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Dion should go back to calculating rental yields. Either that or look at the players feet. Wasn’t red though. Strange how we are discussing how bad the officials were in the decisions against the saints. Not the Cavani penalty or the lack of extra time to account for that many goals/VAR reviews/subs. The way it was going, it could have meant another goal or two 😝
Regardless of the rules, I can't imagine many fans want that to be what football is about. Same with the David Luiz "challenge".
There's a lot of talk about giving attacking players the benefit of the doubt with offside decisions, do defenders need something similar when in their own box?? To me it seems pathetic that defenders are becoming too scared to even make a challenge in case there is "contact" and the attacker "has every right to go down".
For me VAR and referees need to start looking more at diving, playing for fouls and giving fouls when the attacker stays on their feet. I can't remember the last card I saw given for simulation yet we know it happens frequently.
Martial went down because he’s useless and wouldn’t back himself to score. So over-rated. Reminds me of Theo Walcott......very fast.......and that’s it.
For me VAR and referees need to start looking more at diving, playing for fouls and giving fouls when the attacker stays on their feet.
The trouble is that VAR has removed the discretion of referees. They now have to follow the rules (which now seem to change every week) to the absolute letter of the law or, technically, they can be over-ruled.
So technically, to the letter of the law, both the Martial challenge and the Luiz ones were correct. Both penalties and both red cards.
In reality, you might as well not have a ref on the pitch any more. All decisions could all be done from Stockley park and then transmitted to a big screen at the ground
Actually... nobody mention that to the FA. They'll probably put it in place for next season
They now have to follow the rules to the absolute letter of the law or, technically, they can be over-ruled.
I don't think that is the process, the var official should just say, yep that looks a good one or no it's well/a bit dodgy, and the ref decides whether he takes a look at it on the pitch side monitor or just accepts their guidance. The ref is the one designated to officiate the game, not the var, that is just a tool to assist him.
has every right to go down
That is my most hated phrase in commentary, I think over the years it is so ingrained that it has influenced and damaged the game much more than var.
Dion should go back to calculating rental yields.
Dion should come back and play for Coventry again... we need a striker
The ref is the one designated to officiate the game, not the var, that is just a tool to assist him.
It's certainly not looking that way when it comes to offside decisions.
If VAR was used to penalise actual fouls in the box, and punish diving, then it would reduce cheating. As it is it's encouraging it.
Martial took a heavy touch, realised he wasn't going to get to the ball so hung back slightly to initiate contact and threw himself over. Are we really saying you literally can't brush against an attacker in the box or it should be a penalty? Even if they clearly play for it and the contact is negligible. That's not a game I want to watch.
And then a cheat-y penalty just to top it off.
The offside thing is farcical but I think we’re stuck with it now. Imagine if we went back to the old way and offside goals are scored which the linesman/ref misses. ‘VAR would have picked that up’ etc.
I have thought about the rule changing to the whole player being offside but the VAR lines would still come out, for instance the studs of his trailing leg being a mm offside.
Are we really saying you literally can’t brush against an attacker in the box or it should be a penalty?
I don't know? Are we? Shall we ask Mo...
🤣
I'm not a fan of Salah and Mane's diving but if everyone else is going to do it then they might as well. Harry Kane is one of the worst but gets less stick because he's not forrin.
Salah in particular does get fouled frequently and gets nothing, so you can see why he does it. If they want to crack down on diving and fouls using VAR that's fine with me (if we have to have VAR).
I agree with you the present VAR rules are mental.
A few weeks ago Luke Shaw was clearly fouled (a proper one, not a slight brush) in the box and got nowt because he didn't go down. The decision didn't go to VAR and the game was waved on, then Pogba had a go at him for staying on his feet
Thats where we are. Its bonkers!
Yes and Frannie Lee was at it in the 70’s and Juergen Klinnsmen ruined the 1990 World Cup final with his impressions of salmon spawning. But you’d rarely find it a grass roots level as you’d be laughed at back to the clubhouse.
Harry Kane has built up quite the montage of the backing into an airborne defender, often getting a foul whilst harming the defender - he will get punished or break someone’s neck if it continues.
Salah, less so Mane, do hit the deck more than I’d like to see but then as mentioned above, more often than not when they stay in their feet and get fouled it isn’t given when in the box. Swings n roundabouts.
Some players are borderline cheats - and they don’t all play for Utd.
