My take ...

[pommpey]

Brewster is this years "Didzy" in that he cant score for trying but thats the only similarity. Agree with Pomps "mardy" attitude a bit everytime he misses the camera gets a shot of his face looks like he is about to cry. Would rather him mouth "for f**ks sake" then at least he shows more attitude than turning away like a kid who just lost his Xbox for not tidying his room.

Hoping when he scores it opens the floodgates but I was hoping for the same thing with McBurnie and look how that turned out.

We've got to sort the passing channels to the forwards. If that means a Duffy-style No10, then so be it. If it means not playing Wilderball then so be it. But Norwood, for a fleeting moment yesterday looked up and the midfield yawned open like Katie Price's ... no, I won't go there ... but the gap was there and he for once made a telling pass as Sharp did what Sharp does best, held open the door, was on it, round the keeper and in the net. THAT is what we want, We don't want the predictable 'trying to one two down the wing' any more. Even Plymouth put the four-man block there yesterday because they'd done their homework. Our usual game and system needs to change. If Wilder were (please no) sacked tomorrow and a new manager came in, he would change that system straight away because it is costing us so much. We can't do three in midfield any more, and when we went four - with ten men v Brighton for example - we looked an entirely different team.

pommpey

 

[Kop sufferer]

We appeared fairly comfortable overall, last 20 mins aside, but collectively the team look so nervous. Maybe this originates with Ramsdale & permeates through the entire team? This has made the side error prone in the extreme. It’s as if they have accepted as inevitable that at some point someone will make a gaff that leads to a goal. And so it came to pass. Lundstram inexplicably pokes it towards Basham from the edge of our 18, putting him under unnecessary pressure. Bash then sort of stands on it & it comedically squirts to their guy who blasts it at Ramsdale. Said keeper then dives over the ball in slow motion. A joke of a goal. An embarrassment. I actually laughed out loud at the morbid inevitability of it all.

But Jesus Christ our midfield. Absolutely woeful. Dire. I doubt there’s been a worse midfield in EPL history than Lundstram, Fleck & Norwood. Lundstram somehow contrived to miss the sitter of all sitters. It’s as if the bloke doesn’t want to score. Fleck has somehow transformed into a pensioner compared to last season. It’s incredible how dithery, slow & ponderous he’s become. And as for Norwood.... well he looked semi comfortable against a L1 side because that’s now his level. It’s obvious his legs have gone. As evidenced by when he lost it in the centre under a modicum of pressure, then got a yellow in the attempt to retrieve the ball. EPL sides must lick their lips every time they see those 3 lining up against them.

Then there’s Enda Stevens. To me the bloke looks depressed. He managed to get forward more than usual this season but still faffed around & gave the ball away time after time. There was an incident in the 2nd half where he gave it away twice in quick succession & another where he combined with Fleck in comedy fashion to concede possession.

On the plus side Bogle looks to be a player, nice & composed & Burke will terrorise championship defences next season. Brewster though looks mardy. I hope he keeps plugging away & that it clicks at some point as he could combine well with Sharps last hurrah in the championship. Egan, Ampadu, Bash all looked decent but they won’t be immune to the malaise that’s permeated the squad. Christ knows how many Man Utd will put past us with Egan suspended

Overall I can’t help thinking that there’s something badly wrong. Trouble at the mill so to speak. But I’m at a loss as to what it might be other than a combination of poor recruitment, the loss of Henderson & the injury to JOC.

Pretty much sums it up for me MKY. Thought it was a perfect fixture for Billy to shine and he proved me correct, Brewster is work in progress and is about as good as you will get for 20 mil in today's market. Burke has much to prove and I think he's going about it the best he can. Let panic set in against Brizzle and we'll be in trouble. I'm starting to think a lot of defensive problems stem from the bloke between the sticks UTB

 

[Speedracer]

Agree, classic, - he should be writing rompy novels or should it be Pompey novels

Rompy Pompey novels in fact.

 

[pommpey]

So when Norwood plays a good pass hes 'showing off' ? fuck me.
You would rather concentrate on him getting a yellow than setting up the goal and virtually dominating the game until he went off ,when we fell off a cliff.
Enda and furious getting higher marks than Fleck or Norwood is ridiculous. And Sharp was MOM.
The handball coverage was spot on though ,unbelievable.

