Weekend Football

[leon]

Another *******stupid VAR call but then it’s Oliver

It's not ridiculous, as he's within a few feet of the keeper in the six-yard box, but I can see why LFC fans feel hard done by.

If the goal had been given, I don't feel City could complain too much.

Gary Neville referred to another recent game where something similar happened and IIRC the player was even more in the line of sight of the keeper and yet that goal stood.

An incredible performance from Doku was a major difference between the two sides whereas normally he is quite inconsistent and he even crowned his performance with a stunning goal of his own.
I can't think of another game for some time between top clubs where a single player has been in the game so much and so effective, leading Neville to award him MOM after only 60 minutes or so.

One minor crumb of comfort for Liverpool is that they have already played 5 of the top 7 in the division.

Good to see Bournemouth brought down to earth.-their fans locally have become a bit above themselves and their old manager Eddie Howe's Newcastle are only a couple of points above the relegation places.

Not having that. Liverpool were second best all over the pitch. Yes Doku was MOTM and he scored but he wasn’t the only difference. He had no assists for example.

[BRO_BOT]

It's not ridiculous, as he's within a few feet of the keeper in the six-yard box, but I can see why LFC fans feel hard done by.

If the goal had been given, I don't feel City could complain too much.

Gary Neville referred to another recent game where something similar happened and IIRC the player was even more in the line of sight of the keeper and yet that goal stood.

An incredible performance from Doku was a major difference between the two sides whereas normally he is quite inconsistent and he even crowned his performance with a stunning goal of his own.
I can't think of another game for some time between top clubs where a single player has been in the game so much and so effective, leading Neville to award him MOM after only 60 minutes or so.

One minor crumb of comfort for Liverpool is that they have already played 5 of the top 7 in the division.

Good to see Bournemouth brought down to earth.-their fans locally have become a bit above themselves and their old manager Eddie Howe's Newcastle are only a couple of points above the relegation places.

Not having that. Liverpool were second best all over the pitch. Yes Doku was MOTM and he scored but he wasn’t the only difference. He had no assists for example.

'greed! City's passing was excellent today. The way they played out from the back for the first goal was sublime. Foden and Bernardo made themselves available (in space) all game.

[Royal Rother]

Another *******stupid VAR call but then it’s Oliver

Correct decision.

Being that close to him Robertson would clearly have an impact on the ‘keeper’s decision making and reflex reactions.

Once again it would be fine if all refs and VAR refs saw things the same way

Amen to that.

[BRO_BOT]

Correct decision.

Being that close to him Robertson would clearly have an impact on the ‘keeper’s decision making and reflex reactions.

Once again it would be fine if all refs and VAR refs saw things the same way

Amen to that.

It's 2025, Grandad...

'A-them to that'

[Orion1871]

Bad day for all you RFC Reds.

Liverpool have been dreadful. VVD looks like he’s spent the game sulking although he did get assist for the second goal.

They've not taken it well judging by Sutekh and SCR.

Harder against a team with structure and game plan like City than it is against a disjointed team trying to fit three left wingers in the side like Real.

[Sanguine]

I think if Reading were a PL side and we'd had a goal disallowed for the Robertson incident, we'd be apoplectic - including Rother. And rightly so. Donnarumma had clear sight of the ball. Obviously.

Villa turning things around - five wins in six games, and with Leeds, Wolves, West Ham and Brighton in their next five.

[BRO_BOT]

I think if Reading were a PL side and we'd had a goal disallowed for the Robertson incident, we'd be apoplectic - including Rother. And rightly so. Donnarumma had clear sight of the ball. Obviously.

Hopefully, they'll clear this rule up a bit. But it's naive to say that a player who has to duck under the ball in the 6-yard box, who is standing a few feet away from the keeper, isn't interfering with play. At least some part of the keeper's brain is assessing the threat of that player.

My feeling is that City got away with that. If the VAR had come back to say the goal was fine, I wouldn't have batted an eyelid.

[Royal Rother]

I think if Reading were a PL side and we'd had a goal disallowed for the Robertson incident, we'd be apoplectic - including Rother.

Nope, it's actually one of my pet gripes.

The "direct eyeline" discussion is largely irrelevant - Having been a goalkeeper, I know that anyone in your immediate vicinity affects your reactions. When they are in an offside position it is clearly a hindrance as you have to make instinctive split-second assessments as to whether any deflection might happen - you don't have time to think "oh, he's in an offside position so I'll ignore him" - it just doesn't work like that.

