That’s a fair point, but the problem is that although the law clearly states that handball has to be deliberate, the way refs interpret it varies between an accidental brush (often given) and Doucoure’s effort for Watford (not even spotted). On reflection you’re right about the Wolves goal, but if the ref had seen it, it would probably have been disallowed.
There was good use of VAR yesterday in the match between Español and Valencia. The Español forward crashed the ball against the bar and it bounced on the line …. VAR confirmed that it had crossed the line so a goal was awarded.
Good clip on how VAR is supposed to work. Why aye, Michael Oliver. PS @tomw24 - Hudders v Cardiff, Hogg headbutted Arter in the penalty area while the ball was in play. Should have been a penalty?
Even now refs interpret things and apply different rules all the time. You always see a handball given when someone miscontrols the ball and it then hits their hand given as a handball even if its not deliberate (especially if its in the middle of the park or an attacker in the box). Then you have seen handballs not given for goals including when sanchez handballed it in when blocking a hull clearance or when sanchez again handballed it to block a chelsea clearance in the FA cup final which led to a goal. Both weren't deliberate per se but hands were a bit up but i don't think their will ever be a clear way of defining a handball that will satisfy anyone
The thing that really annoys me is the “unnatural position” concept that is being used by refs, even though it doesn’t appear in the laws of football. Anyone who has ever tried jumping 3 feet off the ground to head a football would find it almost impossible without raising their arms, but penalties are regularly given, or goals disallowed, for deliberate handball when it clearly wasn’t.
it's a tough one i concede but i suppose if you are jumping to head a ball, then you expect the arms to come out but it shouldn't really involve handling the ball as theres enough time to react If you are jumping to block it, it may be harder. I guess that "common sense" part of "unnatural position" is to stop people deliberately coming out and spreading out wide like a keeper would to block a shot. That's why you see some defenders put their hands behind their back which surely doesn't help.
It seems Jose has fallen out with so many of his players that Luke Shaw is now a nailed on starter. He's not actually firing on all cylinders is he? Jose not Luke, Luke has played very well.
Top man. Top manager. The “he hasn’t won anything” stuff makes me laugh. He’s managed Espanyol, Saints and Spurs. Yes they’ve choked at vital moments, but he’s turned them into a yearly contender for Champs League places. Really not sure what people expect. He constantly improves teams, and players/staff love him.
And to be fair, the year Leicester won it they didn't really choke. They were just Leicester's nearest rivals. Yes they drew that game with Chelsea but that wasn't going to win them the league, just keep them in some sort of mathematical contention. Leicester would've still won the league even if Spurs had gone on to win every game remaining
No sympathy for the Pratt . First time round I found him entertaining , now I just find him cringeworthy .
I bet he thought too late of the titles thing after losing 3-2 to Brighton (3 for me, 2 for the rest), and then couldn't resist using it tonight instead!
I think he is partly correct. He does get a hard time compared to Klopp etc and he has got a point. He is still an excellent manager.
He has no humility, no dignity and no class. I couldn’t give a **** anymore how good a manager he is, or what he has won. He deserves any hard time he gets from the media and for once, I hope they carry on. He is a very small man.
