For every action there will be a reaction. Social media criticism is inevitable

Let’s get this on record right away. A lot of people that populate the social media outlets are poisonous scumbags.

But like them or not - we can’t do without the socials. If you don’t have ‘followers’ employers, advertisers and businesses alike aren’t interested in you. It doesn’t matter how stupid you are - or how banal your site - if you’ve got millions of followers then you are king.

The lies propagated about me are scandalous. Lies often given oxygen by our national newspapers, who aren’t blameless when it comes to putting people on offer. In fact, they are often the reason people are destroyed on social media. In my case, their unchecked nonsense is a disgrace. Despite this - I still engage with Twitter. Don’t get me started on Musk. Try doing what he did at Trump’s inauguration next time you walk down your High St and see how you get on.

I digress. I don’t even bother to respond to the gutter-snipes these days. That makes them even more angry - and me laugh when I read their replies.

Having said that - I’ve got to admit there are occasions I know full well I’m fishing, and I understand there will be consequences as a result. We all do it. For every action there is bound to be a reaction.

What did Michael Oliver think was going to happen when he whipped that red card out of his pocket at Molineux and wrongly sent off Lewis-Skelly? Yes - wrongly. I’ve rarely known the football world be so joined-up when it comes to criticising a refs decision.

Oh. Hold on. Perhaps there was one other occasion - when Howard Webb ducked sending Nigel de Jong off in the 2010 World Cup final. Webb was the only man who thought he got that one right. The rest of us didn’t. All of us.

He’s currently the only other man that thinks Oliver got it right at Molineux.

Instead of admitting Oliver was wrong and standing him down for a couple of weeks - he poured fuel on the fire and went the other way. The socials reacted with understandable anger. Consequences you see. For every action there is a reaction.

Oliver is a law unto himself. For some reason his colleagues - and his bosses - are all scared of him.

I’ll give you another example to support that claim. There was no sanction when Oliver told David Coote to give West Ham a pen in ten Hag’s last game. That decision eventually cost ETH his job. Ok - I know he was on the way out anyway, but that’s not the point.

Oliver got it horribly wrong that day as well. On that occasion the PGMOL admitted as much, but no action was taken against Oliver - who was only empowered by the lack disciplinary sanction.

We’ll never know what Darren England made of Oliver’s decision at Molineux. He was in VAR but was never going to get involved, which is why Webb should’ve taken him off VAR at Palace yesterday. And he shouldn’t be back until he’s grown a pair.

My criticism is fair. It’s based on what we all saw. Refs wanted to be centre stage on matchdays. Somehow we’ve allowed that to happen, but the problem is their wish comes with consequences. Action and reactions you see.

Of course I don’t condone the death threats allegedly aimed at Oliver. That kind of behaviour is outrageous, but I know all about it. I’ve had a few myself. I don’t take them seriously though and I certainly don’t look to make capital out of them. Mind you - if the police wish to investigate, please be my guest guys. I haven’t heard from them yet though.

No. Actions and reactions. If Webb had done the right thing I’m certain everyone would’ve quietened down.

By the way - the Lewis-Skelly decision wasn’t Oliver’s only mistake at Molineux, but the furore over that decision masked his second rick. He gave Joao Gomes only a second yellow after a really nasty lunge that should’ve been red.

Anyway - in the end justice was done and Arsenal won the game. I was delighted they did. If they appeal the Lewis-Skelly red they’ll win.

This one also had me scratching my head at the weekend. What was Guardiola doing giving a debut to 20-year-old Abdukodir Khusanov v Chelsea?

Guardiola was asking for trouble. And he got it. The kid’s first touch led to a goal and his second would’ve seen him sent-off if Oliver had been the ref.

Khusanov doesn’t speak English. He’d had one training session with his new colleagues and yet he was given a start in the most important area in a team.

What’s the one thing that’s been happening to City regularly this season? Yep. They can’t stop conceding goals.

Successful teams need to be strong at the back. That requires big players. Experienced players. John Stones-like players. Not 20-year-old debutants, who can’t speak to their team-mates.

The poor lad had a beast. When Guardiola eventually took him off - after 55 minutes - not at half-time as he should’ve done, but that would’ve been an admission he’d got it wrong - Khusanov looked close to tears. He was replaced by Stones - who should’ve started of course. And don’t tell me ‘he wasn’t fit’. If he wasn’t fit he shouldn’t have come on.

I felt for Khusanov. I wonder how long it will be before we see him again now his confidence is totally shot?