Donnarumma was clearly a little flat footed when he made his dive and didn't get much spring; Robertson's position may well have been the cause of that.

[South Coast Royal]

It's not ridiculous, as he's within a few feet of the keeper in the six-yard box, but I can see why LFC fans feel hard done by.

If the goal had been given, I don't feel City could complain too much.

Gary Neville referred to another recent game where something similar happened and IIRC the player was even more in the line of sight of the keeper and yet that goal stood.

An incredible performance from Doku was a major difference between the two sides whereas normally he is quite inconsistent and he even crowned his performance with a stunning goal of his own.
I can't think of another game for some time between top clubs where a single player has been in the game so much and so effective, leading Neville to award him MOM after only 60 minutes or so.

One minor crumb of comfort for Liverpool is that they have already played 5 of the top 7 in the division.

Good to see Bournemouth brought down to earth.-their fans locally have become a bit above themselves and their old manager Eddie Howe's Newcastle are only a couple of points above the relegation places.

Not having that. Liverpool were second best all over the pitch. Yes Doku was MOTM and he scored but he wasn’t the only difference. He had no assists for example.

As I said "a major difference".
Yes there were other differences as well and Liverpool were way off it and nothing like the (same) side that beat Real Madrid just a few days earlier.

[bcubed]

I think if Reading were a PL side and we'd had a goal disallowed for the Robertson incident, we'd be apoplectic - including Rother.

Nope, it's actually one of my pet gripes.

The "direct eyeline" discussion is largely irrelevant - Having been a goalkeeper, I know that anyone in your immediate vicinity affects your reactions. When they are in an offside position it is clearly a hindrance as you have to make instinctive split-second assessments as to whether any deflection might happen - you don't have time to think "oh, he's in an offside position so I'll ignore him" - it just doesn't work like that.

Donnarumma was clearly a little flat footed when he made his dive and didn't get much spring; Robertson's position may well have been the cause of that.

Am right with you.

Didn't see the other one that was allowed referred to by SCR, but I'd probably that should have been disallowed as well. There is no way that Robertson isn't having an impact standing where he was

When did offside get so complicated?

[South Coast Royal]

I think if Reading were a PL side and we'd had a goal disallowed for the Robertson incident, we'd be apoplectic - including Rother.

Nope, it's actually one of my pet gripes.

The "direct eyeline" discussion is largely irrelevant - Having been a goalkeeper, I know that anyone in your immediate vicinity affects your reactions. When they are in an offside position it is clearly a hindrance as you have to make instinctive split-second assessments as to whether any deflection might happen - you don't have time to think "oh, he's in an offside position so I'll ignore him" - it just doesn't work like that.

Donnarumma was clearly a little flat footed when he made his dive and didn't get much spring; Robertson's position may well have been the cause of that.

Am right with you.

Didn't see the other one that was allowed referred to by SCR, but I'd probably that should have been disallowed as well. There is no way that Robertson isn't having an impact standing where he was

When did offside get so complicated?

Just following on from this matter of what is and what isn't interference I think many of us are fed up with the grappling that goes on in the penalty area and whether the holding is just a light cuddle or a full-on squeeze.

Referees struggle to see who did what to whom and who started it partly because there are so many players in there and then so often minutes are spent separating warring factions before the ref blows almost inevitably for a foul by the attacker.

I was wondering whether a rule change to no more than say 3 players from each side (plus the keeper) being allowed in the penalty area for a corner kick would be a good move.
That would mean a much clearer view surely of what is going on and players should be penalised for any hands on another player and not whether a great or minor level of force is being used.

Whereas at the start of some seasons ( I remember Adie being penalised in the first game of a season) we have been told that referees will be strict about holding, particularly in the penalty area, it only ever seems to last for a few games and then it reverts to a free for all.

[bcubed]

Nope, it's actually one of my pet gripes.

The "direct eyeline" discussion is largely irrelevant - Having been a goalkeeper, I know that anyone in your immediate vicinity affects your reactions. When they are in an offside position it is clearly a hindrance as you have to make instinctive split-second assessments as to whether any deflection might happen - you don't have time to think "oh, he's in an offside position so I'll ignore him" - it just doesn't work like that.

Donnarumma was clearly a little flat footed when he made his dive and didn't get much spring; Robertson's position may well have been the cause of that.

