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Stan

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Posts posted by Stan

  1. 21 minutes ago, Michael said:

    I definitely think VAR is an improvement. Sure there have been mistakes, but the fact that there are less mistakes with VAR, is a positive step in the right direction. It's been factually demonstrated that there have been less refereeing mistakes with the introduction of VAR, so how can that be something negative?

    The way VAR is used is a negative. Look at how many decisions are being overly scrutinised. It's gone beyond what it was brought in for.

    As for it being negative, I'm speaking on behalf of match-going fans. It's become a joke now for a) how long VAR sometimes takes to make decisions and b) the fact that fans in the stadium have never known what's actually going on. They don't hear anything about the decisions, they don't see what other officials are seeing at Stockley Park etc. As for celebrating goals, that's changed, too. Fans or players can't celebrate fully any more because VAR these days is going back so far sometimes. I think the main difference now is officials are actively looking and seeking out infringements or fouls as opposed to 'clear and obvious' things in build-up to goals. So yeah, it is something negative. 

    23 minutes ago, Michael said:

    With my eyes lol, it's a subjective opinion, backed by what I can see. Plus the introduction of better players into certain teams has also improved the level of play. Teams lower down the Prem table like your West Ham's or your Brighton's or your Wolves or your Brentford's are able to buy the calibre of players they would never have dreamt of buying 20 or 30 years ago. Like it or loathe it, the money in the Prem these days has helped to improve standards in general for obvious reasons.

    Fair enough, money has improved the ability of mid- or lower-table teams to improve their squads. But money has also corrupted the sport and the PL beyond belief. And I don't think there's a way back from that. It's not competitive any more financially off the field, let alone on it.

    24 minutes ago, Michael said:

    Now you are being silly and putting words into my mouth. I never said that this season was the most exciting ever. I said it has been as exciting as it has ever been, meaning it's been as exciting as previous exciting seasons in my opinion. This was the expression I used and already made it clear what was meant, so I don't know why you're trying to continue to frame what I said in a different way.

    Again, fair enough. But when you say it's exciting as it's ever been, that to me means you're saying it's on a par as the most exciting seasons. But we disagree on this point as I don't think it has been as exciting...

    25 minutes ago, Michael said:

    Furthermore, I disagree with your assessment that gone are the days that 3 teams take it to the final day of the season. If Liverpool didn't suddenly drop their form right towards the end of the season, it could have been 3 teams battling it out at the final hurdle. Maybe Klopp shouldn't have announced that he was quitting the club at the end of the season so early. Arsenal though in particular have really impressed me this season and they could very well have more luck next season and win the league. Man City are a great team in their own right, the quality that is displayed when they play is great to watch for all those who appreciate football. But they are not invincible, as we have already seen a few times this season. 

    My point being, it hasn't gone to the final day of 3 teams, has it? You've added an 'if' there regarding Liverpool. Ultimately, they did drop their form, and it didn't go to the final day.

    When was the last season that 3 teams did contest it out on the final day? 

    Arsenal have impressed me too. It's good they've been able to take Man City all the way like Liverpool did a seasons ago. Man City also exquisitely good at times with how they can just brush away teams and up the gears when they want to. But it's not competitive or 'exciting' when they can do that all the time. 

  2. The extra mid-week catch-up games were always going to boost scores, and some players took full advantage. One of those is @Storts who scored highly with 24 points to regain 5th place, and go to two points within @Dan. The top 2 cancelled each other out, and there needs to be a massive swing in points for @6666 to usurp @Rajabhat Rovers

    @Rucksackfranzose also scored very well - 23 points and he was the only one to pick Man Utd to beat Newcastle, although not quite getting it perfect. @CaaC (John) gets Prediction of the Week for being the only one to correctly guess the 1-1 outcome between Newcastle and Brighton.

    PL37.png

    • Upvote 2
  3. Game 133 brought us no goals, surprisingly.

    Game 134 did bring us a solitary goal, in the 20th minute. @Toinho bags another 2 points (21st) and @Faithcore 1 more (22nd), in addition to:

    On 09/05/2024 at 16:53, Stan said:

    Game 134 - 20th

    3 points!

    On 09/05/2024 at 20:36, 6666 said:

    18

    1 point

    On 11/05/2024 at 03:08, Devil-Dick Willie said:

    19

    2 points

    Table after Game 134:
    capture.png

    @Devil-Dick Willie closes the gap on @6666 to just two points, while I'm up to 4th after an Exact Score. @Toinho also climbs up to 5th, and @Faithcore improves his position to 11th and breaks away from the 15-point group. 

  4. Didn't reply to the rest of your post...

    1 hour ago, Michael said:

    You say VAR screwing teams over, but what about refs screwing teams over in previous years and at a much higher rate?

    VAR was brought in to stop refereeing mistakes and make sure there aren't any 'howlers' or embarrassing errors. If anything, it's scrutinised it so much that there are more mistakes and referee accountability has dropped. So just because referees screwed teams over in previous years doesn't mean that what we have now is any better, or makes what we used to have any better either.

    1 hour ago, Michael said:

    The level of football has been good similar to other exciting seasons.

    How are you quantifying this, out of interest?

    1 hour ago, Michael said:

    Moreover, the fact that the title race has gone to the last day of the season, makes it more entertaining than last season for example.

    And the seasons before?