Sitters, if Norwood does that all game - and for the time he was on the pitch - and we create nothing from it, then it's just 'window dressing'. I pointed out last season that oppositions drop their left and right side defenders as soon as he gets on the ball because we know what he's looking for, and similarly, any crossfield pass was hit behind the player, stopping the advance. I got fucking pelters for that because he was then and is to some extent now, Jesus Christ in a Blades kit. What do you define as a 'good pass'? His forward picking out of Billy was - now hear this - a 'good pass'. Everything else, Egan - Basham - Lundstram - Norwood ... banged across pitch to Ampadu and back the other way to Basham in an endless replay of Wilderball is not 'good passing'. He's just perpetuating predictability and if anyone knows anything about football, predictability is the way to lose games or at least look sub optimal against lower teams you should be bumming endwards.

pommpey

 

[sitwell]

Sitters, if Norwood does that all game - and for the time he was on the pitch - and we create nothing from it, then it's just 'window dressing'. I pointed out last season that oppositions drop their left and right side defenders as soon as he gets on the ball because we know what he's looking for, and similarly, any crossfield pass was hit behind the player, stopping the advance. I got fucking pelters for that because he was then and is to some extent now, Jesus Christ in a Blades kit. What do you define as a 'good pass'? His forward picking out of Billy was - now hear this - a 'good pass'. Everything else, Egan - Basham - Lundstram - Norwood ... banged across pitch to Ampadu and back the other way to Basham in an endless replay of Wilderball is not 'good passing'. He's just perpetuating predictability and if anyone knows anything about football, predictability is the way to lose games or at least look sub optimal against lower teams you should be bumming endwards.

pommpey

Have a look at Baldocks goal against Spurs last season ,Norwood makes about 6 passes in the move ,dragging players out of position creating space for our players ,a goal scoring pass everytime anyone gets the ball is playground football and simplistic nonsense. Norwood is often the go to player to get out of a hole and players rely on him to do this. Dress your reports and replies up with as many sarcastic and disparaging comments as you like but in amongst the humour are some ridiculous views.

 

[BigDon]

Got it about right today, bit harsh on Brewster, not having a lot of luck, trying too hard, ( hitting too cleanly/centrally), agree re the fee, but that's not his fault. One for Champ next season, (along with one last hurrah from Billy). We won, as we should, but I think 3-0 would have been a fairer reflection of the game.

No he is not one for next season...the kid just hasn't got it...all the hype but shite

 

[Working Class Hero]

Lundstram 4.5 after dropping 1.5 points for 'that fucking sitter' what you deducting for him giving the ball away on the 18 which led to the goal?!

Deductions are only made in these instances if your name is Oliver Norwood.

 

[I should coco]

Not really. He had a 'better game' than he has recently, Like the Newcastle game, when he is given acres of space to play his 'watch me smack the ball across the pitch' shenanigans, people such as yourself get all foamy about it. The truth is, you can do that all game, or all season in his case, and the sum result is nowt, because Wilder insists on the directive 'give the ball to Norwood' whereby the first thing he looks for is a sixty yard punt over the opposition wingbacks. As stated in many 'My takes', this tactic, as well as the 'clip it across the backline' Wilderball fun is dead and buried against PL opposition, and even Plymouth weren't much troubled with it. None of t resulted in a clear chance or a goal. However, I wasn't so blinkered to recognise (go have a look) that he doesn't need that 'wand of a right foot' to 'ping' the ball anywhere but centrally, threaded to the strikers, as attested by his very well placed pass to Billy for his well taken goal. Sometimes he doesn't have to show off, just do his fucking job efficiently.

Finally, did you not see Norwood lose possession and chase back resulting in his obligatory yellow card, too?

pommpey

So you approve of the ball to Billy on the basis that it wasn't 'showing off'?

Of course I saw the yellow and acknowledge that chasing back is a weakness of his. The difference seems to be that I give him significantly more credit for the good things he did.

We could agree to disagree, but of course you are welcome to respond with another lengthy diatribe.

 

[Mumbo]

What?

