Monday, August 20, 2007

Fulham 1: 2 Middlesbrough

On Saturday, the Fulham F.C. dropped a controversial game to Middlesbrough2-1 that left the Premier League wondering about goal line technology and Fulham Captain Brian McBride out for probably two to three months.

Fifteen mintues into the match, McBride put Fulham on top 1-0 with a goal from about 12 yards out on a cross from Alexey Smertin. McBride buried the goal but fell the the ground in obvious pain. Tests later revealed a dislocated patella (that's kneecap to us non-medical professionals) and that kind of injury will keep the Fulham Captain on the sidelines for 2-3 months while being treated and rehabbed.

Turns out, McBride's goal was the only one that counted. In the end of match stoppage time, David Healy appeared to have scored his third goal in as many games, but Middlesbrough's goalkeeper was ruled to have stopped Healy's shot and threw the ball back toward a teammate who cleared the ball from the goal area. Healy and the rest of Fulham appeals vociferously, yet the goal was denied when the referee's assistant said the ball had not completely crossed the line.

The Football Association (FA) released a statement over the weekend about the Fulham goal denial and goal line technology.
"We understand the debate around goal-line technology and it's always going to be an important talking point after these incidents.

"FIFA rules clearly state that a referee must take decisions based on what he sees on the field of play and cannot refer to video replays at any time during the game.

"However, there have been experiments with goal-line technology which sends an instant signal to the referee telling him whether the ball is over the line, without using video replays, and there is currently a trial going on at Reading.

"It would need FIFA's approval before it could be introduced more widely but it is something we are very keen to explore fully."
Fulham is understandably distraught at losing the one point for a tie that would have resulted from a different ruling.

As Fulham fan, I share their dismay. However, as a former referee, I think the goal line technology has a couple of benefits. First, no one can later accuse a referee of blowing a call. Second, no matter what any referee or referee's assistant will say, both officials are never in the right position to make the call. In those sitautions, the movement is so frantic and the distances (usually around 20 yards or more) as significant enough that the human eye can make mistakes. The technology, if reliable can make the determinations easier.

Soccer's officiating is getting an understandable bad rap. Some referees do not manage a game well and many are too quick to the card. Others have a bias they appear to be unable to overcome and still others lack the quality and skill demanded by top flight league and international play. Clearly FIFA has a long way to go to improve the officiating and if technology in this one area can help so much the better. Barring technology, perhaps a fifth and sixth official can work the goals, putting a set of eyes solely on the goal and whether or not the ball fully crosses the line.

The Good
Healy continues to impress. Despite having his goal in injury time denied, Healy is causing the havoc in opponent's back line that Fulham manager Lawrie Sanchez had hoped. With McBride sidelined for a fair bit, Healy will recieve more pressure to produce and more attention from opposing defenses.

Zat Knight rocks the defense. Fulham's weakness in my opinion has been their backline. But with Carlos Bocanegra and Zat Knight in the middle, the two big players seem as though they can certainly hold their own. Knight's imposing presence in the middle is looking just right to keep the back line anchored for the season.

The Bad
McBride's injury hurts the Fulham attack and the onfield presence of the veteran striker no doubt about it. Enough said.

Tony Warner, whose brilliance against Arsenel had lots of people talking, made a terrible mistake, misplaying what should have been a routine save. The ball squirted out of his arms, off his leg and into the net, giving Middlesbrough a goal that equalized the match at 1-1. However, fortuneately for Warner, it is unlikely that Sanchez will make a change.

Clint Dempsey, the American hero who prevented relegation last season, is proving a disappointment in the finishing category. He is simply missing too many finishing chances. Had his accuracy been better, Dempsey could have had at least two goals on teh season and as many as four. With McBride on the sidelines a third of the season, Dempsey needs to find the back of the net much more.

Man of the Match
This is a tough one for me as there were no standout performances. But Healy and Knight could share honors as sort of a carryover type performances from the past week.

Next match is on Saturday the 25th at Aston Villa.

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