'Mikel Arteta has urged football to prioritise changing the culture that surrounds the game and eradicate “hatred”, saying: “We don’t want it, we don’t need it, it can only damage our sport, so let’s get it out.”
… says the guy who rails against referees every single time his team doesn’t get three points.
I agree that the decision is wrong, that the freeze frame makes it look worse, and that this is another case where the operating dynamics that PGMOL have set up between the on-field ref and the VAR limit what ‘common sense’ approach they can make decisions with. VAR should be able to ask a ref to view the screen without the decision meeting the ‘clear and obvious’ definition (though I understand the problems this would cause with VAR being able to referee a game fairly).
But this clown on the right also wanted to make the argument, multiple times including once at the end as some of his closing words, that the freeze frame met more the definition of a raking yellow rather than a raking red.
Is it just me or is this guy bonkers thinking this still image looks more like a yellow??
The rule book literally says a yellow is a raking on the foot and anything above the ankle is a red, so why is that guy trying to convince the 3 other panelists that the still looks like a yellow when the studs up still is on the fucking calf?
I fully expected it to get downgraded because ultimately what Skelly did can be argued as a cynical foul.
What I think Oliver is doing is trying to apply some context to the decision, and I think I come down on his side more than Arsenals. Because if you are intending to simply stop the attack, there is absolutely no need to hit his ankle like that. To me it looks like trying to hurt your opponent, under the cover of a cynical foul.
That I think is what Oliver is trying to deal with. If you want to take a yellow for a cynical foul, pull the lad back or trip him up. Don’t stud his ankle. That’s a shithouse move and it should be discouraged.
The other one like this is the Martinez stamping tackle thing he does. Since he isn’t getting anywhere near the player, the ref can’t send him, but he he is going to end up breaking someone’s leg, and it needs adressing.
This is what I try to explain to non-football fans when they complain about shirt pulling. I’d far rather that than someone ending up with a serious injury.
I’m just trying to remember what the foul was with Jota’s rib injury. Was he tackled or did he just fall oddly.
For me, which I have said several times, he is basically kicking a player off the ball, which would be an automatic red, as there is no attempt to play the ball.
On the one hand it was a bit soft. On the other hand it was so cynical, so I was glad to see the red. It will hopefully help a young lad see the error of his ways too, but the odds are stacked against on that since he is learning from Arteta.
Slowed down it was a rake down the shin, then he stood on his foot, and then hooked his foot to trip him over. It all happened at pace.
Red. Off yer pop.
But then wah wah wah from Arsenal, the most hard done by team in world football.
I just hope we beat Bournemouth and Everton and the current gap grows, and they start to lose heart.
I saw stories (BBC i think?) of Arsenal bidding for Watkins at Villa, last night pop up on my news feed.
Was a bit surprised by that, Didnt see the figure mentioned or what Villa’s reaction was (other than turn the first bid down - so am not sure if they were open to higher offers or determined to wait until summer?)
The point is that a tackle at that pace at the back of the leg can very well lead to a not insignificant injury.
I don’t like Edwards , but Miles Skelly’s tackle was dangerous on top of being cynical. Pull them back with their shirt sleeves if you want to get a booking. But aiming a target at the back of the leg which is relatively unprotected is dangerous play.