The news came today, that our forthcoming premier league game at Everton would be officiated by a certain Robert Madley. News that brought a collective groan.
With Newcastle on a four-game winning streak and wanting to put one over former boss Sam Allardyce, this was the last thing we needed in preparation.
‘Bobby’ Madley is infamous here for the diabolical display in the Wear-Tyne derby a couple of seasons back where we were by far the better side but after a shoulder charge by Fabricio Coloccini on one of the Mackem players, he not only gave a penalty but he sent off our then captain Coloccini.
Whilst the red card was later overturned after an official appeal, the result still stood and the enemy still class the game amongst their ‘6 in a row’ streak which gets them through life when all else seems lost.
Aside from that, Madley was in the middle for the defeat down at Southampton in the same season where Daryl Janmaat missed everything on the pitch but his hand didn’t miss the dressing room wall as he broke it and Jamaal Lascelles showed his future leadership credentials with a speech that defied his years. Lascelles basically slagging off the squad saying nobody cares.
Since then, Madley has been kept away from us aside from our win at Brighton last season where he was fairly anonymous in relation to stuff going against us although he did award Brighton a penalty. Hopefully, this continues on Monday night when we face The Toffees under the Sky cameras.
Ref: Bobby Madley
Assistants: Marc Perry, Adrian Holmes
Fourth official: Andre Marriner