Jeff Winter has been causing a bit of a fuss of late with his seemingly totally biased and negative opinions against our manager.
No manager has ever been given a touchline ban for comments he made about a referee but Winter went as far as claiming Ferguson should have been given a FIFA stadium ban! We weren’t alone in thinking he was bonkers.
But then, this is the referee who thought Liverpool fans applauded him after the final whistle following his last visit to Anfield. “It was longer and louder than normal, even for a big home win. Did they know it was my final visit? Was the applause for me? They are such knowledgeable football people, that it would not surprise me.” Or maybe it was because the result confirmed their Champions League spot for the following season?
Anyway, after arguing with him about his claims that Dimitar Berbatov dived against CSKA Moscow and getting nowhere, I asked him would he be interested in having a chat about various topics for the blog. He happily and kindly obliged.
Scott the Red: People often say that decisions even themselves out over the course of the season. Given that Chelsea’s goal against us should have been ruled out on three counts and United were denied a penalty, whilst Rooney was wrongly ruled offside when he was played on by Ashley Cole when Rooney would have been one on one with the keeper, do you think there’s any way that match deciding decisions in games against your closest rivals can even themselves out? United vs Chelsea is an example of a six pointer so my opinion is that the only way decisions of that magnitude even themselves out would be if we were given a match deciding decision against Chelsea at Old Trafford this season. What do you think?
Jeff Winter: I think if you look at last season’s results, it was not United’s results against the others in the “Big Four” that won them the League. In fact, quite the contrary. Even SAF admitted that had United taken their chances, they would have won comfortably. In any game, and most certainly over a season, player mistakes have much more effect on the result of a game than any refereeing decision.
STR: I’d argue the games that won us the league last season are irrelevant to this season. The season before last we picked up 13 points from 18 against the top four, whilst losing to the likes of City and Bolton. Doesn’t change the fact points from the top cost you more – had we beaten Chelsea we’d now be 1 point clear instead of 5 points behind. Regardless, do you think it’s now time video refereeing was brought in to stop the wrong team going home with the points?
JW: Personally, I believe in goal line technology but all other matters should be left to the match referee. Football is not like other sports in that there are not so many natural breaks in play when video analysis could take place. Constant stoppages would kill the flow of the game.
STR: So what about players who blatantly cheat and get away with it? For example David Ngog’s dive against Birmingham last week robbed his opponents of two points which could be very important to them come May. Do you think retrospective punishments should be introduced?
JW: I most certainly do. This, along with subsequent suspensions for guilty players, would act as a massive deterrent for future games.
STR: This would certainly make the referee’s life easier too, with less players willing to cheat, although in some matches, it might be worth it and the ref could still get conned. What’s the worst decision you’ve ever made in a match?
JW: I was fortunate. Whilst obviously I made many honest mistakes, I never made such a massive clanger that lived with me throughout my career. I once turned down a couple of penalty appeals when Fulham’s Boa Morte was challenged by Sol Campbell. On watching MotD, I saw I was wrong on both counts. Regarding United, I don’t recall a massive mistake, but I am sure that you will tell me differently!
STR: We’ll get on to that in a minute, Jeff. First tell me, do referees watch replays of any mistakes they’ve made at half time?
JW: No, you don’t have time, but there is always someone who tells you that you may have got something wrong. SAF springs to mind!
STR: He appears to always be on your mind at the moment, given the amount of articles you’ve written slagging him off lately. We’re told it’s wrong for managers to criticise the mistakes of the referee but it appears as though anyone can have a pop at the manager these days. His Alan Wiley comments have certainly made him a very unpopular man amongst the men in black at the moment. Do you think referees are capable of switching themselves off from any bias and making themselves completely neutral, or are they just human?
It was Mike Riley’s decision to wave on a stonewall penalty on Danny Welbeck in the FA Cup semi-final last season that got me thinking about it. The press had quoted stat after stat about the number of penalties Riley had awarded to us (it didn’t matter whether they were all nailed on pens or not) and David Moyes even called Riley a United fan in the week leading up to the game. Phil Jagielka brought Welbeck down and admitted it should have been a penalty after the game, as did Moyes. Can referee decisions be influenced by off-field events?
