Pickford's best game in some time, string of very decent saves. That and limited warm up time / friendlies before won't do his World Cup chances any harm
I don't think his spot was ever in danger. He's never let Southgate down. Ramsdale still too erratic and Henderson probably needs a longer run of Prem football to be considered - although I think he's Pickford's successor.
I mean, there were some really bad on-field decisions today too. Leeds got absolutely mugged off with their pen shout, Van Dijk lucky to stay on too imo. But we've known for ages officiating standards in this country are not good enough 🤷
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The fact that the VAR’s and referees (when called over to the screen) watch the replays back and forth in slow motion is one of the main issues with the system (one of many). They need to watch things at full speed and stop watching slow motion replays of every tackle and action, it is ridiculous.
The problem is it gives the expectation of almost being helpful...with a bit more tinkering and some overpaid ex pro's....who are famously good pundits and non-biased, and always agree on decisions....
Slow mo is a good thing if used correctly as are different angles but some of the high horse crap this morning from ex pros who obviously never made a mistake shows why it'll never work.
The thing people don't seem to ever get to is that it doesn't help and never has almost anywhere it's been implemented. It just laughably and falsely heightens the idea that you lost your job or title due to one decision.
Goal line tech great as it's subjective. Offside isn't as apparently a man standing in front of the keeper might not be interfering with the defence and you have to second guess what might have happened if you don't whistle.
Bin VAR or only use it for retrospective bans for violent conduct.
I agree that slow-mo distorts things, but only our refs seem to make such a meal of VAR decisions. I don't have the numbers to confirm this, but I also feel like more decisions go to VAR in the Prem than other big leagues.
Automated offside at the World Cup will be interesting.
Btw @ReturnToSenda will the automated system wait like the current system does?
Trialling it in the World Cup seems a sensible measure though, well done FIFA, probably not in their 1000 worse decisions related to the tournament to be fair
Seeing as they will actually never bin it, we need to have officials from other countries hold our hands and show us how to use it as effectively as possible. This is embarrassing, but as with anything that people cannot get right, they need to learn how to perform from others who are already doing it right.
Our officials are incompetent enough without having their thinking distorted by slow-mo replays. It also makes them deliberate for longer than necessary - as we saw again just now.
I think Jimmy H should stick to dealing with the Burton mess.
Stubbornly arguing it wasn't a foul, despite a 2 handed push from behind and the ever so slightly important not touching the ball part of it.
I generally like the big name players from my era on as pundits, but there's a definite argument to ditch them and get actual modern pundits on who understand the rules!
Comments
From the Freeman's catalogue?
https://twitter.com/CalladGale/status/1565732650345807873?t=E8KuoaU_ONNoVgg61OkXwA&s=19
This is a wonderful story from Exeter. I really hope Jay Stansfield scores a hatful for them this season - excluding against us of course!
Brilliant stuff. He actually started Fulham's win v Brentford, seems highly-rated.
Pickford's best game in some time, string of very decent saves. That and limited warm up time / friendlies before won't do his World Cup chances any harm
I don't think his spot was ever in danger. He's never let Southgate down. Ramsdale still too erratic and Henderson probably needs a longer run of Prem football to be considered - although I think he's Pickford's successor.
Pope about as well but yeah, Southgate showed no signs of dropping him when he was playing badly and others were playing well.
Ah shit, how did I forget Pope! Although I'm not sure he'll ever be England no1 as he's not good enough with his feet.
I’ve not seen Ramsdale this season but erratic seems an unlikely description, given that Arsenal are doing ok.
He's got some heart-stopping moments in him, usually when being too relaxed on the ball. Pickford has largely ironed those out, at least for England.
That disallowed West Ham goal is one of the worst decisions I've ever seen. Good grief.
Indeed. Do we want refs on the.pitch making bad decisions or refs in a shed watching videos making bad decisions?
I mean, there were some really bad on-field decisions today too. Leeds got absolutely mugged off with their pen shout, Van Dijk lucky to stay on too imo. But we've known for ages officiating standards in this country are not good enough 🤷
Oh, and apparently they admitted they got the Coutinho offside wrong? Not the best day for the men in black/orange/turquoise.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The fact that the VAR’s and referees (when called over to the screen) watch the replays back and forth in slow motion is one of the main issues with the system (one of many). They need to watch things at full speed and stop watching slow motion replays of every tackle and action, it is ridiculous.
Anyone left in favour of VAR hates football
I do think slow motion replays make every tackle look worse.
I don't think our West Country poster hates football!
The problem is it gives the expectation of almost being helpful...with a bit more tinkering and some overpaid ex pro's....who are famously good pundits and non-biased, and always agree on decisions....
Slow mo is a good thing if used correctly as are different angles but some of the high horse crap this morning from ex pros who obviously never made a mistake shows why it'll never work.
The thing people don't seem to ever get to is that it doesn't help and never has almost anywhere it's been implemented. It just laughably and falsely heightens the idea that you lost your job or title due to one decision.
Goal line tech great as it's subjective. Offside isn't as apparently a man standing in front of the keeper might not be interfering with the defence and you have to second guess what might have happened if you don't whistle.
Bin VAR or only use it for retrospective bans for violent conduct.
I agree that slow-mo distorts things, but only our refs seem to make such a meal of VAR decisions. I don't have the numbers to confirm this, but I also feel like more decisions go to VAR in the Prem than other big leagues.
Automated offside at the World Cup will be interesting.
Btw @ReturnToSenda will the automated system wait like the current system does?
Trialling it in the World Cup seems a sensible measure though, well done FIFA, probably not in their 1000 worse decisions related to the tournament to be fair
Sorry, only *semi-automated, but I think it's pretty much instant. https://www.fifa.com/technical/media-releases/semi-automated-offside-technology-to-be-used-at-fifa-world-cup-2022-tm
There are only two ways forward with VAR.
Our officials are incompetent enough without having their thinking distorted by slow-mo replays. It also makes them deliberate for longer than necessary - as we saw again just now.
And it's not even looking at that tackle from Lokonga. Not that it should have to when the ref had a perfect view... What a mess.
I think Jimmy H should stick to dealing with the Burton mess.
Stubbornly arguing it wasn't a foul, despite a 2 handed push from behind and the ever so slightly important not touching the ball part of it.
I generally like the big name players from my era on as pundits, but there's a definite argument to ditch them and get actual modern pundits on who understand the rules!
I get the impression Burton's fans aren't best pleased about how much time he spends doing things other than manage them...
It's a double edged sword with this sort of thing. Gareth does it right, popping up at times to give us publicity and profile.
But when you're taking a team to the bottom of league 1, to be an "expert" on a game doesn't sit right.
Probably earns more doing "the other things"!
I never cringe as much as I do during a Martin Tyler commentary. At best a (gran)dad joke, at worst a horrible faux pas. Time to pass the mic on.
Heavily into property apparently too.