Quote Originally Posted by phantomdj View Post
The standard of referees is much worse. you might be able to pick out the odd thing back then, but today it is continual. just remember all the tackles they used to do and players used to stay up on their feet far more often. today it is a joke.
players staying on their feet more has nothing to do with the quality of reffing.

in any case, reffing has always been to roughly the same standard since I started watching the game.

The game itself is alot better than when I was a kid. there are more passing, attacking teams in our league and alot more flair players who can entertain the crowd (thats their job when all said and done). the standard of play is far in excess of the 70s and 80s, and to a lesser extent the 90s.
some of the tackles players like Souness, Robson, Moses etc were allowed to get away with in the 80s were shocking and would (quite rightly) not be tolerated these days.

it's true there is too much diving and play acting in the game right now, but what's worse, diving or reckless tackling.
diving can cost a team trophies and at worst, a place in the top division.
reckless tackling can cost players their career.

it's not the quality of the game that's gone downhill in my eyes but the people that follow it. as I mentioned before, post prem numpties in jester's hats have invaded our game and are ruining the match day experience for the hardcore fans.