Premier League 2020/2021 Thread

[weasel]

Football is frustrating me atm.

Anyone see the Pool game, or the highlights!? That Brighton penalty. Was it REALLY a "clear and obvious error"? Genuine question. Those neutrals I have spoken to seem to be split about 50:50 on it. Yes, there is contact, does that make it a penalty? Football is a contact sport, "contact" does not equal a foul. The incident was actually pretty similar to a penalty Pool got the other week against WH. Albeit that one was given in real time by the ref. My issue with the Brighton one was more the question around whether it is a clear and obvious error to not give it. It's undoubtedly soft, Danny Wellbeck even admitted as much in his post match interview, and if you trust Jordan Henderson, a lot of the Brighton players didn't think it was a penalty either.

I dunno. It just adds to the frustrations Pool have with VAR and the fact that they are going through a spell when all the VAR decisions go against them. Two disallowed goals in that game too. The Salah one was another of those where his big toe was offside. Granted, that is still offside, no issues there, but do football fans really want to see offsides decided by millimetres? There was a similar one disallowed in the Everton Leeds game. I know there is no really obvious solution to VAR and offsides, it has to be black and white. If you allow 2 inches (for example) then a game will be settled by a goal allowed or disallowed that is 1 millionth of a millimetre under or over that limit, and we will be back her arguing about how stupid it is. It just takes away from the game when goals are disallowed for those tiny margins for me. And, yes, I know Liverpool will probably benefit from an opponents goal like that being disallowed at some point, but club loyalty aside, stuff like that (and the arm/armpit, testicle offside) ruins the game.
I have no issue with the disallowed Mane goal, he was clearly offside, about a yard and a half, and the free kick he was offside from wasn't a free kick anyway, yer man got the ball cleanly.

The run of VAR decisions going for Pool's opponents added to the now apparently obligatory "injury per game" that Pool are getting is really starting to piss me off. I've lost track of how many injuries that is this season now, it's in the teens anyway. Of the top of my head, Alison, VVD, Gomez, Matip, TAA, Robertson, Milner, Henderson, Salah, Mane, Keita (twice), Thiago (twice), Shakira (twice), Ox have all been, or currently are, injured.
I know injuries are part of football and in this condensed season there will be more of them, probably more again for Pool as they play quite a high tempo game, but that list above is ridiculous. We are twelve weeks into the season FFS and that's 17 different injuries (granted 3 are COVID) Liverpool have had.

Rant over. I hope I didn't sound like "one of those" Liverpool fans. I know **** like the above happens, it's just doubly frustrating that the injuries and the lack of 'luck' (if that's the word) with VAR is happening at the same time. Pool are still joint top off the league mind, so things aren't bad. I just get annoyed when a player a game gets injured and VAR continually affects the outcome of games.

Ohh and if anyone thinks I'm making up **** about VAR not going for Pool...

https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/story/4182135/how-var-decisions-affected-every-premier-league-club-in-2020-21

And even ESPN got it wrong, I don't think Brighton getting a penalty is a decision that goes "FOR" Liverpool.

 

[edd_jedi]

[mention]weasel[/mention] I wish I knew what it felt like to be defending the title :lol: but in your shoes I would just be happy to have won it last year and let somebody else have a go

I think we can all agree VAR has been a joke so far, I don't remember this many controversial decisions without it, which is insane. I will be thoroughly pissed off if Spurs miss out on CL football for example by a couple of points robbed by VAR.

 

[weasel]

That handball against Dier (?) was a shocker. How that was even considered to be handball is beyond me. And yes, I know defending a title is nicer than ehh not defending, it's just frustrating.

FAC draw just made. Needless to say City got a nice cushy home draw against Birmingham. Who saw that coming!? Every time I think maybe just maybe this time they won't get YET ANOTHER cushy home draw, and every time, I am disappointed.

Utd Watford, should be fairly comfortable that.
Spurs get Marine. Banana skin, but they/their reserves plus Delli Ali, should win that.
Chelsea Morecambe, a gimme.
Arsenal newcastle, could be close.
Villa pool. Obligatory tricky third round draw for Pool, although totally academic and Jurgen will play the kids and secretly hope they lose so Pool get a week off.

 

[theforceuk]

Yes VAR is certainly taking more away from the game than its giving. Liverpool are having some bad luck, last season is catching up with them IMO.

See another goal ruled out tonight from VAR, Fulham beating Leicester was a surprise.

