Kevan Hurst blasts Walsall refereeing
Tuesday 27th September 2011, 9:55AM BST.
Kevan Hurst today insisted a string of wrong calls have cost Walsall big and feels the Saddlers have been victimised by referees.
Dean Smith’s men are winless in five games but winger Hurst insisted decisions have gone against them all season.
Andy Butler conceded a penalty and was sent off in Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Colchester for a foul outside the box, while the Saddlers were denied a spot-kick after Magnus Okuonghae handled.
Butler was also dismissed in the 1-1 draw at Hartlepool – although it was later rescinded after referee Paul Tierney admitted his mistake.
Sheffield United were awarded a dubious penalty to beat Walsall 3-2 in August while Matthew Lowton, who scored the first goal, wasn’t red carded for a horror tackle on Mat Sadler.
And Hurst insisted Saturday’s defeat highlighted the way the Saddlers have been treated by officials.
He said: “I don’t know if it’s because they haven’t played the game, but I feel it’s happened too many times. It’s affecting our results and where we are in the table.
“The connection with Butler and the lad is outside the box on Saturday so how the linesman gave it and the referee can send him off is beyond me.”
Butler tops the League One discipline charts with three bookings and two reds – including his dismissal at Pools – but is training to be a referee.
And Hurst insisted the Saddlers skipper will be a top official because he understands what is needed.
He said: “When Butler has finished his career, he will be a good referee because he’s played the game.
“That’s what it needs, a lot more players to be referees.”
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Refereeing decisions have cost us but so has your inability to play well Kevan. I havent seen Kevan Hurst play a good game this season, one of Dean Smiths panic buys.
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What absolute drivel. Every referee is against us now? For gods sake stop making daft excuses and play to you full ability maybe then the referee’s will leave you alone and admire your true magnificence on the ball
What d’you think?
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It was outside box and still would of been red card as he was clearly last man. I def agree with wht he’s saying bout not red carding she’d it’d player has that was a horror challenge and lucky not to break saddler.
However u cnt blame refs 4 poor games in last five games as a team they have to stand up and say we weren’t good enough.
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We’re not even a quarter of the way through the season and the tales of woe are being spouted forth by our magnificent team who should have won every game – in their eyes! Well they should sit where we sit and watch themselves underperform because if they’re watching the games on video they might understand why we’re slightly miffed. If they played as well as they think they can then we’d sure as hell be turning up to see a team that works hard for each other, for ninety plus minutes and plays great football. They wouldn’t have to worry about the referee’s then!
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Not sure what Hurst brings to the team – he’s got no pace and isn’t particularly skilfull – not ideal for a wide man! His delivery has been pretty poor as well in the matches that I have seen. I think the Walsall players should let their feet do the talking – I think these soundbites are adding nothing. How about a few ideas on how we can put things right tactically, or what each player is doing to improve his individual performance? Hurst could start by practising not hitting the first defender with his crosses and corners. Good job he’s only on a one-year contract!!
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True most of these wil be gone at the end of the season conference players most of em and deano will follow if hes not careful …
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I dont’t agree with Hursts comments however I do not accept the criticism Smith is getting about panic buys etc. The fact of the matter is the budget isn’t there for better players and you can only do so much with the ability we have
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True Stevie C but pay peanuts and you will get monkeys…..
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I think the team is lacking pace and fitness, we need to play at the same pace as we do in the last 5 mins of each half, apart from that we seem to stroll around, allow the opposition to have as much time on the ball as they desire.
Pick the pass which normally ends up in Andy Butler being called to make last ditch tackles. If the midfield and forward closed down the opposition, the needless sendings off would stop.
Never thought that we would be exposed game after game by us not closing down players, before blaming the ref guys look at yourselves, have you done enough to stop that pass!
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To 6. Yes the finances are not the best but that’s been the same for as long as I can remember (I’ve been going 20 years)
In that time we have had a lot of success when the right manager is at the helm. Graydon had a squad on paper that was probably worse than anything in recent years but got us promoted twice from this division, Money probably would have got us promoted had he still been here. They showed that with organisation and team spirit a lot can be achieved with little funding.
At least if we was playing well and losing I would be slightly happier but it is exactly the same as last season! Same garbage, different manager!
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SIMPLE THE PLAYERS E AS BROUGHT ARE THE CHEAP OPTION AND DONT POSSES ENOUGH SKILL TO PLAY AT THIS LEVEL SIMPLE SIMPLE SIMPLE…
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Stevie C – I do have some sympathy for Dean given the lack of money that he has to play with. But….I’m sure that there were better players out there in the summer which wouldn’t have cost a bomb. We need some pace out wide and upfront, some creativity in midfield and a target man – Dean needs to tap into the loan market. He can make room for these loan signings by sending Nicholls, Hurst and Jarvis out on loan, probably to League 2 or Conference sides. Plan A ain’t working, time for Plan B.
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I suppose its the refs fault that the team only turn up forn 45 mins week in week out too. Come on lads your better than that!
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Christ, things must be desperate if we’ve resorted to blaming refs already. Sort it out lads.
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Hang on everyone……….early season we got the ball on the deck, used Gnapka really well on the right and Macken was scoring!
Both those players have been missing.
Early season again and Chambers and Taundry were closing down on the though pass options of the opposition. (9. G the Ref – point well made!).
The original starting 11 from early season has changed along witht he results.
So the point should be, in my humble opinion, that we don’t have natural replacements in all positions to be able to continue to play in the aforementioned style.
It’s would be hard on Manny Smith (with so many man of the match performances in his Saddlers career), but I would like to se Westlake, Lancashire, Butler and Sadler accros the back. (cos of course Buts red card should be rescinded)
The make up of the rest of the team has become too static. There is enough skill in this squad to make a challenge in this division, but the tactics cannot and should not ever be huff ball!
Keep the Faith……….Deano – you need to stand back and watch a game from the stand, I wonder whether you can se what we can see sometimes. Get back to your early season tactics, where we were geting in the box, scoring and even winning a few penalties ourselves.
UTS!
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