Football

PEDs wore off

VAR is absolutely shit. It might be made very slightly better if, as in eggball, a specific aspect is asked to be looked at by the ref and that communication is broadcast. The arbitrary running back through phases of play to look for a reason to rule out a goal is crap.

Even after all these years, Chelsea fans still can't find it in themselves to see Abramovich for who he is, let alone acknowledge it.

They've already turned a blind eye to his active support for apartheid so I wouldn't get your hopes up.

really enjoyed the game, a nervy affair for sure, either team could have won it really, although i think chelsea were marginally better in the 120mins, as said above we looked a bit overwhelmed and sluggish at times, especially at the start of the first half, chelsea really went for it right out of the blocks and we looked ragged and couldn't find our passes, they did similar at the start of the 2nd half too, luckily we held strong during those periods and just about kept them out.

saw the signs of an aging team in that game, i think liverpool have one of the older squads in the premier league now and we looked leggy towards the end, i think we can only do what we do for 90mins, any extra minutes and we lack the energy and run out of puff having used it all up in regulation time,

diaz looked plumb tuckered out when he went off, i'd probably have kept mane on in hindsight, he's more used to the exertion having done it for a few years now and probably has a higher fitness level, diaz needs a bit more fitness in him after coming from porto. but our defense remained resolute and the strikers kept chelsea on their toes, after 300 mins of football this season there's nothing between the teams. show how evenly matched they are,
prays for no chelsea in the champions league

and kepa, he annoyed me in the shootout with his antics, so glad he missed, if he'd focused on keeping goal and stopped his silly games he might have been slightly more alert to the penalty takers body language. both keepers in fairness didn't really get close to many pens as they were all pretty decent ones.

first trophy in a while and couldn't be happier.

That spit from Tsimikas is disgusting. Any repercussions for that? Surely criminal??

hmm not nice to see
hopefully senior players and management will have a word
that's not how we deport ourselves

was thinking yesterday how the team spirit looked great up on the presentation balcony, none of your pick up medal and walk off, they stayed there the whole time laughing and joking ( and spitting ) passed the trophy to everyone, they seem like a bunch of players who are happy and enjoying their football ( well apart from when they are subbed obvs ) klopps done a great job with that bunch of players

a word? are you crazy?

Are we certain it actually landed on anyone? With Milner next to him and Salah watching on I think you'd have seen more of a response if that was actually a spit-on-a-person spit.

This tweet presents a different perspective: https://twitter.com/jasiekkal/status/1498262115576164352/photo/1

he's no el-hadj diouf
i really hope there wasn't anyone below, especially as he had a good look before ejecting

He very obviously didn't spit on anyone, or it would have been picked up by the media.

Looks like he spat out his gum over the balustrade and it landed on the gantry below where the confetti was launched from as they lift the trophy, as shown in the tweet you linked to.

Full video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTfLMVZ4yYk

In addition, the fans in that end were Liverpool fans. Doesn't take the brains of an archbishop to realise this is concocted nonsense.

So we can agree that criminal charges are a frothing overreaction?

if it was the chelsea section there would have been no-one there and i'd like to think he's isn't the kind of player to spit on his own fans, seems like he was spitting onto that camera gantry but people were below if he missed

Alright... maybe a bit. I didnt look for multiple angles of the same footage.

phew

Clearly offside if you go by how much arm you’re allowed to use according to VAR.

FIFA & UEFA finally pull their finger out.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/athletics/60560567

VAR is absolutely shit. It might be made very slightly better if, as in eggball, a specific aspect is asked to be looked at by the ref and that communication is broadcast.

This. Get those microphones open and broadcast so we can hear everything and have them asking a specific question…added bonus might be the reduction of foul and abusive language from the players (even if they don’t end up showing cards for it the sponsors won’t want their representatives effing and jeffing every week).

Would also be curious to see if tennis’ appeals system would make it a bit slicker - get the bench signalling (throwing a flag?!) to say they want something reviewed, two appeals but you lose one if it’s wrong/nothing.

One of the issues to overcome is that football is a lot less stop/start than other sports that have off-field reviews. Like: cricket, rugby, american football, tennis, baseball (do they have reviews?).
The play in football could go on for a couple of minutes (or more) after an incident before the ball goes dead. As we've seen, bringing back play several phases for a review that may or may not show something has its own problems.

Alonso’s follicle game is next level. Not many players around that are close. Mount is several levels below him.

I think he'll (mount) be the new 'head' for head and shoulders. You heard it here first!

This looks "interesting"

Pretty sure those are vibrators

Andy Carroll presumably not enjoying his time playing for Bruce at the Albion. Why did you leave Andy? you can still come home. I forgive you

Last nights game was properly shit. 4 hour round trip for each game is starting to grate.

Still hoping for pens but what a fucking strike from the boro kid.