might say that it was to protect Liverpool. I loved the way that Austin was causing trouble for VVD. Very entertaining.

I have just watched that incident again. JWP runs into their half, then stops and turns round to face our half. VVD comes flying in over the top of him. I thought it should have been a foul to us, and so did the referee because he signalled ‘advantage’ to us but then he noticed that the Lino was flagging for a foul to Liverpool and then awarded a foul to them. Two things spring to mind. Why did the Lino feel the need to indicate an opinion in such a circumstance? There was nothing there that the referee might have missed and once you flag you are almost mandating that the referee change his mind because he will feel bound not to undermine you. Secondly, why was he so quick to flag? He should have waited a couple of seconds to see what developed. Very poor show.

That ‘old fat lino’ is Darren Cann, one of the world’s top assistant referees who has run the line in a World Cup Final and a Champions’ League final. He is 49 years old.

Thanks for the clarification. I would watch the recording but please don’t ask me to go through that again.

The linesman was flagging for a foul to Liverpool. The usual practice is to waggle the flag above your head but to hold it in the hand on the side that you think should get the free kick. That way the referee can decide whether to play advantage. I didn’t see the ref give such a signal though. It was a weird situation. I’m surprised that nobody has mentioned that incident where the ref gave a goal kick but then changed his mind after protests from the Liverpool players.

Did anyone else notice Koop standing near the centre circle about 30 minutes before kickoff? He spent a long time watching our players warming up. Tactical reasons or looking for new talent for the summer?

You could easily spot a lot of them. They were the ones lined up in front of the Kingsland before kickoff taking photos of the Liverpool players warming up. At the end of the game someone was even taking photos of their fans in the opposite corner.

I think that's for contractual reasons. The cost of rebuilding Wembley was so high that the FA needed to guarantee some income to pay for it.

Commentators who had dignity. I hate this modern fashion of screaming their heads off at the slightest possibility of a goal.

Cash in advance from now on.

Despicable

He very nearly deprived us of two of the greatest goals I have ever seen. That home evening match against Newcastle when Le Tiss flicked the ball over their defenders and then ‘stroked’ the ball into goal followed by the other when he trapped a header back on his thigh and then lobbed the ball into goal will stay in my memory of legends forever. Branfoot was on the point of substituting him with Moody and the number 7 board was prepared when he scored the first. On the recording you can seen Branfoot give a wry smile and then turn round and say “Moods, sit down”.

Families have holidays in summers.

I'm not in favour either. Winters are dismal enough already but the biggest problem I can foresee is the weather. We could have a two week break with mild weather followed by a month of snowed under countryside.

Thanks. I was there at the game but all that I can remember is that he completely lost it.

Same thing

I miss the first time passing. Too much take a touch, then decide what to do. It’s safety-first and slows the game down and leads to missing goal opportunities. By the time the ball is under control the chance is blocked.

That’s what I remember him for the most. That and whacking a referee.

One four bedroom detached house for sale. Never been used.

He’ll be off to Tottenham in the summer then.

For corners only part of the ball has to be over part of the arc. It can look as though the ball is outside from some angles.

Thanks for that, but if that is the case then they were both useless. The flag signal that the Lino gave was for offside, not for a foul. The fourth official takes no part in match decisions.