Morning all.
I don’t often take any notice of what Jurgen Klopp has to say but after yesterday’s match between his Liverpool team and Toots, he was right to criticise both referee Paul Tierney and VAR. Harry Kane got away with a shocker of a challenge on Andrew Robertson. Tierney gave Kane a yellow card for a reckless, potentially ankle breaking studs up challenge and VAR were clearly too busy scoffing mince pies and cream to care. A cursory review and all was deemed acceptable. Much later in the game though, VAR were wide awake when Tierney booked Robertson for a bad tackle on Emerson Royal and didn’t hesitate to send the referee over to the pitch side monitor for another look at the incident. Yellow went to red and Liverpool we’re down to ten.
Asked if Kane’s punishment should have been stronger, Klopp told Sky Sports:
Definitely, stronger. We can give Robbo a red card, it’s not the smartest challenge of his life. But that’s definitely a red card, no doubt about it. So we have a VAR sitting there, and he has a look again at the Robbo situation. Fine, that’s what he’s there for. What did he do in the Kane situation?
It’s a valid question but who from the PGMOL will give an answer? No one and nothing will be done about it either whereas a huge mistake like that should have repercussions for Tierney and whoever was operating VAR. If Liverpool had played much of the game against ten men, I’m sure they’d have won and imagine how they’ll feel if they lose out on a Premier League title by two points, or even one.
Ok, the bad decisions, including a handball for Liverpool’s goal perhaps and a penalty which probably should have been given for a foul on Jota, had an impact on yesterday’s game but it also has an impact on the rest of the team’s fighting for a place in Europe. I don’t care about either team or the result from yesterday, although the draw was good for ourselves, but West Ham, Crystal Palace and Southampton, Toots next three opponents, should be facing a team which doesn’t have Kane in it. Whether he’ll make a difference in any of the matches is unknown but he shouldn’t even be having the chance to do so.
It’s all very well Sky Sports running a ref watch on a Monday morning with Dermot Gallagher but what’s the point when it does nothing but spark a debate on television? What good does it do to find out the day after that the officials made a mistake when it’s clear and obvious at the time?
This isn’t something new either as it’s happening every week and has done for years. Arsenal have certainly been on the receiving end of more than a fair share of shocking decisions. Mostly against us and I’d put my mortgage on it that had Granit Xhaka made the kind of tackle Kane did, not one referee or VAR operator would have allowed him to carry on playing the match. A red card would have been out of his pocket in seconds. Just as it would for any other Arsenal player I’m sure.
The standard of officiating in England is dreadful. It’s inconsistent and VAR seem to be quite selective when it comes to making big decisions. What goes around comes around, is something I’ve often read online but it doesn’t and it shouldn’t. The rules are there for a reason and they should be applied at all times and for all clubs. And regardless of which country that player plays for.
See you in the comments.
Harry Kane is not that kind of player though Rico
He’s a playground thug.
Xhaka should have been sent off on Saturday at Leeds
Xhaka clearly should have been sent off at Leeds too
Good post, and good morning,btw.
Just read that TT not injured aswell. Lifted the mood
Eh Xhaka did exactly that this weekend without even getting a yellow. Biased much?
Morning Rico and all
Didn’t see the incident with Kane, but not surprised he never got a red card, Kane seems off limit when it comes to yellow or red cards,
Every time it looks like the VAR has been finally fixed they stuff it up straight away.
According to the sun, “JAMIE REDKNAPP believes Tottenham striker Harry Kane was not sent off because of his ‘reputation’ as England captain. Kane was only punished with a yellow card for a studs-up lunge on Andy Robertson, described by a livid Jurgen Klopp as a potential ‘leg-breaker’
Skills, I said in yesterday’s comment thread that Xhaka should have been sent off.
Thanks Ferg, great news re Tomi, he’s been fantastic.
Morning rico, good post. Kane is seen as a ‘national treasure’ in FA quarters!
Morning Geoff.
He’s the England captain, and I’m sure that helps him..
Morning Andrew, totally agree. Meanwhile, Scottish international Robertson isn’t.
Spurs out of Europe, shame, probably pleases them.
That is a shame..
Good morning Rico and all.
The PGMOL is unfit for purpose and needs a root and branch makeover. Reilly will never accept that there is anything wrong in the way VAR operates or that his minions could ever make a mistake.
Tierney is just another in the long line of incompetents who make up the “elite” list.
The FA could, if they wanted to, sanction Kane for a reckless and dangerous challenge that was not punished sufficiently by the match officials. Will they? I for one am not holding my breath.
The difference between Xhaka and Kane.
Xhaka gets straight red cards 95% of the time
Kane gets no cards yellow or red 95% of the time
Xhaka didn’t go to ground at full pelt ,head on. So not compatible to the fat spud thug prick. Still should have been at least yellow, and mighty surprising.
We have become used to shoddy reffing , but this season it’s the worst I can remember, across the board.
Morning Cicero, I’m not sure retrospective punishment can be dished out after the on field officials and VAR have dealt with it.
Ferg, tone it down a bit please. We’re a family site.
Levy probably lobbied for them to be removed from a competition they never wanted and money talks.
As for Klopp it’s all well and good for his comments now ,but where are they when Mane swings elbows ,had he criticised then he would have an argument. The problem is that these decisions are subjective and the PGMOL hide behind this. They know that the comments will be seen against the background of partizanship . I don’t know them but suspect that Deano and Skills could be tarred with that brush .
