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#Post#: 94646--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: Failed Ref
Date: August 26, 2025, 3:29 am
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A difficult game to referee especially in the era of sustained
pushing, holding and greater physical contact. If Hooper was
looking to give red cards he could have justifiably given them
(for 2 yellows) but he chose not to. I agree, Gordon was
definitely a red and Gordon has only himself to blame.
Referees are missing head injuries although there must always be
a suspicion of feigning injury to prevent a quick break away.
This wasn't the case in this match but it was innocuous and I
can understand Hooper moving on not realising what had happened.
Who is the referee's second eyes in these circumstances?
Hooper was excellent, a few questionable calls which even the
best in England would have made. Yet for all the theatre, the
character shown by Newcastle, the strange performance by
Liverpool, the game lacked quality.
As for Newcastle wanting our forward, how many players do Wolves
want to sell? (Unhappy Wolves supporter)
#Post#: 94654--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: Vissla7
Date: August 26, 2025, 4:01 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Don't think this has been mentioned yet - apologies if I've
missed it.
Came across a crazy stat whilst on X, the ball was only in play
for 40.8% of the game between Newcastle and Liverpool, this is
the lowest percentage in a Premier League game since February
2010; That was just 40% when Stoke beat Blackburn 3-0
Source -
HTML https://x.com/optajoe/status/1960097095110561983?s=46&t=SKqn3j4dAdF8X6hcbEMl0g
#Post#: 94665--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: DublinRef
Date: August 26, 2025, 5:13 am
---------------------------------------------------------
A very entertaining game of football.
I’m not so certain Simon Hooper had a very good game. I’d first
confess to not being his greatest fan in general (as a referee,
I’m sure he’s a very nice fellow), I feel he lets an awful lot
go, is reluctant to issue cards (fair enough) but doesn’t
compensate with strong body language and player management.
I think the same happened last night. I didn’t see it as
brilliant refereeing, with a well pitched intervention level
that resulted in a good game. To me it was more non - refereeing
and hoping for the best.
There seems to be an obsession with claiming referees who don’t
issue cards are good game mangers. I’m not convinced by that
idea. I think so often in English football cards are ignored but
not replaced by good management. I never thought Hooper looked
very authoritative with the players last night, in his
interactions with the Liverpool captain in particular he didn’t
appear in control in my opinion.
I of course accept what I am saying is easier said than done and
there is a strong push to keep 11 v 11. This is not a bad goal
of course, I just don’t think passiveness is the best way to
achieve it.
#Post#: 94670--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: TA_Ref
Date: August 26, 2025, 5:58 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: DublinRef link ---
>
>
> I think the same happened last night. I didn’t see it as
brilliant refereeing, with a well pitched intervention level
that resulted in a good game. To me it was more non - refereeing
and hoping for the best.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
More often than not, I think your opinions are correct but I’m
not sure I’d agree with describing Hooper’s performance as
non-refereeing and hoping for the best.
I know you said your piece on dissent early in the thread and
I’d have to say I agree on that. There was a moment in the first
half where I thought Van Dijk went on for too long in Hooper’s
ear which should’ve resulted in a caution. In the second half,
he started well with punishing dissent from Bruno G. But
generally there was quite a lot of dissent during the game which
went unpunished - however that’s probably what his employers
wanted.
But taking his performance away from dealing with dissent, would
you really describe that as non-refereeeing? Early doors he let
a couple of challenges go with only a talking to but he remained
consistent with what he gave. Went to YC’s when they were clear
YC’s. Tried to talk and communicate to the players as best he
could. Obviously he got the RC on field wrong but Brooks helped
clear that up quickly.
As I said, I think Hooper struggled to make himself dominant
when there were little scuffles. At times, he needed to show
‘I’m the man in charge’. Normally I wouldn’t say that but last
night he needed to show that he was in charge and needed to
maintain control over the game. Like I said, he struggled at
times but at no point did he ever detach himself from what was
going on in the game. It wasn’t like Anthony Taylor in the
Liverpool v Man City game a few years ago when virtually all
contact and basically clear yellow cards were ignored.
So I struggle to see how you could describe his performance as
‘non-refereeing and hoping for the best’
#Post#: 94671--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: DublinRef
Date: August 26, 2025, 6:26 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TA_Ref link ---
>
> [quote author=DublinRef link=topic=7173.msg94665#msg94665
date=1756203186]
>
> I think the same happened last night. I didn’t see it as
brilliant refereeing, with a well pitched intervention level
that resulted in a good game. To me it was more non - refereeing
and hoping for the best.
