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!