We had this conversation at the beginning of last season, and we never really got an answer. Kermit was virtually absent from MLS until several weeks into the season. I don't know if he was injured, or if he has a job-related problem. I don't know what he does for a living, but if he was, say, an accountant, he wouldn't have any time to jet around the country and referee in the middle of tax season. I'm betting there's a good reason behind it, and it's a little early to start speculating. It's just that there's a little deja vu going on for me.
I wouldn't say that. I've never been particularly fond of Marrufo, but he can be really good. Both ARs are fairly solid, but based on what I've seen, I'm honestly not sure why Jurisvic is on the Fifa panel already. That's not to say he won't be good, I'm just not seeing it yet.
So I finally got around to putting in October and November's matches into my database. Here are the final stats from last year (including playoffs) so we have a reference point for the new season. I haven't compiled the numbers for ARs and 4ths yet. DEAL WITH IT. Code: [b]Referee Matches Yellow Y/Game Reds R/Game[/b] Anno, Jasen 10 22 2.20 7 0.70 Bazakos, Elias 9 23 2.56 1 0.11 Bratsis, Niko 8 24 3.00 0 0.00 Chapin, Andrew 10 31 3.10 2 0.20 Gamble, Geoff (CAN) 8 28 3.50 2 0.25 GANTAR, DAVID (CAN) 6 25 4.17 4 0.67 GEIGER, MARK 13 43 3.31 2 0.15 Gonzalez, Jorge 21 61 2.90 6 0.29 Grajeda, Hilario 20 61 3.05 4 0.20 Guzman, Juan 8 29 3.63 4 0.50 Hernandez, Ramon 3 16 5.33 0 0.00 JURISEVIC, EDVIN 12 43 3.58 2 0.17 Kadlecik, Mark 15 49 3.27 5 0.33 Kennedy, Michael 13 51 3.92 5 0.38 MARRUFO, JAIR 22 56 2.55 2 0.09 Okulaja, Abiodun 10 24 2.40 3 0.30 Penso, Chris 13 46 3.54 5 0.38 PETRESCU, SILVIU (CAN) 13 48 3.69 3 0.23 Prus, Alex 16 30 1.88 3 0.19 Reyes, Yader 7 35 5.00 4 0.57 SALAZAR, RICARDO 23 75 3.26 5 0.22 Stott, Kevin 13 44 3.38 5 0.38 TOLEDO, BALDOMERO 21 49 2.33 7 0.33 VAUGHN, TERRY 17 57 3.35 5 0.29 WARD, PAUL (CAN) 8 36 4.50 5 0.63 [b]ALL REFEREES 319 1006 3.15 91 0.29[/b]
ManiacalClown, welcome back! Excellent post. Looking at it carefully, it now dawns on me that Elias Bazakos might have been the only US referee eligible for promotion to FIFA for 2012. Everyone else who wasn't a FIFA was either too old for promotion, already retired from the panel, or in their rookie MLS year. The only possible exception to that is Andrew Chapin, whose age I don't know. EDIT: I guess Reyes is also an exception; forgot he wasn't a rookie whistle last year Looking at the list, though, we have a lot of potential candidates for 2013. Also, I didn't realize Ramon Hernandez only worked 3 matches. Being a veteran of sorts, I wonder if there was an incident or match that halted assignments for him. I know that happened in a couple other cases, both those were pretty apparent/publicized; don't remember anything about Hernandez. EDIT#2: very well might have been this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D0_7yN_XDxk
This incident in 2010 pretty much sealed his fate: [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjrl7zOVjwA"]Referee forgets to bring yellow card - YouTube[/ame]
Los Angeles Galaxy vs. Real Salt Lake March 10, 2012 10:30 ET REFEREE: Kevin Stott. SAR (bench): Fabio Tovar; JAR (opposite): Jason Cullum; 4th: Paul Ward So the game guides show Ward being used as a 4th official on the 10th (LA v RSL) and 11th (CUSA v. HOU).
I doubt it. If that were true, why would he have any whistles in 2011? I'm sure it was a blackmark on the resume, but if that's a critical error it would have been the end of him then. Maybe it gave him less room for error later, but you got to think there was something in 2011 that caused a lower number of assignments.
Yes, I don't think this is that rare--certainly not for some of the California guys. But it makes sense for a guy like Ward. Signals he'll be used significantly this year and also makes for a nice weekend. Plus it's economical--fly a guy down from Canada and get to use him twice.
Monday, March 12 9:30 PM EDT (ESPN2) Portland vs Philadelphia - Baldomero TOLEDO / Frank ANDERSON / Ian ANDERSON / Juan GUZMAN
Juan Guzman also has two fourths this week, one in San Jose on Saturday and one in Portland on Monday.
Well Ramon Hernandez will now learn from the best when it comes to leaving your yellow card in the dressing room. Ramon Hernandez just seems to make the most basic procedural errors. There was a clip in Week in Review where he gave a yellow card to Freddie Ljunberg and play was restarted quickly without a whistle. He was recording the card then he started chasing after play. It seems like unless you do something so bad that you will get assignments in MLS once you have done many games in the league. See Michael Kennedy. If you need to take the fitness test three times you shouldn't be refereeing at that level.
Loving the black/dark grey shirt that Salazar is wearing. Weird seeing a referee shirt without a collar.
I really like the MDL/MLS Live redesign. Looks a lot better and seems to run a lot faster than last year.
I've been told Hernandez suffered an injury last year that sidelined him--so that's the answer. Not the clip I posted and definitely not the yellow card incident from 2010. And the jerseys look great. I might still be in the minority but I think these are the best Adidas has produced for a EURO or World Cup. Tiny bit of flair with the purple (unlike the dominant grey/yellow accents that we had in the last 4-year cycle), yet still professional and understated.
I agree. I also like how you can jump to the goals and misconduct very easily. A lot of times if I don't watch the highlights I'll just watch the red cards. Sad I know...
Amused that at one point while Hassli was shielding the ball in the corner, Marrufo ran over and positioned himself behind the corner flag. Certainly unorthodox.
The referees in this week's games are Grajeda, Salazar, Geiger, Gonzalez, Stott, Marrufo, Petrescu, and Toledo. Just occurred to me that these are probably the eight best referees in MLS now that Prus is retired.
He was the referee for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup Final in Colombia, his performances are consistently uncontroversial, his command presence and report with the players is very good. He's not just one of the best, but he's arguably the best referee in MLS right now.