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To be frank: I'd take articles concerning German football from media, that isn't even available in German, with a pinch of salt. Two occurences from top of my head. An English football reporter said in English TV Dortmund would be a small town after the CL first leg, although there's only 3 British cities (London, Birmingham, and Glasgow) that are bigger than it. BBC wrote in their article Bayern's loss in Saarbrücken had been their cup match this seaon, although Bayern eliminated Preußen Münster from the first round. Mentioning it to give you an impression which kind of Germany experts even serious British sports journos are.

Just going by these reports The head coach of the German national team, Julian Nagelsmann, has decided not to summon the leader of Borussia Dortmund to the national team. As reported by Sky Sports, midfielder Julian Brandt will not be part of the squad for the 2024 European Championship. Another Borussia Dortmund leader will not go to the 2024 UEFA EURO | Dailysports

How comes you're that sure? Genuine question. As far as I know only 18 members of a 23men squad have been nominated so far. Granted, Germany will likely take 3 goalkeepers to the tournament and only 1 of them -Neuer- has been announced, so far. Still considering that's 3 spots for non keepers that are unoccupied as it stands. From the players already nominated 4 are designated attackers, doubt Nagelsmann will nominate an additional one. Given 5 of these 18 players are defenders I'd say there's 1 perhaps even two spots in midfield left.

I think its two fold; you're definitely right on the one hand Im a bit surprised Tuchel would be interested but if he can get an extension in this uno reversal that sounds pretty enticing. Secondly I think when he looks around and see's there isnt really any better coaching options for himself out there either. Id have to think when Eberl is sitting down with him to iron out an extension (hypothetically for now mind you) he would have to allow him more say in the squad restructuring as well. That wouldn't really seem bad from Tuchel's side of things looking at it objectively I figure.

Weird all around. "Look, we couldn't find anyone else, so do you want to stay after all?" Weird that he agrees to it. Because I think Tuchel is definitely the kind of guy to hold grudges. But maybe Eberl went with the "I didn't have anything to do with your sacking" approach, but that they still went for other managers and got rejection after rejection still must feel like Tuchel is their last desperate choice.

I think so. For all the praise they get, they don't really seem to move forward in the league. Credit to them for getting into Europe, and their transfer/recruitment model is decent, but De Zerbi will be questioned even more you'd think if they don't start next season well.

Is it allowed to question De Zerbi's reputation? I find it weird how it's just accepted that he's linked with jobs like Liverpool and Bayern. From what I can see, he took over a Brighton side on the up, completed their journey to European qualification, fair enough, but they've been average at best this season and slipped into the Bournemouth/Wolves/Fulham tier of mid table. Think he's pretty overhyped if that's allowed.

Dortmund's Julian Brandt has been dropped from Germany's 2024 Euro Squad. Apparently only 2 Dortmund players have been selected for the Euros this summer, despite the fact that Dortmund have reached the Champions League Final. But the exclusion of Brandt I find the most shocking, he has played very well this season in the matches I have seen him play in. It's a shame that he won't play for Germany on home soil at Euro 2024.

It really should be a benefit for officials to have more technology to help them make the correct decisions but this lot are so awful that I don't think they'll ever get it right. I'd rather see them sack it off completely. I don't think it'll happen sadly.

While we're all right to bemoan the boringness of it, what's actually a bigger issue here is that the Premier League will have crowned City champions twice since levelling 115 charges at them for breaking the rules and City are yet to set foot in a courtroom to defend themselves. In the meantime, two other clubs have been fast-tracked (one of those twice) and Leicester have been pretty much told they'll have a points deduction next season when they come up. It really shows who's governing things here. If the Premier League had an ounce of integrity they'd stop making excuses about how complicated City's case is because they broke 114 more rules than anyone else and get on with it. Start with charge 1 next week, if City refuse to turn up to the hearing then they get sanctioned. The case isn't going to get any less complicated the longer they wait. Get the fuck on with it. And if it's that complicated to do it as one case then offer to have 115 different hearings for them and see how they like the threat of having to fight each one in the courts with a constant drip feed of points deductions over several seasons ruining their chances in the league.

"Would have prefered to stay on the bench" after you sub in a player is a bit overused, isn't it?

I saw two fans do the Poznan after City scored. There's always going to be some. Vast majority were giving the officials grief for any decision that went City's way etc.

Mainoo gives Man Utd the lead! Where were the Newcastle defenders?!

Newcastle seem to be winning the midfield battle and exposing the Man Utd defence but then wasting the final ball. You can tell some of the Man Utd players lack confidence, they look a bit panicky.

There has been competition though. Man City usually just find a way to do just enough to win.

How we ended 2023 has cost us. Lost games we should've won. Still, West Ham might do something...

I can't see the proposal vote getting 14 votes to be honest. Here's a reminder of what honourary mason member Anthony Taylor gave as a penalty without the assistance of VAR this season. Be careful what you wish for.

Jebbaited

Chuck it in the fuck it bucket

That would be a much better step to take in my opinion.

The biggest thing is not being able to celebrate a goal fully or properly because you know there'll be a pause. And one way to appease the fans would be to have replays or videos shown at stadiums so fans know what exactly the decision-making process is. Everything currently is geared towards fans out of the stadium as opposed to inside it.

Goals being disallowed isn't a new concept. And VAR era incorrect decisions are nothing compared to how things were before. A penalty being given for a foul outside the box, the wrong player being booked, a dive with no contact, an unseen handball. It'll at least be fun to see how many times these forgotten things turn back up and it'll be a nice experiment to see how long everyone stays happy without VAR.