Will it even itself out?

Good point made, but I do think over the course of the season, decisions do even themselves out. But I do agree, lately we have been on the end of a few bad decisions.

Referees give what they see. They have that split second to give a decision and have little assistance. It's only when you see the action replay, up close and in slow motion, do you see that maybe it wasn't a foul/penalty etc. With Pienaar's second yellow, it looked a foul, but only when you look closely, it wasn't. The referee spoke to him minutes ago warning him after numerous silly challenges.

Jelavic hasn't enjoyed the rub of the green lately too, but I don't think he's helped himself either. He's another one who likes to draw a foul and take a tumble. Referees work on a lot of things like identifying what is a foul or when a player is looking for it etc. On quite a few occasions, Jelavic has been found to go to ground easily. But to be honest, I didn't think it was a penalty yesterday, I thought he slipped on the wet surface, it was only when I saw the action replay, that it was a penalty. It goes back to my earlier point really.

Fair comments Tom, but focusing on the derby, and indeed pretty much all of the derbies in my lifetime, I would just like to see ONE utterly scandalous decision against the shite go in our favour....... I honestly can't think of one, whereas criminal decisions against us would take too long to type.

They never even them self out, we will just have to put up with it. I have said many a time on here and will say it again, the FA do not want us in the top four. I am convinced of that...

How many decisions go against us? There are too many... one or two, maybe... but come on, some of them are laughable! You can bet on it that Liverpool will get a dodgy decision against us that will win them the game.

Dave, I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiments about the derby. I would rather se us win on a really lousy call or two than see us win fair and square. Then I want to see them squirm when we mention Clattenburg, Thomas, Poll, Atkinson, etc.

I remember reading an article about this a year or so ago - a full-on statistical analysis, though granted with a degree of subjectivity in determining which decisions should be reversed. Anyway there was a conclusion that it most definitely doesn't even itself out over the course of a season, and the "Sky 4" tended to be the greater beneficiaries. Not exactly scientific, but food for thought.

The people who use the pathetic 'evens itself' argument seem to be saying two bad decisions make a good decision.

Rubbish - they make two bad decisions.

The system of refereeing that was devised in 1890 or god knows when might have worked then. It doesn't now. Not in England anyway. And the poor bloody fans at £40 a shout plus travel etc deserve much, much better.

One thing's for sure: it's not going to start on Sunday! Moyes should this week, use every media interview possible bringing up past derby rip-offs. We might get one in our favour then.

Then again ........

I posted a couple of weeks ago after watching several games involving the traditional top four or big money teams and it is quite apparent that bad decisions are made favouring these clubs including time added on after the 90 minutes.

It should be pointed out that these games in question are not only games were Everton are taking part in. Teams such as Sunderland, Norwich, Wigan, Stoke City etc are also victims.

Paul Scholes of Man United is a perfect example of ruthless tackles going unpunished.
From my perspective it is the closest thing to game fixing I have seen which includes the referees.

"Will it even itself out"? No. A myth, decisions even themselves out.

The problem is one referee trying to officiate today's game. He can't. The games too fast for one man.

No surprise video replay is still dragging. These ancient UEAFA great grandpas still think one ref running around the pitch chasing play suffices.

Remember the first season we had AJ and after half the games Moyes sent clips of 12 penalty claims on AJ to the referees boss who said that 10 of them were certain penalties?

Well have we had 10 penalties since then that we didn't deserve? We haven't even had 10 penalties since then that we DID deserve.And what about the 1 of 4 penalties we should have had in the Wigan game?

So no, bad decisions don't even themselves out.

Evening themselves out is the BS excuse the cavemen in charge of football give to deny video replay.

It's funny, I still love Everton, but my love of football has greatly decreased over the years as I see other sports embrace the 21st century and the technology that has come with it, while football remains in the dark ages where horrible calls remain the norm.

The NFL, despite all the commercials, they get the calls right. Rugby, they get the calls right. Tennis, they review and get the calls right.

But what do we get with football? Blatant mistakes that due to an outdated system dictated by a bunch of stupid old men who are afraid of and don't understand technology, are unable to be challenged.

Just look at the Pienaar dismissal. Why is there such a stupid rule where a red can be reviewed, but a yellow that turns into a red cannot? It's just become a stupid game that depends on people's emotional attachment instead of delivering a superior product.

"1. Fellaini's 'handball' before Victor's goal v Swansea — If we're honest, this should have been disallowed, no debate. However, this was a game we were dominating and I believe we would have won convincingly anyway."

This happened because he turned his head away from a waist high studs up challenge. So a truly correct decision would have been either a penalty or indirect free kick 6 yards out.

"2. Coleman's trip on Hoilett yesterday — Clumsy defending; it could have easily been given."

Although clumsy, the first angle clearly shows Coleman getting the ball.

You have also missed out Ashley Williams not being sent off for a clear denial of a goalscoring opportunity in the Swansea game. I'm not quite sure what happened with the Odjidja-Ofoe loan but am inclined to think we shouldn't be leaving it that late anyway and can't really complain.

I think its better measured in points. I think Newcastle is a clear case of us having 2pts denied to us. The three decisions against Wigan amount to the same, and although less clear cut, I believe the Pienaar sending off probably cost us two points this weekend.

We have gained 0pts through bad refereeing this season.

This makes us 4-6pts down on where we should be and would be if the officials simply did their jobs competently. That's clear second place either way. Let's see if we get any of it back.

I thought the same. One angle looked dodgy for Coleman, where as another shows him playing the ball. Did sky clear this up? I got fed up and started tea.

Mike Powell, why do the FA not want us in the top four? Surely a challenge from an unconsidered side would be the best thing that could happen the Premier League. I doubt there is club in the land whose supporters do not believe that the world is against them.

I admire the approach David Moyes takes to this sort of stuff.He displays his displeasure but he doesn't hold with the vilifiication of referees. There has,in my view, been a little paranoia on this site lately. If we are being conspired against, why?

I think we probably get a lot more in our favour than we think we do.

Psychologically we probably remember all the times we were screwed over with far more clarity than the times we got lucky. For example, fellaini could quite easily have been sent off for "elbows" and other offences this season and cautioned for deliberate handball against newcastle.

That said, I think there is certainly something to be said for the sky 4 getting more than their fair share of decisions. Probably due to the fact their managers and players kick up a shit storm when things go against them.

With that in mind, I'd like to see Moyes take a tougher line against decisions that go against us and I'd also like to see our players "make the most" of situations. If other clubs are going to allow their players to intimidate the ref/dive etc then we should make it something that our players do too.

There is no point in most of our team behaving like angels when some teams are happy to cheat their way to success with impunity.

Add Kone's offside goal for Wigan to the list.

There's one point back