EPL Talk » Mark Clattenburg

Sir Alex Ferguson Adds to Chelsea Misery

Johnathan Starling — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 06:47:42 +0000

I wonder why Sir Alex Ferguson waited until tonight to say what he said, when he had every opportunity to do so last week. Then again, he always has had a knack for waiting until the points were in the bag before opening his mouth (see Kevin Keegan and Rafa Benitez).

Fergie waited to damn Chelsea out of the title race until after Manchester United saw Fulham show up in kit only. Rooney came off the bench to finish off the 3-0 victory, then Sir Alex finished off Chelsea’s title chances in his post match presser.

Now I think it’s a little bold for Fergie to claim that Chelsea sacking Scolari plays right into Manchester United’s hands. However he’s right. Chelsea sacking Scolari showed the instability at the club, and the fact that Manchester United are now ten points clear of fourth speaks volumes.

This title is truly a two horse race. That could end quickly should Manchester United beat Liverpool on March 14. It’s weird that Sir Alex mentioned 1997-98 when Manchester United blew a twelve point lead to Arsenal, but it’s always good to remember the past. It helps prevent you from slipping up.

Other Stories
I’ll start with more Manchester United news. The shut out streak continues for one Edwin Van der Sar. 1,302 minutes…that’s just simply sick.

We can also thank the Daily Mail for this one. They are already starting the countdown to a Manchester United quadruple, 100 days away. While I don’t think anyone is beating Barcelona in the Champions League, and Inter is going to give Manchester United everything they can handle in the round of sixteen, there is nothing wrong with this kinda talk. If gambling is your thing, 16-1 are the best odds you can get on the Quad.

How often will we hear of talk that Mark Hughes is not getting along with Elano and Robinho before the season is over? I don’t think this is the last.

I guess Petrov’s comments have stirred up Aston Villa a bit. Now Gabriel Agbonlahor thinks it would signal Villa’s intent if Gareth Barry put pin to paper on a new contract.

Looks like we will be seeing Mark Clattenburg back as a referee after all. He won his appeal and will start again in April, after 8 months out overall. How fast after he makes his first bad call will it be before fans start chanting about being paid off?

March looks to be the time Chelsea can expect Michael Essien back.

Harry Redknapp now appears set to be interviewed by Revenue and Customs over the whole bung scandal.

Liverpool have put in a request to not have a Champions League tie on April 15, the 20th anniversary of the Hillsborough Stadium Disaster, should they make it to the quarterfinals. Hopefully UEFA will approve.

Fabio Capello will be at the opening of Sir Bobby Robson’s Cancer Trial Research Centre with a check for 75,000 pounds. Here hoping Sir Bobby can kick cancer for the fifth time.

And finally, Luton Town will have at least one good day in their season of hell…a trip to Wembley. They will face Scunthorpe United in the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy Final.

Is Robinho Worth the Headache?

Johnathan Starling — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 06:14:38 +0000

I wonder if Manchester City are ready to cut their losses with Robinho at this time. After the impromptu vacation he took last week, all Manchester City seem willing to do is fine him two weeks wages. To that I say ‘big deal’. Do you think Robinho cares about missing a couple hundred more thousand quid when he got to have his fun? Now granted Manchester City did not have a game last weekend, but to just take a hike from training is a joke. Sadly though, it doesn’t seem to scratch the surface with the trouble Robinho could possibly cause.

Tonight it is being reported that Robinho has been arrested and bailed over an alleged sexual assault charge. The incident happened a few weeks ago and the arrest was just recently made. The incident in question happened in a Leeds nightclub.

When does it get to a point where Manchester City just say to hell with it and cut their losses with this player? Just the allegation of a sexual assault is a pretty harsh one indeed, even if he isn’t guilty. It makes a club question if having a player of his caliber is worth all the trouble just to have around. For a club that is still not safe for next season this is the last thing they need. It’s another distraction that only takes away from survival in order to build for the future. At this point, it’s only in Manchester City’s best interest to sell Robinho in the summer, he just isn’t worth the headache he has caused this season.

Another guy who at this point isn’t worth the headache is Andrei Arshavin. Depending on who you want to believe, Zenit and Arshavin are at an impasse with regards to a bonus payment that came about from resigning his contract back in 2006. While at the same time, Wenger has come out and said no deal has been made over Arshavin and there are even some who are saying that Wenger isn’t all that bothered if this deal gets done or not.

And at this point, why would Wenger want to spend a few sleepless nights about it? For a transfer that has been talked about since before the January transfer window opened, it’s almost shocking at how slow this all has been. Wenger may have finally gotten to a point where he just threw his hands up and has gone ‘if it happens it does, if not, who cares’. If that is the case I applaud him. Wenger doesn’t need this headache to get in his way of guiding Arsenal back into the top four.

Other Stories
The Premier League has it’s sights on a favorite site of many football fans. The Premier League is going after myp2p.eu. Now if I’m myp2p.eu, I say screw it. All they do is link to games, not host them on their website. Go after the people behind the link, not the guy who links them, it’s counter productive. While I’m thinking about it, doesn’t this just seem like a repeat over what happened with 101greatgoals?