Am right with you.

Didn't see the other one that was allowed referred to by SCR, but I'd probably that should have been disallowed as well. There is no way that Robertson isn't having an impact standing where he was

When did offside get so complicated?

Just following on from this matter of what is and what isn't interference I think many of us are fed up with the grappling that goes on in the penalty area and whether the holding is just a light cuddle or a full-on squeeze.

Referees struggle to see who did what to whom and who started it partly because there are so many players in there and then so often minutes are spent separating warring factions before the ref blows almost inevitably for a foul by the attacker.

I was wondering whether a rule change to no more than say 3 players from each side (plus the keeper) being allowed in the penalty area for a corner kick would be a good move.
That would mean a much clearer view surely of what is going on and players should be penalised for any hands on another player and not whether a great or minor level of force is being used.

Whereas at the start of some seasons ( I remember Adie being penalised in the first game of a season) we have been told that referees will be strict about holding, particularly in the penalty area, it only ever seems to last for a few games and then it reverts to a free for all.

I dont know whether your suggestion is practical but something should surely be done. Its farcical what happens in the box before a corner.

[Royal Rother]

Agreed - I quite like that suggestion, but whether it is workable or not, something needs to be done. Maybe just zero use of hands and arms might be better.

Come to think of it that would be good in all phases of the game. The grappling that happens every game, (particularly near corner flags), is just foul play as far as I'm concerned and yet for the most part is just allowed now.

[Dirk Gently]

...
I was wondering whether a rule change to no more than say 3 players from each side (plus the keeper) being allowed in the penalty area for a corner kick would be a good move.
That would mean a much clearer view surely of what is going on and players should be penalised for any hands on another player and not whether a great or minor level of force is being used.

Would that just move all the holding and wrestling to just outside the box, as well as give referees the same problem of checking for players encroaching into the box that they currently have administering penalties?

[South Coast Royal]

...
I was wondering whether a rule change to no more than say 3 players from each side (plus the keeper) being allowed in the penalty area for a corner kick would be a good move.
That would mean a much clearer view surely of what is going on and players should be penalised for any hands on another player and not whether a great or minor level of force is being used.

Would that just move all the holding and wrestling to just outside the box, as well as give referees the same problem of checking for players encroaching into the box that they currently have administering penalties?

Maybe but at least it would be away from the area around the goal and possibly not as influential on goal scoring opportunities.

It was just an idea because, as bcubed and Rother have both said, we are fed up with all the holding and subsequent confusion particularly within the penalty area.

[Sanguine]

I'd go with something like no opposition player within a yard of the keeper when the kick is taken. Subjective to a point, sure. But what it might mean to some extent is it becomes easier to penalise attacking teams for jostling or hindering a keeper's movement - because they have to move towards him to do that. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the offside call, Andy Robertson is 5ft 10ins in football boots, and was 'marking' 6ft 5ins Donnarumma. His only job was to obstruct the keeper, and that should be a foul.

[Dirk Gently]

I'd go with something like no opposition player within a yard of the keeper when the kick is taken. Subjective to a point, sure. But what it might mean to some extent is it becomes easier to penalise attacking teams for jostling or hindering a keeper's movement - because they have to move towards him to do that. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the offside call, Andy Robertson is 5ft 10ins in football boots, and was 'marking' 6ft 5ins Donnarumma. His only job was to obstruct the keeper, and that should be a foul.

It's a sound idea, but I fear it'd be pretty much unenforceable, not least because a keeper can move just before the corner's taken.

[Sutekh]

I'd go with something like no opposition player within a yard of the keeper when the kick is taken. Subjective to a point, sure. But what it might mean to some extent is it becomes easier to penalise attacking teams for jostling or hindering a keeper's movement - because they have to move towards him to do that. Whatever the rights or wrongs of the offside call, Andy Robertson is 5ft 10ins in football boots, and was 'marking' 6ft 5ins Donnarumma. His only job was to obstruct the keeper, and that should be a foul.

Only the goalkeeper should be allowed in the goal area

[Pepe the Horseman]

Had a look at the C'ship table for the first time in a while. If you'd have told me to guess the top 6, I would have managed Cov and Boro and that's it. Stoke, Preston, Hull and Millwall, possibly the least glamorous combination possible, but not a parachute payment in site <3 Charlton and Bristol City also lurking.

[BRO_BOT]

Sl t