AyeDubbleYoo

My problem with challenges is that if the intent of VAR is to reduce mistakes, then why not try to get every decision right? What if the Gordon pen happens after you've used your challenge?

No, it’s Brentford v Newcastle.

Of course it's winnable, I'm not saying we will win but we definitely can win.

Another very winnable game, we just need to go and do it. Again it could be any result.

Don't be silly.

The incident where he allowed Krafth to head that ball behind for a corner instead of coming to get it was ridiculous. Clear he has no instinct for coming out and his defenders think he won’t act decisively.

I always find it funny when people just say referees are abysmal though. Compared to what? What level of correct decisions do we expect? Having attended a fair bit of sport with my Dad, he hammers the referee even when the decision is quite obviously correct, so maybe I'm over biased in the other direction

Yeah, but I just think the VAR should be deciding "is this a penalty" and making the decision based on their access to all the replays and angles. I don't see the point in referring it back to the referee or placing any particular value on what the on-field decision was.

I actually think if they had done this then the decisions might be better. For me it's the interplay between VAR and the 'clear and obvious' thing that makes it wide open to mistakes. If the video referee was just making the decisions I think the consistency would probably be better.

I think to a certain extent we were unlucky (if you can call it luck) that Wilson and Miggy both had great periods around the times when you might have expected them to be replaced. You could argue that we should've expected a reversion to the mean and got rid of them anyway, but football doesn't seem to operate on that basis that much.

I dislike VAR but I can see a world where it's implemented better and doesn't need to be scrapped. And scrapping it will just return us to the era of MOTD/Sky drawing lines on the pitch and highlighting every offside mistake. And loads of pens like the one yesterday being missed. I would probably go with something like giving no relevance to the on-field decision (just decide if it's a pen or not, instead of deciding the degree of error), having the conversation between officials broadcast live, and the communication with fans in the stadium and TV needs to be much, much better. Everything should be clear, step-by-step and communicated to everyone watching. Combine that with the automated offsides (also show live on screen in the stadium) and you're getting closer to a less frustrating implementation. Football decisions are very subjective a lot of the time, so you can see where the fundamental difficulty of implementing VAR comes from.

He doesn't get close enough to anyone to lose a duel, probably why he doesn't get dribbled past either.

I actively dislike him since then TBH. I know these principles are very flexible in football, but for me he should never have played for us again. Helps he's been shit mind, admittedly I would've probably forgiven him if he'd been mint

It's not really the 'benefit of the doubt' though, is it? He's done pretty much an amazing job since he arrived and is about to manage half a Championship team to at least 7th in the PL. If it turns out he's asking half-fit players to do SAS assault courses and participate in an underground fighting ring, I stand corrected.

The whole team is the defence, especially the midfield. With the likes of Longstaff and Miley playing you are always going to be easy to expose.

Yeah, I think we do need a midfielder ideally. Possible someone with good technique and game control who could deputise for Bruno when necessary. If you look at Wharton for Palace, hopefully there are some affordable options out there. Either someone young looking for a break or someone older who is happy to play less minutes. Actually wouldn't mind an older head with some experience coming in. I don't want us to keep Longstaff because I think he actively harms the team, but I expect we will because he's English and a local lad. CM is the most essential position in our system really, we can't afford to be carrying anyone who can't play to the right level.

Oh sure, well it's reasonable to expect a good season if we don't have to deal with the ridiculous events we've had this time around. Any manager is always being assessed, but I asses Howe as being absolutely brilliant so far.

TBH he should have been punted just being such a bottler when he demanded out of the club originally. I guess it wasn't a priority because we just assumed Pope would play every game, but still.

Basing anything on final league position is really idiotic in general, TBF. One goal or one decision can make the difference between getting Europe and not. Howe just needs a bit more quality (and not an injury crisis) and we'll absolutely great next season.

I can see him ending up a CM like Ross Barkley maybe, not too quick or dynamic but with good skill and a decent brain. Don't think it'll be enough to play at the very top but he could still have a good career.

People can go on about Howe being too loyal all they want, but the reality is that he didn't have any choice for most of the season.

It was always a good signing.

I don't think there's a role in any PL team for a really slow attacking midfielder with no technique though, is there? Possibly in the Championship, which I think is Longstaff's level.

Seems fairly typical stats, although usually it's only one big chance.

Such a bright lad, excellent answer under pressure and he must’ve been fuming.