Mike Reilly

@sir Actor wrote:

Gill knew how to handle people and although he was prone to a few errors – he once disallowed a perfectly good Arsenal goal, he earned respect.

@toybulldog wrote:

I remember Gordon Hill the Ref and not the Man Utd player, and Jack Taylor who gave that disputed penalty to the Dutch in the 74 World Cup Final, although as the Germans won that game he largely escaped censure. And Clive Thomas of course, he was a character.

The last manager whose teams truly respected the ref was Cloughie I think. What is the point of arguing anyway when decisions are (almost) never overturned. Or a player having a big tantrum in front of millions when the cameras can show they were entirely in the wrong within seconds. How bloody juvenile is that ?

Player antics these days make the game less interesting and not more so, in my humble opinion. Like Ashley Cole turning his back on the official in the game at White Hart Lane last season; it makes me almost want to have to slightly criticise the wife-cheating two-faced greedy little bastad.

They say it’s not easy being a ref these days but at least theyy’re not fighting a war in Iraq aew they?

Onr of my footballing fantasies was to have refereed a Man United team that had Roy Keane in it.
And then to have awarded a penalty at Old Trafford to the opposition.
Going face to face with Keane would’ve been a pleasure.
The toerag that he is.

It’s the mindset of the modern player, and it’s encouraged by the managers.

Imagine not disputing every single decision and then having to face Fergie in the dressing room at half-time. Who must surely see it as a constant game of pressure on the officials and so condone it. Not that I’m picking on Ol’ Red Face but you get what I mean. I think they call it being “professional”.

Was there ever a referee who parentage could not be disputed ?