With all this talk of diving and VAR and stuff, ahead of City Burnley tonight, can we just all take a moment to acknowledge the utter brilliance of Sean Dyche? This is the best press conference since Ian Holloway managed Blackpool in the Premiership 🙂
https://twitter.com/BurnleyOfficial/status/1356674999646576641?s=20
can we just all take a moment to acknowledge the utter brilliance of Sean Dyche? This is the best press conference since Ian Holloway managed Blackpool in the Premiership 🙂
Brilliant!!
Man City one up already. Jesus!
Well there you go, Jesus gets kicked in the box and goes down(I forget which gospel that's from) probably not enough to send him down but a clear penalty fir the application of the rules in any game I have seen over the past 10 seasons and var doesn't even look at it. IMO the right decision how most people want the game to be played, but just no consistency in how the rules are applied.
Not that it makes much difference really, city sky 90% of their penalties into row z any way.
Leeds Everton is a cracker.
I'll bet not many people predicted that Brighton win !
2 home losses in a row after yonks without. Pretty dire stuff - quite a few players who aren't really up to scratch. Should have had Curtis Jones on from the start, Milner is getting too old to play this much. Origi has never really been good enough, despite scoring some crucial goals. Ox and Shaq have their moments but the overall standard is not great.
Does Thiago remind anyone else of Scholes? Can pass pretty well but really cannot tackle
I’ll bet not many people predicted that Brighton win !
I did, but then I predict Brighton will win every game. Not often right but feels great when I am.
Does Thiago remind anyone else of Scholes? Can pass pretty well but really cannot tackle
I shudder at the thought of how Scholsey would have got on in the VAR era. I suspect there would have been quite a lot more cards than he ended up picking up, a fair chunk of them red ones
Remember watching the UNICEF game V Boca at OT in early 2000s. It was pretty much a friendly in every sense of the word until Fergie replaced Keane and Veron with Scholes and Butt. All out carnage after that. Scholes went through Tevez, brawl ensued and Tevez went off I think for punching Scholes. Mental.
Yeah, the combination of Butt and Scholes in midfield was always 'lively'
Anyone suffering with insomnia should have watched the Spurs Chelsea game. I’ve nodded off twice only to realise disappointingly it was still on. Man of the match went to the fourth official.
Mourinho Squad in Playing Out Spirit-crushingly Tedious Match Shocka!
I’ll watch pretty much any footy but it sounds like I was right to give that a swerve.
I reckon Kane got himself injured on purpose because he was sick of playing at centre half, and he’s on the phone to his agent 5 times a day
Aye, Kane isn’t going to stick around for much more of this. City in the summer? Or stay if Jose gets the boot?
I would say that that was the most ludicrous red card you’ll ever see, and it probably is
.... until next week
Absolutely ridiculous. Mitrovic should be absolutely ashamed of himself for that reaction to get someone sent off. Going down like he’s been punched by Mike Tyson when all the player was doing was getting his arms out of the way and made the slightest of glances on his face
And yet again; what on earth is the point of VAR? That was never a red! And no matter how many times you watch it, it’ll still never be a red
It's Mike Dean, what did you expect?
Fair point. He clearly thinks that every contact is a card
At the risk of giving it the kiss of death: this should be a blinder!
Cavani is starting, like he should do every game, and Calvert-Lewin is back on form
He clearly thinks that every contact is
a cardan opportunity for him to be the centre of attention
That dummy from Bruno to let it run, followed by that finish 😳
Even by his standards... pure class
Cavani too. Still can’t believe PSG let him go on a free
It was class though almost everyone just kinda stopped and watched him do it - defo looks like a training game sometimes this season.
2-2!
Classy, yep. Unlike your goalie and centre halves 😄
Oooops. Ole time!
Indeed. Shocking defending again.I had a bet on 3-2 United too 😡
Tomorrow’s going to be interesting. If Citeh win then I think that’s game over for the title
Actually... does this mean I’m supporting the scousers tomorrow? I feel violated already. A draw would be good
Any result tomorrow Binners and it’s still all to play for. Only just over half the season gone, as it’s February it feels further on that it actually is, given the delayed start. City have a tough run coming up, compared to their last 6 or 7 games anyway. Although if Liverpool lose I think top four is all they can hope for.
Carlo looked terrified when Big Dunc hugged him at full time 😂
Although if Liverpool lose I think top four is all they can hope for.
