What's the shittest thing about the prem?

[frimmers3]

I am old enough go back to the days of Best/Bowles/Currie/Charlie Cooke/Worthington/Marsh etc who really wanted to show what they could do on a football pitch.

and in the pub.

[Ian Royal]

^

Oh the irony.

Don't start many threads mate so you can't be referring to me.

[Man Friday]

That the liitle clubs are handicapped by officials favouring the big clubs to the tune of at least 6 points during the season. Whilst we've obviously had one or two key decisions in our favour the vast majority have gone against us (Chelsea offside, Newcastle handball, Aston Villa pen not given and offside when level, etc etc etc). It's enough of an an uphill battle as it is...It just becomes completely futile.

[Ian Royal]

That the liitle clubs are handicapped by officials favouring the big clubs to the tune of at least 6 points during the season. Whilst we've obviously had one or two key decisions in our favour the vast majority have gone against us (Chelsea offside, Newcastle handball, Aston Villa pen not given and offside when level, etc etc etc). It's enough of an an uphill battle as it is...It just becomes completely futile.

I think it's as much that the successful teams create more and better opportunities for the refs to make decisions that benefit them positively in attacking positions, and fewer opportunities for refs to punish them in defensive positions. And vice versa for unsuccessful teams.

[SCIAG]

Definitely the moany plastic fans.

I have no problem with people deciding they want to follow us now we're in the Premier League. I have a problem when they say things like "McAnuff has always been shit", or boo at the end of a match. If you don't have any perspective, then keep that to yourself.

[Royalwaster]

Reading FC.

Just watching the Saints vs Liverpool game - Saints may only be a few points above us, but they play so much better football than we do ....

[Man Friday]

That the liitle clubs are handicapped by officials favouring the big clubs to the tune of at least 6 points during the season. Whilst we've obviously had one or two key decisions in our favour the vast majority have gone against us (Chelsea offside, Newcastle handball, Aston Villa pen not given and offside when level, etc etc etc). It's enough of an an uphill battle as it is...It just becomes completely futile.

I think it's as much that the successful teams create more and better opportunities for the refs to make decisions that benefit them positively in attacking positions, and fewer opportunities for refs to punish them in defensive positions. And vice versa for unsuccessful teams.

Interesting perspective and I think you've got a bit of a point but overall I can't say I agree that that's the reason. I put the reason down to human frailty in the form of cowardice.

[leicsRoyal]

Decisions just don't even themselves up over the season for the smaller clubs.

[Ascotexgunner]

The fact everyone talks about money all the time. The TV scheduling and lack of midweek games, and the fact you know you've lost a match without even kicking off. The gulf in quality is shocking. And the fact certain clubs look down their nose at us.

[RoyalBlue]

Where is the option for 'superstar' referees who are no better than those lower down the pyramid?

[Man Friday]

"The ref thought I was on work experience" says Eamonn.

Brilliant comment. I've been saying all season that the little clubs are handicapped to around 6 points each season in the PL. Make that 10. Another two points yesterday. As Eamonn says, we're not expected to get any points away at Man U so denying us a clear penalty doesn't matter in the whole scheme of things. It's not even worthy of discussion on MOTD. Don't rock the apple-cart Mr Lineker. Absolutely futile us being in the PL. Just cannon fodder.

[Victor Meldrew]

That the liitle clubs are handicapped by officials favouring the big clubs to the tune of at least 6 points during the season. Whilst we've obviously had one or two key decisions in our favour the vast majority have gone against us (Chelsea offside, Newcastle handball, Aston Villa pen not given and offside when level, etc etc etc). It's enough of an an uphill battle as it is...It just becomes completely futile.

I think it's as much that the successful teams create more and better opportunities for the refs to make decisions that benefit them positively in attacking positions, and fewer opportunities for refs to punish them in defensive positions. And vice versa for unsuccessful teams.

Dead right Ian.
The thing I hate about the Premier League is just what Man Friday has posted-fans of little clubs forever moaning about luck or the lack of decisions.
They fail to see the lack of decisions given to the other clubs or the luck that we have had.
What about Alf's handballed (?) goal at Newcastle that ensured 3 points?
So many times people on here have gone on about that game away at Chelsea when they could have been 6-0 up in the first 15 minutes with a bit of "luck" and of course they did score 4 but just one of those was a dodgy offside.
I like the Premier League and my one major grouse is that the club didn't do enough to stay there-it's a bit like clubs being desperate to qualify for the Europa League and then moaning about a fixture pile-up and then put out a weakened team.

If you qualify for something give it your best shot.

