YOU can tell football is back.
I was sitting and relaxing last weekend, still in the afterglow of a wonderful Olympics, and thought I’d watch a bit of the Community Shield, just to get me back in the swing of the new season.
A decent game, good pace and energy, and then THAT tackle.
Why on earth can’t commentators bring themselves to praise referees?
The Branoslav Ivanovic tackle was stupid, nasty and dangerous.
However, it was only after the replay you could really see how bad it was.
Did the ITV team praise the official for getting it spot on in real time and making a brilliant call? Of course not.
All we got was “you see that type of tackle every week” and “I can see how the ref could have thought it was a red”.
Give me strength! You don’t see that every week and it was a blatant red that deserved to be punished.
So after I’d stopped shouting at the TV – as the wife enquired as to what was going on – I finally calmed down.
Every time I watch a game I sit there waiting for the replay to see if the ref got it right or wrong because, in real time, let’s be honest, we haven’t got a clue.
I know it’s a theme I keep returning to, but please give referees a chance.
Even when they get it spot on, the ex-players club just can’t help themselves but criticise the officials.
Anyway, on a more positive note, the Robin van Persie transfer to Manchester United has really kicked the Premier League betting into action.
The Red Devils are now 2/1 to regain the title, while City are on the drift out to 13/10.
It’s the ‘top scorer’ market that really interests me, though. RVP was 10/1 but is now 8/1.
That still looks a big price to me. He does need to stay fit, but if he does then surely he can’t be far away.
GREAT to see Jordan Rhodes get on the scoresheet for Scotland in the 3-1 win over Australia.
It was a typical Rhodes goal and Town fans will be hoping they can hang onto their prized asset, but at the moment Sky Bet have Blackburn the 2/5 favourites to sign him.