Unfortunately I agree - injuries have been a defining issue for us this season. Something a lot of the fans were worried about the last 2 years due to a lack of depth past the first 14/15 players - luckily never happened until now.
Loved the Sean Dyche lookalike, that's how press conferences should be. He does look like a mate of mine though.
Unfortunately I agree – injuries have been a defining issue for us this season. Something a lot of the fans were worried about the last 2 years due to a lack of depth past the first 14/15 players – luckily never happened until now.
Give the number of games they played and the intensity of the previous two seasons, its nothing short of a miracle how few injuries you had.
The difference with the depth of squads between you and Citeh has been shown by the fact that they've managed without Aguero for all this time and they don't even look like they're missing De Bruyne at the moment either.
City realised Ake was mince so went out and bought Dias too. The re-emergence of Stones - who looked finished at the club - has obviously been a massive bonus. 5 decent centre halves at the club if you include Garcia and Fernandinho can fill in. Even with hindsight it was pretty negligent of Liverpool to have 3 centre halves and not signing anyone to replace Lovren.
Yet another BS penalty/dive - luckily they've skied it again!
Even with hindsight it was pretty negligent of Liverpool to have 3 centre halves and not signing anyone to replace Lovren
Agreed.
That was a nailed on penalty Fabinho kicks out, it isn't even a soft penalty.
City's penalty conversion rate must be less than 1 in 3.
That was a nailed on penalty Fabinho kicks out, it isn’t even a soft penalty.
😆
So when Fabinho 'kicked out' that brought Sterling down did it? Or was he 'entitled to go down' because there was a player somewhere near him not standing still?
Sterling was looking for an opportunity to dive, Fabinho stupidly gave it to him. Then the actual goal everyone is too scared to make even a vague challenge because they know it will be a penalty. The game has become a joke.
Edit: lol, another ridiculous pen really
See that was a much softer penalty, he wasn't holding his arm, they were just touching and Salah does his usual theatrics.
Ah yes when your player dives it's fine, when Salah dives it's not.
Liverpool are a shambles though, deservedly behind.
Alison having an absolute mare.
Ah yes when your player dives it’s fine, when Salah dives it’s not.
Sterling was brought down, Salah dived, they were not equal incidents.
Grum, are you saying it wasn’t a dive by Salah but the city penalty was a dive?
As a neutral both were penalties according to the rules, but I’d go as far to say Salah appeared to be looking for the invitation to go down.
this is getting embarrassing.
Salt in the wound here. Klopp may go full Jose implosion!
That was a cracking goal.
Grum, are you saying it wasn’t a dive by Salah but the city penalty was a dive?
Nah I'm saying they were both dives.
That was a cracking goal.
It was although it should have been saved really. Foden has been brilliant though.
Allison Blunderland!
Brilliant! 😂
That was some finish from Foden. I’ll even let him off for ruining my bet for 3-1 to City for that one
proverbial wheels coming off...
After 23 games this season, Liverpool (40) now have 27 fewer points than they did at the same stage last season (67), the biggest drop by any reigning champion at this stage of a campaign in English top-flight history.
One hit wonders? 😂
There’s always 2051
There’s always the Champions League
Not with three midfielders as defenders, there isn’t.
More chance of winning the national lottery on present form. If you can’t beat Burnley or Brighton at home, good luck with Bayern
I know that I’m enjoying taking the piss, but I hope that Liverpool fans are waking up to the fact that your ownership is the same as ours. You’re a cash cow for a bunch of corporate Americans who couldn’t give a monkeys whether they’re running a football club or selling washing machines. This lot aren’t much different from Stadler and Waldorf. All they’re interested in is how much money they’re making.
Their reaction to having all the defence out injured is to buy a player from Preston.
Welcome to our world. It’s shit!
Make the season null and void!
You’re a cash cow for a bunch of corporate Americans who couldn’t give a monkeys whether they’re running a football club or selling washing machines. This lot aren’t much different from Stadler and Waldorf. All they’re interested in is how much money they’re making.
Difference is ours have only spent what they received in transfer sale money plus a tiny bit more. Your owners have ploughed in millions and millions with very little money from sold transfers coming in.
Your owners have supported the club much more than Liverpool owners. How the club spent that money is much more of a moot point however.
It’s a sorry state of affairsthough, isn’t it?
