Rival watch

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PleaseNotPoll said:
A vague touch on the keeper, which doesn't compare to anything Vicario's taken. Nonsense.
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Raya was extremely fortunate that he got away with that. I thought it was a sure thing it was going to be given as a goal.

Honestly, I know he'd already won the Golden Glove pre-game (after Pickford conceded against Luton last night), and you'd think him winning this might indicate how good he's been. However, I'd argue the defensive set-up in front of him OOP and OTB have contributed enormously to the amount of clean sheets he has.

He's been an improvement on Ramsdale for sure. He's got more variety in his pass selection, positions himself well, is a +1 when building out from the back (effectively acting as another CB when we construct attacks) and - generally - claims the ball well from crosses/set-pieces.
However, he and Ramsdale both have that 'bozo' gene where they will make careless mistakes under minimal pressure and don't focus for the entirety of the match.

He needs to know when to keep things simple, instead of trying to be a bit of a show-off, which is what he sometimes does in games where we have commanding leads.
 
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Spurf said:
That's far too simplistic. We watch almost every week different decisions for similar incidents. As PNP has said they are managing an event rather than refereeing a football game. Sometimes they let the game flow which is fun and they get praise for it. THEN they clamp down as they see the game disintegrate because of letting too many things go. So you end up in the SAME game with two levels of judging. One player gets off another doesn't.
The gamesmanship has been fostered by the way the refs handle the games and the constant tinkering with the rules.
Take the fouling of Vicario as one example, among hundreds, he is given no protection from the ref and basically told to man up. Yet many years ago they stopped tackling or shoving of goalkeepers. When I played (Yes a long time ago) You could charge the goalkeeper put him and the ball in the net and get a goal. Nat Lofthouse scored such a famous goal in the FA Cup Final against Man U. Then they changed the rules so you could hardly get near the keeper. Now all of sudden it's ok to push the keeper about as the ball comes in from a corner or free kick. Or in another game it's not. As you say the rules play a part, the trouble is the refs and VAR seem to make them up on the hoof.
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I pretty much agree with that but it could all be sorted out by appropriate changes to the Laws. For example, if there is a level of contact below which it can't be a foul the laws should actually say so. The current version essentially requires the officials to make it up. And it's bonkers that the refs have no way of sanctioning all the shenanigans that happen before a corner is taken.
 
Citizen Kane. said:
Anyone think Newcastle will finish above us?
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It’s possible, same for Utd.

If I’m not wrong we need 6 points to practically secure 5th unless a drastic GD swing happens in Utd’s favour. In theory we should be able to get 6 points against Sheffield and Burnley but I mean… well… we’re Tottenham aren’t we?
 
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