While Craig Bellamy is denying he went on strike at West Ham United, he makes mentions of the allure of helping to build the Manchester City project? You mean the project of staying in the top flight?

Speaking of Craig Bellamy, he could be the reason that West Ham United will never sell again to Tottenham. Or as long as Scott Duxberry is in charge of transfers.

It looks like the BBC is in a bidding group of one over the Premier League Highlights in the UK.

Good old ‘Butters’ as I call him (Mark Clattenburg) has been sacked as a referee due to a breech of contract.

More reason why the Sunday Times may not have to fork over any money to Roman Abramovich. A German investor is looking at forming a group to purchase Chelsea.

Been a busy day for Kenwyne Jones. First he signs a four year deal with Sunderland, then hits the game winner against Fulham.

The fine for calling Martin Atkinson a ‘Mickey Mouse referee’, 500 quid. Joe Kinnear must have that in petty cash.

For someone who hasn’t had the best relationship with Amr Zaki, Mido seems a little too excited about having an all Egyptian partnership at Wigan.

Will the Robbie Keane saga ever end this season? If FIFA will allow it, Manchester City and Tottenham lead the chase to pick up the Liverpool striker.

Guide To 2008/2009 Premier League Referees

The Gaffer — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 05:30:18 +0000

They’re the men in black that you love to hate, but someone has to do the job. Here’s EPL Talk’s guide to the Premier League referees for the 2008/2009 season (click on the referee’s name to view his photograph):

Martin Atkinson. Premier League ref since 2005. Age 37. On August 13, 2006 he took charge of the FA Community Shield match at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, between Liverpool and Chelsea.

Stuart Attwell. Premier League ref since 2008/2009 season. Youngest ever Premier League referee at 25 years of age.

Steve Bennett. Premier League referee since 1999. Age 47. Bennett was involved in some controversy when he refereed the Manchester United versus Liverpool Premier League encounter on March 23, 2008. He sent off Liverpool’s Argentine Midfielder Javier Mascherano for a second bookable offence.

Mark Clattenburg. Premier League ref since 2004. Age 33. He became a FIFA referee in 2006, at the age of only thirty, reaching this distinction earlier than any English referee in living memory.

Michael Dean. Premier League ref since 2000. Age 40. He was originally appointed to referee the 2006 FA Cup Final at the Millennium Stadium on May 13, 2006, but the Football Association took the unusual step of replacing him with Alan Wiley after concerns were raised about his ability to be impartial towards Liverpool, who are based near Dean’s home town in the Wirral.

Phil Dowd. Premier League ref since 2001. Age 45. He was heavily criticised by Wigan’s then manager, Paul Jewell, and their owner, Dave Whelan, following his performance in the club’s Premiership match with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on February 11, 2007.

Chris Foy. Premier League ref since 2001. Age 45. On February 3, 2008, Foy removed the Fulham mascot, Billy the Badger, from the playing area for breakdancing on it during their 2-1 home win over Aston Villa.

Mark Halsey. Premier League referee since 1999. Age 47. His first match in the EPL was the 1-1 draw between Wimbledon and Coventry City on August 14, 1999.

Michael Jones. Premier League ref since 2008/2009 season. Age 40.

Andre Marriner. Premier League ref since 2005. Age 37. He was given his first Premiership match on 13 November 2004 – the 4-0 home win by Charlton Athletic over Norwich City.

Lee Mason. Premier League ref since 2006. Age 36. His first ever match in that league as man-in-the-middle came on 4 February 2006, when Middlesbrough lost 4-0 at home to Aston Villa,

Mike Riley. Premier League ref since 1996. Age 43. During the first half of the home match against Newcastle on 30 April 2007 Kingsley Royal, the Reading club mascot, was sent from the field by the referee for standing too close to the pitch.

Keith Stroud. Premier League ref since 2007. Age 38. He was ‘trialed’ for the Premier League, being given the match on March 17, 2007 between Middlesbrough and Manchester City at the Riverside Stadium.

Rob Styles. Premier League ref since 2000. Age 44. On August 19, 2007, Styles refereed the Premier League game between Liverpool and Chelsea, where a controversial penalty was awarded by him to Chelsea Liverpool manager Rafael Benítez was quoted as saying that the decision was ‘unbelievable’. “That decision is impossible to explain, it was the invisible penalty” said Benítez after the 1–1 draw.

Steve Tanner. Premier League referee since 2007. Age 37. On January 1 2008 he was added to the FIFA list of referees, replacing Graham Poll, allowing him to referee in international and continental competitions.

Peter Walton. Premier League ref since 2003. Age 48. His first ever Premiership match in charge was the 4-3 home win by Wolverhampton Wanderers over Leicester City at Molineux on 25 October 2003.

Howard Webb. Premier League referee since 2003. Age 37. Refereed at Euro 2008 but was not selected to referee the knock-out stages.

Alan Wiley. Premier League since 1999. Age 48. He took charge of the FA Cup Final on May 13, 2006 when Liverpool played West Ham United at Wembley.