[Man Friday]

That the liitle clubs are handicapped by officials favouring the big clubs to the tune of at least 6 points during the season. Whilst we've obviously had one or two key decisions in our favour the vast majority have gone against us (Chelsea offside, Newcastle handball, Aston Villa pen not given and offside when level, etc etc etc). It's enough of an an uphill battle as it is...It just becomes completely futile.

I think it's as much that the successful teams create more and better opportunities for the refs to make decisions that benefit them positively in attacking positions, and fewer opportunities for refs to punish them in defensive positions. And vice versa for unsuccessful teams.

Dead right Ian.
The thing I hate about the Premier League is just what Man Friday has posted-fans of little clubs forever moaning about luck or the lack of decisions.
They fail to see the lack of decisions given to the other clubs or the luck that we have had. I'm not talkin about luck. I'm talking about incorrect decisions. Luck (hitting woodwork etc) certainly evens itself out.
What about Alf's handballed (?) goal at Newcastle that ensured 3 points? Proves the point. The few in our favour (Everton at home) are outnumbered by a ratio of at least 3:1 against us. (By the way, ALF's wasn't handball - has to be deliberate.) So many times people on here have gone on about that game away at Chelsea when they could have been 6-0 up in the first 15 minutes with a bit of "luck" and of course they did score 4 but just one of those was a dodgy offside. Again, not talking about luck, I'm talking about refs favouring the big clubs.
I like the Premier League and my one major grouse is that the club didn't do enough to stay there-it's a bit like clubs being desperate to qualify for the Europa League and then moaning about a fixture pile-up and then put out a weakened team.

If you qualify for something give it your best shot. Agree with that except that it's ultimately futile these days as it's all about money. The days of a club like Forest winning the league are over.

[Ian Herring]

Every single thing about it since its inception.

I fucking hate it.

Passionately.

[Royalee]

Doing things the Reading Way.

[Jude the Obscure]

Doing things the Reading Way.

What like booing your team captain at the start of a difficult game at Old Trafford?

[soggy biscuit]

I would say the lack of quality and the faux excitement.

There is so much media dedicated to convincing you it is amazing yet rarely do I watch a game that is actually any good. Then afterwards the media wil try to tell me I was wrong and it was actually mind blowingly good. The unpredictable nature of the lower leagues makes them more exiting to watch.

Barring about 2 or 3 players individual skill there is pretty much nothing in the PL I want to watch

[RockheadRumple]

I would say the lack of quality and the faux excitement.

There is so much media dedicated to convincing you it is amazing yet rarely do I watch a game that is actually any good. Then afterwards the media wil try to tell me I was wrong and it was actually mind blowingly good. The unpredictable nature of the lower leagues makes them more exiting to watch.

Barring about 2 or 3 players individual skill there is pretty much nothing in the PL I want to watch

That's because you support Reading.

[Royalclapper]

The shallowness and the showbiz.

[RoyalBlue]

That the liitle clubs are handicapped by officials favouring the big clubs to the tune of at least 6 points during the season. Whilst we've obviously had one or two key decisions in our favour the vast majority have gone against us (Chelsea offside, Newcastle handball, Aston Villa pen not given and offside when level, etc etc etc). It's enough of an an uphill battle as it is...It just becomes completely futile.

I think it's as much that the successful teams create more and better opportunities for the refs to make decisions that benefit them positively in attacking positions, and fewer opportunities for refs to punish them in defensive positions. And vice versa for unsuccessful teams.

Dead right Ian.
The thing I hate about the Premier League is just what Man Friday has posted-fans of little clubs forever moaning about luck or the lack of decisions.
They fail to see the lack of decisions given to the other clubs or the luck that we have had.
What about Alf's handballed (?) goal at Newcastle that ensured 3 points?
So many times people on here have gone on about that game away at Chelsea when they could have been 6-0 up in the first 15 minutes with a bit of "luck" and of course they did score 4 but just one of those was a dodgy offside.
I like the Premier League and my one major grouse is that the club didn't do enough to stay there-it's a bit like clubs being desperate to qualify for the Europa League and then moaning about a fixture pile-up and then put out a weakened team.

If you qualify for something give it your best shot.

The fact that Chelsea might have been 6-0 up has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the useless Mason and his assistant allowed a clearly offside goal to stand against us. Equally the 'fantastic' skill of Man U has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the completely useless Mason cheated us out of an absolutely clear penalty yesterday (acknowledged as such by all neutral commentators).

As for the fact that we fail to see lack of decisions not given to other clubs - take a look at the 'evens itself out' thread and try to cancel out all of those with decisions our opponents haven't got.