SA Footy

Let's start the season off with a 5 year old quote from an Arsenal fan:

Bully wrote:de gea has apparently already said his goodbyes to manchester united and his headed for Real Madrid. With Bale on his way to Man utd

2 rounds in (almost) and no draws. Amazing.

32 matches played and only 3 draws. Possibly just me but I feel this is quite an aberration.

DOC wrote:32 matches played and only 3 draws. Possibly just me but I feel this is quite an aberration.

Probably because there's about 25 soft penalties from the VAR every week!

Wedgie wrote:

DOC wrote:32 matches played and only 3 draws. Possibly just me but I feel this is quite an aberration.

Probably because there's about 25 soft penalties from the VAR every week!

That one against Dier last round was complete madness, they have to alter the rule

Gee whiz, as if Spurs winning 6-1 at Old Trafford wasn't huge enough, Aston Villa go and beat Liverpool 7-2!

Wedgie wrote:Gee whiz, as if Spurs winning 6-1 at Old Trafford wasn't huge enough, Aston Villa go and beat Liverpool 7-2!

.... and West Ham win 3 - 0 at Leicester. Crazy stuff. Could be an interesting season. Still not the same without the fans.

This is the weirdest start to an EPL season on record.

Surely it has something to do with the whole Covid / no crowds etc.

whufc wrote:This is the weirdest start to an EPL season on record.

Surely it has something to do with the whole Covid / no crowds etc.

I was always worried the no crowds might affect us more than most. Same with other clubs with big followings like Man U, although it doesn’t explain City’s blips given they’re used to playing in front of empty stadiums.

Lot to like about what Everton have been doing since Ancelotti got there - Will they come back to the pack or continue on their merry way?

After watching a few episodes of All or Nothing and I can now see why Jim rates Jose Mourinho so highly. I think it's changed my thoughts on him completely.
An amazing person.

Spurs lead 3-0 at half time. West Ham made it 3-3 in the last minute.

Journo. Jose, you were powerful, dominating and 3-0 up at half time. What happened?

Jose. Football.

Journo. Football?

Jose. Well of course I will analyse the second half but I do that internally. For you I just say Football.

Loved it.

Shithouse weekend for the defending champs. Wrong side of some VAR Controversy that means we take a point instead of 3 and keeps the opposition goalie on the pitch for a shocking challenge that sees the worlds best defender now out injured for 12 months, all while still trying to compete with an average at best no. 2 keeper between the posts.

Barring an expensive purchase in the mid-season transfer window, we can’t win the title without Virg.

JK wrote:Shithouse weekend for the defending champs. Wrong side of some VAR Controversy that means we take a point instead of 3 and keeps the opposition goalie on the pitch for a shocking challenge that sees the worlds best defender now out injured for 12 months, all while still trying to compete with an average at best no. 2 keeper between the posts.

Barring an expensive purchase in the mid-season transfer window, we can’t win the title without Virg.

Pickford very lucky

Senor Moto Gadili wrote:

JK wrote:Shithouse weekend for the defending champs. Wrong side of some VAR Controversy that means we take a point instead of 3 and keeps the opposition goalie on the pitch for a shocking challenge that sees the worlds best defender now out injured for 12 months, all while still trying to compete with an average at best no. 2 keeper between the posts.

Barring an expensive purchase in the mid-season transfer window, we can’t win the title without Virg.

Pickford very lucky

Given the passion in that game and too many supporters willingness to go over the top, I'm not sure he'd want to be walking the Merseyside streets alone lol.

The Virg one is just one of those oddities in the game where refs struggle to make decisions because the play was 'dead' albeit imo he should have seen red.

As you know I am passionate about my hammers and stoked with the 3-3 all draw but at 3-2 Gareth Bale is on goal and tries to side foot it in the corner but misses. Slightly after his shot the West Ham player clatters Bale hands out eseentially pushing him. It didn't really affect Bales shot. VAR does not look at it and the ref does not pay it a foul. Anywhere else on the park if that's not advantage the ref pulls it back for a foul but because he had a shot on goal no ref ever pays it.

whufc wrote:The Virg one is just one of those oddities in the game where refs struggle to make decisions because the play was 'dead' albeit imo he should have seen red.

As you know I am passionate about my hammers and stoked with the 3-3 all draw but at 3-2 Gareth Bale is on goal and tries to side foot it in the corner but misses. Slightly after his shot the West Ham player clatters Bale hands out eseentially pushing him. It didn't really affect Bales shot. VAR does not look at it and the ref does not pay it a foul. Anywhere else on the park if that's not advantage the ref pulls it back for a foul but because he had a shot on goal no ref ever pays it.

I still dont know how Mane was conclusively offside in the lead up to (what would have been) the winning goal, and further more IF he was offside it would have been due to a non-scoring part of the body (arm). No point banging on about it given most clubs have had similar VAR calls go against them. Instead though I think they need to consider a change to the rule and perhaps just go by the position of players feet.

I hate technology in sport - I appreciate it results in a higher %age of correct calls being made, but it takes so much away from the spectacle ... Soccer, Rugby, Aussie rules are all better for the passion on display when a team scores, but celebrations are almost instantly shutdown by a need to wait until it clears video review. Takes so much away from the game(s) imho.

PS: BTW, how good was Lanzini's leveller?!?! Cracking hit

JK wrote:

whufc wrote:The Virg one is just one of those oddities in the game where refs struggle to make decisions because the play was 'dead' albeit imo he should have seen red.

As you know I am passionate about my hammers and stoked with the 3-3 all draw but at 3-2 Gareth Bale is on goal and tries to side foot it in the corner but misses. Slightly after his shot the West Ham player clatters Bale hands out eseentially pushing him. It didn't really affect Bales shot. VAR does not look at it and the ref does not pay it a foul. Anywhere else on the park if that's not advantage the ref pulls it back for a foul but because he had a shot on goal no ref ever pays it.

I still dont know how Mane was conclusively offside in the lead up to (what would have been) the winning goal, and further more IF he was offside it would have been due to a non-scoring part of the body (arm). No point banging on about it given most clubs have had similar VAR calls go against them. Instead though I think they need to consider a change to the rule and perhaps just go by the position of players feet.

I hate technology in sport - I appreciate it results in a higher %age of correct calls being made, but it takes so much away from the spectacle ... Soccer, Rugby, Aussie rules are all better for the passion on display when a team scores, but celebrations are almost instantly shutdown by a need to wait until it clears video review. Takes so much away from the game(s) imho.

PS: BTW, how good was Lanzini's leveller?!?! Cracking hit

Yeah I hate technology in any sport and measuring offsides to the millimetre is the worse use of it getting around, imo taking the ups and downs that ref decisions cause is just as part of the development of a person as getting the correct score right is. I would not have a problem if every single sport scrapped video technology tomorrow.

I think everyone in the town of Spalding know the name Lanzini now!!!! Was a great moment and is always cherished when you support a lower club and don't have as many winning moments.

In the process of ordering a Saints top for this season.
Just need to know whether the Champions League patch will already be on the sleeve or do I have to purchase that separately?

I’ll just leave this here...

Don't leave it there too long....
Stop the count!!