***OMT - Tottenham Hotspur v Leeds United, Mon May 11th, 8pm, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium***

[Sandman]

One thing that is worrying me is that we are creating some chances, Richy had two yesterday he messed up completely. And we had others on the villa game.

We are relying on the spectacular. Simons, Gallagher, Tel. All outside the box. It's great but we need to score some normal team play goals.

 

[Bedfordspurs]

One thing that is worrying me is that we are creating some chances, Richy had two yesterday he messed up completely. And we had others on the villa game.

We are relying on the spectacular. Simons, Gallagher, Tel. All outside the box. It's great but we need to score some normal team play goals.

Richy scored last game vs Villa
Porros and palhjnas were simple ish ones too in their respective goals
The issue with Richy is he needs to find space and Leeds are the one team that don’t give much at the back because they play with a back 3
It’s a game where a more creative 10 would have helped but we didn’t have one

 

[parj]

Yeah after that penalty we really lost it for 10 minutes, couldn't keep the ball on the ground and didn't really recover until Maddison came on. I wonder if we might consider starting him next week and seeing if he can do 45 - 60 minutes - would give us so much more control and balance going forwards. However brick we are there's no way we'd be where we are if he'd been fit for most of the season.

I would save him for the last 30 mins. Let the opposition tire a bit but also doesn't unnecessarily risk him.

 

[SpurMeUp]

The biggest gonads and the thing they need be more relaxed about is the VAR discussion on a decision being just that...a discussion...with the onfield ref just as likely to say 'nah, thanks for the second looks but I'm sticking with my original decision '

I think just do away with the onfield review. VAR was to get rid of the big injustices. By definition the onfield reviews are edge cases. But end up just being slow motion technically wrong, but not all that wrong, technicalities. Which isn’t thempojt of VAR. the ref has to give it because in slow mo the toe of a shoe brushed against someone’s head - technically correct. But anger weaker challenge or impactful than you see all over the pitch.

So just do away with onfield reviews and if in doubt defer to the live decision made by the ref.

 

[DubSpur]

BTW re: the 'non-pen' this sort of lays a marker for the 'he touched the ball' theory (still not convinced he did)...

View attachment 22324

Even if there was the slightest of touches the ball didn't deviate and Maddison still had control of the ball. The only reason he lost control was because of the trip. If the ball was hit with enough force that it knocked the ball away from Maddison I wouldn't think it was a pen, but not when the touch doesn't move the ball at all.

 

[paxtonwolf]

Even if there was the slightest of touches the ball didn't deviate and Maddison still had control of the ball. The only reason he lost control was because of the trip. If the ball was hit with enough force that it knocked the ball away from Maddison I wouldn't think it was a pen, but not when the touch doesn't move the ball at all.

I was just amazed the ref never awarded the penalty. In real time it looked a stonewall pen, granted in the replays you can see the touch, but had he awarded it I think it would have been harder for VAR to over-turn, whereas once the ref had deemed no pen, they were always going to back him up

 

[Gazza Dazzla]

I was just amazed the ref never awarded the penalty. In real time it looked a stonewall pen, granted in the replays you can see the touch, but had he awarded it I think it would have been harder for VAR to over-turn, whereas once the ref had deemed no pen, they were always going to back him up

can you? I’ve still not seen a replay with a touch yet, BBC even showed stills on their live page earlier today and the foot was not touching the ball in any of them.

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

I have to say Steff, last night has given me a bit of perspective on the ref's lot. I really didn't think there was much in Udogie's challenge on DCL - watching this back too, it was stonewall if onside - nor Maddison's in real time. Having said this, their position should be a lot better than mine given I was in the stands and they were a few yards away!

Tel's was a poor, poor decision on his part and you could see it coming a mile off. You have to hope he learns from it. I was saying to my mate at half time who hasn't watched us much this year he is 'raw, but will lots of potential' and boy did that second half prove it!

This is how I feel on the Tel thing. It’s that you could see it coming a mile off, and I think there’s been so many of those examples this season that I find it hard to be…I don’t know, it’s not like my support will waver but surely the basics have to be done well. To see so many situations that could be averted with a calm head but instead watching our player’s just sleepwalk headfirst into the danger, it’s so frustrating. Especially when we largely play well.

 

[SissokoWasGood (BoL)]

Madders has just posted on his Insta story that ‘the small tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my boot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that at the time but the check was over in 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make the call on the pitch now due to VAR’

If that’s true, it’s an absolute disgrace. I was originally in the ‘it’s not a penalty’ based on the angles I could see. But why would they not review it properly?

 

[billyiddo]

Madders has just posted on his Insta story that ‘the small tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my boot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that at the time but the check was over in 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make the call on the pitch now due to VAR’

If that’s true, it’s an absolute disgrace. I was originally in the ‘it’s not a penalty’ based on the angles I could see. But why would they not review it properly?

 

[Rorschach]

I thought the quick check was a bit odd, considering how no replay I have seen is conclusive. Surely, considering the importance of the decision, it warranted a more detailed inspection.

 

[Rorschach]

I am watching the playoffs just now and multiple times in this match, the ball has been 'won' and a free given for the follow-through.

 

[Seedy Ron]

I was just amazed the ref never awarded the penalty

But why would they not review it properly?

Surely, considering the importance of the decision, it warranted a more detailed inspection.

Top comedy lads.

 

[elyid]

Madders has just posted on his Insta story that ‘the small tiny touch on the ball to change direction came from the outside of my boot, not Nmecha, and I told the ref that at the time but the check was over in 20 seconds. Officials are petrified to make the call on the pitch now due to VAR’

If that’s true, it’s an absolute disgrace. I was originally in the ‘it’s not a penalty’ based on the angles I could see. But why would they not review it properly?

That’s terrible. I must admit I thought this at the time (was right in line with the foul) and not a single replay I’ve seen has changed my mind.

Referring has never been worse imo

 

[elyid]

I thought the quick check was a bit odd, considering how no replay I have seen is conclusive. Surely, considering the importance of the decision, it warranted a more detailed inspection.

Yeah there’s no replay that shows conclusively he touched the ball.

This instance highlights the major flaw of VAR as it is used today.

1) Refs are focussed on “not making mistakes” rather than “applying the rules as fairly as possible”. This leads to them not giving decisions as VAR can check (cover their arse)

In this case he didn’t want to give such an important pen in the 103rd minute.

2) However, VAR only overturns clear and obvious. So if the ref gave a penalty or not, VAR would not overturn it either way.

You get a situation where opposite decisions would both be deemed “correct”. Ref has covered his arse so all good in his eyes.

3) Refs can therefore influence matches more than ever and still be correct, because VAR didn’t overturn it.

It’s crazy. Was clearly a penalty to me, matches are being refereed by a process rather than what’s in the spirit of the game.

 

[glasgowspur]

It's ok, we'll get an apology once the review panel has said it should have been a penalty, so it's golden.

 

[P.D.]

The VAR on-pitch review is a nonsense. Scrap it.

Either there's an obvious mistake or let the onfield decision stand.

In effect it becomes a way for more marginal decisions to be given by VAR because the refs just follow the VAR premise of questioning it.

Neither the Madison or Tel pens should have been given.

What's happening now is that refs don't give as much knowing VAR is there as a 2nd opinion and now by default they never overrule if they're told to go to the monitor - I'm sure there's been some but every game I watch they just agree with VAR when they re-watch it.