The Football News Thread 2020/21

[Tony Towner]

Not sure I fully agree TT. VAR can only slow the game down and reduce the spontaneity.

I also think its hard to argue that bad decisions have lead to really good games/iconic moments in football.

Either way, we are all agreed that our refs are dreadful and there is no chance of implementing any improvement to VAR (as I'm sure its never going away) without sorting the ref standard in the Pl first.

I was completely against VAR before it was introduced and would still prefer to not have it all versus the version we have today. Then you see things like the penalty Newport conceded in the second half of extra time on Monday to lose out on promotion- probably a dive and definitely outside the area and you think there is room for an element of fairness.

Get rid of the fractional offsides - take a look if it's not obviously off then let it go. You could do that while the players are still celebrating

Look at things in real speed as well as slow motion - stop trying to find things like the West Ham sending off for kicking someone on his follow through or fouls which look late or high when slowed down.

Put handball back to common sense and deliberate. No, is it above or below the shirt line? no did it clip his little finger before he scored? No his arm wasn't completely by his side so it's a penalty even though the ball was belted at him from a yard away. Instinctively people know what's a handball and what isn't.

 

[YoungWolf]

I was in favour of VAR to help address massive, blatant injustices (or off the ball incidents for example) and try and take some pressure of referees.

What we have is them scrutinising so many things. The experience in the ground for fans is clearly impacted too. I was at Southampton away and even though it gave us a penalty (most obvious penalty ever, despite what Hassenhutl said at the time) and we still chanted fuckVAR after.

I would happily scrap it all now though. ILeave goal line technology in though.

 

[Sniffer]

Keep it but with 2 appeals per side per game. Every on field decision stays the same unless there is proof that the decision is wrong,

Blow both appeals for no reason and then lose to a last minute penalty that was outside the area - tough shit.

 

[Del Woppio]

I was completely against VAR before it was introduced and would still prefer to not have it all versus the version we have today. Then you see things like the penalty Newport conceded in the second half of extra time on Monday to lose out on promotion- probably a dive and definitely outside the area and you think there is room for an element of fairness.

Get rid of the fractional offsides - take a look if it's not obviously off then let it go. You could do that while the players are still celebrating

Look at things in real speed as well as slow motion - stop trying to find things like the West Ham sending off for kicking someone on his follow through or fouls which look late or high when slowed down.

Put handball back to common sense and deliberate. No, is it above or below the shirt line? no did it clip his little finger before he scored? No his arm wasn't completely by his side so it's a penalty even though the ball was belted at him from a yard away. Instinctively people know what's a handball and what isn't.

All suggestions I'd agree with - but the problem with a common sense approach is that it will inevitably lead to accusations of inconsistency and/or bias

 

[AndyWolves]

All suggestions I'd agree with - but the problem with a common sense approach is that it will inevitably lead to accusations of inconsistency and/or bias

Exactly, Southampton away it seemed a stone wall penalty to us but the commentators were saying it was harsh and maybe shouldn't have been.

 

[BillyDee]

Fuck VAR.

 

[Lupo]

I would fuck VAR off yesterday but if it is to stay, I would favour ex pros who know/understand the nuances of the game having input at Stockley Park rather than Riley's foot soldiers and cronies. And put Peter Walton in a home

 

[Derby Wolf]

I would fuck VAR off yesterday but if it is to stay, I would favour ex pros who know/understand the nuances of the game having input at Stockley Park rather than Riley's foot soldiers and cronies. And put Peter Walton in dignitas

FIFY.

 

[The Bear]

Keep it but with 2 appeals per side per game. Every on field decision stays the same unless there is proof that the decision is wrong,

Blow both appeals for no reason and then lose to a last minute penalty that was outside the area - tough shit.

Who are you appealing to?

The ref says no pen, VAR encourage him to have another look. He decides it is one, the opposition manager looks at a replay or is told by his staff that it still seems dodgy, so they challenge it. Do you really see VAR overturning that after they encouraged the ref to have another look?

Or VAR gives a subjective handball penalty after the ref didn't spot it. Who looks at the appeal? VAR ref isn't going to change his mind is he.

 

[Tony Towner]

Who are you appealing to?

The ref says no pen, VAR encourage him to have another look. He decides it is one, the opposition manager looks at a replay or is told by his staff that it still seems dodgy, so they challenge it. Do you really see VAR overturning that after they encouraged the ref to have another look?

Or VAR gives a subjective handball penalty after the ref didn't spot it. Who looks at the appeal? VAR ref isn't going to change his mind is he.

In the appeals scenario VAR wouldn't make any of the overturning decisions of the ref. They'd only be there for the appeal

 

[Derby Wolf]

Who are you appealing to?

The ref says no pen, VAR encourage him to have another look. He decides it is one, the opposition manager looks at a replay or is told by his staff that it still seems dodgy, so they challenge it. Do you really see VAR overturning that after they encouraged the ref to have another look?

Or VAR gives a subjective handball penalty after the ref didn't spot it. Who looks at the appeal? VAR ref isn't going to change his mind is he.

I think the suggestion is VAR only intervenes at the request of the captain/manager who have two appeals per game when the on field official misses something.

 

[The Bear]

Got it. I think that'd be worse than what we have tbh. You'll have benches crowded around ipads trying to watch replays while the game is going on. What time limit do you give them?

 

[Tony Towner]

I think it'd slow the game down more, particularly in the last 10 minutes if they've not been used and the chances are you'd gamble on most goals conceded if offside is still all about the lines

 

[Derby Wolf]

I think it'd slow the game down more, particularly in the last 10 minutes if they've not been used and the chances are you'd gamble on most goals conceded if offside is still all about the lines

Likewise a last minute pen you'd use it to knock the taker off their focus etc.

 

[Wilf Wolf]

Likewise a last minute pen you'd use it to knock the taker off their focus etc.

But all penalties are reviewed now so no different.

 

[Tony Towner]

John Stones to sponsor Merthyr Town
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57340698

 

[Aikiwolf]

My preference is to fully remove VAR, it's a blight on the game. This isn't going to happen though so that leads me to think the best solution is:

Any VAR review lasts a maximum of 30 seconds, no slow motion replays, and offside is judged by the eye and not lines drawn across the pitch.

This would remove obvious mistakes and reduce the time taken whilst increasing the spontaneity that has clearly been damaged by the current version of VAR.

Whilst it leaves grey areas that the media and fans will overanalyse it will, it broad terms, remove major mistakes and reduce the torture of checking if Podence has part of a blurry arm offside.

 

[AndyWolves]

Palace released list

https://twitter.com/x/status/1400877927319941124

 

[PuntsWolf]

Cahill, Clyne, Dann, McCarthy, Sakho, Townsend, PVA and Ward were either regular starters or certainly in the 18.

And the players they still have at the back aren’t exactly super reliable injury wise or spring chickens (Kelly, Tomkins). Then in midfield they’ve got Milivojevic and McArthur.

Turnover of players going to be insane.

 

[Paddingtonwolf]

That’s one busy summer for whomever goes in there.