"Sharp 6/10: Put a shift in and was rewarded with a well taken goal. But outside of that was a victim of shit service"

Had he been given the support and service, he'd have got more. What's 'wrong' with that?

pommpey

That instance where Billy broke into the box alone,looked desperately around for any pass, grew a beard waiting for someone to arrive,they never came so he had a wild pop and missed was criminal.
Sharp’s reading of the game is head and shoulders above his team mates,perhaps he could do a Vulcan mind melt with Brewster and co.

 

[Bashamed]

Saying we possibly didn't deserve to win that game is pretty harsh. Totally in control until the last 20 mins.

I pointed out last season that oppositions drop their left and right side defenders as soon as he gets on the ball because we know what he's looking for, and similarly, any crossfield pass was hit behind the player, stopping the advance. I got fucking pelters for that because he was then and is to some extent now, Jesus Christ

Just want to make a point on Norwood not looking for an argument but I dont understand why people bring up spotting issues with him last season. You make out a bit like you've been proved right about him. But he was brilliant for the vast majority of last season in a team that was brilliant so why would you not get pelters if you were slagging him then? He's been poor this season obviously but trying to almost dismiss what he did last season as though it was obvious he was rubbish all along is strange imo.

 

[TJ blade]

No he is not one for next season...the kid just hasn't got it...all the hype but shite

Brewster looks to me like he doesn't want to be here, I will be surprised if he's here next season only trouble is sadly we won't get the money we paid for him!

 

[metalblade]

Yeah, we won. A win is a win and all that. But in honestly, can we all acknowledge that just like the Bristol Rovers game, we made the gap in expected capability between the two teams seem a little narrower. It's also okay coming out with old tropes like 'The FA Cup is a great leveller' and 'you should never expect a win', but if it is a win, you should not be making it look so treasured, or so rare. We didn't beat Everton, Aston Villa or even West Ham today. We (narrowly) beat Plymouth Argyle, eleventh in two divisions below. Today's match made it look like we were in the playoffs in that division and we'd just pulled off another valuable victory and three points, and maybe we were back on with an automatic slot come May. It's not like Plymouth are any good either. For the first twenty minutes they hardly got into our half and they gave us that mandatory ten square feet of space around every player which made initial forays up the wings easy to do, and Norwood to smack the ball stylishly across the pitch, like he does. Too many times Argyle failed to close up the gaps when we were in possession, a luxury we don't have in our 'day-job' of surviving in the Premier League. But fuck me, how much do we need in front of goal to make it count? We still seem a bit shot-shy at times and despite Brewster having an unthreatening shot on target, a fluffed chance six yards out and Lundstram missing a fucking sitter, it's only when our centre back pops up on the back stick to nod home with the sureity required from our forward line (McBurnie - pay the fuck attention)

But we again showed some alarming lack of attention to detail and Plymouth regularly showed threat, especially when involving Camara. We seemed to want to show them the same amount of space after we'd scored and were lucky not to go in for the break 1-1 or even worse. The second half still failed to impress. Where you'd expect us to come out firing and organised and ready to put Argyle to the sword and finish the game off, we are still playing Wilderball. knocking the ball across the back four and up one wing, until we are met with a block, backwards, across the back four and down the other wing, rinse and repeat. Norwood has acres of space to show off, Ampadu is knocking it long and we aren't doing much until thank fuck, Norwood spots Billy, slots him a pass and he's in, round the keeper and it's in the net. Amazing what you can do when you change the fucking record once in a while.

Then Plymouth smell blood and we are defending - properly - for too-long spells of the game and giving sloppy, predictable balls away. And with equal predictability (and maybe one of Deadbat or ROYs bingo card regulars, Norwood is caught in possession, chases back and fouls the opposition. And more - we still fuck up possession, fail to manage the panic and Camara - who'd looked threatening all game and really was Norwood's to cancel out, is free in the box and does what Lundstram should have done in the first half from the same position. I reckon however had he hit it low down and pretty central maybe Cooper would have got his body behind it, instead Ramsdale (bingo moment) flops down and allows it under his body, like he did with Rashford's.

FULL HOUSE CALLED IN THE LOUNGE, BARRY!