JW: SAF is the king of the mind games and I am sure that at times he has benefited from it. Conversely, sometimes it may have worked against him. Who knows how sub-consciously the mind works. In a moment of indecision, a player’s reputation, or something that you have been made aware of, might just put a little doubt in your mind. This I think is a distinct possibility.
STR: Quite frankly, I would argue that makes the need for video refereeing even more necessary. We’re all only human after all, eh? Now on to your ‘human’ moments. How the hell did Dennis Wise escape a sending off during the FA Cup final 2004? With 20 minutes played, he cynically fouled Ronaldo, making no effort for the ball. Then he shoved Ronaldo in the face. Before half time, he repeatedly fouled Scholesy in the area, dragging him to the ground at one point. Then, as the players left the pitch, he shoved Gary Neville in the back, right in front of you. You didn’t award a single yellow card for any of these offences and another referee might have given Wise a straight red for raising his hand to Ronaldo’s face. Did you make a mistake?
JW: Looking at all that, perhaps he should have been hung rather than sent off! I was happy with the way I handled the game. No one needed to be sent off and I managed to keep 22 players on the pitch with only one yellow card. This was my style and, in the main, people, especially the players, appreciated it.
STR: Well it would be great if all matches played out with 22 men, course. The less referees we get like Phil Dowd, who seemed to take great pleasure in sending Wayne Rooney off for nothing last season, the better. But that doesn’t change that some players do deserve to get sent off and the desire to not want to spoil a game shouldn’t completely override the need for punishing those in the wrong. Still, it had to be pretty good being in charge for a Cup final. What is your favourite United related moment?
JW: Obviously my final game when United beat Millwall in the FA Cup Final was emotionally significant to me. At the final whistle, SAF shook my hand and obviously at that point there was no bad blood, despite our previous disagreements. There are many more tales in my autobiography. It is a good gift idea with Christmas approaching!
STR: I had to expect a plug sooner or later! If not the Cup final though, what was the best United game you ever reffed?
JW: It had to be the game at White Hart Lane when United were 3-0 down at half time yet still won 5-3.
STR: Good times. Still, Arsenal beat us to the title that year. Who do you fancy to win the league this season?
JW: I hope that Arsenal win it. Everyone wrote them off but they play great football. Realistically, it will probably be between Chelsea and United. My preference would be for United. It’s a Northern thing.
STR: I would have thought the Northern thing would have made you favour Chelsea – seems to do the trick for Liverpool and City fans! Anyway, who is your current favourite player in the league?
JW: You are going to love this one but, as usual, ask me a question and I will give you an honest answer. Steven Gerrard. Mind you, Wayne Rooney is getting better and better. Probably my all-time favourite, other than Boro players, is Gianfranco Zola. He was a great player and is also a gentleman.
STR: Gerrard? Christ. Well, let’s not pull any punches now then. What do you think of Sir Alex Ferguson?
JW: As a Rangers man, I am in full agreement with him. As a manager he is excellent. He has built and re-built great sides. Any fan, if they are honest, would have wanted him as their manager. However, he has helped to turn United from a team that for many years after Munich were loved and admired by many, into a team that everyone hates. Much is through jealousy but also his attitude and behaviour hardly warms him to others in say the way Sir Bobby Robson did. He is a bully and a very bad loser. He has fallen out with his own players, as well as refs and other managers. But the bottom line is that he is a winner. You can’t knock him for that.
STR: I think the saying goes ‘show me a good loser and I’ll show you a loser’. Sir Bobby Robson, God bless him, was a lovely chap but had he dominated English football for almost two decades he probably wouldn’t be the popular man he is remembered as. Ferguson does what he does for the betterment of the team, and if exaggerating the siege mentality wins us title after title, I’m not going to be complaining. Whilst he’s fallen out with people, let’s not forget how many managers in this country ring up Sir Alex when they need some advice (Steve Bruce, Alan Curbishley, Paul Ince, Alex McLeish, etc.)- hardly the behaviour of a bully!
