Whitey Grandad

I didn't hear any boos, just some natural groans when a pass went astray. If this happened to Fox more than others then there's the reason. If you don't like the groans then don't perform in front of 30,000 people. You get groans at Wimbledon no matter who's playing, it's a natural response.

I thought it was nothing? Didn't all that stop a long time ago?

The important thing is to go there with real belief that we can achieve something, not just hope to keep the score down.

In the right place to receive the ball? You're supposed to look before you pass it and not just hit it to where you want the receiver to be. To do this twice in quick succession betrays a lack of awareness. Unless he did it deliberately and yes, it does go on in professional football. Many a pass is underhit in order to make the other player look poor.

I've asked players about this. They said they were too focused to notice.

The players are usually too busy concentrating on the game to hear the crowd. If not then they should be.

From The Times today: EXTREME SOUTH This far into a season - in October or later - this is Bournemouth's highest league position for 24 years, Southampton's highest for ten years, and Portsmouth's lowest ever. Enjoy!

Isn't the cricket season over?

Well I've been in one together with my Mrs so make of that what you will. There was no booing in my day, just polite applause where appropriate.

No booing near me in the central Kingsland. A few groans when passes were misplaced as happens to anybody. When JWP came on Fox tried to pass short to him down the wing without looking first and got intercepted so when he subsequently found his target there were some ironic cheers.

I have it delivered. It's online but you have to subscribe and might have to pay. http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/sport/football/finktank/article3887187.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_10_04 I've found the article from Saturday. It has us at 11th and Man Utd at 16th. PM me and I'll post it to you.

They want you to 'jizz' on their tits instead of somebody else's. Can't for the life of me think why.

It's quite common and it's been going on for years. No ref will ever admit to it in public

Quite an article on big Vic in the Sunday Times today. Describes how he heard the news about the Nairobi massacre just before the game at Anfield. Also talks about his family, all of them quite sporty. Unfortunately you need to subscribe in order to read. http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/sport/football/Premiership/article1323489.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-standard-2013_10_06

The Times had an article about our true position. They reported a study which took account of the opposition played. We came mid-table.

People who also want to give men boners themselves?

Got crocked by a tackle.

Before the game I decided to watch him with an open mind. I now maintain my previous opinion: he's crap.

£38k plus match fees, average £70k total. Fancy giving it a go? http://www.tsmplug.com/football/average-salary-premier-league-referees/

Very interesting, S-S. I think everybody should at least try refereeing a game before they criticise any referee, and before that they should learn the Laws too.

Yup. It's usually best to blow your whistle before the ball goes in the net, if you can.

Shaw was at Staplewood this morning. There was a kiddies' tournament thingy with Tottenham.

All ten are worthy examples and are what I would recommend myself. How could I have overlooked the Ironbridge?

Perhaps Mrs DP does?

Yep, that's a foul. 'Trip or attempt to trip'. If the player is impeded by the action, even if not actually touched, and it causes them to lose possession then it's a foul. You get all sorts of comments with penalty claims, 'there was contact' as though that's all that matters. A lot of referees take the view that the attacking player must make some attempt to evade the challenge, it's not enough to see a leg stuck out and then pretend to touch it with your toe and go down like and aircraft with a collapsed undercarriage. If you're ever in doubt then look at the leg that's not been touched and try to decide if it's continuing in a natural running motion or whether the player has just tucked it up and fallen over. Did he trip or was he tripped? The other aspect is how quickly they go down. There is a natural speed to the way that someone falls and some of them actually throw themselves to the ground. They can be very good at it.