The Renegade Ref says Welcome Back
Posted July 27th, 2010 at 08:36 AM by The Renegade
I love refereeing, I love coaching referees, I love writing about refereeing but I also love the close season. So this is a bit of a call to sit down and write this season’s first newsletter.
I remember when I was on the big leagues it was the same trying to ramp up the training for the up and coming fitness tests. You know you should start training but after 9 months of 2 or 3 matches a week in addition to training sessions it was nice to relax and have a beer.
Who was it who said “why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” It wasn’t me but I know what the person meant.
It’s a human trait – we know if we started the task now it would be better all round but sitting here watching the sports news is just so easy.
So I’ve started my stopwatch put on my Genesis tracks and promised myself I will not stop typing until the clock says 45 minutes.
Now there’s the first tip of the new season.
Doing 30 minutes training right now will get you back into the groove (and then you can feel good slumped in front of the TV.)
Honour is all there is…
Last Sunday Howard took charge of the World Cup final and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about his performance, the performance of the players, how FIFA could help and what could be changed right now.
Howard’s Performance.
The English press have been – on the whole – very supportive of Howard’s performance. The sports reporter in The Week wrote: “Having watched the final again, most neutral observers agreed that Webb had “a very good game. In a match of 47 fouls, countless tricky decisions and two very argumentative sets of players, his percentage of mistakes was low.” Webb gave out 14 yellow cards and one red, all of which were justified.”
All the nice words in the world will not help Howard and his team who no doubt will be thinking they would rather had a football match than a squabble between some Dutch bullies and some Spanish moaners.
Howard, Mike and Darren must take pride in their appointment. They cannot change how the teams decided to act on the day. They must take pride that there was at least 3 honourable men on show on that field. They must take pride that we as fellow referees thought they did well.
The Dutch performance
In the years to come the Dutch players will not be able to look back with any fondness on their behaviour on the night. Being a player in the World Cup final is an honour not bestowed on many footballers who tie their boots up week in and week out.
If the Dutch had played a firm but fair game they would have been able to say in the future – whenever the World Cup was mentioned – they were part of the Dutch side that came up against probably the best Spanish side the world has ever seen.
I don’t know what the Dutch is for “boy could the Spanish knock the ball around!” but that’s what they would have said. Now they will hang their heads in shame because in their hour of glory they resorted to thuggery.
How do I know this to be true?
Many years ago – whilst on holiday in Tenerife – I was sitting in a group of football nuts who included Terry Cooper (the former England left back).
We were speaking about THE “Gordon Banks – Pele” save and Terry said “I let Jairzinho past!” He was there, he was the man and I cannot talk about the others in the group but I sat there starstruck.
I was talking to a man who was in the England side that had lost to Brazil. I was privileged to be in such company.
The Dutch team have given that right up because – in my opinion – they betrayed themselves, they betrayed the game and they betrayed their heritage.
Howard and his team on the other hand can hold their heads up high. When it came to the crunch they acted as honourable men and that is the highest accolade we can expect as referees.
Next week…
I want to talk about how FIFA can make a simple change that will eliminate the Dutch tactics in a stroke. It is a simple change but not easy.
Why’s it not easy? Because we have blazers involved who just don’t seem to get it. They haven’t – for the most part – been involved at the sharp end of the stick. They appear to be more interested in politics than football.
And this change could happen at every level of the game and give us the referees more control.
Speak soon.
All the best.
The Renegade
PS Remember as we head towards the final weeks of this season that all your
heart desires refereeing wise is waiting for you at www.referee-equipment.co.uk
I remember when I was on the big leagues it was the same trying to ramp up the training for the up and coming fitness tests. You know you should start training but after 9 months of 2 or 3 matches a week in addition to training sessions it was nice to relax and have a beer.
Who was it who said “why do today what you can put off until tomorrow?” It wasn’t me but I know what the person meant.
It’s a human trait – we know if we started the task now it would be better all round but sitting here watching the sports news is just so easy.
So I’ve started my stopwatch put on my Genesis tracks and promised myself I will not stop typing until the clock says 45 minutes.
Now there’s the first tip of the new season.
Doing 30 minutes training right now will get you back into the groove (and then you can feel good slumped in front of the TV.)
Honour is all there is…
Last Sunday Howard took charge of the World Cup final and I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about his performance, the performance of the players, how FIFA could help and what could be changed right now.
Howard’s Performance.
The English press have been – on the whole – very supportive of Howard’s performance. The sports reporter in The Week wrote: “Having watched the final again, most neutral observers agreed that Webb had “a very good game. In a match of 47 fouls, countless tricky decisions and two very argumentative sets of players, his percentage of mistakes was low.” Webb gave out 14 yellow cards and one red, all of which were justified.”
