Thank God someone has piped up and said this, the guy will have enough critics in the media at the minute, he certainly shouldn't be getting it from his own colleagues. Too all those criticising please feel free to voice your opinions when you have achieved what Lee has in the game. There are level 7/8s on here that have barely, if at all refereed a Mens game let alone one of any particular significance. Keep your opinions to yourselves and stop acting as if you could have refereed the game better. We should all know more than anyone how tricky Lee's job would have been!
I replied fairly quickly last night and did not particularly want to get involved in anything, but on second thoughts I find it slightly strange that, due to being a level 8 referee, I am not allowed to comment on incidents I have seen. Does there become a point when I progress when I suddenly become more wise? Does having a lower number next to my name make me more qualified to discuss interpretations of the laws of the game? Maybe there should be a separate part of the forum where only people who have refereed 'a game of any significance' can discuss things together.
I agree that criticism should be constructive, such as helping fellow members who lost control of a game or whatever. However, with clear cut things like the penalty decisions that Lee had to make, there are only two possible replies - right or wrong. I personally believe that he made the wrong call(s) since I would argue that the magic booklet dictates that they should have been fouls. If he came on here and asked for help as to how he could have helped his game to identify infringements, then constructive criticism would be appropriate.
It cannot be ignored that Lee made some incorrect decisions on Saturday. But, at the end of the day, we all have the same copy of the LOTG and nobody on here is less qualified than others to form viewpoints based on them. It doesn't matter what level we are or what games we have to referee on the weekend because we all have to apply the same laws as the PGMOL officials and so we are all allowed to comment on how they are applied.
I'm sorry but this is rubbish, why should it matter to what level you've refereed at to critique a professional?? This is a forum, you're supposed to do the absolute opposite of keeping opinions to yourself. I agree that it should be constructive in order to spark a debate, but to put an end to any criticism? That is a ridiculous notion.
This forum is for learning and constructive debate not for expressing mindless negative comments.
Says who - perhaps if it was Ross who was saying this, I'd take more notice
Let me state that this thread was NOT motivated alone by the comments of @Owen Webster - but the cup final thread in question in only one example of a few threads which caught my eye over the course of the last few months.
I feel that the comments toward Owen have been slightly out of order, especially considering that he owned up to what he has said and looked to move on.
'I would think anyone with half a brain would realise that there's not place for mindless negative comments anywhere. Especially not on the internet.'
if people want to say that probert was sh@te on saturday, they can. what bit of that don't you get?
i'd hate to have to run the line for such an arrogant little ****