wrote:

>Instead of banning Thierry Henry for being angry (whilst neither
>swearing or touching anyone!) the FA should address the
>performances of
>their piss-poor referees. Poll, Durkin etc, with the support of the men
>in suits, like to think that people pay money to watch them ruin
>matches. It is completely likely that this years enthralling
>championship will be decided by referees.

Whilst I'm often the type to trample small children in my efforts to
obtain the first and largest slice of conspiracy, I'm of the mind that
referees and their assistants (that'd be linesmen to old farts, not
their secretaries) with all their faults, are a better option than
more technologically advanced alternatives.

History shows that many games and I guess by default, titles have been
influenced by the man in the middle. They're only human. They're part
of the charm of the game we love and provide endless opportunities to
discuss it further. The trick, and I'm surprised no one else appears
to have twigged to this as yet, is to win so convincingly as to negate
any "negative" influence the ref might have on your performance or the
result. Of course this would require a team, manager, etc to take
responsibility for their own destiny and not rely on an impossibly
perfect refereeing performance to permit them to sneak across the
finish line with barely unkempt nasal hair seperating them from their
opposition.

Regarding Henry, I'd have shown the vocal one a card on the spot for
no other reason than the possibility that his head might actually have
exploded.

Anyway, if you're an Arsenal supporter I wouldn't worry about it too
much. Apparently Wenger has vowed the decision will spur on Arsenal's
bid to win the Barclaycard Premiership crown, so they've done you a
favour. Then again, he also said " I've seen people touching and
insulting referees" so he might just be a bit of a wierdo.

-- 
Dat