Concerns about the ref

[Nick Bateman]

One would rather discuss the merits and demerits of each opposing side and hope that the best team won, but more and more the Premier League referees have been "fixing" results.

Mark Lawrenson stated on BBC, the refereeing this season has been "poor" - one notes no English officials going to adjudicate in the World Cup, and the performance of Michael Oliver ruining a great match in the European semis and sending off legend Buffon for arguing?!

In the semis of the play-offs we saw a senior ref Mike Dean (who owns a betting shop) change the rules to not send off the Villa goalkeeper when he deliberately handled outside the box and prevented a goal.  Dean knew the 'keeper who be automatically suspended for the final and/or Middlesbro could even beat Villa in the minutes remaining.

So already the grubby hands of the PL are influencing who shall reach the promised land and one fully understands they deem Aston Villa a bigger club than Fulham, although potentially we can be far greater with the backing of our multi-billionaire Khan.

Couple this with the fact that Villa have two of the biggest 'divers' in the Championship in Jack Grealish and Robert Snodgrass, and the EPL have appointed Anthony Taylor, a highly controversial official.  Remember his allowing Arsenal's Sanchez to block the ball with both hands and then score, while sending off a Chelsea player for diving in the FA Cup Final a few years ago.

Villa's football is akin to Cardiff Mark II - long ball, man blocking the opposing keeper on corners, Grealish & Snodgrass looking for free kicks on edge of the box, it's pretty rudimentary percentage football of the worst kind.  But many involved in the sport want Villa back in the top tier - none will lament the best footballing team in the Champoinship falling short. 

And don't expect a reference to the woeful standards and blatant cheating of the referee if it does come to pass - the media are the enemies of football and it is exactly what they want!

Several years ago, PL ref Martin Atkinson gave a penalty against Fulham after the opponent pushed our player who then accidently handled, they have history of preventing Fulham to go up.

Having said all that, we are far better now and if Fulham play their game as we did in the second half against Derby and several other great displays, we can beat all 12 men Villa have on their side, and deservedly achieve one of the most remarkable runs in Championship history!

Pick Kamara and the rest of the team we have relied upon and we have a good chance.
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[Milo]

Agree should've been a sending off. Deliberate hand ball denying a goal scoring "opportunity". It was clearly an opportunity to score regardless of how one might project Terry getting to it.

However think the idea of them having big divers in their squad is a case of throwing stones with a glass house. Everytime I see Kamara's dive against Carson I feel more and more sorry for Carson who rightly went ballistic.

[Nick Bateman]

Agree should've been a sending off. Deliberate hand ball denying a goal scoring "opportunity". It was clearly an opportunity to score regardless of how one might project Terry getting to it.

However think the idea of them having big divers in their squad is a case of throwing stones with a glass house. Everytime I see Kamara's dive against Carson I feel more and more sorry for Carson who rightly went ballistic.

Kamara's dive was lamentable - he was through on goal and took the easy option, but Kamara's game is not about constantly diving at every opportunity unlike Grealish & Snodgrass.

[Robbie]

My fear is Villa will play to get Stef Jo sent off.

[ffcne]

My fear is Villa will play to get Stef Jo sent off.

I think they will try and wind Mitro up as well.

[Tempest]

My fear is Villa will play to get Stef Jo sent off.

I think they will try and wind Mitro up as well.

To be honest Mitro has been kicked to pieces in the last 3 or 4 games and he has been extremely professional,  fancy him, Sess and Cairney to really shine at Wembley

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[Darkside]

My fear is Villa will play to get Stef Jo sent off.

A few other teams have done that, SJ has subbed him after a yellow card to avoid a second .. or worse.

[peter w]

My fear is Villa will play to get Stef Jo sent off.

A few other teams have done that, SJ has subbed him after a yellow card to avoid a second .. or worse.

With the greatest respect you're Fulham not Barcelona. I think our game plan will be concerned more with how to compress the game and hit you on the counter attack rather than trying to get players sent off in the faint hope that it will give us a glimmer of a chance.

[RaySmith]

Mitro has to be  applauded for his composure under provocation since he's played for us, apart from at
Millwall perhaps. but he got away with it-and he was totally justified anyway, taking revenge for that assault on a Fulham player.

But it's good to have someone leading the line who won't take any  *****, and good that he generally replies in kind, by putting the ball in the net, rather than being self destructive.