2020/21 Soccer Thread: Messxit?

Medmey wrote:

Peacock tv App finally has made it to Roku. This will probably lure me to sub for the EPL season.

I'm still holding out on principle and because I despise Comcast.

I noticed that most of next weekend's games are on NBC and NBCSN. They said something about how last week was unusual because of conflicts with the US Open and some race, or something like that. Then again they might just be trying to backtrack and save face because they got roasted on social media so badly. I bet their ratings were horrible too, because the app didn't work with Roku or Fire Sticks.

We'll see how it goes. I imagine at some point I'll sign up, when it's snowing outside, we're still locked up because of Covid, and I've gone half insane.

I'm trying to decide, as a lover of many things Italian, if it's permissible to enjoy how much that insane, corrupt Suarez story living up to every Italian stereotype, or if that's somehow wrong.

Also I'm wondering if I could pass that language test, over twenty years after college.

David Moyes, Issa Diop and Josh Cullen have all tested positive for Covid over the weekend.

If this season is going to get played to a conclusion there are going to be some very odd teams fielded, or some give me’s handed out.

The Suarez saga continues.

Atleti now, I think?

Suarez's dirtbag energy would be perfect for Atleti.

"The Gang Buys A Football Club"

EDIT: Also, I think some of those scores today have been... "influenced" by the pandemic.

ProTip for Chelsea: Don't let the opposition score 3 goals before you score 3 goals.

Back in June when football restarted Burnley didn't pick a bunch of their players because their contracts were up at the end of that month. Fast forward three months and their senior squad is now about 21 players strong, but seven of those are injured and of the fourteen that remain three are Goalkeepers.

I guess you can't have selection headaches when your method for picking the team is "if you can run you're playing."

Prederick wrote:

ProTip for Chelsea: Don't let the opposition score 3 goals before you score 3 goals.

Can't believe they managed a draw from that.

Also, ManU was extremely fortunate to beat Brighton today. The latter hit wood five times before I went back to bed. Of course, penalty decisions on both sides of the ball played a role in what is a weekly theme for ManU.

Fedaykin98 wrote:
Prederick wrote:

ProTip for Chelsea: Don't let the opposition score 3 goals before you score 3 goals.

Can't believe they managed a draw from that.

Also, ManU was extremely fortunate to beat Brighton today. The latter hit wood five times before I went back to bed. Of course, penalty decisions on both sides of the ball played a role in what is a weekly theme for ManU.

Also, Fergie time seems to be back. TEN minutes overtime, not bad...

These handball rules with VAR - they are going to have to be changed. I’m laughing at what’s happened but my god Spurs have every right to be livid.

Intent or denying a clear goal have to be the rules for handball in the penalty area. That’s it.

@ESPNFC wrote:

Luis Suarez made his Atletico Madrid debut as a 70th-minute substitute against Granada.

He scored twice and assisted another goal in 23 minutes

Messi is SO out of there.

Sorbicol wrote:

These handball rules with VAR - they are going to have to changed. I’m laugh at what’s happened but my god Spurs have every right to be livid.

Intent or denying a clear goal have to be the rules for handball in the penalty area. That’s it.

The "foul" that awarded Newcastle the free kick which led to the "handball" was almost as bad.

Beginning of the end of Pep at Man City? I wonder.

Sorbicol wrote:

Beginning of the end of Pep at Man City? I wonder.

Huh? What are you....

/checks

HOLY SH*T.

EDIT: And Bayern lost. 4-1!

Prederick wrote:
Sorbicol wrote:

Beginning of the end of Pep at Man City? I wonder.

Huh? What are you....

/checks

HOLY SH*T.

EDIT: And Bayern lost. 4-1!

It’s the end times I tell you!

Nah it’s too many games to too short a period of time, but a team with city’s resources should be more than capable of coping with it all.

I wasn’t wrong when I said ‘expect someone to make a run’ this season. I wonder if it might just be an Everton?

Sorbicol wrote:

These handball rules with VAR - they are going to have to be changed. I’m laughing at what’s happened but my god Spurs have every right to be livid.

Intent or denying a clear goal have to be the rules for handball in the penalty area. That’s it.

LOL, good LORD everyone hates the rule.