 

[Cazza]

Getting fed up of watching cheat-ball! Villa were awful last night- Grealish especially, but Trezeguet was doing it as well. The ref bought every single one though. Fornals got booked for this one... surely this is what VAR should be used for?!

https://twitter.com/conor0gorman/status/1333519264142274560?s=20

 

[weasel]

Getting fed up of watching cheat-ball! Villa were awful last night- Grealish especially, but Trezeguet was doing it as well. The ref bought every single one though. Fornals got booked for this one... surely this is what VAR should be used for?!

https://twitter.com/conor0gorman/status/1333519264142274560?s=20

Yeah, that's a yellow for diving for Grealish all day.
That disallowed Villa equaliser was another joke decision. He is offside by the width if half a pube. FFS if it takes two and a half minutes to work it out something isn't right.

 

[weasel]

Yes VAR is certainly taking more away from the game than its giving. Liverpool are having some bad luck, last season is catching up with them IMO.

You mean the exertions of last season or are we back to last season being "LiVARpool"?

 

[theforceuk]

Yes VAR is certainly taking more away from the game than its giving. Liverpool are having some bad luck, last season is catching up with them IMO.

You mean the exertions of last season or are we back to last season being "LiVARpool"?

I mean the exerts of the last two seasons really. The intensity and standard of Liverpool and Man City has been phenomenal, hardly losing any games and in a lot of those games scoring late on to win. Its going to catch up with any team at some point, if it wasnt for City Liverpool would probably be on for 3 or 4 league titles in a row. The last two seasons Liverpool have hardly changed their starting 11, you could say how lucky they were not to have to many players out until now.

 

[Cazza]

Getting fed up of watching cheat-ball! Villa were awful last night- Grealish especially, but Trezeguet was doing it as well. The ref bought every single one though. Fornals got booked for this one... surely this is what VAR should be used for?!

https://twitter.com/conor0gorman/status/1333519264142274560?s=20

Yeah, that's a yellow for diving for Grealish all day.
That disallowed Villa equaliser was another joke decision. He is offside by the width if half a pube. FFS if it takes two and a half minutes to work it out something isn't right.

Haller getting flattened and VAR not even having a look is another. It was a much more blatant penalty than the one given against us. I think with the offside though, they've got to stick with offside is offside, no matter how small the margin. That way, we all know where we stand. It's so frustrating and we've had plenty go against us as well. It's the inconsistencies that I hate. They decide to look at some things, but not others.

The ref was absolutely awful last night. Seemed to be absolutely in awe of Grealish and literally gave him everything. Nice to see Antonio giving Grealish the verbals in the first half.

 

[edd_jedi]

Bloody hell that Grealish clip is embarrassing, VAR should absolutely be punishing players for nonsense like that, even retrospectively. It's just plain cheating, worse than the hand of God!

 

[weasel]

Yes VAR is certainly taking more away from the game than its giving. Liverpool are having some bad luck, last season is catching up with them IMO.

You mean the exertions of last season or are we back to last season being "LiVARpool"?

I mean the exerts of the last two seasons really. The intensity and standard of Liverpool and Man City has been phenomenal, hardly losing any games and in a lot of those games scoring late on to win. Its going to catch up with any team at some point, if it wasnt for City Liverpool would probably be on for 3 or 4 league titles in a row. The last two seasons Liverpool have hardly changed their starting 11, you could say how lucky they were not to have to many players out until now.

Yeah, there is an element of that. Although, the injuries are mainly to defenders and the likes of Thiago who wasn't there and Shakira/Ox who haven't been regulars. I would have expected more of the injuries to hit the midfielders and forwards as they are the ones who do the majority of the work. Thankfully the forwards have escaped, so far, apart from Covid getting Salah and Mane separately.

 

[weasel]

Getting fed up of watching cheat-ball! Villa were awful last night- Grealish especially, but Trezeguet was doing it as well. The ref bought every single one though. Fornals got booked for this one... surely this is what VAR should be used for?!

https://twitter.com/conor0gorman/status/1333519264142274560?s=20

Yeah, that's a yellow for diving for Grealish all day.
That disallowed Villa equaliser was another joke decision. He is offside by the width if half a pube. FFS if it takes two and a half minutes to work it out something isn't right.

Haller getting flattened and VAR not even having a look is another. It was a much more blatant penalty than the one given against us. I think with the offside though, they've got to stick with offside is offside, no matter how small the margin. That way, we all know where we stand. It's so frustrating and we've had plenty go against us as well. It's the inconsistencies that I hate. They decide to look at some things, but not others.