After this, we are simply hanging on and thank for it didn't go to extra time. They'd have beaten us, definitely. As soon as they scored, a thought bubble popped out of every United player's head which read, "Oh fuck. We're gonna lose now." It wouldn't have taken much either. We looked desperately fragile in the final ten minutes and Plymouth seemed to be enjoying us on the ropes.

Quite simply, yet another desperate, dismal, disappointing outcome with a win we 'achieved' but possibly didn't deserve. Neither did Plymouth to be honest, but that in measure is what we have now quickly become - another version of Adkin's strugglers a few short seasons ago. Wilder might chide us with regard 'the system' but even if it shades past a pretty average third division outfit hoping the remaining minutes will be kind, then his system still isn't working and I fear for our credibility against Manchester United.

Ramsdale 3/10: Still shockingly below what we need playing where we are and aspiring for survival or an FA cup run. Even the BBC commentator thinks he's shit, and women's game goalkeeping itself is one of the great debating points of the cross-gender comparison. When I suggest the women's game is actually entertaining and good to watch, the less politically correct observers just illustrate some of the fucking howlers women keepers make, and it kinda deflates the balloon somewhat. In short, Ramsdale should play for Sheff Utd women, and mebbe we should have their keeper? Discuss.
Bogle 5/10: Iffy game with him in and out of it. Looked far from comfortable at times up against another 5-3-2 wingback system
Basham 5/10: Well taken goal but over the past few matches has dropped in form and seems to be finding it difficult
Egan 7/10: As usual, the rock at the back
Ampadu 5.5/10: Better game from him but he's still not impressive, even when given space to maraud forward
Stevens 6.5/10: Managed to exploit space Argyle gave him to get intto places of danger then simply passed wrongly or fluffed up the initiative
Lundstram 4.5/10: Drops 1.5 points for that fucking sitter. Otherwise was involved with little outcome
Norwood 4/10: Slightly better game from him and a really great pass to Sharp, but otherwise he was just showing off.
Fleck 5/10: Seems to be standing still at times or frustrated at the lack of options when he is on the ball. He's not even 50% of the John Fleck of 12 months ago
Brewster 3/10: Unimpressed by his failure to put chances away. There is no fucking way he is worth £23m
Sharp 6/10: Put a shift in and was rewarded with a well taken goal. But outside of that was a victim of shit service

Baldock 5/10: Furious George. Good to see him back
Bryan 4/10: Thought he was no better than Ampadu
Burke 5/10: Typical gutsy performance but with fuck all to show
McGoldrick unmarked

Really surprised Wilder didn't capitalise on this game to bring in some alternate players and a change in lineup. He seems stuck on 5-3-2 and like I say, it costs us. Personally I would have liked to have seen Rodwell, Verrips, Lowe make a start to refresh the system but no, it's Wilderball from start to finish and we were nearly put to the sword because of this. Bristol City might not be so timid to punish our weaknesses as Argyle today. Although we walk away from today with a win - three in four - I urge people to look at that run for what it is - a scraped FA Cup sin against a Div Two team where we were still not impressive, a win against a very underperforming Premiership side with a VAR goal the difference and today, where we hung onto our victory and could have thrown it away.

Finally: Ref/VAR - cunts. That handball was handball with a strawberry flavoured, spit-lubricated, ribbed condom slid on it and up-with-a-'hup! into the slack, well trafficked yet one would imagine accommodating warmth of Katie Price's tattered fundament. Arms in unnatural position - check, Player crossing flight of ball - check. Ball falling to advantage of opposition - check. Had that been Liverpool or Spurs, the cunt would have been redded and had his head kicked in outside the ground, and on the coach on the way back to Pastyland, moi loverrrr.

