Anyone have the 43 minute on video you could share when Chara and everyone ended up on the ground? My recording ran out of space 2 minutes before that. In real time it looked like Chara sent a flying elbow then ran into a Crew player and played dead so he would not get a second yellow. But I wanted to see again just in case.
4 games. Jury is still out. And I'm wondering if Mensah is now injured. Looks banged up when he came off.
To be fair, it's really about 2 1/2 games in Mensah's case. After being spun like a top in the first game he clumsily got a red card in the second game. This led him to miss the third game, which was our best defensive performance of the season (against a completely impotent DCU attack). Mensah did however make his triumphant return in the 4th game and contributed by keeping Apsrilla onside for the first goal, and doing absolutely nothing of usefulness on Adi's equalizer before mercifully being subbed off. Jury us still out. It's not yet Mark Williams level of bad. At this point though he's not DP level and maybe not even Crognale level.
He was actually offsides. I can't link to the twitter account but the guy who does some sort of modeling for offsides shows he is off.
You can't be off both sides at once - it's offside, which Asprilla was not no matter how much I yelled that he was as Mensah kept him onside (not onsides).
This is where I'm at on him so far. Seems solid enough. A couple odd gaffes, that maybe he irons out as he gets used to the league and players. But also don't see anything to make him worth DP money. Really makes this seem like a rush buy because of what happened to Sauro. Anyone know how long his contract is?
Who cares. At least you're not demanding people say "In an offside position" as if "offside" is some sort of completely unacceptable short form for it.
So in #CLBvPOR it seems @daironasprilla was offside (~1.5'), but mostly by leg. Otherwise maybe 1" CC @JaredStern11 @wubuf535 pic.twitter.com/PMuTeNheXM— SoccerPhotogrammetry AKA "A Nice Gentleman" (@OffsideModeling) March 27, 2017 1.5" offside
From this picture you can see that Francis was not out of position. He was infront of the CB so I can't see how blame can be placed on his shoulders. It is a touch and go decision. I think mensah should have stepped up as the ball was played. I would hope that if we can maintain a back three/four consistently we shouldn't see this happening again
Francis still allows too much space in behind through the middle. Naess stepping hurts a little, but either way, Francis should tuck inside more so that the ball to Asprilla must be directed wide. If Francis tucks in and Asprilla collects the ball wide, he is far less dangerous than when the ball is slipped in behind towards goal.
I'm not going to complain about that offside call (or lack thereof). The whole point of the change to the offside rule back in the day was to give the benefit of the doubt to the attacker rather than the defender so that there would be more goal scoring. It was close enough and a quick enough play that I can see giving the benefit of the doubt to the attacker here.
I watched a replay of this play five times and the player who received the pass was definitely beyond the last defender before the player with the ball made the pass!
Just wanted to address some of the complaints about some of Pipa's overcooked corners from Saturday. I think it's worth pointing out that virtually all of last season (carrying the hernia injury) and early on this year, his deliveries have often failed to even beat the first man. If I'm feeling charitable, maybe it's all just a near post routine. So Saturday night he whacks the hell out of at least three of them (not sure how many he took in total), and one of them leads to a goal. I don't know about you, but I've got no problem with that, particularly with the addition of some aerial targets that we lacked last year. Put Crognale or Mensah or, in Saturday's case, Ola on that back post and try to win it, get a knockdown, deflection, whatever. As long as Pipa can keep getting some air under his deliveries I'll take it every time.
Ball is already gone at that point. I went back and looked at it frame by frame and it was close enough to give it to the attacker. Good job by the AR, I say. My season tickets are in 124, row 11, seats 1&2 and I had a very good view of it and went off when he didn't call it. After reviewing, I agree with his decision and feel bad that I shouted at a fellow referee like I did as I'm sure he heard it.
I always remember in cases like this that sometimes the other guy makes a good play. I mean, no one is talking about the keeper and defenders on Ola's goal on this board....
We'll of obviously have to agree to disagree but do you see the two midfielders how close they are as the ball is slid through? Sometimes you have to admire the skill and precision rather than slam a player. We're talking inches here.