Man Utd News 24/7
winter is a cunt, an absolute fucking cunt
Excellent Article STR, SAF is a God.
Il admit Gerrard is a decent player but you cant be any good on the sidelines.
It shows for England, Gerrard and Lampard are shite, everything goes through Wazza!!!
Jeff winter you’re a massive virus!!!!!
A good point brought up there.
If SAF get’s in to trouble for commenting on referee’s then referee’s should get in to trouble for commenting on SAF.
The best thing to do is not get wound up and just get on with it.
Decisions go for and against United.
Jeff Winter is a media whore who loves the sound of his own voice.
I’d rather people ignore the fat **** than give him the publicity he craves.
He seems to spend all day sat at his e-mail answering questions from people, before making a few quid off SKY etc for talking rubbish (Im suprised he hasnt asked for a fee off Scot for these quotes), oh yes, he gets in a plug for his book.
Referees never give an opinion when they ref, so why should ex referees be given platforms for their spleens after they retire?
Gerrard the best player..!
Says it all about winter.
he managed to keep 22 men on the pitch all right……… 22 men and one huge cunt……. indeed his style……… its so obvious, his hate that is………
Jeff Winter? I am suprised we even give airtime to this self-publicising, delusional parasite. You never have been and never will be somebody.
As far as refs go, there were and are far far worse. Alot of refs show bias against us, to be fair to him, he was mostly nuetral with the odd mistake. I’d take him back in the league over half the idiots currently serving.
He is a cunt like all referees. The only one I have any respect for is Collina.
Great interview Scott. Says it fucking all. Stevie Me the biggest cunt around is his favourite player. He obviously hates Fergie and United, he can’t even hide that in his answers. Calling Sir Bobby the great man and SAF a bully. Grow some fucking balls you fat geordie cunt. Loves the attention of the media. Why the fuck would he want Arsenal to win if its a “Northern thing”? Some of your questions and sarcasm was excellent Scott. He also is wrong about the abu’s. Its pure jealousy, simple as. Two things are clear, he is a dipper and he hates Fergie and United.
Scott – You forget to mention Kenny Dalglish phoning Fergie as well. He wanted someone to say a few words after Hillsborough and by all accounts he said “Fergie will do it”. The reporter said “but what about your rivalry” . “No I will ask Alex, he will do it, nae bother”. Not sure if I have facts 100% correct but pretty much went like that. Such a bully! It is a fucking myth.
totally agree with you tufty, always in the papers or on tv talking some kind of bollox, i can only imagine his book is a great read about how great he is.
Winter obviously thinks an awful lot of himself to say ‘its my style’. I thought referees were there to uphold the laws of the game, nobody cares if you have ‘a style’ or not, we’re not looking at you jeff! and we won’t be nostalgically talking about such stylistic performances in years to come. Maybe there is a need for technology, if only to keep the deluded, egotistical idiots like Winter out of the game.
Collina was not all he was made out to be. He lived off his “good ref” reputation, but made as many mistakes as the next ref.
Its only human to make mistakes, especially given the tempo of the game, but I’d hate to see video replays come in. One thing about football, is that its the same world over, a park game differs little in terms of rules and technology than a game at the top level. You cant have goal line technology etc on a park. People will argfue that decisions cost clubs, but a club who might loose out on Promotion to The Conference or The Football league, could be a club who coul rise through the leagues, yet they get ingore on the technology arguement, it seems only reserved for the already top levels.
The extra officials in the UEFA cup have brought little added benefit, in the Fulham v Roma gane, one extra official couldnt spot a foul that was one yard from him, which resulted in the wrong player initially being sent off.
The best refs are the ones who’s names you dont know, as most people only tend to look at who the ref is once they have made bad decisions.
I didn’t even bother reading this article, only the headline caught my attention.
Why bother giving Winter and publicity even if it is small. The bloke lives on another planet! He’s a self obsessed, publicity hound. Who really cares what does fat talentless prick has to say?!
