<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/atkinson-e1417497893946.jpeg"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone size-large wp-image-123333" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2014/12/atkinson-600x414-600x414.webp" alt="atkinson" width="600" height="414"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>Southampton against <a href="worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/manchester-city/">Manchester City</a> was the showpiece game of the weekend, following the home side’s superb start to the season. Mike Jones was the man in charge at St Mary’s and had a strange first 45 minutes. The most bizarre decision was to punish Sergio Aguero for a dive, when it was clear that Jose Fonte made strong enough contact inside the area. Fonte even tried to convince the referee that it was a free-kick, outside the box, which added to the confusing decision Jones decided to make. It should have been a penalty.</p>
<p>In the second half, Elaquim Mangala didn’t show his worth of most expensive Premier League defender, as he was sent off for two bookable offences. Both were clumsy, especially the second on Shane Long. Mangala knew he was on a yellow and despite Long being in a good position to score, there were defenders nearby who could have got across to support. A poor decision from the Frenchman to make the challenge, meaning he was rightly sent off.</p>
<p>The use of the goal decision system was again shown to be a great tool for the officials at Old Trafford. Chris Smalling smashed the ball towards goal after a goal-mouth scramble and after Anthony Taylor checked his watch, the goal was given. The linesman’s view was far from ideal and he wouldn’t have been able to give a goal, with four Hull City players blocking the ball.</p>
<p>Diego Costa has been known to lose his temper from his time at Atletico Madrid and he was very close to doing so again on Saturday evening in the Blues’ 0-0 draw at the Stadium Of Light. Firstly, Costa reacted to a John O’Shea tackle and should have been booked by Kevin Friend. The second incident involved Wes Brown. Costa tried to bring the ball down, but in doing so, caught Brown with his right arm. It was an accident in my opinion, but considering the amount of pressure Friend was under from the crowd and Sunderland players, a booking was the best thing to do to calm the situation down.</p>
<p>Newcastle United midfielder Moussa Sissoko was booked twice in the space of two minutes to see red at Upton Park. The first yellow was really unnecessary. Kicking the ball away is a mandatory yellow, so that was incredibly poor. Sissoko didn’t calm down after that incident and cynically fouled Mark Noble. Mike Dean had no choice but to send Sissoko off.</p>
<p>Burnley won a penalty in the last 10 minutes at Turf Moor. The leagues newest referee, Graham Scott made the correct decision to award the Clarets’ a penalty after Lukas Jutkiewicz was wrestled to the ground by Jores Okore. I thought Okore should have seen red as the ball was about to be stuck towards goal.</p>
<p>Swansea’s Jonjo Shelvey was penalised after clumsily bringing down Marouane Chamakh, minutes after taking the lead. It was an easy decision for Martin Atkinson to make and he had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.</p>
<p>Away from decisions, Mark Clattenburg was again left out of the Premier League and is only a fourth official in Tuesday’s game at the King Power between Leicester City and <a href="worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/liverpool/">Liverpool</a>. He made a mistake in going to a concert after a game and leaving his colleagues, but he shouldn’t be punished for it week after week. He is the league’s best referee and should be in charge of the big games, regardless of his taste of music.</p>
<p>
<link href="//cdn-images.mailchimp.com/embedcode/classic-081711.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css">
<style type="text/css">
#mc_embed_signup{background:#000000; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;  width:640px;}
	/* Add your own MailChimp form style overrides in your site stylesheet or in this style block.
	   We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. */</style>
</p><div id="mc_embed_signup">
<form action="//worldsoccertalk.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=40358a8ee4f802a28767ce312&amp;id=55d246d979" class="validate" id="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" method="post" name="mc-embedded-subscribe-form" novalidate="" target="_blank">
<div id="mc_embed_signup_scroll">
<h2>
				<span style="background-color:#ffff00;">Subscribe to World Soccer Talk’s daily newsletter featuring soccer TV schedules, news &amp; more.</span></h2>
<div class="mc-field-group">
				<label for="mce-EMAIL"><span style="background-color:#ffff00;">Email Address </span></label> <input class="required email" id="mce-EMAIL" name="EMAIL" type="email" value=""></div>
<div class="clear" id="mce-responses">
<div class="response" id="mce-error-response" style="display:none">
					&nbsp;</div>
<div class="response" id="mce-success-response" style="display:none">
					&nbsp;</div>
<p></p></div>
<p>			</p>
<div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;">
				<input name="b_40358a8ee4f802a28767ce312_55d246d979" tabindex="-1" type="text" value=""></div>
<div class="clear">
				<input class="button" id="mc-embedded-subscribe" name="subscribe" type="submit" value="Subscribe"></div>
<p></p></div>
<p></p></form>
</div>
<p></p>