>
>
--- End Quote ---
More often than not, I think your opinions are correct but I’m
not sure I’d agree with describing Hooper’s performance as
non-refereeing and hoping for the best.
I know you said your piece on dissent early in the thread and
I’d have to say I agree on that. There was a moment in the first
half where I thought Van Dijk went on for too long in Hooper’s
ear which should’ve resulted in a caution. In the second half,
he started well with punishing dissent from Bruno G. But
generally there was quite a lot of dissent during the game which
went unpunished - however that’s probably what his employers
wanted.
But taking his performance away from dealing with dissent, would
you really describe that as non-refereeeing? Early doors he let
a couple of challenges go with only a talking to but he remained
consistent with what he gave. Went to YC’s when they were clear
YC’s. Tried to talk and communicate to the players as best he
could. Obviously he got the RC on field wrong but Brooks helped
clear that up quickly.
As I said, I think Hooper struggled to make himself dominant
when there were little scuffles. At times, he needed to show
‘I’m the man in charge’. Normally I wouldn’t say that but last
night he needed to show that he was in charge and needed to
maintain control over the game. Like I said, he struggled at
times but at no point did he ever detach himself from what was
going on in the game. It wasn’t like Anthony Taylor in the
Liverpool v Man City game a few years ago when virtually all
contact and basically clear yellow cards were ignored.
So I struggle to see how you could describe his performance as
‘non-refereeing and hoping for the best’
[/quote]
Yeah I think you are making a very fair point, allow me clarify
what I was trying to say as I didn’t express my self clearly.
Obviously Simon Hooper is, by any standard, a top level official
operating in one of the top leagues in the world. So it is not
fair for me to simply say he is guilty of “non refereeing.”
What I mean to say is that if there was a spectrum from a top
level performance by a Felix Brych or Viktor Kassai type
referee, down to passive non proactive performance like some we
saw at WC2022 for example, I’d say Hooper’s performance is
closer to the latter.
So in my assessment, when I say that I’m not sure he had a great
game, I mean all of the things you said about lack of authority,
body language plus I think his communication is fairly poor for
a top official (visually at least). But I also mean to say that
inaction itself is not a plan or strategy that I personally
believe is the best way to go.
All that to say, I’m not sure it was Simon Hooper that stopped
things from going out of control last night by clever game
management, I felt he was more just fortunate things didn’t
escalate.
#Post#: 94682--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: Failed Ref
Date: August 26, 2025, 9:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Mr Hackett was not impressed with the match last night and in
this case I agree in so far as there were too many injury
breaks, fouls, stoppages and the ball was not in play long
enough. "This is frankly an unacceptable stat – it fails to
deliver value for money to the paying fans. I would recommend
that the Premier League launch an investigation to determine
where time was lost. Once they have the facts, they can then
produce an action plan" Not sure PGMOL can do it on their own.
Mr Hackett didn't blame the referee pointing out that he likes
to let the game flow and so the stoppages cannot be laid at his
door.
It was an awful game for the neutral like me - drama which this
game had in buckets doesn't make a good football game. As Slot
said "I'm not sure I saw a football match".
#Post#: 94686--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: rustyref
Date: August 26, 2025, 11:21 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Failed Ref link ---
>
> Mr Hackett was not impressed with the match last night and in
this case I agree in so far as there were too many injury
breaks, fouls, stoppages and the ball was not in play long
enough. "This is frankly an unacceptable stat – it fails to
deliver value for money to the paying fans. I would recommend
that the Premier League launch an investigation to determine
where time was lost. Once they have the facts, they can then
produce an action plan" Not sure PGMOL can do it on their own.
> Mr Hackett didn't blame the referee pointing out that he likes
to let the game flow and so the stoppages cannot be laid at his
door.
> It was an awful game for the neutral like me - drama which
this game had in buckets doesn't make a good football game. As
Slot said "I'm not sure I saw a football match".
>
--- End Quote ---
Not sure how it can be said it was an awful match, most neutrals
I've spoken to and listened to think it was a cracker of a game.
Hackett is barely qualified to comment on refereeing, he
certainly has zero qualification to comment on the state of the
game in general.
#Post#: 94688--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: TheThingFromLewes
Date: August 26, 2025, 1:48 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: rustyref link ---
>
> [quote author=Failed Ref link=topic=7173.msg94682#msg94682
date=1756218105]
> Mr Hackett was not impressed with the match last night and in
this case I agree in so far as there were too many injury
breaks, fouls, stoppages and the ball was not in play long
enough. "This is frankly an unacceptable stat – it fails to
deliver value for money to the paying fans. I would recommend
that the Premier League launch an investigation to determine
where time was lost. Once they have the facts, they can then
produce an action plan" Not sure PGMOL can do it on their own.