What a dumb rule/current interpretation. Often easier to just flick the ball at an arm in the box rather than shoot.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

What a dumb rule/current interpretation. Often easier to just flick the ball at an arm in the box rather than shoot.

Which is exactly what Mane did against us in the opening minutes of the Champions League final, you may recall.

Also, the officials today spent an eternity checking for offside before the handball, and Carroll certainly looked offside - then they gave the penalty anyway.

Just saw the quote where Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said it was an awful decision and that such calls are ruining the game. Fair play to him!

Fedaykin98 wrote:

Just saw the quote where Newcastle manager Steve Bruce said it was an awful decision and that such calls are ruining the game. Fair play to him!

This was Roy Hodgson yesterday when a very similar call cost Palace.

There's been a lot of silly over reaction amongst various "fans", but it should be clear this isn't VAR causing a problem, it's people really not thinking through the consequences of their decisions.

Crystal Palace definitely has a right to feel aggrieved by that call. (I was shocked it was given, because although that's the sort of marginal decision that regularly gets called against us, it never gets called against our opponents).

And it says something that that wasn't the worst of the handball calls over the weekend.

Dimmerswitch wrote:

And it says something that that wasn't the worst of the handball calls over the weekend.

To the letter of the current laws though none of those handball decisions were incorrect. They were handballs.

Therein lies the problem I would argue.

Sorbicol wrote:
Dimmerswitch wrote:

And it says something that that wasn't the worst of the handball calls over the weekend.

To the letter of the current laws though none of those handball decisions were incorrect. They were handballs.

Therein lies the problem I would argue.

Which is why this isn't a VAR problem. Wish the VAR haters would sit this one out - not every bad call is a VAR problem.

Sorbicol wrote:
Dimmerswitch wrote:

And it says something that that wasn't the worst of the handball calls over the weekend.

To the letter of the current laws though none of those handball decisions were incorrect. They were handballs.

Therein lies the problem I would argue.

I'd argue that there actually is some room for correction in the way the rule is currently written. The current ruling refers to striking an arm "in an unnatural position". This is being interpreted as "not directly by your side".

But to me, having your arm by your side when you're running, or changing directions, or getting pushed from behind as you jump for a header, would be more "unnatural" than having it in some way away from your body.

Seems to me that the EPL could rectify things quickly by interpreting "unnatural" in a more, well, "natural" way.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

I'd argue that there actually is some room for correction in the way the rule is currently written. The current ruling refers to striking an arm "in an unnatural position". This is being interpreted as "not directly by your side".

But to me, having your arm by your side when you're running, or changing directions, or getting pushed from behind as you jump for a header, would be more "unnatural" than having it in some way away from your body.

Seems to me that the EPL could rectify things quickly by interpreting "unnatural" in a more, well, "natural" way.

Exactly. Someone up the heiarchy decided "unatural" meant "at the sides" or "as if at rest". There is nothing natural about running and jumping with your arms hanging firmly at your sides. Balancing while maneuvering at high speed requires it. Yet, everyone downstream has to say "yup, what he said!"

The last few years I was reffing -- this is essentially what the recertification classes consisted of. One, here are the rule changes for this year. Two, here's how we expect these things to be interpreted.

Rule should simply be:

" A penalty shall be awarded if, by the ball in play striking a defender's hand or arm in the penalty area, a goal or goal scoring opportunity is denied". It's the referee's job to make that call, so let them make it. VAR should just be clearing up the absolute clangers (Thierry Henry, I'm looking at you)

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Boy howdy, my hopes of 15th are looking to be rather generous. Ten goals conceded in three, horrific defending, and another 3-0 home defeat.

I am literally already glancing tat the "Sack Scott Parker" button.

Prederick wrote:

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck.

Boy howdy, my hopes of 15th are looking to be rather generous.

Did Fulham get anyone over the summer?

As much as I'd love to see them stay, they um, aren't showing signs of life.

Godzilla Blitz wrote:

Did Fulham get anyone over the summer?

As much as I'd love to see them stay, they um, aren't showing signs of life.

No. All of the notable "new arrivals" are just players we had on Loan last year. Didn't want to repeat the free-spending debacle of the last time we got promoted.

But yeah, we look completely out of our depths right now.