If Jeff Winter was made of chocolate he would most definetly eat himself. Bonefied cunt. Thats all he is. Wanker. “I probably want United to win”. Ye fucking right fatboy. I hope he reads this back. Youre a cunt Winter. I personally think the soccer a.m. impression of him is perfect.
Same as gary, i read scott question’s but cudn’t be arsed to read winter’s reply, the cunt loves the sound of his own voice. Collina was reverd out side of italy but hated by most of the italian clubs.
WTF!!?!?!?
http://www.jeffwinterentertainmentandmedia.co.uk/
The twat has his own (self-dedicated) website!?!? He needs putting down.
Still no Phil Dowd thou
hate that fucker
Just a run of the mill ref having his 5mins.
He avoided the question again, just like he did when he talked about it on Sky Sports news,
He failed to acknowledge that they were incorrect discussions,
Not only did the Officials stop United from scoring on multiple occasions, but they handed Chelsea the winning goal from what can only be described as shocking refereeing.
He changes the subject to last season, or player mistakes. This is truly laughable.
He thinks it’s OK for the FA to BAN SAF or WARN Rooney for things that were caught on CAMERA, but thinks that CAMERA’s should not be used for keep Fair Play in a match of football.
The man is a joke,
Nice Scott.
you should’ve asked how come it’s OK and a perfect tackle when Carragher nearly broke Carrick in half and slightly touched the ball, but GNev makes contact with the whole ball and hit’s an opponent on the follow through and sees red, or when Fletchnaldinho got the ball and Ashley Cole went “flying”.
I think his words were Sir Alex doesn’t know anything about football if he thought there was anything wrong with Carraghers tackle.
Also, it’s interesting to hear him say the goal chelsea got should stand because drogba had pushed wes to make himself onside.
Scouse loving, stinking cunt called Jeff Winter is a waste of space.
I would not be surprised if behind the sceenes, he is campaigninig for refs to go hard on United.
You can pick out the bad interviews from the good when the questions are longer than the answers. A bit of author ego from you in this one, Scott. It would realy benefit the article if you kept your questions shorter than the rants you’ve written above. Seems just more like an argument with a referee than an interview.
Tufty Said,November 17th, 2009 @11:18
Bang on Tufty
Duncan – I asked him would he be interested in having a chat about various topics for the blog.
And I really wish every time somebody had an opinion, passionate or otherwise, it wasn’t described as a “rant”.
Come on Tufty, Collina was a class referee, the greatest ever. But the look he gives when he wants silence from the players reminds me a bit of the stricter teachers I’ve had.
He scares me slightly, what with his alopecia leading to a lack of eyebrows…
Scott mate, you have got to tell me how to make it bold and put italics and stuff. It’d make my posts a lot easier to understand.
Some of the questions left very little room for stimulating discussion and didn’t illuminate any new points. If you gave this link to potential interviewees in future, you wouldn’t get many takers.
SAF is God !! STR is Jesus !!
Good read scott.i personally liked the questions.it is no secret that all refrees love to hate sir alex and thats why we love him more.he is not the only manager to criticize refs but his achievements in the game is what makes all the journos and ex refs target him so that they can be in the news.
i wonder if winter clicked on the site for a read (the big headed twat probably did) and then read the first comment, the WHO’s wonderfully blunt, “winter is a cunt, an absolute fucking cunt”
i really, really hope he did.
Tufty, Spot on on both Collina make a lot of mistakes but was was this mythical figure and Winter is a media whore, like that cunt Poll.
@WHO well said mate what a fucking cunt
The FA should have a leash on this kind of cheap publicity done by ex refs.
Why should they be allowed to talk shit when anything that Sir Alex says is blown out of proportion.
I am amazed how biased this guy actually is. The match in 2004 is so much of crap, he harps on keeping 22 men but forgets that when a United player is booked.
He reminds me of Paris Hilton, anything to get noticed.
Sorry Paris somtimes has something to show for her efforts!
theboogeyman – Yeah I would like to know that as well mate.