I suspect that you may well be in for the exact same lesson in financial reality that we’ve had since the Glazers took Over.
A world class manager manages to paper over the cracks until they no longer can, so they leave and everything falls apart in their wake
You’re not telling me that Juergen isn’t pissed off about the lack of the depth in the squad. When you take out the automatic first choices on the team sheet, theres not much there
Compare that to City
It’s a sorry state of affairsthough, isn’t it?
On the face of it it is but don’t mention Liverpool’s lack of investment in the same sentence of Utd - Utd have had the investment just spent it on really poor players due to a lack of clear strategy - fire fighting I’d say.
And again, can’t compare to City - partly because they aren’t anywhere near being in line with financial fair play.
Welcome to our world. It’s shit!
Poor diddums! The difference is that we are still reigning champions and won a CL recently. I agree they have dropped the ball (ha) massively with not signing new defenders - I guess they got complacent after winning the title so easily last season.
The finances of most top PL clubs is a ridiculous bubble propped up by oligarchs and oil states, I guess we would do better with one of them but I can live without it.
This season is a complete mess all round what with VAR/no fans/COVID. Every club seems to be in crisis for a couple of weeks then it's someone else's turn. I've seen loads of people including pundits say City were doomed and Pep has lost interest at the start of the season, Mourinho was supposed to be a title contender for a while, then Man U fans got massively overexcited, now the big story is Liverpool are terrible and Pep's a genius again.
Poor diddums
Hardly
Just being a realist.
You think the seasons a mess? I think it’s a leveller. Showing us all where we really are stripped of all the hyperbole
I’m finding it all quite refreshing. And not just because it where we are.
😆
I think when Man City apparently can't manage to field a team then that alone qualifies it as a mess.
Well their ‘reserves’ seemed to cope without much difficulty with a team who thinks that going four consecutive games without scoring and losing straight home games to teams at the bottom of the table qualifies as a title defence
Hope you’ve nothing planned for your Thursday nights next season. And even that’s not a given.
After 23 games this season, Liverpool (40) now have 27 fewer points than they did at the same stage last season (67), the biggest drop by any reigning champion at this stage of a campaign in English top-flight history.
Last season it was all 'we shouldn't be playing in a pandemic, it's immoral', 'cancel the season', 'put an asterisk next to the league title', 'it's a weak league' - but this season apparently COVID is the best thing to ever happen to football and everything's great. 🤔
the biggest drop by any reigning champion at this stage of a campaign in English top-flight history
I wonder if anything unusual might have happened during this season that might make comparisons like that rather stupid? Can you think of anything?
Everyone is playing under the same conditions. Nobody has any advantage.
This is the most pitiful title defence on record.
But as with everything else involving Liverpool, it’s all a conspiracy and it’s always somebody else’s fault
This is the most pitiful title defence on record.
Worst than Blackburn?
This is the most pitiful title defence on record.
The fact that that's the only thing you have to celebrate speaks volumes.
Maybe you could design a quirky commemorative print?
I think Leicester's defence (12th, 44 pt total) might dispute that.
Also, I know it's a crazy idea - but shall we wait until the end of the season to decide how everyone did?
TBH, CHampions league winners, plus Premier League winners, i'll take a bad season... I'm fine with it. They more than make up for this season.
This is the most pitiful title defence on record.
It's apparently the biggest point drop for a reigning champ at this point of the season, hardly surprising given the points total last year. But if you set almost impossibly high standards, it's hard to match them as champions. Title defence is always harder than winning it, teams work out how to counter you, key players can't maintain form, and it's harder to keep the same motivation that drove you to the first title.
City's title defence in 2018/19 was arguably a bigger achievement against better opposition. And sheds some light on the greatness of Alex Ferguson winning three in a row twice.
Also, I know it’s a crazy idea – but shall we wait until the end of the season to decide how everyone did?
Yeah - how far back were City on this date in 2019?
Edit: Looked it up - we're in matchweek 23 of the season - Liverpool were four points up on City. In Matchweek 20 they were seven points up. This isn't over yet.
Not a mention of the Everton - Spurs cup tie last night?
Thought it was a classic
I only saw the highlights. Call me a miserable bugger but it's the kind of game that would have been a million times better with fans there. It did look highly entertaining, partly to do with some dodgy defending/keeping.
title defence
The words Utd fans won’t be see for a good while 😂