All the nice words in the world will not help Howard and his team who no doubt will be thinking they would rather had a football match than a squabble between some Dutch bullies and some Spanish moaners.
Howard, Mike and Darren must take pride in their appointment. They cannot change how the teams decided to act on the day. They must take pride that there was at least 3 honourable men on show on that field. They must take pride that we as fellow referees thought they did well.
The Dutch performance
In the years to come the Dutch players will not be able to look back with any fondness on their behaviour on the night. Being a player in the World Cup final is an honour not bestowed on many footballers who tie their boots up week in and week out.
If the Dutch had played a firm but fair game they would have been able to say in the future – whenever the World Cup was mentioned – they were part of the Dutch side that came up against probably the best Spanish side the world has ever seen.
I don’t know what the Dutch is for “boy could the Spanish knock the ball around!” but that’s what they would have said. Now they will hang their heads in shame because in their hour of glory they resorted to thuggery.
How do I know this to be true?
Many years ago – whilst on holiday in Tenerife – I was sitting in a group of football nuts who included Terry Cooper (the former England left back).
We were speaking about THE “Gordon Banks – Pele” save and Terry said “I let Jairzinho past!” He was there, he was the man and I cannot talk about the others in the group but I sat there starstruck.
I was talking to a man who was in the England side that had lost to Brazil. I was privileged to be in such company.
The Dutch team have given that right up because – in my opinion – they betrayed themselves, they betrayed the game and they betrayed their heritage.
Howard and his team on the other hand can hold their heads up high. When it came to the crunch they acted as honourable men and that is the highest accolade we can expect as referees.
Next week…
I want to talk about how FIFA can make a simple change that will eliminate the Dutch tactics in a stroke. It is a simple change but not easy.
Why’s it not easy? Because we have blazers involved who just don’t seem to get it. They haven’t – for the most part – been involved at the sharp end of the stick. They appear to be more interested in politics than football.
And this change could happen at every level of the game and give us the referees more control.
Speak soon.
All the best.
The Renegade
PS Remember as we head towards the final weeks of this season that all your
heart desires refereeing wise is waiting for you at www.referee-equipment.co.uk
Total Comments 5
Comments
-
The Renegade Ref say Welcome Back Comments
Jeff, interesting reading about Howard Webb and given the pressures on him from the " suits"before the game as well as the Dutch tactics and of course the occasion of the World cup final, I still feel that he let referees down with some of the decisions. If a young referee gave that kind of performance on a parks pitch an observer would be wondering does he know what a foul is and sanction to go with it. As i watched Howard go up to collect his medal his facial reaction and body language clearly showed a man who was deflated with all that went on.
Only an observation,as i said young referees watching this would have been confused.
Davy RedfernPosted July 27th, 2010 at 08:37 AM by The Renegade 
-
The Renegade Ref say Welcome Back Comments
What a pleasure it was to read your comments on Howard Webb’s performance and your observations on the Dutch team.
I have to say that you were very polite about the Dutch.
I would have described their approach and attitude to the game in much more stronger and degrading terms.
But then we have to be as objective as possible.
The saving grace from the Cup Final was that the better team won.
Best wishes
Michael BurrellPosted July 27th, 2010 at 08:38 AM by The Renegade
-
The Renegade Ref say Welcome Back Comments
Jeff
A brilliant article. I always say to young Referees. If you get an honours game then always be in a position to look with pride at the medals you have earned.THE TEAM at the World Cup can.
I still believe that Darren Canns performance was awesome.
Great credit to himself and Paul Rejer his coach
Regards
Keith HackettPosted July 27th, 2010 at 08:40 AM by The Renegade
-
The Renegade Ref say Welcome Back Comments
Jeff,
You captured what I've been trying to say when discussing the events with colleagues so well, the only thing I would add is that Howard was "Damned if he did and damned if he didn't" with regards taking any firmer action on the Dutch antics in the first half - FIFA would have hung him out to dry if he'd spoiled their spectacle, I think Howard was wise in hind sight to let the dutch spoil it themselves!
Regards
Mike InderPosted July 27th, 2010 at 08:43 AM by The Renegade
-
The Renegade Ref say Welcome Back Comments
Hi Jeff.
After watching a lot of the world,I'm surprised how many players wore wedding bands taped up,and wrong colour under shorts.
The law change I'd like to see is similar to rugby where a penalty try can be awarded,with the Uruguay hand ball against,I'd like to see in that situation,the referee be able to award a penalty goal and red card,when its that clear cut,on the line between the posts.
Regards
Clive MedcalfPosted July 27th, 2010 at 08:44 AM by The Renegade
