Agree, a rule has been brought in to sort out something that wasn’t a problem in the first place. The ball used to hit the ref (very rarely) and some of the times it broke in your favour and others it didn’t, and everyone got on with it. Now the game has to stop and the ref hands the ball over.
Silly.
2 Likes
I believe it’s only a drop ball if the ball hitting the ref results in a change of possession (happy to be corrected if wrong).
Previously it was possible for a shot to hit the ref and be a goal, which could have resulted in accusations of impartiality.
Not saying any of this is right or wrong just trying to understand why the rule is there.
Or possibly even accusations of partiality. 
7 Likes
My only concern bout less possession is when the games come thick and fast as they are will it have an impact on the squad becoming tired late on in games ?
Being able to use 5 subs will help a lot with this.
With defenders, it is more about concentration than stamina.
Spot on mate.
We’ve all got to be raring to go on Saturday.
After the beat us in the FA Cup a couple of years ago we were at Salford in that week. At it was flat as a pancake. The fans, the team everything. We lost 1-0 and it was kind of the beginning of the end for Flynn.
Nobody can have an “after the Lord Mayors show” moment on Saturday.
6 Likes
Yep,
Early kickoffs are notorious for being a bit flat. The fans wait for the players to do something to make a bit of noise, it often feels like the players are waiting for a bit of encouragement to get going and it can be a problem. With Colchester probably only bringing a couple of taxis it is going to be hard to generate an atmosphere but we must play our part.
No time for feeling sorry for ourselves, there was no shame in last night. We shut out a Premier League side and created enough chances to win. Take the positives from that and use them.
6 Likes
So proud of the team, great performance. We give away fewer chances than any other team in the fòotball league, seems that is the case regardless of who we play, our defensive unit is quite superb and when we attack we do it will real purpose.
There hasn’t been a connection betwèen fans and players like this since the Graydon era. Love this team.
7 Likes
Other than this - i thought the ref was brilliant. a couple of yellows in the 1st 20 minutes, not given and allowed the game to play. Yes there was that weird groin dive, but a solid 8/10 for the ref.
5 Likes
Based on expectations before the start of the season, you could argue that we started with our 5th, 6th & 7th-choice central defenders, with the 4th-choice on the bench.
Sounds insane!
2 Likes
I don’t think the players looked physically tired at the end of 90 minutes, we were pressing (when appropriate) right into injury time. My worry for Saturday and it’s a minor worry is emotional tiredness and the effects that penalty shootout could have on the squad.
- Strikers annoyed they didn’t take them feeling they might have made the difference.
- L Gordon feeling he could do better with his penalty.
- Dave gutted he took one early.
- Sees of doubt for Allen that he is normally very good at them.
- Simkin inches away from saving two but didn’t make it.
- The Squad feeling dejected.
It could galvanise the lads and they could go out on Saturday to prove a point and we could see a thrashing, or it eats away at them and we begin a poor run of form.
Time for the squad leaders, captains, coaches and to an extent us fans to drag them out of a possible malaise. Good test for the togetherness of our team and the club.
Can’t wait for Saturday.
1 Like
Isnt the rule that if the ball hits the ref, it goes back to the team who kicked it at the ref. In which case it was a clearance that was going to our player but the.last touch was Leicester? I dont know, but it was a crazy decision.
"The Referee’s Touch
When the ball touches a match official, remains on the field of play, and one of the following occurs:
A team starts a promising attack
The ball goes directly into the goal
The team in possession of the ball changes
In these cases, play is restarted with a dropped ball. This means that the referee will stop play and drop the ball at the point where it touched the match official, allowing the team that last touched the ball to regain possession."
2 Likes
It’s time they learned that penalty shots low to a keeper’s right have a high percentage of being saved.Take a look at Shearer’s penalty shots to learn how to do it.
1 Like
We would have been ball number 13 in tonights draw, let’s see who we could have possibly got 
Accrington Stanley? Who are they?
I think we looked totally gutted end of that match and I think Saturday will be a struggle mentally
The last loss to Leicester was the start of the end of our season.
1 Like
The lads have absolutely nothing to be ashamed about, holding a premiership side to a goaless draw after full time is a credit to the players, management and everyone involved at the club.
Steve Cooper should be grateful he still has a job, had they lost the game he would have been gone.
Keep looking over your shoulder son, cause it’s coming!
We have to learn to put away the chances we create, it stops us from being a really good side, certainly one belonging in the top three. We’re not going to score with every chance, no team does that, but it’s something we can work on.
8 Likes
Albert’s miss was shocking tbf . I would have backed my self to slot that away😂 .
Never mind proud of the lads just hope it hasn’t took to much out of the team for Saturday . UTS
1 Like
Session with the sports psychologist and they’ll be fine .thats if we’ve got one of course .if not a kick up the arse from waddo .