pommpey

A fairly accurate report that so not much to add to it. Against a lower league team who did try to play pretty football I can only give most of the players an average five out of ten. Even against this limited opposition we looked so lacklustre. Tuesday night is scaring me to death but I urge everyone to watch the game this could be another defining moment in the clubs history like Givens' penalty against Walsall or Kozluks cross into row MM of the kop against Port Vale. I don't know what our record defeat is but it could well be tested.
Ramsdale 3 even the bitch commentator was taking the piss. Maybe he was busy doing his little jumps that so many were saying are essential for a goalkeepers spring last week, what a load of bollocks. Paddy Kenny would have chucked his hat on that shot. Ramsdale looked like he was shitting himself before the game in the tunnel for the love of god Wilder take him out of the team.
Stevens 4 Comical moments when he lost possession twice in quick succession.
Lundstram 4 How do you miss that sitter? not only the miss though is it although he is the only midfielder to get in those positions he is constantly looking to pass the ball back where it came from.
Fleck 4.5 A bit more involved today but what the hell has happened to him, he looks like a hen pecked husband given a dish cloth waiting in a panic for instructions on what to do with it.
Norwood 4 yes I know put a smart pass to Billy for the goal but again lost the ball and fouled the player running away with it to pick yet another yellow card a few cross field pings but really a contribution of fuck all.

Stand out islands in a sea of shit
Egan 6 Solid
Sharp 6 showing a young kid how it should be done, Brewster might not be worth £23m but I do think he will start scoring soon and he needs to. It looks like the weight of the world his on his shoulders at the moment not sure mardy is the right word but he looks close to tears most of the time.

 

[pommpey]

Saying we possibly didn't deserve to win that game is pretty harsh. Totally in control until the last 20 mins.

Just want to make a point on Norwood not looking for an argument but I dont understand why people bring up spotting issues with him last season. You make out a bit like you've been proved right about him. But he was brilliant for the vast majority of last season in a team that was brilliant so why would you not get pelters if you were slagging him then? He's been poor this season obviously but trying to almost dismiss what he did last season as though it was obvious he was rubbish all along is strange imo.

Firstly, I'd not say we were 'totally in control'. Not when they have a break in the first half which exposes fundamental weaknesses in our system when defending and leads to one of their central midfielders spooning a shot over from six yards. See also, wide open on our right and their wingback in on goal only to fluff the shot into the side netting. You've seen what happens when the opposition score, haven't you? We haven't come back from behind yet in a game this season - not without VAR anyway.

Norwood was a part of a decently playing and pretty well co-ordinated team last year. He got one goal, a penalty. The rest of the time he was smacking it across the pitch, after lockdown pretty woefully. At no time did he carry and press and was pretty much 'passed around' when opposition midfielders took possession and came up against him. This season he has been simply wank. The writing was on the wall last season and you can blame everything you want, JO'C's injury, Moussett smashing up his Lambo, the Villa no-goal, long COVID, Donald Trump, lack of crowds ... whatever, he is exactly why Brighton and Fulham ditched him as soon as the sunshine of the PL came over the horizon because guess what? Exactly what we see.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

So you approve of the ball to Billy on the basis that it wasn't 'showing off'?

Of course I saw the yellow and acknowledge that chasing back is a weakness of his. The difference seems to be that I give him significantly more credit for the good things he did.

We could agree to disagree, but of course you are welcome to respond with another lengthy diatribe.

Coco, if there are too many words in my responses then the plan is simple. Don't fucking read them. But if you want a response, and can be arsed to hoist it in, then here it is:

If you give him more credit for the 'good things he did' then list them. I saw one: He threaded Sharp onto his goal. The rest of the time he looked barely at Plymouth's level, and luxuriated in the acres of space around him to clip balls louchely across to the other side of the pitch for more Wilderball. Sum effect of this? Well, someone got a stiffy on about it, didn't they? But with regard 'fuck me, Norwood played a fucking ball in for <insert player's name> and he made it four-one' or 'Norwood had a blinder. Nowt got past him, nobdy could take the ball off him and he just ran that midfield' or 'Norwood picked it up, skinned <insert player's name> and went forward twenty yards, then fucking smacked it' there's nowt is there? All he does is play fancy-arsed balls across the pitch, usually to not benefit, and you're out of your seat like you're watching David Blane make his testicles disappear in a jar of jam right before your very eyes.

I'll give Norwood credit, when he does summat credit worthy. Even Wilder started to agree with me - he hooked him off on 72 and stuck Ampadu in his billet.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

Have a look at Baldocks goal against Spurs last season ,Norwood makes about 6 passes in the move ,dragging players out of position creating space for our players ,a goal scoring pass everytime anyone gets the ball is playground football and simplistic nonsense. Norwood is often the go to player to get out of a hole and players rely on him to do this. Dress your reports and replies up with as many sarcastic and disparaging comments as you like but in amongst the humour are some ridiculous views.