    Gone are the days where 3 teams take it to the final day, or relegation spots are fought between 3, 4 or 5 teams to avoid 18/19th etc on the final day too. Just because it's gone to the final day this season doesn't automatically mean the whole season has become the most exciting ever.

    Just to reiterate, I'm not saying I found this season boring or 'shite'. Just that I don't think it's as exciting as some other previous seasons for instance.

  5. 51 minutes ago, Michael said:

    You don't believe that it's been an exciting season? The fact that there's been so many goals adds to the excitement. It's been one of the most exciting season's in recent years in my book. You say VAR screwing teams over, but what about refs screwing teams over in previous years and at a much higher rate? The level of football has been good similar to other exciting seasons. Moreover, the fact that the title race has gone to the last day of the season, makes it more entertaining than last season for example. To call this Prem season "shite", is just delusion and hyperbole in my humble opinion.

    No, you've twisted my words. I believe it's been exciting. Just not the most ever. 

    I've not called it shite by the way. 

  6. 6 minutes ago, Michael said:

    Come on you know what I mean, I think most people will say it's been exciting. We've had a title race go down to the last day of the season and we've generally had some very entertaining matches being played. Of course this is all subjective, but most football fans I've talked to tend to have a similar opinion to me. 

    But you said it and I don't agree with it, that's all. There's been the most amount of goals in a PL season (I think), but I wouldn't call this the most exciting. 

    It's probably been the most controversial and frustrating - VAR screwing teams over, PGMOL issuing apologies, calls to replay games, points deductions, points given back, more points deductions... 

    • Upvote 1
  7. Pole Position - Which driver will post the fastest lap in Q3 AFTER MAX VERSTAPPEN IS REMOVED FROM THE RESULTS?

    LECLERC

     

    Podium - Which drivers will finish the Grand Prix in the top three positions AFTER MAX VERSTAPPEN IS REMOVED FROM THE RESULTS?

    1. LECLERC

    2. PEREZ

    3. NORRIS

     

    Random Driver - Predict the finishing position of this week's random driver, Nico Hulkenberg.

    13th

     

    Bonus Question - I've selected 8 drivers - Perez, Sainz, Piastri, Stroll, Ricciardo, Magnussen, Gasly and Sargeant - that are trailing their team-mates in the world championship so far. Tip one of these drivers to finish ahead of their team-mate on Sunday and if they do it, you will receive 5 points.

    GASLY

  8. It's pretty clear-cut after the last set of results that it's Luton to follow Burnley & Sheff Utd in returning back to the EFL. Luton losing to West Ham pretty much resigns them back to life in the Championship, despite Forest also losing.

    image.png

    - it's nigh on impossible but Luton have to beat Fulham and hope there's a 12-goal swing with a Forest loss to survive. Stranger things have happened xD

  9. And here we are at the final games! Man City clawed back control to have 1st place and have their destiny in their own hands going into the final game by beating Fulham & Spurs. Liverpool already had 3rd place sewn up. Villa salvaged a draw over the Reds, but had to wait for Spurs to falter against Man City to confirm a top 4 place.

    Now it's between Spurs/Chelsea/Newcastle/Man Utd to see who will be playing in the Europa League or Europa Conference League...

    image.png

    It's worth noting that if Man City win the FA Cup, a Europa League spot is given to 6th place. And as Liverpool won the EFL Cup, 7th place will have a Europa Conference League placing.

    - Tottenham just need to match Chelsea's result to confirm 5th place and a guaranteed Europa League place

    - Chelsea need to win and overturn a 10-goal deficit to finish 5th. To secure 6th, they need to make sure they match Newcastle's & Man Utd's results.

    - Newcastle can jump up to 6th place if they win and Chelsea lose, and potentially play in the Europa League if Man City win the FA Cup. They will stay in 7th if they match Man Utd's result

    - Man Utd can go up to 7th if they win and Newcastle draw/lose, or they draw and Newcastle lose. Man Utd would get a Europa Conference League spot if they finish in 7th should they fail to win the FA Cup. They will qualify for the Europa League regardless of their league finish if they win the FA Cup. 

  10. 2 minutes ago, RandoEFC said:

    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.

    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. 

  11. 5 minutes ago, 6666 said:

    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.

    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. 

  12. As long as they keep semi-automated offsides and goalline technology then I'll be happy. 

    Most people know I've been a big proponent of VAR but how it's been in the last 12-18 months there's just not been enough improvement, consistency or common sense when it's used. Too many mistakes occurring now and too many hollow apologies. 

     

  13. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cqvnvwzle1eo

    Quote

     

    Liverpool assistant manager Pepijn Lijnders has been appointed as Red Bull Salzburg's new head coach.

    The 41-year-old, who joined Liverpool in 2014, will go to the Austrian club this summer on a three-year deal.

    Lijnders, who is in his second stint at Anfield, had been set to leave the club following Jurgen Klopp's decision to step down.

    The Dutchman said he wants to create an attacking style of play at his new club "where passion and hunger for success are the basis of everything".

    Having initially worked under Brendan Rodgers, Lijnders remained a key part of Liverpool's backroom staff after Klopp's appointment in October 2015.

    He left the Reds for a brief stint as manager of Dutch club NEC Nijmegen but returned to Anfield seven months later to fill his previous role.

    Liverpool's development coach Vitor Matos will join Lijnders in the Austrian top-flight team as his assistant manager.

     

     

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