Keegan's Corner
There's not too many topics of conversation nowadays like, or maybe av not been diggin' enough...
So aye, it looks like this time al be discussin' the current use of Video Assistant Referees (or VAR).
It's fairly shite - or it is at present anyways.
You thought that was it, didn't yi? Of course not, cause it wouldn't be The Ramblings of a Madman if a didn't add some waffle to tell you why...
So last weekend seen Manchester City - a side who've ironically and arguably benefitted the most from the very influences I'm aboot to discuss - tanked 5-2 on their own turf by an ambitious Leicester side that propelled itself to the Premier League title in the 2015/2016 season. That may seem a long shot ago, but the remnants of that season are still seeing Leicester be a canny formidable side, ran with cautious optimism and a seemingly solid business plan. The romance of that season is what has previously defined the 'Beautiful Game', and in particular the English game, as many for a long time have considered this to be the best league in the world.
It's aal aboot competitivity, that's the league's key selling point, or it was, and so the relevance of that very match must be pulled into question. "Why?" you may ask, and that's 'cause 3 weak penalties proved the difference in a tie that admittedly Leicester deserved to win.
As a watch back as a centre half, a look at those goals and a think of how the 'defender' was outsmarted, rather than clumsy or perhaps late. That in itself isn't an issue. However, the mentality of the attackin' side was for me, and they (Leicester) are not alone.
Sure, the game is played at a canny auld speed these days, on carpet like pitches with finely tuned athletes, but it wasn't the athleticism, technique or general ability that won them the decisions, it was the willingness to draw and make the most of challenges that 20 years ago would have probably been laughed off. VAR providing the opportunity for any contact to be deemed 'illegal', and subsequently the headlines of the game bein' dominated from the penalty spot rather than the two wonderful goals scored from Leicester City's open play.
A also watched some of the Brighton and Man United game last weekend, and recall one particular instance whereby Brighton entered the Man United penalty area and a witnessed 2 or 3 of their defenders simply stand a yard from the ball, arms tightly held aroond their backs unwilling to stick a foot out for fear of giving a penalty away to Brighton.
How does this allow them to defend? Tacklin' is as much part of the game as scoring is.
Last season saw 92 penalties given across a 380 game season, an average of 1 in every 4.1 games. Already. this season there have been 20 penalties across 28 games, or a penalty every 1.4 games (according to transfermarkt.co.uk). So you know where to place your bets this weekend lads and lasses!
What's happened in my opinion (obviously!), is that the governin' bodies from within the game have simply bottled it and failed to address the issues of simulation and disrespect within the game. They have instead, turned their attentions to those whom will line their pockets the most and that, ladies and gentleman, is not the match-gannin' fan.
Is it any wonder that fans from all across Europe display messages of discontent towards UEFA?
VAR is ruining the competitivity of not just our league but all leagues. It stems from the game's sellin' of it's soul to the TV, and the need for more goals and more perceived "drama" to appease the armchair fan, and ultimately, subscribers.
To digress for just a moment, I for one disagree with the need for aal games to have been publicly televised and actually think it's a disgrace. How do multi-million pound businesses/football clubs not have the capability to provide 'ticket' buyers with a personalised stream for just them to view, (theoretically, of course)? And why do wu need 10 fixtures at 10 different times? It's aal so those who hold the golden ticket can financially benefit from those fans who are too loyal to not see their respective team play. Then, once the top level of money is creamed off and put into the pockets of those at FIFA, the FA or the Premier League the money is finally filtered down to the clubs that we (the supporters) wish to physically and financially support.
And so to return to VAR, is it any wonder that the Video Assistant Referee has become such a prominent feature? Maybe this is how the likes of the Premier League and beyond repay their wealthy investors? By allowing them to become even more influential and involved in the game - a bold statement, perhaps? But just to be clear - am not suggesting the TV make the refereeing decisions...
What I want to know though, is why players have consistently been allowed to surround the referees and not be disciplined, and have been further empowered by drawing an imaginary TV screen? Why they haven't been told to piss off whilst it is discussed with their captain or face reprimand by way of a bookin'? Even as little as why referees are seen to be walking to players and not the other way around?
Equally as ridiculous, why have we shifted from diving bein' completely unacceptable, to simulation being a key ingredient of the game? I've seen more simulation this time oot than on me last blast of Champ' Man'...
"Respect"? Give owa.
Then those behind a desk somewhere decide to alter the rules of the 'deliberate' handball, addin' multiple stipulations and definitions. If it wasn't for VAR (here's me balanced bit), then ad feel for the referees, a truly would, but thankfully VAR does provide the opportunity for review and possibly redemption - a notion that's also questioned by an interesting article from The Athletic.
Even as a Newcastle fan, a have to say that penalty from last week was an absolute farce. It's nigh on impossible to elevate yoursel' withoot using your arms to overcome the inertia from your standstill position and gain any significant height. Likewise, once the baal has passed and it's beyond yi, how can yi possibly move your arm away from something less than a metre away from yi that yi may not even have awareness of?
Steve Bruce was absolutely correct in his post match interview to caal this oot, especially in an emphatic way when his side were utterly dreadful, and this 'wrong' decision and his goalkeeper were the only two reasons we got owt.
Yet, it does make me wonder if the shoe was on the other foot, just how those in the media would have reacted, as our TV's become overpowered by biased and mediocre pro's, failed football managers and dinosaurs of the game. Maybe people didn't like seeing one of the supposedly 'big' clubs getting a taste of the medicine they will likely benefit from for the most part of the season, as the bottom 12 or so teams frequent such fallacies.
Aal of this withoot even touching upon the slowing down of the game and the moments of sheer brilliance and excitement that fizzle oot to a localised screen, as technology takes the overwhelming joy from each and every fan and each and every goal that is scored.
Goal line technology's a great thing. VAR could be also be a great thing, but it needs dialling back and reapplying for things that the referee hasn't and couldn't have seen.
Ultimately, it's not actually VAR that's the issue but it's the piss-poor devolvement of the rules. At the end of the day, if a wanted to watch and witness games that always finished high scoring ad piss off to watch the basketball. 🏀
Let's go Eagles! (not Palace...)
Ciao for now! 😉
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