PODCAST: Liverpool 6 Sparta Prague 1 - Match Reaction

Hello. I've just listened to the podcast - another enjoyable episode. However, I have to pick up on a couple of things and, in the process, be somewhat negative.

1) The Kyle Walker interview on Sky Sports News - I agree that what he said was properly shit (no surprise there ...), but, in regards to the idea that it was wrong of SSN to carry it - it clearly came about because Walker was promoting his new football academy in Sheffield and, in return for some coverage of that, was willing to provide an interview. That is how many interviews come about with footballers, especially these days, and has no doubt been the case with Liverpool players down the years, during which they've no doubt said things that have pissed off rival fanbases. To claim SSN were being unprofessional in conducting the interview is really silly and something all Reds should be above. 

Speaking of which ...

2) I love the TLW pod but have increasingly become exhausted by the anti-referees chat that takes up a large chunk of practically every episode. Yes, the refs in this country are useless twats, but to keep banging on about that really is boring, especially when nothing productive is offered in regards to how the process of refereeing/operating VAR can be improved. Also, the constant reach for a conspiracy theory is something that, again, makes us look silly as a fanbase, and I felt a new low was reached in that regard on this episode with the Michael Oliver-being-angry-about-being-sent-to-the-monitor rumour - it came from Richard Keys FFS! 99 times out of 100, it would be ignored what that bellend has to say, but because it's about a ref it's believed ... come on. The exasperated caution in Chris's voice after Dave brought it up summed up own my feelings exactly. 

Sorry for being so negative but I really do feel strongly about the above two points and my desire for us as a fanbase in general to be above silly/hypocritical takes and wild/unbased conspiracy theories. 

Otherwise - keep up the good work lads. Up the Reds. 

Personally, I don't disagree with you about any of this. 

But we're an open forum where the participants speak their minds about what they're most passionate about. I think we all wish we could ignore the officiating, or it at least their discussion being more of a rare occurrence as it is in every other sport on the planet. 

Thanks for your feedback and thanks for listening. 

My issue isn't about refs being "useless twats" and it's not my job to be "productive in regards to how the process of refereeing/operating VAR can be improved" (even though we have offered plenty of thoughts on that throughout the season on the pod). If you want know how I think it can be improved though, well between us we've covered that on the pod before but from my own point of view I'd say sack Howard Webb and then ban refs from taking side gigs where they are being paid by the chairman of clubs who they are then officiating. That would be a good start.

It's not just Keys saying that about Oliver either, it's been doing the rounds for a while, Keys is just the most high profile 'voice' to state it. Just because the source is an absolute cunt doesn't mean it can't be true and he and Gray will definitely have contacts either in or connected to PGMOL. It's not that big a leap to think that might be true, especially as is nothing to contradict it. No-one has sent Oliver to the screen since he stuck with his on field decision early LAST season (18 months ago). In light of what happened on Sunday I thought it was worth mentioning.

Why would I possibly give Michael Oliver any benefit of the doubt after he took Al Mubarek's money and within a couple of weeks of it we had the Kovacic debacle and him plucking a penalty out of thin air for City when he was VAR in the manc derby?

The Kyle Walker thing, fair enough he's doing the interview to promote something. I didn't know that but it would only change what I said about it slightly. Conducting an interview with him is obviously not unprofessional, but airing all that stuff about "Mike" absolutely was. It's unethical from sky to have him defend a referee who has been giving them beneficial decisions in big games. So yeah, I think that is unprofessional, lowest common denominator clickbait from SSN. Bigging up a ref on national TV can be seen to be trying to influence him. How do you think Oliver felt when he saw that? And do you think it could potentially impact on a future decision he makes when Walker is involved? Not that he needs much influencing.

If you don't want to hear "conspiracy theories" about Oliver then the national media is your best bet because for some reason there's no mention of his little jollies to U.A.E. anywhere. It's almost like it never happened. 

Personally I think everyone should be yelling that from the rooftops until a stop is put to it. Presumably you don't see anything wrong with it though as you seem to have more of an issue with me mentioning it than Oliver doing it!

Hi Dave.

Don't get me wrong - I think Oliver taking paid gigs in the UEA is dodgy as fuck, and for sure more should be made of it across all sections of the media, as there should be on Man City's cheating - personally I'd love Sky Sports News to have a clock at the bottom of the screen counting how many minutes have passed since City were hit with the 115 charges as it's been fucking loads and nowt has happened in terms of them getting punished. The world should be constantly reminded of this.

On the refs in general, I just think we collectively need to pick our battles in regards to what we criticise them over, otherwise it all becomes white noise and can be deemed a bit tin-hat, especially when the views of Richard Keys are being taken seriously. He's a Grade-A twat who should be ignored at all times, albeit I get your point that the stuff on Oliver has been doing the rounds for a while. As said - I've also become suspicious of him since he started taking Al Mubarek's money.

Also fair enough on Walker and the 'Mike' stuff. My point was specifically on criticising the interview being conducted in the first place - it seemed fine when I saw it as it was an obvious promo for his academy which is a decent initiative. 

Anyway, all good. Love the pod. Keep it up, and definitely ignore narky knobheads like me. ;)

All good mate, like I say I only saw the snippet of Walker talking about the ref so that's why I felt a lot differently about it than you did, as you had the context of his Academy stuff and the reason he was doing the interview in the first place, so it will have felt different to you watching the whole thing. I have more of a problem with SSN asking the question than him answering it (and then putting it out as a snippet to generate engagement, which it did, massively!). Walker defo knows what he's doing but it's just smart from him really and he's gained further favour with his boy "Mike" no doubt.

I agree with you about the picking our battles with refs and I've said repeatedly on the pod and in the match reports that it's really hard for refs on the pitch. It's rare I go off on one about the on pitch ref (I've even defended Tierney at times!) and I give them a lot of leeway in general as they only get one look at an incident and it's really difficult. My problem is mostly when VAR is getting things wrong as they have every advantage available to them and there's no excuse.

The ones taking money from UAE is a whole different story though and it needs highlighting as much as possible. Not that a few dickheads on a pod are going to make a difference like, it has to be done on a national level.

I wish to congratulate John B on not screaming “for the love of Jazus shut the fuck up” after the 27th injured player was mentioned when he was trying to make a point. 
 

Although after there was a lull of about 3 minutes and then Chris quietly said “Gravenberch” I did spit out a laugh.  

JB handled that like a pro. I thought I might break him with "Ben Doak" but he soldiered on. He even powered through when I brought Callum Scanlon into it. Fair play.

Fucking hell, I forgot about Scanlon. 

The injury stuff was brilliant - and yes, well done John B! 

Yeah nothing's been said about Scanlon and until a week or two ago he was in all the training videos, but on the Inside Anfield from the City game I saw him on crutches at the end of the game.