Football

Just seen the Jota dive. Cancel football, we're done.

I just saw a replay of this. I thought Durán's dive was going to be the worst of the weekend but I think Jota may have actually managed to surpass it (although bonus points to Durán for going down and rolling around clutching his leg in "agony" after the gentlest of touches).

But, diving is risk free so why not do it? You virtually never get booked for it and if you manage to fool the ref (which isn't too hard) then you've got a good chance VAR will just go with it if someone happened to breathe heavily on the player that dived.

In the interest of full-disclosure, I am a liverpool fan, so this is clearly through that lense, but isn't this quite an interesting example of a potential dive that wasn't risk-free? I mean, he was round the keeper and only had to slot it home. If the 'dive' hadn't been bought, he's turned down a really gilt-edged chance to score and given the ref a decision to make which could go either way. You could (and I'm sure lots will) argue that maybe he's just such an inveterate cheat that when presented with an opportunity to go down, his reaction was automatic and down he went. Maybe. But also he's a striker and doesn't take pens. Surely his motivation to take the goal is also pretty compelling?

My reading is that clearly there was contact, after taking a step he felt his balance was impacted and therefore his chances of success with his shot significantly decreased (any contact at full-speed is enough to impact whatever you want to do next), so he went down safe in the knowledge that on review the contact would be identified and they'd get the pen. It's not what we want our brave footballers to do, and not very British (obviously ignoring the many British players that have been enthusiastic divers) but to me I struggle with the suggestion that it's some egregiously bad dive. Still, my lense is red so I'm probably just looking for the most favourable interpretation of events...

Anyway, fucking great game. This has been a really fun season so far, for the league generally. Loads of good games.

I mean, he was round the keeper and only had to slot it home.

Watching the replay it looked like he'd overhit the touch past the keeper so it wasn't going to be that easy a chance, there was going to be at least one and probably two defenders covering by the time he got across to it.

Contact = penalty is where a lot of the issue is. There's no consideration given as to whether the contact really caused what happened next, it's contact (however light) and they fell over so it's a penalty.

It's obviously very British for those who watched Andy Johnson or Jamie Vardy in their prime: overhit the ball past the keeper, run into the keeper, fall over, penalty.

" James Milner is set to make his 632nd Premier League appearance, putting him joint-second alongside Ryan Giggs in the all-time list and only behind Gareth Barry's mark of 653. "

James Milner is going to be there at the heat death of the universe, putting in a last ditch tackle on the last few atoms in existence

Drove up to Stoke yesterday to watch us draw 0-0 to take us to five games without a win.

It's great.

When I drove to Bristol to see us draw 0-0 with Bristol Rovers last year, I didn't think we'd be going up. I'd have loved to have found out then that drawing with Stoke, Norwich, QPR and Leicester would be considered disappointing results and be described as a "wobble".

We're 16 points ahead 7th place, and the teams who look like overtaking us are still stacked with Premier League players, while we're basically still the team that finished 2nd in League One.

If we don't get relegated it's a successful season. Playoffs would be a huge achievement. Automatic a miracle. It's a great season.

Stunning player, so versatile ive seen him do a good job at full back, on the wing and midfield. really good character and role model for the younger players.

You’re definitely in a slump but it looks like you’ve just nabbed our best player on loan for the rest of the season so things could be worse.

We definitely need a striker or two this window though.

Hirst got injured in the Leicester game and is out until the very end of the season, Ladapo doesn't really fit the system, and Spurs recalled Scarlett.

We've been linked with Jay Stansfield but it turns out the whole of the top 6 thinks he's headed their way.

Southampton fans saying they need another striker while they've got Armstrong and Adams fit is a joke.

United about to poach Newcastle's Sporting Director.

I've said he's secret sauce since he left us.

Left us in our highest ever PL position, revamped England process, did wonders at Brighton and gave Newcastle an instant lift.

Would have Ashworth back at the hawthorns in a heartbeat.

League table as it should be without VAR - all decisions as initially awarded by the onfield ref team. (I won't link as it's from the S*n).

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Aren't most var changes just off sides?

Exactly that, 90% will be goals that weren't flagged because the linos knew that VAR would rule on it...

https://twitter.com/CraigHope_DM/status/1742935110570373215?t=XnXLU4fSqii01449uB2mZA&s=19

Apologies for the DM link in the tweet.

… ‘kin ‘ell , that’s going to be a grim game down at Selhurst Park in this weather

There's probably one man who won't mind that

That match definitely didn't deserve penalties.

If that DCL challenge was a red then we may as well cancel football.

Playing at Saltergate Lane will do that to you … oh , and Ray Lewington was the only one wearing shorts in the dug outs … !
Shit game , really don’t understand why var is in use at all … rubbish decision … such weak refereeing …

It's even more stupid using VAR for these cup games as it only gets used when the home team is a premier league team so it's not even used in every tie.

Not a lot to add. Rubbish game, rubbish decision, rubbish result and McNeill is now badly crocked. ☹️

Is it weird that all the London clubs in this round of the F.A. Cup are playing at home …. ?
Three of them tonight ….

But, diving is risk free so why not do it?

Perfectly illustrated by Spurs tonight. They got into the penalty area, hurled themselves to the floor for no reason and VAR stopped the game to review. No penalties as they were all diving but no punishment so why not do it?

Pedro Porros knuckleball goal was special.

Quite incredible that Bayern have scoured the world for a centre-back and have come up with Eric Dier.

Or perhaps they're just signing him to keep Harry Kane company.