How do we get the benefit of doubt?

[Beachryan]

Every fan of every club feels like things go against them. It's part of psychology that we remember the negatives more strongly than positives. So every match numerous times we feel that we've been robbed. That's natural.

But, and I'm a huge fan of referees as my dad was one, this season I honestly feel like VAR in particular is being used differently for United than in other matches. Big matches - I think VAR feels like it HAS to get more involved, and make more decisions. And because every United match is a big match, it seems to be the case. Watching random mid-table matchups - it's really rare you get these controversial overturnings. It's rare you even see red cards. All I can think is that the VAR refs are a bit more amped up, feel a bit more like they have to justify their existence.

Regardless, as a club, we should have a strategy. Fergie was a master at this. Klopp basically stopped us getting penalties for a season. So what is ETH's strategy? What should he be doing?

For me the big question should be: does what Casemiro did on the pitch justify him missing almost a quarter of a season? In isolation, each incident could, by the letter of the law, be correct. Fine. But both actions happen constantly, multiple times a weekend without the same lens applied to them. So why? I know it feels Benitez-y, but surely the club could simply show 5 freeze-frames from other times this season a player has touched the throat of another - and I've seen 3 of them so there must be that many - and simply ask why a different standard is being applied.

Are we lobbying? Are we using the press? If not, why not? Our competitors do it. Fergie did it. We're getting absolutely trodden on this season by VAR (of course with the exception of the derby, may that decision forever remain in memory of all) and we seem to be taking the high road, and being trodden on more. So f*ck it, do something.

 

[Ian Reus]

The most influential clubs need to collectively push for a professional refereeing body.
They'd probably needed to fire 90% of the current crop of crap though.

 

[TheRedDevil'sAdvocate]

Ferguson was savvy about these things, but he also knew the league and its culture very well. I remember, during his later years, that a newly promoted to the PL referee cost us points in an away game early in the season, and SAF was very forgiving in the post-match interview. You need to know when and how to protest. A couple of months back, when Rashford played the most protracted dummy in the history of football, Pep didn't lash out at Attwell or Oliver. Instead, he said that it was the home crowd's influence that allowed the goal to stand.

Since we have to live with the referees for the foreseeable future, the first thing we should do is stop "feeling bad" about the calls that go our way. Next time we get a controversial call, give the ref a (sort of) pat on the back. In the beginning of 2007-09 season, ABU media/opposition were trying to create the narrative that Ronaldo gets a lot of soft penalties/fouls and that he goes to ground at the first opportunity. Ferguson defended the decisions by bringing the importance of flair players to the fore, and Ronaldo - probably after Fergie's advice - said, after another penalty that had won us a game, that when he's ready to shoot and someone makes him lose his balance, he was every right to go down.

Another thing that we have to be careful with, is that officials in England often tend to referee "reputations". There's a high chance of De Gea not getting the standard offensive foul almost every goalie gets in his six-yard box, if he collides with a bulky centre-forward in the few times he leaves his posts, simply because he carries a reputation of not being good at claiming the ball in these situations. I'm saying this because you can see a trend forming with Casemiro. It won't take long for people to start believing that he always has a red card in him. It would be smart, after he gets back from suspension and puts in a crucial defensive performance, to "praise" his aggressiveness in the presser.

We should also try to not lose our marbles after bad calls. It's not the first time we have reacted badly after a controversial call. Keep cool and be smart. For example, Taylor went to the freaking monitor today. He's absolutely certain that he made the right call, so, there's no point in complaining about every decision and screaming at his face afterward. It only made things worse. Play your football, try to garner some sympathy for playing 2/3 of the game a man down, and pick your moment, if such a moment rises to "challenge" a legitimate 50/50 decision and get the call.

It's the kind of little things that Ferguson was so good at. Both Klopp and Pep are very good at promoting the idea that their teams take so many risks to play attacking and pleasing to the eye football, that they deserve the benefit of the doubt now and then.