Villa ghost goal will cost us Europe

[blade too long]

Hahaha, that’s brilliant. Chasing Champions League, then Europa, then best finish by a newly promoted team, now most clean sheets by a newly promoted club!! Of course you would have taken that at the start of the season. Who wouldn’t! Haha. I’ll be cheering that on Sunday. Hope we don’t miss out on that or we will have to hope for greenest pitch or something.

Top 10 is great. The gulf in quality player for player we have and 15 other clubs who have had years of buying better quality does dictate where clubs finish . Both Norwich and Villa have never come close to really competing. At least we have done a bit more like what palace and Burnley achieved in finding a way to bridge the quality gap
We will end the season with 3-0 as our heaviest defeat. I am quite chuffed with that. And in the defeats weve had we in all but 4 or 5 games could argue we deserved better
To remain in the top 10 all season in the main is fantastic. Never once was the spectre of relegation over our heads

 

[CentralQuay]

VAR got decisions wrong. VAR is simply a referee looking at a screen giving his opinion on a foul or an offside.

VAR isn't 'foolproof technology'.

But the fact VAR wasn't allowed to overrule that technology on such a blatantly obvious incident is ridiculous. They're watching the game live as well. 'Protocol' takes precedent, and that precedent is technology trumping human eye.

It's madness.

Neither is Hawkeye.

I'm not sure why this is still being discussed though.
The two points become irrelevant now.

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

Neither is Hawkeye.

I'm not sure why this is still being discussed though.
The two points become irrelevant now.

Hawkeye is foolproof.

When it is switched on.

 

[CentralQuay]

Hawkeye is foolproof.

When it is switched on.

Fine, but like I said, it's irrelevant now.

 

[Webding]

Spot on. I'm sick of people saying that we were relegated from the PL because we failed to beat Wigan. Iif the punishment for dodgy on player registrations had been applied fairly, we wouldn't have needed anything from the Wigan game. Over a season there will always be a few games where you deserve to get something from the chances you create (like Wigan home) but the ball doesn't run for you. We were nervous that day, and we shouldn't have been. We should have already been safe.

I completely disagree. Who’s to say that West Ham wouldn’t have got the same or even more points without Tevez? Unlikely I know, but much like saying that a disallowed goal in the first half of a match is the entire reason we didn’t win the game, the availability of a single player is far too simplistic an argument.

The fact is that Warnock’s negative tactics (and poor play) were the single biggest reason we went down that year. Other teams are a factor of course, but look after yourself, and others don’t matter. Even cutting out just one individual error (Jags vs Wigan, Kenny vs Everton, etc) would have seen us stay up.

And it’s the same this season. VAR and Hawkeye were a shambles, but since the restart we’ve been too inconsistent, and were appalling in three very winnable games, plus another two where we might have got something had we been at it. It’s those 7+ lost points that are the problem, not officials. Even Covid is a bigger factor than an imaginary FA conspiracy, so it’s all aboard the Trump Train if you want to blame external forces...

Either way, it doesn’t matter now; if we’d had this slump at Christmas and recovered to be challenging for eighth, we’d be overjoyed. Disappointed we fell away, but what a team, what a season.

 

[sjl]

VAR got decisions wrong. VAR is simply a referee looking at a screen giving his opinion on a foul or an offside.

VAR isn't 'foolproof technology'.

But the fact VAR wasn't allowed to overrule that technology on such a blatantly obvious incident is ridiculous. They're watching the game live as well. 'Protocol' takes precedent, and that precedent is technology trumping human eye.

It's madness.

Sadly the truth is in the other numerous threads around this one and for anyone brave enough to say it. There has been a some very poor tactics in the last few months, some very sub-standard individual performances and we have had a few transfer windows of mediocrity. We should be very concerned with next year if we don’t spend, spend well and evolve to play a game that evolves to meet the demands of beating the other teams, rather than been tactically outthought as we have been recently.

 

[nopigfansintown]

Sadly the truth is in the other numerous threads around this one and for anyone brave enough to say it. There has been a some very poor tactics in the last few months, some very sub-standard individual performances and we have had a few transfer windows of mediocrity. We should be very concerned with next year if we don’t spend, spend well and evolve to play a game that evolves to meet the demands of beating the other teams, rather than been tactically outthought as we have been recently.

I bet Wilder's reeling from being tactically out thought by Chelsea, Wolves and Spurs and can't comprehend how their billionaire squads lost to us.

 

[BanderSerge]

Sadly the truth is in the other numerous threads around this one and for anyone brave enough to say it. There has been a some very poor tactics in the last few months, some very sub-standard individual performances and we have had a few transfer windows of mediocrity. We should be very concerned with next year if we don’t spend, spend well and evolve to play a game that evolves to meet the demands of beating the other teams, rather than been tactically outthought as we have been recently.

