Mainland Premier League (Part 1)

Cut and paste of the Otago Daily Times write up with a follow up phone call to KM. Nothing in Monday's Press, disappointing.

Saturday's Games - my picks in bold

Only problem is there are no upsets in your selection. I'll chuck in a Coastal draw against Nelson and United to beat Tech.

https://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/quake-stress-spilling-onto-playing-fields-referees-4289763

My predictions for the weekend are that the referees will continue to get abused despite their lovely letter on the mainland site.

While I agree that abusing referees is wrong I do understand why coaches and players get so frustrated with the men in the middle. There is no consistency in their decisions and the fact that most of them have never player football doesn't help. The letter blames the players and coaches but maybe they should look at the training they are giving the referees as well. The thing that annoys me most is when the assistant referee waits for the ref to give a throw-in or free-kick before finally raising his flag even tho he is closer to the incident. Surely they are there to help the referee but they only seem to be there to back-up the referees decision. I've heard on more than one occasion that this is the way they are coached but surely this is just wrong? Also if Mainland clamped down harder on the coach of the Canterbury team then others wouldn't tink they could get away with abusing the ref.

Yes let's pretend we're taking a hard line on it, send out emails, say we are doing big things, but when it really comes down to it we do nothing.

Disclaimer: I got a yellow for arguing with a ref.

[My predictions for the weekend are that the referees will continue to get abused despite their lovely letter on the mainland site.

While I agree that abusing referees is wrong I do understand why coaches and players get so frustrated with the men in the middle. There is no consistency in their decisions and the fact that most of them have never player football doesn't help. The letter blames the players and coaches but maybe they should look at the training they are giving the referees as well. The thing that annoys me most is when the assistant referee waits for the ref to give a throw-in or free-kick before finally raising his flag even tho he is closer to the incident. Surely they are there to help the referee but they only seem to be there to back-up the referees decision. I've heard on more than one occasion that this is the way they are coached but surely this is just wrong? Also if Mainland clamped down harder on the coach of the Canterbury team then others wouldn't tink they could get away with abusing the ref.
[/QUOTE]

At the end of the day we have a shocking referee shortage and we need to respect their decisions.

Don't get me wrong, I've had many a run in with referees both as a player and as a coach, due to confusing decisions, inconsistancy and blatant stupidity from them, but when all is said and done they're doing their bit to help the game. If we want more referees we need to look after the ones we have first.

Look at the MLS for example, professional referees making constant f**k ups, same story at the top level around the world, they're only human after all, cut our amatuer ones a bit of slack.

I'm suprised the mainland refs havent gone on strike after a few outbursts at MPL games and the lack of action taken against said muppets....


[disclaimer: No I am not a referee]

Hypothetically, if a coach was told he didn't have a job next season because of abusing refs. What would your guys opinion be on that? Like if Braithwaite can get away with it.

Refs have been reasonable in most of the Mainland games I have watched this season. They all make mistakes but so do the players. I agree with the comment on assistants, the refs do not seem to want to let the AR's make their own call and either go with it or overule it. The AR's are often better placed to make that call and they are SUPPOSED to be up to the job.

Nelson folks on the tread - any news on coaches changes in the wind for Nelson Suburbs next season? 

The issue is, Mainland and the Referees send out emails and press releases saying they will take a hard line. Braithwaite (the Keith vartiety) rants and raves throughout every game, gets sent off for Canty Utd and Tech, and in the end gets a one match ban. Referees have said they don't bother complaining about him anymore as nothing happens.

So yer, that was the dig I think.

Have to agree about KB, he's supposed to be the top coach in the region, but I cant see mainland giving him the flick despite his constant bringing of the game in to disrepute.

Have to agree about KB, he's supposed to be the top coach in the region, but I cant see mainland giving him the flick despite his constant bringing of the game in to disrepute.
[/QUOTE]

I don't think anyone wants sacking, just a bit of non-embarrassing behaviour.

Didn't Mainland take over all running of CU a while back?

.VimFuego2011-07-09 15:17:58

Nelson 2 Coastal 1.

No Gagame Feni and Jerry Donga. Watched the first half and Suburbs never looked like scoring despite many chances.

Number 14 from Coastal was warned about seven times in the first half to stop swearing or yelling at the ref, I wonder if he got sent/

Results AllWhites822011-07-09 18:33:45

they are contracted to provide administrative and support services, don't hire and fire, CU is still governed by an independent board who hire and fire, players as well as coaches, on behalf of the football clubs in the Mainland federation district.

2 well taken goals to steal it with Coastal hitting the cross bar and missing 2 absolute sitters plus a few other good opportunities in both halves. No complaints, lads need to harden up in front of goal. Suburbs never gave up and reaped the rewards.

Not at all. He was spoken to twice and warned once before finally receiving a yellow midway through the 2nd half. Ref handled it very well. Wasn't the only player or bench warmer giving verbal. All in all the match officials coped well (as did the players overall) on a bog of a pitch, even when an all in brawl looked a possibility late in the match.

Given all the talk about coaches, or in particular Kieth Braithwaite, abusing refs. I thought I'd post this which I just found on Mainland's website.

https://www.mainlandfootball.co.nz/index.php?id=44&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=739&tx_ttnews[backPid]=1&cHash=c84d430f35 A message on behalf of the refs about the abuse they've been coping in general.
timmymadden2011-07-09 22:31:40

Yes I saw that the other day. I don't know if it is actually EQ related, think it's just a state of play. Anyone else think it was a bit odd to mention the fact referees dropped their fees by 15% in the first paragraph?

Was on the front page of the Press on Monday Tim.

If you wanted to look at it from a cynics viewpoint you could just assume they're evening up the ledger - lower fees x more cards = same result as last year. Not that I'm a cynic.

Fair enough. It costs extra to get The Press delivered out here, and I'm not driving into Rolleston everyday to get one.

Yes.

AllWhites822011-07-10 14:31:45

Richmond's season deciding game against Malborough was called off because of thunder according to their facebook page.

And they hassled Coastal about massive earthquakes.

Did they not mention the lightning strikes? Only way the players could see themselves at Saxton Fields. Pretty freaky flying through it on the way home as well.

Nice.
Any idea of final positions?

Nice.
Any idea of final positions? [/QUOTE] AllWhites822011-07-10 22:24:48

AllWhites822011-07-10 22:33:18

Oh is lightning related to thunder? Well that makes sense then.

Merely pointing out the ridiculousness of their facebook page cancellation due to thunder and the hassle we got last year due to earthquakes.

Merely pointing out the ridiculousness of their facebook page cancellation due to thunder and the hassle we got last year due to earthquakes.[/QUOTE]

My Bad, was under the impression mainland had taken over/over saw the CU Board

Keith gives football what it lacks from far too many in this country, a passion for the game and column space in the local media.
Bring it on more the better, if whiskey nose does it why shouldn't we in NZ get stuck in to crap officiating.
Make the powers that take our fees think about improving the off game training. How about pay the better [do we have any these days? bring back Iain Glover] refs more for their time.
Several thousand turning up at games to watch a Keith display would help all clubs bar takings.
Bugger that most of the MPL teams don't have a bar at their venues.
Will have to make do with Canterbury United home game bar now.