Dave

Last weeks AEW Dynamite is worth a watch just to see how many times you end up saying "wtf" through a show.

I am a solid believer in your private life is your private life, but the photo of referees enticed with Asian women is a red flag for me. If you're willing to put yourself in that predicament in your spare time then you're opening yourself up for all sorts of problems.

Howard Webb was very easily manipulated in his later years. Not that he cares. When Palace got promoted back in 2013/14, he let everything go in the middle of the park but if there was something in the final third he'd blow up hecause the cameras were on him. We played against Southampton and Pochettino had already figured it out. We lost a game we shouldn't have because they played the system. Pulis learned and we beat Villa the next month because we knew not to tackle in the penalty area but Jedinak, Delaney and Ledley would take liberties against everyone in the center. If that went on ten years ago, these tactics will be implemented now. Howard was thinking about Howard and Clattenburg was the same.

The only flaw I see it is displayed by our pundits. When it comes to those close calls a Strikers interpretation of what is a foul in the area and what isn't is often different from that of a Goalkeeper or a Defender.

The S*n and the Twitter cesspit are coming out with all kinds of stuff and he must be in a pretty dark place mentally at the moment. I understand that he probably can't referee again, certainly at Premier League level but there are worse things going on.

The term "investigation" is loose. I'd argue if they reviewed the footage in 2020 and spoken to David Coote who was able to provide an account, that would still be regarded as in investigation. Now with the public interest of the video going viral over four years later, it is proportionate to find out more about the background and context of videos. You can argue either way if by not doing a more thorough investigation when they were first made aware of the video there's a lack of integrity, and I imagine that was influenced by people in the profession talking amongst each other about the behaviour of managers and players towards them and using what I'll politely define as 'strong terminology'. I'd argue its human nature to dislike somebody that's trying to belittle you in front of millions but some will suggest it's a cultural problem. Being bent would suggest that the organisation are corrupt. Which, lets be fair, is a really serious allegation and im quite surprised fans are willing to throw that around. Reviewing a situation and dealing with the matter in house doesn't automatically make someone bent. For example, if two colleagues have a disagreement and agree to sort it out in the car park I wouldnt accuse the company of being bent if they didn't call the police. If both men are happy to shake hands after, move on and it doesn't affect there work going forwards then its not really necessary. In this situation they thought the appropriate course of action was to remove Coote from interacting with Klopp. That doesn't make them bent to me if they thought that was the most appropriate way to react the situation at the time. Personally I'm a little surprised they didn't give Coote a 'resign or be removed' ultimatum at the time. I know they're desperate for good officials that can handle the pressure of refereeing at the top level to come through because The Mason Club at the minute are somewhat abysmal. But it seems like the biggest 'what if' wasn't asked, and that 'what if' is 'what if this video gets leaked?'. Its the reference to his nationality that sits uncomfortable with me. Coote could have easily found another role in football with his reputation somewhat in tact (ie Clattenburg at Forest, ref in Saudi etc) and if the video was to be leaked the PGMOL are distanced from it.

I get why they didn't, and I don't think it makes them bent. Being a referee is a horrendous job at all levels. If they released an unexpected statement that would have effectively thrown Coote to the hyenas back in 2020 they would have lost the trust of all members. Its human nature not to like people that intentionally try to undermine you, and that is no doubt multiplied when they're doing it when millions of people are watching. They were alerted to the situation and made a logical decision that he shouldn't be involved in matches concerning Jurgen Klopp for a lengthy time period.

Surely if they were bent he would have officiated games in that period?

There's a middle ground here, most officials probably do hate the managers that shout in there face and try every underhanded trick to gain an advantage and make a referee look stupid. If somebody tried to undermine and influence any of us everytime we came in to contact with them in the workplace, I'm sure we'd all be thinking expletives about that person. Jurgen Klopp in particular was horrendous, I remember being by the dugout in a boring 0-0 match and I couldn't believe what I was seeing from him. He chewing the side of his face like an addict that needed his fix and losing his mind over anything and everything. At the same time I don't think 90%+ of people would put themselves on offer by making such comments to somebody that's recording or reference somebody's nationality in such a way to imply that somehow makes them worse than anybody else. His careers pretty much over, I remember ten years ago there was a PL referee who went quietly and it later came out the FA were made aware of a Snapchat of him using a derogatory term. This feels far worse than that.

To be honest, the first time I watched it I assumed it was Deepfake. Partly by the shudder on his face and because I couldn't believe somebody would be willing to be recorded expressing those views that isn't a naive teenager not scared of any consequences.

In to the bottom three then. Looking at Wolves fixtures until the end of the year we can safely assume we will be bottom two sooner rather than later. If we go down we only have ourselves to blame. I'm sure there's a famous Einstein quote about insanity is repeating the same mistakes and expecting a different outcome. Third summer in a row where we haven't replaced our best player and not addressed the lack of squad depth. We shouldn't be looking at teams like Fulham and Bournemouth and being jealous of the depth on there bench after ELEVEN SEASONS in the Premier League. Fingers crossed that Dyche and Cooper don't grind out some unexpected results or this might be a task too far. I didn't think we'd be cut adrift of 17th by Christmas when I made that comment after the transfer window, but this is feeling very much like Southampton at the end of the Hassanhutl reign. People speculating they've got too much about them to go down until suddenly it looks too late to make up ground.

Yeah this title race is far from done. Man City don't seem to skip a beat in the second half of the season, and if Arsenal win today they've only got Liverpool as a tough away game left within 7 points off top place.

He probably will. Anything for Parish to deflect from the fact his transfer policy of waiting until deadline day to try and save 50p has left us with a lop sided squad and poor depth after 10+ years of Premier League money.

I don't really see the point in sacking the manager to be honest. We're not going to get anybody better than him. Hopefully he'll never ask for a small squad again.

I said on here a month or so back that as long as we're not cut adrift of 17th by Christmas we will be fine. Our six fixtures before Christmas: Aston Villa (A) Newcastle (H) Ipswich (A) Man City (H) Brighton (A) Arsenal (H) Yikes. It's Bournemouth (A) and Southampton (H) before the new year. So we may be looking at 13 points at the end of the year.