The ref was absolutely awful last night. Seemed to be absolutely in awe of Grealish and literally gave him everything. Nice to see Antonio giving Grealish the verbals in the first half.

Didn't see the Haller incident. As for Grealish, I really don't see what the fuss is about. Villa build their team round him, so he should look good. He isn't bad player but i just don't see the attraction. Certainly not for the 70+million people are talking about. Half that, and I still wouldn't want him, there is much better value outside the PL.

 

[weasel]

That result in Turkey is gonna cost Utd a spot in the Quarter finals.

Why OGS left Fred on I will never know. The second yellow was harsh, but he should have gone for the headbutt (soft as it was). That coming 30 seconds after a ridiculously close VAR decision on offside, killed the game.

 

[theforceuk]

That result in Turkey is gonna cost Utd a spot in the Quarter finals.

Why OGS left Fred on I will never know. The second yellow was harsh, but he should have gone for the headbutt (soft as it was). That coming 30 seconds after a ridiculously close VAR decision on offside, killed the game.

Yeah it could cost us but we only need a draw in Germany to go through. Why Van De Beek didn't start that game I will never know, OGS loves the McFred pairing in midfield because our centre backs are so crap, particularly slow, £80 million for a centre half that is slower than a Wampa.

Last game will be some game they have to win to go through assuming PSG win, Man Utd are not going to get close to winning the CL but I just want them to get through so we duck out of the Europa League.

As for the Fred sending off I agree he should have been subbed seen as he should have seen a straight red originally and the ref probably realised at half time. That said do you always sub a player at half time who is on a yellow? On this occasion most would have I think. The second yellow wasn't even a foul, he got to the ball, but the ref had him marked and was determined to send him off.

 

[weasel]

I agree the second yellow was harsh, although I reckon the follow through (and dive from PSG boy) did for him, those kinda tackles do get punished in Europe. He was VERY lucky to stay on though. Normally if a player gets away with one like that the manager takes him off to prevent the ref correcting his mistake and sending him off. Given how early it was in the game and the fact he has VDB and the world's most expensive midfielder on the bench, and Fred wasn't exactly having his best game, I don't understand why he took the risk.

 

[theforceuk]

I agree the second yellow was harsh, although I reckon the follow through (and dive from PSG boy) did for him, those kinda tackles do get punished in Europe. He was VERY lucky to stay on though. Normally if a player gets away with one like that the manager takes him off to prevent the ref correcting his mistake and sending him off. Given how early it was in the game and the fact he has VDB and the world's most expensive midfielder on the bench, and Fred wasn't exactly having his best game, I don't understand why he took the risk.

Yeah I said take him off at half time especially as you have 5 subs, as for Pogba he's as good as gone. He should have gone back to Juve in the summer, deal was all done but because of Covid they couldn't meet his wage demands or the price Utd wanted. Now he's solking.

 

[weasel]

Will anyone want him this summer? Another year of him being **** hardly helps his price. Utd will want decent money, he will want decent wages, no one has any money.

 

[theforceuk]

Will anyone want him this summer? Another year of him being **** hardly helps his price. Utd will want decent money, he will want decent wages, no one has any money.

Yeah swap and some money for Ronaldo could be on, money for Utd that is. But he only has 18 months on his contract so value will drop this summer. I agree though, its best for Utd and him if he starts playing.

 

[weasel]

There's more chance of me winning Miss World than Ronaldo going back to Utd. Much as I don't like the fella, he is a serial winner and expects, not wants, expects to be challenging for the biggest prizes. That's the league and CL. No chance Utd are in that position any time soon. Soon being before Ronaldo turns 40. Ronaldo may flirt with Utd but he will never come back.

 

[theforceuk]

There's more chance of me winning Miss World than Ronaldo going back to Utd. Much as I don't like the fella, he is a serial winner and expects, not wants, expects to be challenging for the biggest prizes. That's the league and CL. No chance Utd are in that position any time soon. Soon being before Ronaldo turns 40. Ronaldo may flirt with Utd but he will never come back.

Your probably right, not that I particularly want him back anyway, we need a centre back with pace and a DCM that can do the job on his own. But the clowns that run the club will jump at Ronaldo, Juventus need to sell him because they can't afford him the only two clubs that would/could buy him and pay his wages are PSG or Man Utd. I'm not bothered either way if he did come back and bang 30 goals for two seasons happy days.

PS Since Bruno Fernandez signed for Man Utd, no team as averaged more points than Man Utd. lol