Max's Blog
Keep the faith
We all make mistakes
Last updated: 11th November 2009
She said I was lucky not to be booked for "stimulation". Now I'm a graceful player, but with the remnants of a scab and a wispy, slightly ginger moustache, I'm not sure I could be accused of that!
Max Rushden
Quotes of the week
First off, well done David Haye. Naturally Soccer AM deserves a lot of the credit for his victory: a, for providing Baby Elvis as a punch bag and b, for sticking a camera on Scott's head so he understood what punching a 7ft person would look like. Hopefully he'll be on the sofa sooner rather than later.
I was at Stamford Bridge on Sunday with my Uncle Michael. Just before Martin Atkinson gave that free kick against Darren Fletcher, I turned to him (my uncle, not Martin Atkinson, or Darren Fletcher) to point out what a good game he (the ref, not Darren Fletcher, or my Uncle) was having.
And actually apart from that decision, I thought he had a good game.
He did really well not to dish out yellow cards for minor misdemeanours before it. And he managed to keep control afterwards when tempers were understandably frayed.
But it's interesting how different a game looks when you're there to when you watch it on TV.
TV
I was convinced Drogba hadn't been touched in the challenge with Jonny Evans (even the Chelsea fans around me acknowledged he spends a fair amount of time on the floor) but watching it back on TV, I know I would have stayed on the ground for a long time if I'd got some studs in my chest. Chances are given my recent injury record, it'll happen next week.
People make mistakes, and so do refs. It certainly doesn't make me lose faith in refereeing. Yes Man Utd were unlucky. They were the better side, but they didn't really create anything meaningful, despite the brilliance of Wayne Rooney.
Sir Alex Ferguson should be pleased he had Martin Atkinson and not the ref I had on Saturday. It was a female ref, which is rare - but no issue for me.
Bizarre
In fact, whenever one's been in charge of a game I've played in, they've been better than most blokes who've done it. But the lady doing it on Saturday was more aggressive than any of the players. It was completely bizarre.
She continually told our players to "shut up" and told me she'd give me "a lesson in the offside rule" if I fancied. And the highlight, when I was scythed down and even their defender admitted it was a foul, she said I was lucky not to be booked for "stimulation".
Now I'm a graceful player, but with the remnants of a scab and a wispy, slightly ginger moustache, I'm not sure I could be accused of that!
It's perhaps a sad reflection on how she's treated on a weekly basis that's meant she's adopted this fighting attitude. Like David Haye, get your punches in early.
And maybe I'm guilty of sexism, because I don't expect to be challenged aggressively by women like that. Or maybe she'd just had a bad morning.
She should watch the show. Might cheer her up a bit.
Have a good week,
Max
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Comments
Richard Brookman (Norwich City fan) says...
Max, I was at the talk you gave at your old sixth form college Hills Road in Cambridge. We gave you a official hills road shirt, why has it never been worn on the show?
Posted 13:38 16th November 2009
Candice Alexander (Chelsea fan) says...
Max i like your blog alot u seem like a very honest an unbias person something this world is lacking lots.. I must agree with u Man utd had a better game but the were defeated... life isnt fair.. Man utd needs to man up an accept their loses.. I am a 1st time reader of ur blog an i really enjoy it hope i can read more in the future goood job
Posted 00:23 14th November 2009
Steve Hoskins (Manchester United fan) says...
Get her on as a soccerette!!
Posted 15:58 10th November 2009
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