[Football] Sunderland v Newcastle

[The Wizard]

Both grappling each other, and the defender got a key touch on the ball just before to ruin the striker’s path.

He hooked his arm round then let him go as he fell, clever defending but with the microscopic nonsense of VAR it would no doubt have been given.

Scored an own goal anyway so they will be glad he stayed on

 

[highflyer]

balls

 

[Washie]

I thought it might be. The point is, without VAR ‘might be’ is not good enough - and the higher bar makes the whole thing much more entertaining.

Yet the utter shit that was refereeing before that disagrees with you.

 

[Weststander]

balls

Kevin Ball’s.

 

[jakarta]

The goal the game has deserved...

 

[Washie]

The goal the game has deserved...

This games doesn't deserve a goal, it deserved to be abandoned

 

[Weststander]

Unfortunately I think it’ll be a 3 or 4 to nil win, money talking, after the breakthrough. Sunderland seem incredibly naive in leaving no LB in place time after time.

 

[Frutos]

Am I right in saying re: VAR that we're still in the farcical situation that if this game were at SJP there'd be VAR, but as it's at the SoL there isn't?

Surely if there can't be VAR in all games in a competition, there shouldn't be in any?

 

[Washie]

Am I right in saying re: VAR that we're still in the farcical situation that if this game were at SJP there'd be VAR, but as it's at the SoL there isn't?

Surely if there can't be VAR in all games in a competition, there shouldn't be in any?

Its only the FA cup. Even the FA don't really care anymore

 

[trueblue]

Yet the utter shit that was refereeing before that disagrees with you.

You think it’s better now? It’s worse. They won’t make a tough call any more with VAR in place.

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Didn't Newcastle stop a deal going through for Pedro to get Isak instead?
I know who I would rather have.

 

[Washie]

You think it’s better now? It’s worse.

Its slightly better. VAR is shit because of the referees, not because of the technology. We also have better tech in terms of offside, but because the premier league is so f***ing special, they decided to keep the lines. I say we change who uses the technology, and try to phase the onfield ref out as they're not fit to ref. At some point we will have no refs anyway as they keep quitting at grassroots level

 

[Beanstalk]

Football is so much better without VAR. In the Premier League we’d have had several minutes of stoppages already scrutinising heavy challenges*

*trying to find a way to send someone off

Is it a better watch because the lack of VAR, or because it is two teams trying to be as competitive as possible and win the game? As a neutral sure, the lack of VAR adds to the chaos which is fun, but it is also accepting a poor standard of officiating as correct, which is crap.

Fundamentally, the standard of refereeing so far in this game has been pretty average (veering towards poor - he’s missing a lot of fouls by both sides) and we’re only an absolute stinker away from going “this is why VAR is necessary”. (Clear DOGSO red card for the foul on Isak aside).

VAR obviously needs to improve (only a fool would be happy with it in its current form) but I just can’t understand how, especially if you were invested in a game as a supporter of either side, you’d be happier with the wrong decisions being made.

 

[bluenitsuj]

Game over.

 

[Pevenseagull]

Meh, going to organise my sock drawer.

 

[hart's shirt]

All these inferior teams trying to play the ball out from the back.

Leave it to the experts.

 

[BBassic]

That is shambolic

 

[Triggaaar]

That's enough for me to switch it off. Defending that bad is unacceptable at any level of football.

 

[Weststander]

Beale screwed up, in trying to play the beautiful game. In doing so making it a mismatch against superior players.

Just for this, something more direct and territorial was required.

 

[GoingUp]

I've quite enjoyed this game, the fans have made it though tbf.