Time to bring officiating into the 21st century

This sort of thing is happening far too often - Saturday alone I think there were four major cock-ups.

Yet still the Luddites who pretend to run the game do not see fit to take it into the 21st century.

How much longer must a billion dollar worldwide entertainment industry be governed by procedures more appropriate to the Zingari League?

Rafa had every right to kick off as he did, this sort of thing has cost us dear in recent years.

I can't see a single valid argument against video evidence either, probably because there isn't one.

Even when your team is the beneficiary, it would serve the purpose of shutting up the moaners, as with Luis Garcia's so-called 'ghost' goal against Chelsea.

Second, that said, with 30 attempts on goal, 20 corners and 75% possession, we should still have been able to come up with a second goal against the likes of Stoke City.

It was their first clean sheet, and Everton stuck three past them only last week.

Of course, their tactics hardly helped, as is the intention.

One is reminded of Terry McDermott's famous comment about the opposition putting out 11 dustbins. However, the fact that we could not conjure up the wit to get past them does not augur well.

Look at Arsenal on Saturday.

United and Chelsea also seem to come up with at least one goal in such circumstances, which happen all too frequently.

What would we give for a Penny Dalglish or a Peter Beardsley, or even the aforementioned Luis Garcia!

Instead we've got Robbie Keane. Now, it's not the thing to get on his back, so I won't. Also, Peter Crouch took ions to score his first, after which he was quite prolific.

Thinking about it, could you see Crouchy doing well against a typically tall English defence?

I could.