ToffeeWeb - Season 2007-08

The Mail Bag

Ref Justice

Scouring some of the Chelsea websites prior to the game, I read an article about how their supporters feared the influence and lack of ability of the designated referee, one Peter Walton. Post match, I can now understand their fears as I cannot believe how he missed so much last night.

For a start, when AJ went over Hilario, it's a penalty, no doubts. Alright, there was no way he could have got to the ball, but a foul's a foul, no matter where it may be on the pitch or how far you knock it past.

Next was 'Jags' last ditch lunge on Joe Cole, advantage played, but surely he was the last man and stopped a clear goalscoring opportunity?

Then there were the tackles, the lunge on Carsley after 5 minutes, it's a cast iron booking, but 'Cars' gets booked for protesting, fair enough, he dragged the referee back so he deserved that one.

Next, the stamp on Carsley by Sidwell, sending off in my book, nasty tackle, much worse than Mikel's, which I had down as no more than a yellow.

The one that totally bamboozled me tho was AJ's yellow for 'trying' to stay on his feet after being tackled, totally baffling, and maybe AJ needs to get back to going down properly when he's fouled instead of listening to the media drivel of sore managers.

And dont even start me on the midget's push on Lescott in the last minute.... Grrrrrr!!!
Col Wills, Manchester Posted 09/01/2008 at 14:19:03

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patty beesley
1 Posted 09/01/2008 at 14:58:24

Just keep your fingers crossed that we don’t get Stevie’s pal, Clottenberk, refereeing the second leg of the semi-final!!! On second thoughts, that sod owes us!!

Rob McFawn
2 Posted 09/01/2008 at 15:39:07

I actually thought that Walton had a good game.

After some of the decisions we?ve had go against us this season, I don?t see how we can have any complaints about him.

John Jones
3 Posted 09/01/2008 at 15:47:10

The one major complaint I had was that he brought the free kick back for the ’foul’ on Cole (to me Cole skipped the challenge with very little/no contact), but he didn’t bring it back for a free kick on the edge of the box to us when there was a two footed lunge on McFadden before he hit the post.

Other than that though, it’s a tough game to referee and he wasn’t too bad.

Keith Glazzard
4 Posted 09/01/2008 at 15:57:52

Why do so many PL players, from Dirkhead Kuynt onwards, try to break Phil Neville’s leg? One of them has at least been sent off now. Speaking of which, does anyone have any idea when DM’s hearing is? It took them over a month to charge him - perhaps they’re waiting til he retires for the hearing.

Mike Allison
5 Posted 09/01/2008 at 17:06:12

Carvalho’s attempted assault on McFadden is the key one for me. That was the red card tackle in the match not Mikel’s. The fact that it was so easy to avoid should not change the fact that its a sending off, and McFadden should then get the free kick.

Belletti also hacked out at the back of Lescott’s leg if you remember, Lescott even chased after him. Walton had a very poor game, getting numerous important things wrong.

Having said that, we can’t really moan too much as his worst decision, the sending off of Mikel, is what gave us a chance in the first place. Up til then we were lucky to only be 1-0 down. I also don’t think there’s much point moaning about the winner, Howard and Lescott take the blame for that.

Darren Gough
6 Posted 09/01/2008 at 18:04:36

The one i couldnt work out was Ballack not getting booked.

Scythed down two our our players in the first half with nothing but a brief word from the ref!

Neil Pearse
7 Posted 09/01/2008 at 18:38:14

I thought Walton actually did okay. He was inconsistent - not sending off Sidwell for his challenge, Neville for his second bookable offence, Belletti for hacking at Lescott, and Lescott for responding - but probably didn’t want to turn the whole game into a fight.

It was a pretty vicious, spiteful game that Walton had to deal with, with two teams who clearly do not like each other very much. Given that, he kept it reasonably under control and did okay.

For what it’s worth, I do think Chelsea (like Arsenal and the RS, I actually think Man U are maybe a little better) are a pretty nasty team - diving, winding opposing players up, recklessly tackling, and constantly intimidating the referee. As part of the Sky 4 they tend to get away with it, so again Walton did a reasonable job in standing up to them.

Gordon Blair
8 Posted 09/01/2008 at 19:33:33

Just because we perhaps got the better of the deal, it doesn’t mean Walton wasn’t poor...

One of the most annoying things, and the one thing guaranteed to wind players up, is a lack of consistency, he was atrocious...

Cars could have easily gone for a second yellow a couple of times, Mikel’s wasn’t a red, Carvalho’s attempt on Jimmy arguably was ... Joleon should have been booked for retaliation, that dirty bed-wetter Sidwell could easily have gone for his sustained stamp on Cars’ leg... and there were a host of others....

in short... am afraid Walton was garbage, fortunately the poor decision which tilted the balance went our way.... roll on the 23rd