I’m totally lost for words!

 

[nopigfansintown]

I’m totally lost for words!

Just checked the posters history. Not saying it's a but there was a "please return to porktalk.co.uk if lost" sign around its neck

 

[nopigfansintown]

VAR got decisions wrong. VAR is simply a referee looking at a screen giving his opinion on a foul or an offside.

VAR isn't 'foolproof technology'.

But the fact VAR wasn't allowed to overrule that technology on such a blatantly obvious incident is ridiculous. They're watching the game live as well. 'Protocol' takes precedent, and that precedent is technology trumping human eye.

It's madness.

This isn't the precedent. This was admitted by VAR post match. The referee or VAR could've and should've intervened. It was a multiple system failure. If anybody watches a sport like, say snooker, they rely on technology too, but the referees and video officials seem prepared for all sorts of wacky, unique situations. The ref and VAR officials seemed to not know the intricacies of their own rule book, and in the end essentially blamed their inability to implement their own rules on the uniqueness of the situation.

 

[sjl]

Just checked the posters history. Not saying it's a but there was a "please return to porktalk.co.uk if lost" sign around its neck

Behave! Is there anything that I’ve sad, which is incorrect?

 

[nopigfansintown]

Behave! Is there anything that I’ve sad, which is incorrect?

All of it. That's the thing with visitors on here, they add nowt to the debate. Chelsea, Spurs, and Wolves billionaires all lost to Wilder's crap tactics.

 

[sjl]

All of it. That's the thing with visitors on here, they add nowt to the debate. Chelsea, Spurs, and Wolves billionaires all lost to Wilder's crap tactics.

But the lack of transfer success or ability to adapt meant the squad was threadbare and unable to compete when it really mattered?

 

[nopigfansintown]

But the lack of transfer success or ability to adapt meant the squad was threadbare and unable to compete when it really mattered?

They smashed it when it really mattered, all but safe by Christmas. The rest is gravy. A guaranteed top half finish!. The transfer success was more than we could ever have wishes for. Meanwhile in S6 10 million for Jordan Rhodes on twice what our top earner gets in the premier League

 

[BanderSerge]

This isn't the precedent. This was admitted by VAR post match. The referee or VAR could've and should've intervened. It was a multiple system failure. If anybody watches a sport like, say snooker, they rely on technology too, but the referees and video officials seem prepared for all sorts of wacky, unique situations. The ref and VAR officials seemed to not know the intricacies of their own rule book, and in the end essentially blamed their inability to implement their own rules on the uniqueness of the situation.

The biggest bollock CWAK have dropped this season was this incredible incident. They both knew within 12 seconds that we had scored after being informed via iPad by our analytics team. Tufty should have strode onto the pitch as soon as the ball went dead to inform the ref that he was taking the players off until var had checked it Correctly. They knew for a fact that we had scored. Can you imagine Mourinho Klopp if it happened to them?

 

[sjl]

They smashed it when it really mattered, all but safe by Christmas. The rest is gravy. A guaranteed top half finish!. The transfer success was more than we could ever have wishes for. Meanwhile in S6 10 million for Jordan Rhodes on twice what our top earner gets in the premier League

That’s not answere

They smashed it when it really mattered, all but safe by Christmas. The rest is gravy. A guaranteed top half finish!. The transfer success was more than we could ever have wishes for. Meanwhile in S6 10 million for Jordan Rhodes on twice what our top earner gets in the premier League

so you agree, we are a half season team and need to be more savvy on transfers or adapt our style so that we can compete after Christmas or a Easter in fairness? Not sure what the Rhodes comment is about, we are talking about us. I’m not fussed what is happening there, it’s hardly a barometer to gauge success is it!

 

[Blade1959]

That’s not answere

so you agree, we are a half season team and need to be more savvy on transfers or adapt our style so that we can compete after Christmas or a Easter in fairness? Not sure what the Rhodes comment is about, we are talking about us. I’m not fussed what is happening there, it’s hardly a barometer to gauge success is it!

Half season team??? We’ve missed out on a chance of European Football with ONE match to go!!

 

[sjl]

Half season team??? We’ve missed out on a chance of European Football with ONE match to go!!

No! My point is, is that we failed to build a squad capable of the last 20% of the season, and we have faded rapidly. And we also failed to adapt when it was becoming obvious. That’s got to be down to higher powers than the players and lessons must be learnt.

 

[nopigfansintown]

That’s not answere

so you agree, we are a half season team and need to be more savvy on transfers or adapt our style so that we can compete after Christmas or a Easter in fairness? Not sure what the Rhodes comment is about, we are talking about us. I’m not fussed what is happening there, it’s hardly a barometer to gauge success is it!

