Wow so we dont have a defence hahaha 14 wins 14 losses only 3 draws because wins means more points and we have scored 49 and conceded 49 so have a zero points difference. We now have a full fit squad whereas before we had either no Koch, Llorente, Phillips or Cooper so maybe conceded more than we would. Todays shows just how shyt our defence is
Just watching Leeds Rhinos Great fight back at St Helens with a man down, football could do with taking a leaf out of their book in how to use Var correctly
I've no problem with VAR getting Cooper sent off. It was reckless by todays standards. Personally I preferred the more physical game of years ago. However, City potentially should have had a couple of penalties due to Cooper pulling Stones' shirt and Raheem Sterling could have seen two red cards for the stamp on Raphinha and potentially breaking Mesliers arm with another stamp. If Cooper was reckless then how reckless, nasty, premeditated, dangerous, professional was Fernandhinho tackle on Rapha which forced him off through injury? Having played the game for alot of years it's obvious that Sterling knows exactly what he is doing when he leaves his foot in. He is a little **** for doing it and never gets pulled up for it. The challenge on Meslier is more dangerous (and also pre-meditated) than Cooper who went for the ball and collected the man at the same time. Kane backs in to defenders all the time whilst they are in the air. He gets away with that too. Eventually he will break a defenders neck through doing it. It's highly dangerous. I know Bielsa won't have it but there should be a complaint about the referee and his team (Inc VAR) from us. Some of the decisions today were as bad as I have seen for a while.
I'm a season ticket holder at Headingley (whatever that means nowadays) and I remember video refs coming in. It was horrendous at the beginning but they seem to have improved it alot over the years. They show the replays on a big screen so the fans can see what the ref can see. It makes it so much better. One other thing I like is that the ref gives his on field decision first before handing it upstairs. If the ref says he thought it was a try then the video ref has to have conclusive evidence to turn that decision around. If its a wishy washy call he refers it back to the on field decision. This is now widely accepted by most fans. There is still the odd contentious decision but more often than not the fans can see the replays and already know what the decision will be because they can see if on the screen themselves.
I actually thought ****ling stamped Raphinha multiple times in that one incident. He also deliberately stamped on Meslier's hand, which was easily avoidable, & shockingly unforgiveable, imo. I don't think I've ever seen someone do that to a 'keeper. So yes, he should have got 2 red cards. This begs the question - can the FA still step in for something the ref missed, or is that now the job of VAR? More importantly, when will I be able to speak properly again? That second goal (I'm delighted to say) ripped out the remaining lining of my throat.
As Carragher said on the telly, when it comes to offside, we've now lost the 'level' decision we used to be happy with. It's binary now - a clear yes or no. I wonder if they could introduce a measure that you had to be 'x' centimetres off for a call to be made - that would bring back the beloved 'level', wouldn't it?
Afternoon all. I missed the game but was following the updates. A momentous result no matter who City put out. I just watched the 3 min BT Sport highlights and imo I don't think the Cooper challenge was a red. I think, as has been said, he took ball then man. I was surprised to read on the BBC update page that it was a dangerous challenge. I don't think it was and it definitely wasn't malicious. They didn't show the Sterling stamps.
The difference with rugby (well union) seems to be that the ref asks the TMO to check on something he is unsure of, he’s not whispered in his ear to take another look. Human nature is such that when that happens the ref immediately thinks he’s made a mistake or missed something so going to the monitor I’m guessing he is already looking at a way to change his decision, rarely do they stick with their original decision. If mariner had asked “can you look and see if it was reckless” I could just about put up with it. But VAR is just not for me and is killing the fun and spontaneity of watching football. No fan of Liverpool but the offside for their disallowed goal was ridiculous
I know it's infuriating. The Bamford offside at Palace was ridiculous. However you are correct in saying it is binary. I think that is a good thing personally. It removes human error. You are either onside or offside. By saying that you need to be 5cm offside before it's called offside will just be shifting the lines. I suppose a few more goals would occur and maybe that is your point. You'd still get the close decisions and the uproar. I don't see the problem with offsides, its just the same as goaline technology. It's either in or out. We're all happy with that. It might need tweaking to give attackers more of an advantage but I suppose at the moment everyone is playing to the same offside lines.
One question. Was it down to fitness levels or with the Cooper sending off is the CB pecking order now. 1 / 2. Cooper / Llorente 3. Struijk 4. Koch