<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>
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EPL Refereeing Decisions: Dec. 2, 2014

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

<p><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/pardew-dead.jpg"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" class="alignnone  wp-image-120610" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/2014/11/pardew-dead-542x366.webp" alt="pardew dead" width="542" height="366" sizes="(max-width: 542px) 100vw, 542px"></figure></div></a></p>
<p>Since the 1-0 loss away to Stoke City at the end of September, Alan Pardew and his side have enjoyed an incredible October renaissance.</p>
<p>That result at the Britannia Stadium was perhaps the low-point of Pardew’s tenure at Newcastle – a time when the Londoner seemed certain to lose his job.</p>
<p>The performance produced by his side that day now seems a lifetime ago. New life has been breathed into the campaign and it all began with a battling 2-2 draw away against Swansea City on October 4. Following the international break, Newcastle won four consecutive English Premier League games (and beat Manchester City in the League Cup in between).</p>
<p>Leicester City, <a href="worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/tottenham-hotspur/">Tottenham</a>, Liverpool and West Brom have all been beaten by Newcastle over the past month. Pardew’s team have conceded just one goal during that sequence, and have gone from ‘crisis club’ to potential contenders for a European place this season.</p>
<p>So what has changed? The return to form of a number of key players, some tactical tweaks and no short amount of luck. Ayoze Perez – who has scored in the past three league games – has been a revelation, while there is a greater organization and determination about this team.</p>
<p><strong>Best Starting XI&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>4-3-3: Krul; Janmaat, Taylor, Coloccini, Dummett; Sissoko, Colback, Abeid; Cabella, Perez, Ameobi</p>
<p><strong>Best Performer&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Ayoze Perez. The previously unheralded Spaniard has enjoyed a fairytale start to life in English soccer. Signed with a view to being part of Newcastle’s development squad, he has taken his chance in the first team. He is now the first-choice striker ahead of Papiss Cisse and Emmanuel Riviere and has scored in three consecutive league games. His goals have saved his manager and revitalized an entire football club.</p>
<p><strong>Most Improved Player</strong></p>
<p>Moussa Sissoko. For too long Sissoko embodied Newcastle’s struggles, failing to recapture the form of his earliest days at the club. Over the past month however, he has gradually returned to his best and been key to the Newcastle revival. His pace and power in midfield has been key, with Pardew restoring the France international to his most effective role in central midfield.</p>
<p><strong>Injury News&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>The biggest news is the thigh injury suffered by Gabriel Obertan against <a href="worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/category/liverpool/">Liverpool</a>. During his three years at the club Obertan has failed to make his mark, despite being blessed with electrifying pace. He scored the winner against Leicester City that lifted so much weight off his teammates and it is a shame to see him sidelined for an extended period. Siem De Jong and Davide Santon are long-term absentees, with Rolando Aarons now joining them. Combative midfielder Cheick Tiote has been struggling for fitness throughout the month.</p>
<p><strong>Positions that need to be filled in transfer window&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Cover is desperately needed at center-back, following Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa’s loan move to AS Roma in the summer. Paul Dummett’s unexpected development has papered over the cracks, but an injury to Fabricio Coloccini or Steven Taylor could be disastrous. Another central midfielder wouldn’t hurt, given the club’s failure to properly replace Yohan Cabaye.</p>
<p><strong>Managerial progress&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>Pardew has emerged from a very dark time in his tenure and, to his credit, dug himself out of a proverbial hole. His return to the more fluid and proactive 4-3-3 formation has been a masterstroke, as has his willingness to trust younger players in the form of Perez, Sammy Ameobi, Massaido Haidara and Aarons. They have repaid his faith and the manager has returned a positive atmosphere to the dressing room, though he understandably doesn’t command the full trust of fans.</p>
<p><strong>Weaknesses&nbsp;</strong></p>
<p>It is difficult to say how long Perez’s form up front will last, and beyond him it is difficult to see where a genuine goal-scoring threat comes from in this team. That problem is reflected in both midfield and defense where there is a worrying lack of depth. Keeping the players fit is pivotal.</p>
<p><strong>Rating (out of 5 stars)</strong></p>
<p>4.5. It’s been a remarkable turnaround from Pardew and his men who appeared devoid of any confidence. An impressive string of results has kept the manager in his job and the fans dreaming of a top eight finish.</p>
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Read Our Progress Report on Newcastle United's Performances for October-November

Read Our Progress Report on Newcastle United's Performances for October-November - World Soccer Talk

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EPL Refereeing Decisions: Dec. 2, 2014

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Read Our Progress Report on Newcastle United's Performances for October-November