EPL Refereeing Decisions: Dec. 2, 2014

EPL Refereeing Decisions: Dec. 2, 2014 - World Soccer Talk

<p><a href="http://view.picapp.com/pictures.photo/news/roy-hodgson-manager/image/9824758?term=Roy+Hodgson" target="_blank"><div><figure class="external-image"><img loading="lazy" src="http://view3.picapp.com/pictures.photo/image/9824758/roy-hodgson-manager/roy-hodgson-manager.jpg?size=500&amp;imageId=9824758" border="0" width="500" height="333" alt="Roy Hodgson Manager Liverpool 2010/11 Manchester United V Liverpool (3-2) 19/09/10 The Premier League Photo Robin Parker Fotosports International Photo via Newscom"></figure></div></a><br>
Liverpool produced an improved display to gain a well earned 0-0 draw against Napoli. Reds boss Roy Hodgson opted to make a whole host of changes for the game, but his fringe players certainly impressed with notable performances from Jay Spearing and Jonjo Shelvey.</p>
<p>While I don’t want to take anything away from the Liverpool display you have to question the Liverpool side that Hodgson put out. He opted to leave star men and Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard at home, claiming it was important they got rest before the ‘crucial’ game against Blackburn on Sunday.&nbsp; While Torres and Gerrard have both had problems with injuries in recent times, surely a win in any competition would be a just what the club need.</p>
<p>Yes Liverpool are in the bottom three of the Premier League, but in reality we know that it would take a miracle for them to still be there come the end of the season. They are already out of the Carling Cup, and Premier League success does look a million miles away. So surely the Europa League is of quite high importance for Hodgson.</p>
<p>Well apparently not. Despite his success in the tournament with Fulham last season, it looks as if Hodgson isn’t particularly fussed about another challenge for the trophy this term. But given their dreadful start to the season, I don’t think he is in a position where he can pick and chose what trophies he goes for.</p>
<p>At Fulham he could have probably got away with a lack of competitiveness in a European tournament, but at Anfield expectations are much higher and the Liverpool fans who travelled over to Naples will surely have been left bemused at the sub-standard side that Hodgson fielded.</p>
<p>I think in many ways Hodgson is still adjusting to life on Merseyside and coming to terms with the expectations of the fans, and while they may have been forgiving during the turbulent times where a takeover of the club was in the balance they will be expecting to see results improve very soon.</p>
<p>Hodgson can still succeed at Liverpool, I have no doubt about that. But he needs to start turning things around quickly. The new owners will be looking to make a statement of intent, and if the Reds are still languishing around the foot of the Premier League, or out of Europe in December, it would certainly demonstrate their expectations and ambition if Hodgson was shown the door.</p>
<p>I don’t want to see Hodgson used in this way, because he doesn’t deserve it. But unfortunately football is a cruel world, and results talk. Wins on all fronts for Liverpool in the next few weeks will be crucial for Hodgson and in my opinion vital to his tenure.</p>


Liverpool Improve, But Why The Changes?

Liverpool Improve, But Why The Changes? - World Soccer Talk

Latest news from Jonjo Shelvey. Find out about all the news related to Jonjo Shelvey on worldsoccertalk.com

ALL POSTS TAGGED "Jonjo Shelvey"

News

EPL Refereeing Decisions: Dec. 2, 2014

News

Liverpool Improve, But Why The Changes?