God knows Frank gave Michy enough chances. AND I like Michy as a human being, he always wanted to play for Chelsea, be part of Chelsea, etc and he never bitched and moaned like some others, but Michy Batsman is just not good enough. Giroud today proved his class and against United too. IF you are a striker at this level you don't get too many chances and when you do, you have to take them, at least get them on target and Giroud is doing that.
Good win, beating 'them' means soooo much to 'old timers' like me! Its amazing what a difference putting some effort in makes, Giroud deserves a start or two, Mount was also great and as much as some of you aren't going to like this I thought Barkeley had a good game too. As for the completely unbelievable VAT decision not to send of Lo Celso (scuse spelling) I really don't know what to say!!
Still in game too. Like wtf good does that do. You still ********ed up. At least they didn’t cost us points this time.
Wtf is wrong with var? I mean seriously? How ********ing hard is it to watch a replay and determine something? That aside, we played pretty well and deserved all 3 points.
While I agree Jose looks like a has been, his team did play 48 hours ago and have their best attacking players out injured. But I am glad we used the extra rest and played well. Hasn't been the case always.
The VAR technology is fine but the use of VAR technology and therefore what people refer to as the VAR system, is broken. I see people often focus on the technology in isolation but that's missing the point imo. If anything the fact the technology is so good is a problem in itself. Offsides have become a ridiculous situation and now goals are being chalked off if a fingernail is deemed offside, it's absurd and anti football. Again just my opinion, I can see the other side but disagree with it. Some also say its cut out off the ball shenanigans but disagree there too, players are still getting up to mischief off the ball and trying to con the ref with dives (including our own). I think there's another aspect that often gets missed by those watching at home, which is not inconsiderable, again imo. The in-stadium impact. For any goal that isnt the clearest cut goal, its notable that fans celebrations are much more tempered for worry they will look foolish if the goal is chalked off. VAR (by which I mean the system as a whole) has fundamentally worsened the experience for the fans who put money directly into the clubs coffers. I have yet to hear/read from regular match goers that VAR has improved their day at the football (though tbf my mates are by and large my age so a bit more crumbly than they are modern and also grew up living, breathing and going to the football so the perspective is no doubt different). We dont have many regular match goers here but would be interested in what they have to say about it.
Really loved this win. Tots may have been short handed, but so were we (no Kante, Pulisic, CHO, barely fit Tammy and RLC). The players on the pitch were in control the whole way. Relieved to see Frank relent on Giroud. I would guess the Willy interlude is done after this game. He wasn’t bad (didn’t have much to do), but he’s out of position at least once a game. There was a little talk either before or during the game about maybe it’s Kepa’s overall attitude in training and around the grounds. That wouldn’t be hard to imagine. VAR IS the problem. It was not ready for prime time. There is no consistency. There aren’t going to be magically different people running it. If all it does is replace one judgement call for another then there’s no point. Goal line technology is near-infallible and provides a benefit that refs cannot. VAR is a debacle that’s embarrassing the PL and sucking the joy out of the game.
That’s the worst decision I think I’ve ever seen in regard to a concrete red card you’re ever going to see, every man, cat and dog can see it. Haven’t seen anyone other than the absolutely useless ref ( can’t remember his name ) they have on sky saying otherwise, why they give that guy air time I have no idea. I think Stevie Wonder was the VAR ref at Stockley Park! Amazing decision and totally embarrassing!
The commentator ref was pathetic as well with this 'He didn't mean to stamp on him' bullshit. WTF's THAT got to do with the price of bread? I mean, what's next? 'Maradona didn't meant to handball it past Shilton' Oh, well that's alright then
Good post but can I just point out that the phrase is not 'crumbly'...it's 'mature', 'experienced' or possibly, (as in my case), 'statesmanlike'.
Well as a regular at the games and probably the crumbliest person here, saw my first game at the Bridge back in 1964. , I have to agree totally VAR has ruined the match day experience. I did not really celebrate our first goal, you have no idea what is going on. I now think that it is worth trading the odd bad decision to get the atmosphere back. Whilst I agree it is not all the fault of the technology whatever the problem is the end result is that VAR is not working. The VAR official seems more interested in backing up his mate on the pitch. Like in rugby the final decision needs to be made by the on pitch official, not some faceless keyboard warrior.
Great perspective, appreciate you sharing. I also completely agree about how rugby is a great example. Not only is it pretty quick but the ref is mic'd up and explains to the crowd what is happening. The fans may not like a decision of course but there's no mystery and in the vast majority of cases, a good decision is made (its not perfect mind you but very good). They also dont allow any backchat and football should protect refs better on that score by making dissent more of an issue (and at all levels, we often hear about abuse of refs all the way down the pyramid to sunday league and schools even). Of course, if they were mic'd up then the ref would have to take some responsibility and football refs are not putting their hands up for that. Imagine explaining to a crowd that a red wasn't given because there was nowhere else for the fella to put his foot other than a players ankle. They would be rightly ridiculed which of course means the current obfuscation will continue ad nauseam (ooh, 'ark at 'im and 'is theasauras). I'd also be in favour of a margin of error on offsides. Hawkeye can measure a tennis ball moving at 120mph+ and give us millimeter accuracy. I would like to be told how many inches offside a player is and what body part was guilty. Anything less than, say, 5 cm, would be deemed as too close to call. The pedantry of the current system adds nothing to the game.
I think VAR should have a time limit for the decision. If they can't make the call in, say, 30 seconds then whatever the original call is should stand. If it's THAT close it must be too close to call, by definition. I honestly think the dave stamp, at first glance, LOOKED like straight red. It was only when you spend a quarter of an hour looking at it, (and particularly if your determinedly anti-cfc), you can see how it might have been an 'accident'
I couldn’t agree with this more. One of my least favorite sights is players descending on the ref after a call. It’s become such a common and accepted occurrence, they build it into video games. I’m fine with the captain communicating with the refs, but that’s it. Maybe if they cleaned it up at the highest level we’d see fewer parents abusing minimum wage refs at elementary school rec games. IF that were the system, there’d be less to complain about. Like you’ve said, it’s not the technology, but the application (or lack there of). Using stills to judge offsides requires a person to chose the right frame to freeze, draw the line, then decide. I like the modifications that Clattenburg suggested. I like treating it like the forward pass rule in the NFL even better.
One has no idea how much I hate to say The voyeur Wenger might have a good idea: offside under var should be only if any scoring part is not behind the defender For a long time I thought it should simply have been judged only off feet but under VAR not good enough, especially because; I want to hear a cognizant explanation of, and SEE EVERY TIME when the line is drawn relative to when the passer's foot stops contact with the ball, if you judge by millimeters and armpit hairs, it is of HUGE importance
Within one week of football Harry straightening his leg on Batsman etc I didn't punch him, he ran into my fist Double think as Orwell would say
I must say that having had the chance to see the game on TV I think that Lo Celso could have had 2 yellows and an orange card apart from the red. They say they they can't broadcast the ref's microphones because of the bad language, I think that this is arse about tit they should clean up the language. As I should  Kerry said the players should show more respect. I also agree with those that said the offside law needs revisiting. The current law does not fulfill the original intention and the benefit of doubt going to the attackers. London Irish are moving back to West London next season and I am contemplating exchanging season tickets.
btw - Why were the Spurs fans booing Rudiger? Oh that's right, last time we played them they made monkey chants aimed at him. There was an "investigation" however the findings were inconclusive. So, this time round the racists just boo'ed the player I guess the racists have won.