"We've got six games tomorrow, there'll be loads of defending like that, let's see if VAR calls that." - Clinton Morrison. I think we all know how that's going to go, don't we?
It improved, although we didn't start playing for the first 15 minutes. But it was certainly a lot better than the first!
I blame VAR more than the ref. But for once I’d love the ref to actually have the balls to stick with their on field (correct) decision. Why do they even bother to come and look at it on the screen? they may as well just automatically give the penalty as they never go against it.
Need to get the left wing sorted. Either give odobert or Tel a proper run of games there or just put Xavi out there to try and create a bit more. Tel did more in his cameo than Johnson did all game. RKM looks like someone who actually wants to drive forward with the ball which is good. A decent game for him without any real service.
Having been at the centre of at least two changes to the handball rule in the last six years, I'm presuming we'll also be at the centre of a the Greco-Roman rule too?
If I'm trying to really understand why they sent the referee to review it, maybe it was because Bentancur wasn't facing the ball and tried to block Dan Burn's run? But the issue is, blocking runs of the opponent happens at every corner/set-piece. Physical contact/jostling happens at every corner/set-piece. So, if that's now going to be given as a penalty, we'll be seeing 10 penalties every game. Besides, it looks to me like Burn ends up running into Bentancur due to the height difference and momentum (i.e. Burn running forwards, Bentancur running backwards) anyway. It was all a much of a muchness. Also, from a common sense standpoint, do we really want to be giving penalties for situations like that? It's just so incredibly soft. The game has well and truly gone if that's the threshold for a penalty now. But who knows...
If this is a penalty, the only way to avoid it happening is to place a giant scales behind the goal, and before each corner every player runs over to weigh themselves, and they are then matched to a player on the opposing side who is of a similar weight, who they must then mark. It beggars belief.
I agree with all of that. Jamie Redknapp has pretty much said the same thing on Sky. There is just no consistency. No one wants that to start being the threshold of a penalty.
I'll gladly take a point but there are still huge causes for concern all over the pitch and the solution seems as far away as ever. Over the past 5 games only Bmouth (1) and Wolves (0) have picked up fewer points than us (2).
Let's be honest, this line-up would win the league: Vicario Porro Danso Palhinha Udogie Kudus Bentancur Bergvall RKM VDV Romero
