^ They do nothing though. Didn't you see Barca - Milan last week Barca had what looked likt a clear pen that the extra assistant should have seen with his position that should have been like 7 yards away.

I know! I don't understand why that is- are they currently allowed to make decisions other than goal-line?
Because the normal linesmen make foul decisions all the time, but I've never seen one of the extras make a call.

edit: to answer my own question- yes.
However, they communicate decisions by radio, instead of visual signals. So maybe they're making decisions all the time, but we always think it's the main referee who makes them?

Definitely handball and a red. In defense of the referees, there was absolutely no chance they could see that. It was high up the arm, which makes it tougher, the linesman had the sun in his face and the post in the way, and the referee was blocked by about 3 players. So yes, it's the wrong decision and Liverpool will feel screwed over, but I would hardly blame the refs. (5th referee may have had a chance )

Definite red for Reina. clown.

The offside (?) decision is the most interesting. There is clearly a touch between the original pass and the time the ball got to him. The Newcastle player sliding in gets a touch, which makes it a new pass and a new situation. So he's certainly not 3 yards offside. Unfortunately, MOTD didn't pause the video for me at the moment of the second touch, but it's a really close decision. I tried manually pausing the video and I can't tell if he's off or not. Very tight.

Dunno if there is a touch, (the ball bobbles up but there seemed daylight when it bobbled. If there was then he is onside because I took the liberty to pause it at impact, and a stud was playing him onside.

Those men with light sabers would have probably spotted the pen, difficult for him and the lino as both unsighted, but it is there job to position themselves so that they see the big incidents.

Perch still an idiot for his reaction, no need for it.

Just watched the second goal again, this time from an unbiased and sober point of view. Bare in mind I have only seen this from the 1 angle this morning.

1st point I would like to make is, the linesman has not got the right position to see clearly what happened, there is 4/5 players in his eyeline and by the time all that clears the ball is rolling, not bobbling along the floor so he can't determine whether there was a touch.

2nd point is the ref seems to be in a good position but in normal speed the ball bobbles very slightly once then rolls, and when two players have both slid in it has hard to determine from the refs point if there was A) a touch or B) a bobble on the ground. He looked like he was looking for the linesman to make the decision and the linesman had no clue.

Not sure who did in fact get the touch, but it seems the ref rode his luck on that one a bit and possibly come out of it quite fortunate.

That is all I can determine from the clip I have seen, I would like to see a clearer, more slowed down version with different angles for the ref and linesman.

Perch got a yellow for the incident, was that for diving? :L Reina shouldn't go in like that I know, but I still say it's a soft red.

Carroll dive was silly and did himself no favours, have a shot lad, you might score!

The handball I can accept, ref has no chance to see it, linesman could possibly have had a better position.

Players need to just regroup and have a couple of days off to relax a little before trying to move forward.

Perch's reaction was silly but you see that kind of thing all of the time. I bet 90% of the players on the pitch that day would have went over like that if someone had done the same to them.

Reina getting sent off was just how it should have been. Like I've said previously, whether contact was made or not, it was the intent that got him sent off. Just like if a player tries to throw a punch at another player but misses, they'd still be sent off.

Anyway, I hope we didn't shatter your confidence too much because we need you to hammer Everton out of the FA Cup. Cheers

I think Perch got booked for being a part of the confrontation. Either that or for the foul that Reina was upset about.

Perch got Reina sent off, though Reina got himself in the situation in the first place. Trust me, if Perch stood up the ref would have told them both to put the handbags away.

Could come back to bite Newcastle on the backside anyway. If we lose to Everton in the FA Cup then 6th place will not be good enough for them to qualify for Europe. If we win it will be. Reina misses that game now.

Pmsl, the video I made yesterday has already over 4,000 views. Dailydot.com have also posted a link to it on their site

Madness how a stupid 14 second video that I made for mich & 2good has gotten that popular in a day.

EDIT: 2,000 more views since I made this post about 5 minutes ago.

Edited at 01:32 Tue 03/04/12 (BST)

Not necessarily. We can still qualify as long as Chelsea get to the final and win it. But yes, you beating Everton would be better.

& Perch didn't get Reina sent off. As I've said about 10 times now, he got sent off for lunging his head towards Perch's, not because he thought contact was made. The ref had a good view of it so regardless of Perch's reaction he would have been off anyway.

Yeah have to agree.

Perch does nothing wrong. If he didnt go down after the contact and Reina was only booked, that would be criminal.

Had a bet with a Referee the other day in the pub and was wondering what your view is on the matter...

Basically in the Spurs game I think it was, a player went to slide for the ball, was nowhere near the ball and if the player on the ball hadnt of jumped out of the way it could have been really nasty. But when the guy jumps over the dangerously late slide tackle, he then loses possesion of the ball as he has no balance and has suffered this because of the slide tackle...

Question is, is this a foul?

Definitely! Only not always given, because fans go crazy lol.

Predictions for tonight everyone.. 2 - 2

Milan through on away goal

5-1

Barca 3-1, Messi first scorer.

Ohhhh big night tonight for football betting!!

I won every single bet bar one... thats 8/9.

Hudders, Swindon, Barca & Birmingham to all be winning at HT and FT... 57/1 acca.... tasty.

Also had Brentford, Brimingham, Hudds, Swin -1, Munich -1, Barca -1 at 52/1.... tasty.

Had Munich, Barca and Swindon, winning margin of 2.... 19/1... tasty.

Then doubles and trebles with Brentford, Hudders, Swindon & Birmingham.

Only bet I lost was due to me backing clean sheets and Barca conceaded!

Either way, I'm happy

All the profit was from a free anniversary bet from Corals... ahhh bliss <3.

Will be lost again in no time at all but I want to enjoy the moment whilst I can ha!

Man City v Man Utd, FA Cup 2011/12... Kompany, V

Ring any bells here

Reminds me of a few years back on the opening day of the season against Sheffield United. Gerrard was through on goal then a slide tackle came in and Gerrard jumped over the player and lost the ball. We were given a penalty.

What a season for Liverpool, we are now caught up in another race row as some idiot who associates himself with Liverpool and calls himself a fan was racist towards James Perch on twitter and has now been arrested.

Please let this season end now so we can get on with a new one!