> Mr Hackett didn't blame the referee pointing out that he likes
to let the game flow and so the stoppages cannot be laid at his
door.
> It was an awful game for the neutral like me - drama which
this game had in buckets doesn't make a good football game. As
Slot said "I'm not sure I saw a football match".
>
--- End Quote ---
Not sure how it can be said it was an awful match, most neutrals
I've spoken to and listened to think it was a cracker of a game.
Hackett is barely qualified to comment on refereeing, he
certainly has zero qualification to comment on the state of the
game in general.
[/quote]
Hackett is a dinosaur who should keep his trap shut about
refereeing matters.
We could easily write a comic strip, in spades, about the
endless drivel and waffle he comes out with.
#Post#: 94692--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: Ashington46
Date: August 26, 2025, 3:50 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: TheThingFromLewes link ---
>
> [quote author=rustyref link=topic=7173.msg94686#msg94686
date=1756225268]
> [quote author=Failed Ref link=topic=7173.msg94682#msg94682
date=1756218105]
> Mr Hackett was not impressed with the match last night and in
this case I agree in so far as there were too many injury
breaks, fouls, stoppages and the ball was not in play long
enough. "This is frankly an unacceptable stat – it fails to
deliver value for money to the paying fans. I would recommend
that the Premier League launch an investigation to determine
where time was lost. Once they have the facts, they can then
produce an action plan" Not sure PGMOL can do it on their own.
> Mr Hackett didn't blame the referee pointing out that he likes
to let the game flow and so the stoppages cannot be laid at his
door.
> It was an awful game for the neutral like me - drama which
this game had in buckets doesn't make a good football game. As
Slot said "I'm not sure I saw a football match".
>
--- End Quote ---
Not sure how it can be said it was an awful match, most neutrals
I've spoken to and listened to think it was a cracker of a game.
Hackett is barely qualified to comment on refereeing, he
certainly has zero qualification to comment on the state of the
game in general.
[/quote]
Hackett is a dinosaur who should keep his trap shut about
refereeing matters.
We could easily write a comic strip, in spades, about the
endless drivel and waffle he comes out with
[/quote]
It really doesn't matter how much you like or dislike Keith
Hackett, he is as netitled as any one of us to have an opinion
and to express that opinion to whom he wishes.
#Post#: 94694--------------------------------------------------
Re: Simon Hooper - Newcastle v Liverpool
DIR By: Whistleblower
Date: August 26, 2025, 5:00 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Ashington46 link ---
>
> [quote author=TheThingFromLewes
link=topic=7173.msg94688#msg94688 date=1756234134]
> [quote author=rustyref link=topic=7173.msg94686#msg94686
date=1756225268]
> [quote author=Failed Ref link=topic=7173.msg94682#msg94682
date=1756218105]
> Mr Hackett was not impressed with the match last night and in
this case I agree in so far as there were too many injury
breaks, fouls, stoppages and the ball was not in play long
enough. "This is frankly an unacceptable stat – it fails to
deliver value for money to the paying fans. I would recommend
that the Premier League launch an investigation to determine
where time was lost. Once they have the facts, they can then
produce an action plan" Not sure PGMOL can do it on their own.
> Mr Hackett didn't blame the referee pointing out that he likes
to let the game flow and so the stoppages cannot be laid at his
door.
> It was an awful game for the neutral like me - drama which
this game had in buckets doesn't make a good football game. As
Slot said "I'm not sure I saw a football match".
>
--- End Quote ---
Not sure how it can be said it was an awful match, most neutrals
I've spoken to and listened to think it was a cracker of a game.
Hackett is barely qualified to comment on refereeing, he
certainly has zero qualification to comment on the state of the
game in general.
[/quote]
Hackett is a dinosaur who should keep his trap shut about
refereeing matters.
We could easily write a comic strip, in spades, about the
endless drivel and waffle he comes out with
[/quote]
It really doesn't matter how much you like or dislike Keith
Hackett, he is as netitled as any one of us to have an opinion
and to express that opinion to whom he wishes.
[/quote]
Indeed he is, just as we are perfectly ( and I would say,
advisedly ) entitled to ignore him or ( less advisedly, I would
aver ) bother to react to his opinions.
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