next 3 games should tell us a lot of what we need to know...yesterday already showed us that we are, potentially, in a good place again.
Really enjoyed seeing us so dominant again though not enjoying the hangover . Thought Henderson was excellent and was easily the stand out midfielder in first half but seemed to disappear in the second .
Thing is, I don't think refs should be looking to VAR to give them the right decision in such clear matters. He shouldn't be giving a yellow - it's a blatantly obvious red, and an experienced ref should have no doubt about it. If he gives the red and there is something he missed then he can be informed of that and reconsider. I mean, what can he see on the monitor that could make him upgrade it? In those circumstances the only questions can be whether or not it's a foul (which he gives), and whether or not it denies a goal-scoring opportunity - which everyone could see it did. This reliance on VAR will lead to refs being incapable of making good decisions on the fly and so playing safe all the time, meaning many an incorrect decision will stand because it's not a "clear and obvious" error. Perhaps they need a different colour card to declare "I don't know until I consult the monitor - talk amongst yourselves for a bit".
My only thought was from his angle and distance, it was probably tricky to see if Mane was going to get the ball first. He may have thought was going through to kepa and therefor only a yellow. By looking side on can see that the ball is actually right next to mane when he gets brought down so he would have had a goal scoring opportunity. However, why the lino couldn’t see that I’m not sure
I think that's the explanation they want to give but I still don't see it. How exactly is a goal-scoring opportunity defined? The presence of the keeper isn't usually a deciding factor - most of such opportunities are a one-on-one with him anyway. Kepa would have to be out of his area to get there first so it's not as though he could simply scoop it up. The replay shows it's a clear red - but that isn't my argument. My point was that reliance on VAR may make refs take the easy option and over time lose the will, or expertise, to make the correct decision without its aid. And a lot of less clear poor decisions will go uncorrected because VAR doesn't want to undermine him too often.
Thiago looked like he's always played in the prem. Scary stuff, but in a good way I called Fab at CB before the team was announced and he was outstanding. Great result!. Shame about utd
Everyone seemed to want to pass the ball to Thiago, like they all wanted to play with the best kid on the playground. He probably hasn't even trained with the guys yet, will be good to see when he is bedded in.