You can tell from commentaries on football just how revered Kane is . You will here them saying for instance Ndombele , to Son , to Winks and it’s “”HARRY KANE “” he has joined the list of untouchables that coincidently captain England.
As for VAR it’s not the system or the basis behind it but the people that run it . We all know that Riley runs a secret society that as a minority club are a band of brothers that see themselves as perecuted by all and sundry and as a consequence do their level best to back their mates
Having already let Kane off I don’t doubt that it was in Tierney’s mind when he showed Robertson a yellow but VAR having ruled that the ball that came of Salah’s was not handball had probably had comments passed on that and then made up for it with a red card .
They can only be seen to be corrupt or just inept and I am assured by people abroad that watch the highlights they cannot believe some of the decisions when comparing them with their own usage of VAR..
One friend in Oslo said that he thinks the referees like to deliberately cause disruption to divide opinion and keep the clubs and supporters apart because a unified approach would be something that Riley could not handle.
Apologies Rico. Comparable,not compatible.
And scrub the p. Word too. But he is rather hateful
Rico, a comment from Keith Hackett, in this morning’s Telegraph, “While Robertson will be banned, Kane is unlikely to face any more punishment. The Football Association TENDS not to review incidents where there has been a yellow card on the basis that it is supporting the referee’s decision”.
So, if they feel the tackle warrants further punishment the FA can take action.
Very true Potter, Mane is a dirty player who Klopp defends week after week.
I too think Toots wanted out of Europe, it was doing them more harm than good.
Nobody likes cheats or dirty players but I don’t blame the players as much as I blame the officials that let them get away with it.
Maybe the football association should change the rules and have a committee that can report a player that received a yellow card if they feel it should have been a clear red card
Geoff , Nice idea but they would only put a nodding dog in charge of it.
Let’s hope they do then Cicero, I didn’t realise they could.
That’s always been the problem with VAR, the same people who muck up on the pitch are now doing the same behind the scenes. Until Riley departs his job and the whole system is run by people who don’t have an agenda, nothing will change.
Fairness and consistency isn’t much to ask for..
I sometimes wonder if money changes hands. I have no proof . But !
It has in other leagues just as good as ours Italy, France and Belgium it would be naive to think that Riley’s secret society is completely above board.
I think money changes hands, or certainly something with a high value to it.
No fixture break according to the Daily Mail so our match tomorrow should go ahead. Covid cases permitting of course.
However the only people likely to expose it are the main beneficiaries of the controversy . As was recently said about government parties and Cressida Dick there can be no evidence unless someone is looking for it.
Perhaps with Spurs getting kicked out of Europe , other teams might think twicew before calling off games as the precedent has been set . call it off and lose the match.
Rico, “Fairness and consistency isn’t much to ask for..” From the PGMOL it is!! 😒
And there’s the problem, no one in the right kind of places want to look. Yet, Big Sam is living proof of how easy it is to expose wrong doings if someone can be bothered to look.
I read Toots offered to play their game today.
If each club has 25 players registered for PL matches, surely they can field a side. Unless eleven players have tested positive for Covid.
Cicero, certainly is the case. I’m sure they make it up as they go along.
Willian, who is now at Corinthians, revealed that his time at Arsenal was very complicated and quickly realized that it would be very difficult to succeed in the service of the Gunners.
“When I arrived at Arsenal I was happy and motivated and I wanted to be successful at the club, alongside my new teammates and in a new project. After three months, I told my agent, “Please, I want to leave.” I don’t want to talk about the club, because it’s a huge emblem, it has a great history and great players in its history, but it didn’t work out. It was the most difficult time of my career. I wasn’t happy and that’s why I didn’t play good games. I don’t want to go into details, but I wasn’t happy», said the Brazilian, speaking to the FIVE channel in Rio Ferdinand.
Willian signed for Corinthians in the summer.
In my opinion the clubs should get together and found an academy to recruit and train referees. Then tell the PGMOL to Foxtrot Oscar.
If the FA/PL had a backbone, they’d sort the mess out surely? Unless they’re in on it.
The Euros showed how good officials and VAR can be when the system is run properly.
Jm, I bet he wasn’t as unhappy at Arsenal as we fans were with him being there.
Poor old Willian… 😐
Poor chap, so unhappy but filling his pension pot to make up for it.
Change the VAR rules,
make it that the VAR is checked in a different country by retired Ref’s on a rotating roster but you can not do your own country.
I still believe the game would be much better if we got rid of the off side rule.
I recon Willian only joined us because his manager couldn’t get a deal done overseas in time.
Good morning all, at the moment this evening’s match is set to go ahead. Although we have two players, Mari and Lokonga who have tested positive for Covid, while Sunderland have one un-named player out for the same reason. In addition Tomiyasu is unlikely to play after suffering a muscle injury against Leeds.
According to Italy’s Tutto Sport, Juventus are considering a January move for Aubameyang or maybe Edison Cavani.
Nah Geoff, it was a backhander from Willian’s agent to one of the Arsenal hierarchy who left the club shortly after the deal. Allegedly.
Morning Cicero, all.
I read that about Juve the other day. My guess is it’ll be whoever comes cheapest. Either that or perhaps Ramsey will be part of a deal. 😳
From what I read they would be happy to offer Ramsey for Auba,
I recon Ramsey had his day and the only reason why I would say yes would be if Ramsey’s match fees are at a maximum half of Auba’s and not a cent more.
Cicero I thought that backhand pass roomer was for Pepe
Him to no doubt Geoff, £76 million plus wages down the drain!
Oh no he won’t! It is the Panto season Rico. 😉
I hope not Cicero…
New post up now