Do ManUre get help from referees or is this a myth?

[northbank123]

Do agree with journalists being scared to write stuff about United - fucking hell look at that woman who had the 'temerity' to question whether de Gea was United's #1 still last year after Lindegaard had a great game at Benfica. Ferguson blew his top, started this whole rhetoric about the entire media being out to unsettle de Gea and the criticism stopped almost immediately despite the mistakes continuing.

But Allardyce moaning about the decision was top story on BBC Sport last night and most of today. I think perhaps we have a tendency to think our events got more coverage than they do because we're actively looking for stories regarding Arsenal and our games most of the time.

I think the 'one-off' issues get plenty of coverage. The real issue is if anybody ever suggests that there is a trend in these decisions for United. They get absolutely lambasted/ridiculed (by Ferguson with every braindead glory hunter that's ever bought a United shirt mimicking him), hence why even the gobbiest of whingers in the PL are reluctant to complain about it.

[highburyJD]

admittedly not been on tinterweb much today so there's prob an element of selection bias

[Cockerill's chin]

I think there is a big difference in how decisions are reported. After the Norwich game the linesman's name was all over the press. Mr West has probably learnt not to give 50/50 decisions to Arsenal. I haven't seen the name of the linesman from last night in the press. The only time they get named and shamed when refereeing Manure is when the decisions don't please Fergie (Simon Beck). Again, the officials learn their lesson when they are individualised and crucified.

The article I read today suggested Manure deserved their slice of luck with the decision as they were dominating possession! This sentiment was also on the commentary in ESPN goals. Fat Sam's anger was given time in the press but often diluted with comments that he often has grievances and Slur Alex felt aggrieved too with Carroll's challenge.

Officials are immersed in the media coverage and cannot be immune to it. I was reading about Mike Dean again today and looked at his refereeing of our 2-1 defeat at Manure in 2009. Let alone the decisions in that game (Fletcher assaulting Arshavin) but the contempt he had for Wenger (sending to stands) while taking immense abuse from Fergie over the years. I don't think we get many favours from officials, not just big decisions but those which affect the flow of the game or penalise persistent offending. Perhaps Wenger's aloofness brings this on our club but you'd hope referees would be objective.

[highburyJD]

ridiculous how few referees we have, makes it so much easier to pressurise them
instead of separate Prem and Championship officials, we should have one big pool of 40 odd refs
with a clear system for allocation determined at the beginning of the season
(instead of Fergie's mate Riley deciding on a week by week - who's challenging ManUre? basis)