Nope I'm saying our points per game average has been brilliant all season, as has our transfer business. Superb even.

 

[sjl]

Nope I'm saying our points per game average has been brilliant all season, as has our transfer business. Superb even.

Agree on first point. Not on the second. But that’s football pal.

 

[Dublinblade]

No! My point is, is that we failed to build a squad capable of the last 20% of the season, and we have faded rapidly. And we also failed to adapt when it was becoming obvious. That’s got to be down to higher powers than the players and lessons must be learnt.

you must have been dropped on your head hard as a baby. CWAK were to know that a global pandemic was going to mean a condensed end to the season where games would be played 3 times a week for a number of weeks which would be detrimental to us when planning our transfers ?

get a grip.

 

[sjl]

you must have been dropped on your head hard as a baby. CWAK were to know that a global pandemic was going to mean a condensed end to the season where games would be played 3 times a week for a number of weeks which would be detrimental to us when planning our transfers ?

get a grip.

So change the system or the tactics?

 

[hidesbehindapseudonym]

38pts and 1 goal difference. Only us.

UTB

 

[Dublinblade]

So change the system or the tactics?

Lets level set here

Firstly since lockdown were have the 11th best record in the league, on a PPG basis we would for that part of the season still end up with 46 points on that run of form over a full season.

Thats a pretty good performance from a points standpoint in of itself.

Re changing the system, generally in the permier league you have a week to prepare for your opponents, you can review , plan and work out what to do and then execute on the training ground to make sure the system and tactics you want to play work as you want them to. When you play and then are playing again 3 / 4 days later you dont have those luxuries, you lose one day to recovery and then have 2 maybe 3 days max in training, its not as easy aas chucking up a few magnets on a whiteboard and saying this is how were going to play.

As for the tactics we did change tactics in both of the last two games we went 4-3-1-2 with Didzy top of the diamond last night and we did something similar against Leicester, theres only so many systems you can play when you have no natural wingers available to you.

Saying we have recruited badly recently when we have had the results we have had is so far off the mark its competing with Stevens "shot" last night

Chris is a bright lad he knows the group needs strengthening hes said as much on the radio, hes only got so much money to do it, Rome wasnt built in a day and having a premier league squad of 25 guys that Chris is happy with in terms of quality and options in terms of playing style and formation will take at least another 2 seasons.

Lets not forget where we have come from over the past few seasons, Im 30 years following the Blades and this is the best finishing position we will ahve had in that time, Im not having it that people are critical about the players signed in that context.

 

[bromtom]

But the lack of transfer success or ability to adapt meant the squad was threadbare and unable to compete when it really mattered?

You mean like Osborn, McBurnie, Mousset and Berge who were instrumental in us beating Spurs, Wolves and Chelsea on the spin?

 

[Champagneblade]

We won't play in Europe because we lost vital games since the lockdown ended. It's nothing to do with a perfectly good goal being ruled out at Villa. There's no guarantee that we'd have won that game if the goal had stood either.

I totally agree that decision was a travesty of justice. But let's try and avoid this "victim" mentality shall we? Let's just be honest with ourselves. We've had a right good bloody go at this Premier League lark. We should be buzzing with pride about our team. Not lamenting some of the odd decisions that went against us and using those as some sort of justification for not finishing higher in the table.

Pleased it won't matter, especially if we don't drop a place.

As a now fully paid up member of the PL I do however look forward to topping next season's VAR in favour of league! You know,with these things famously 'evening themselves out'.

And Leeds as the new boys getting a terrible going over by it!

 

[bromtom]

Pleased it won't matter, especially if we don't drop a place.

As a now fully paid up member of the PL I do however look forward to topping next season's VAR in favour of league! You know,with these things famously 'evening themselves out'.

And Leeds as the new boys getting a terrible going over by it!

We should still go for the compensation though. Might not matter for European competition, but it will cost us prize money.

Settlement out of court, few mill, noice.

 

[BlairBlade]

Watford might want to join in to get Villa relegated.

 

[Yellarbellyblade]

Going to filter out the on topic chat and put that back where it belongs, just working through it.

Cheers mate, given the position Villa are now in thought it was a relevant topic again but came on to comment to find handbags flying about. Don’t envy you pal

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Back to the topic.

The non-goal has implications, if not for us then probably at the other end of the table. Simple solution is to release the footage, show it malfunctioned and that ends it. It's never been seen, because I believe it doesn't exist and the implications are huge. If it was either not switched on, or the ref forgot to turn the watch on, the blame moves from Hawkeye to the officials and the PL. At the moment Hawkeye are taking the flack and passing it off as a freak occurence, but if this becomes a legal matter then they may drop the officials right in it.