The non-Watford football thread

This is the same as in many things Fez - my rights stop when they infringe upon yours. As long as I smoke with consideration for others then it is nobodies business but my own. There are some pubs in Berlin where smoking is still allowed, but there is a sign at the door, and so if you go in there then you have no right to complain afterwards. In most cases you can avoid designated smoking areas whereas I cannot avoid car fumes.

 

That's absolutely right. The quicker smoking dies out as a habit, the better. Quite what we do about the loss in tax revenue is another matter: "it's patriotic to smoke, innit" as Alf Garnett said (wonderfully written character by Johnny Speight as we all know) but the habit has killed far too many of my family and friends for me to have much sympathy for those who choose to continue, let alone those who (directly or indirectly) encourage others to start.

 

He also had some very odd superstitions Dave - for example he refused to walk on the pitch which wasn't great for matches that went to extra time and penalties!

 

Not all smokers are as considerate as you Cologne but I do think it is wrong of you to light up in a non smoking area because of the residual smell and atmosphere you leave behind.
I see your point re drivers but as we all use transport of some kind I guess we accept it is the price we pay. There are many kinds of polution that we would be better off without.

 

VAR seems to be working in France's favour - they got a penalty in their last game and one tonight with the defender being sent off and they were allowed to re-take it as the Nigerian goalie was adjudged to have come off her line too early!

 

I couldn't see how from the camera angles we were shown how you could be certain it was a penalty. A foot went out, but you needed a picture from behind the goal to say if there was contact.

 

And was the goalie hard done about being punished for coming off the line? - I know sometimes they can be OTT but it did seem a little unlucky and the penalty went wide...

I suspect they have to be seen really enforcing the rule to get good marks from the accessors!

 

Judging from some of the matches in the last World Cup, most goalkeepers come off the line before the kick is taken. There is a chance that VAR will destroy the spontaneity of football.

 

I am definitely starting to worry about this...time will tell, but let's hope that after a bedding in period (where I expect there will be more debate than ever over VAR decisions) the VAR decisions wont be as impacting in the results of games. There will definitely be tactics employed by teams to 'exploit' VAR i.e. aiming to hit players hands in the box if there is no chance of creating a scoring opportunity

 

Michel Platini has been arrested for his part in Qatar being awarded the 2022 World Cup. Since the vote in favour of Qatar 16 of the 24 FIFA officials have been struck off, suspended or remain under investigation, dodgy bunch.

 

Yes... and it will ensure goalies stay on their line which is the law....

 

didn't pick up on encroachment though on the retake - which is the law...French 6 is in the box as the kick is taken.
Fine pick up on infringements, but consistency is still a problem IMHO, the picture below shows an infringement of encroachment!!!

 

Should have been retaken again as attacking player encroached.

 

Either way there have been several incidents where VAR have got it wrong. Doesn't bode well...

 

yes spot on.....

 

I was shocked by the USA penalty decision, it was clearly outside the box.

Thankfully Lloyd was sporting and missed the penalty

 

The bureaucrats at Eufa need to be strung up. Apparently Ajax Amsterdam, having won the double in the Netherlands and having reached the semi final of the Champions League last season have to play 2 CL. qualification rounds in order to get through to the group stage - while Lokomotiv Moscow (2nd in the Russian league) qualify automatically for the group stage. How can they call it the Champions League when champions don't get in automatically whereas even 4th place in France, Spain, Italy and England do ?

 

I whilst I tend to agree its hard on Ajax the seeding are based on this:

https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/uefarankings/club/about/

Its why Celtic have to play 3 rounds as Scotland as a country are ranked so low..

 

It's hard on the winners of many of the so called smaller leagues Mark. Whether we're talking about Celtic, Ajax Amsterdam, Genk (this was something of a surprise - normally Bruges or Anderlecht) - not sure about Benfica. I know how the seeding is based and I think it has a very negative effect on domestic football more or less everywhere. Even in the big leagues it makes the competition between 4th and 5th place in many cases more important than the championship itself. Unfortunately the Eredivisie (Netherlands) is a place where good Dutch players start and finish their careers, but spend their peak years somewhere else - the same applies to Belgium. I know that Cruyff and Neeskens did the same in the past but they did not move away at 19.

 

Rafael Benitez is leaving Newcastle. The reaction from there is hostile to Ashley, but that has been an going on for a long time.