Quote Originally Posted by Peter View Post
Then why do refs still hate us?
The only reason they appear to like and respect Declan Rice is precisely because he is NOT captain so they actually have very little to do with him. However, were he contractually required to be constantly in their ear waving imaginary cards about, all that would change.

Perhaps, despite having received the most egregious red card in history, he may be seen as honest, stolid, a stalwart; one of the decent (for a Londoner) guys. He doesn't cause them any problems.

In any case, referees are never going to win us the league (does a single one of them actually come from London or even the South?), we are going to have to be good enough to do it on our own. The modest, unassuming ?degaard will be fine.