i agree - Virgil uses this tactic more than anybody. Close them down, stay on your feet and coral them into shooting at Allison from 30 yards, Didn't really work when Adrian was in goal against Atletico though...
Difficult to change your whole tactical approach to defending just because you’re keeper is out. Anyway you’d think Adrian would have a better chance at stopping them from 25 yards out than inside the box but maybe not. Maybe we need to let them get a bit closer now!
i know- but they must have presumed Mane had long sleeves on though, as that line is from the elbow + half a metre, not the bicep.
The reason Virgil is so good is that he does everything simply and efficiently. Heads everything he knows he can get, if anyone is running at him he shepherds them into the place he wants them in, and if he's facing his own goal under pressure he boots the ball out if there's no safe pass on. Nothing fancy, no tricks, just the right thing almost every time.
Treating offside as an absolute was always a nonsense premise imo. VAR in the context of offside should merely have removed the obvious **** ups. But as soon as they started drawing lines and making decisions that couldn’t be made with the naked eye, then you’ve lost sight of what the rule is actually for. Needs changing and has done since VAR first came in.
Because they changed the rule and said the top of the arm close to the shoulder should be deemed as being OK. I know lol
Football is about skill and commitment - from individuals and through team-work. To see any well-crafted goal ruled out because someone is a gnat's nudger offside is wholly against the spirit of the game, imo.
I agree 100%. It’s bollocks and not what the offside rule was invented for. I’ve no problem with VAR being used like as I’ve seen some absolute shocking offside decisions not given, but it needs to be a visual sanity check and not the current lines debacle. Clear and obvious and all that.
Almost. Sometimes he over-relaxes and tries to be the defender that all the commentators say he is. Look at the Leeds goal - he simply tried to be too ****ing cool - he thought he was Lionel Richie, and ended up looking like Lionel Blair. But that's his only problem - trying to make everything look so ****ing effortless that he actually makes no effort. Doesn't appreciate that everyone who makes things look so totally effortless, from Hendrix to De Niro to Ali in his prime make it look so because the ducks feet are going ten-to-the-dozen under the water.
Yeah, but that's why I said "almost". Nobody's perfect - but he's damn close. Funnily enough - the Leeds goal you're referring to: my stream froze just as he parried the ball aside and I admiringly thought something like "Virge- cool as you like again" then it came back on and I saw the replay...
I am not sure it’s right. My understanding is: Any part of the arm below the shoulder is not allowed to touch the ball. Only the top of the shoulder is allowed. A foul is committed if the arm (any part) makes the body bigger or the arm is above the shoulder, even accidentally. Hence the penalty given against spurs in the last few minutes in their Newcastle match.
Indeed. As said before, when Firmino's goal was ruled offside at Villa last season, and I was watching Bein at the time as it was a 3pm kick off, Andy gray simply destroyed the argument put forward by Var by showing how the lines, after initially showing Firmino onside, had been skewed off on angles to support the on-field decision. yes, i'm whining about a decision that went about Liverpool, but all teams have a tale to tell of how badly done to they were too, including against Liverpool, no arguments. My bitch about VAR is that the objective decisions were supposed to be, er , objective, and not just cover the arses of our mates on the pitch ****ing the decisions up.
This is it mate, you stand your attacker up, if you want to have a pop from 30 yards thats up to you, but the keeper can see it coming. We've got a definite calculated risk thing going in with the defence. Ive had a beer and I'm struggling to articulate what I want to say. Virgil is very very good, but on the occasions that he's ****ed up, Joe has covered so he doesn't look like he's ****ed up. Much like Tony Adams, he was the man at the back for arsenal, but he always has bould or keown covering round the back.
In summary, Virgil is not the messiah. But he inspires those around him, much like Kompany did, by his leadership and the knowledge that he can, if he's not trying to be too clever, out-muscle, out-skill and outspeed any opponent on the planet, should he feel so motivated.
Thats whats hes for. Much like salah a couple of seasons ago he has become our talisman. Now he's out ,we have plenty to step up, Henderson, mane, salah, thiago. I really really don't want to turn into city and bleat" just wait till virgils back then you'll see
You is right. Virgil took us from wanabees to champions. Time for mental fortitude now - if our defence is going to be creaky, the outstanding, talented attack is going to have to fill the gap.