This guy is a narcissistic t**t, who loves the publicity. Why give it to him. How the f**k does he have the cheek to call Sir Alex a bully, he’s the most respected man in football. Apparently refs are always asking Fergie for autographs etc, to auction for refs charity’s, and he’s always obliging. Would they be asking if they really felt he was a bully. What a tosser!
@debred – to be fair, winter’s got bigger tits!
Even pricks like Winter in between slagging SAF know when to plug him & ManU! In Asia we call it ‘carry balls’ as NOT FOOTBALLS. He knows there are tons of ManU fans out there who might or MIGHT NOT buy his book. I’ll read it at Borders for free though!
Jesus wept. Giving Jeff “rent a quote” Winter the oxygen of publicity is just going to encourage the oaf.
There’s only one thing worse than a crap referee and that’s one who has retired then slags off his former colleagues and leading figures like Fergie.
No wonder few turned up for his crap book signing.
Just as i always thought many refs includeing J winter are are egomaniacs who only ref because they was rubbish at the beautiful game as a kid!….and without doubt let there personal feelings affect there performace. The Bloke is a clown.
U_N_I_T_E_D…united are the team for me!!
I fucking hate the publicity whore that is Jeff Winter. One of the most hated referees ever as far as I’m concerned, probably only beaten by David Ellery.
How up your own arse do you have to be about that Analfield comment? Come on, have a brain!
Great article though Scott, couldn’t have been easy to arrange. As always, it’s much appreciated.
The problem with the term “bully” is that its genuine interpretation is of a person who picks his/her mark, and is indifferent to the feelings of all others within or without those who “follow” him/her at the time. There are nuances to this including the worst of all – the sly bully who uses a facade to psychologically intimidate; finding weak spots, for example, in someone’s personal life or past.
Ferguson is not a bully in the sense he lacks nothing from his life view and/or psychological make-up needing him to compensate by inflicting misery on those perceived as weaker than he. He is renowned not only for his open-line policy to young managers seeking advice, but his genuine warmth and humour away from football. He is a generous person by all accounts too.
I can think of many past managers and several current ones who are sly and manipulative in their treatment of others within their compass career-wise. The worst kind of bully in other words. I can name you one for certain: Rafael Benitez.
The bottom line is straightforward. IF Ferguson IS a bully in any sense of its varied and thus convenient interpretations, then at least he is upfront with it; either in his work environment, or in his open dealings with those in the media who help to create the myth that he is. He will speak his mind to ANYONE in whatever circumstances. Genuine bullies by “nature” NEED to be very selective on that.
And LFC fans should be even more careful. There are enough tales having done the rounds, some fairly recent, about Shanks not being the lovable character of yore, quite the reverse. Similarly that Paisley wasn’t really the quiet achiever we’re all led to believe he was.
well i learnt one new thing from that interview.
Jeff winter is a bigger narcissist than I previously had him pegged as.
What an idiot
Winter is a media slut – who talks more shite than collymore
As I have a real issue with referees at the moment, I read this one with interest… The main problem I have is that, whilst it’s generally understood and accepted that referees make honest mistakes from time to time, the sheer arrogance shown by some refs and especially most of the media is beyond belief.
I would just like them to be able to accept criticism when its warranted, as managers and players have to do all the time. My tuppenceworth on Ferguson’s recent comments over the last couple of months is that they have varied in their validity (Sunderland – probably a bit out of order, Liverpool – was spot on, especially when taking what he said in full, while Chelsea – spot on, in fact he should have been more vociferous!)…
As for video technology, why can’t there be a person in the stands watching the game on a tv screen, mik’d up to the referee so they could communicate if there is an incident where the ref needs some help? The game doesn’t have to be stopped unnecessarily, and refs will have that ‘extra pair of eyes’ that they need… As the meerkat says, its simples…
I am left thinking, if Mr Winter read the comments left for him on here he feels the love.
“In Any game and most certainly over a season,players mistakes have much more effect on the result of a game than any refereeing decision” really ? and Officials in one game for a league title.
“I believe in goal line technology” I believe in fucking linesmen doing there fucking job.
What a knob.