So one match, a year ago. IIRC that match was also a real highpoint for the whole team and one which made everyone sit up and take note. It wasn't Norwood's game and we did put in a heck of a performance with Fleck and Lunny at Spurs and an insolent refusal to be 'Premier Leagued' out of the game. Compare that to post lockdown and in Norwood's case, post-lockdown and then this season.. I'm sure you'll agree there has been a sharp drop in his contribution and performance. Unless he's got acres of room and enough time to do his crowd pleasy showboating, he's effectively nullified in the game.

pommpey

 

[Geordie Blade]

The handball coverage was spot on though ,unbelievable.

VAR said that it was ‘green zone’, so all the discussion about ‘natural position’ or not is irrelevant.

I’m not agreeing with VAR by the way - it looked to hit his hands (plural!) rather than shoulder/sleeve. But the point is that VAR wasn’t commenting on the natural position thing or whether or not it was deliberate.

 

[The Vicar]

When I suggest the women's game is actually entertaining and good to watch

Excellent reading, BUT............the above I cannot accept, it is as dull as dishwater, at times a bit like watching SUF...............................C, Oh well maybe on second thoughts!

 

[Stretch]

A win is a win....through to the last 16.....but...........

 

[The Vicar]

Two things stand out for me; We are very predictable, & the ball for Billy's goal was unpredictable. Secondly RB looks like he needs a couple of the older pros [BS,CB,JE] to get him in a corner rough him up a bit & inform him that he is getting £x,000's per week to put his heart & soul into his minutes on the pitch, & that when crowds return there will be nowhere to hide!

 

[varkanoid]

Brewster looks to me like he doesn't want to be here, I will be surprised if he's here next season only trouble is sadly we won't get the money we paid for him!

Swansea will buy him if we drop down end of season.

VAR said that it was ‘green zone’, so all the discussion about ‘natural position’ or not is irrelevant.

I’m not agreeing with VAR by the way - it looked to hit his hands (plural!) rather than shoulder/sleeve. But the point is that VAR wasn’t commenting on the natural position thing or whether or not it was deliberate.

Everyone and their Uncle new it was a penalty. MOTD said it was a penalty. I think what VAR were doing was watching a film with Matt Damon in it not the actual match and we misheard what they said. The ref was just looking at some grass.

 

[Come from away]

I guess "My Take" on Liverpool would be equally bad, so just doing your Yorkshire bit which you seem to enjoy, bless you.

 

[Bladesince59]

Brewster looks to me like he doesn't want to be here, I will be surprised if he's here next season only trouble is sadly we won't get the money we paid for him!

The feeling is mutual.

 

[pommpey]

VAR said that it was ‘green zone’, so all the discussion about ‘natural position’ or not is irrelevant.

I’m not agreeing with VAR by the way - it looked to hit his hands (plural!) rather than shoulder/sleeve. But the point is that VAR wasn’t commenting on the natural position thing or whether or not it was deliberate.

Thing is, the overarching principle of 'handball' is

It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball
• scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
• after the ball has touched their or a team-mate’s hand/arm, even if accidental, immediately:
  • scores in the opponents’ goal
  • creates a goal-scoring opportunity
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
  • the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
  • the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm

The above offences apply even if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close.

Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

• directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
• directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
• if the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger
• when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body

Of which, the above clearly gives us the decision. The illustration of 'red/green' zones is:


and their player was flying across the line of the ball, eight to ten yards from Ampadu and the ball hit one or both forearms, held above his head.

Then it bounced out for a corner.

It was a fucking penalty and whoever was sat in Stockley needs pulling through with a Christmas Tree soaked in Domestos.

pommpey

 

[pommpey]

I guess "My Take" on Liverpool would be equally bad, so just doing your Yorkshire bit which you seem to enjoy, bless you.

Anyone?



pommpey

 

[Geordie Blade]

Thing is, the overarching principle of 'handball' is

It is an offence if a player:

• deliberately touches the ball with their hand/arm, including moving the hand/arm towards the ball
• scores in the opponents’ goal directly from their hand/arm, even if accidental, including by the goalkeeper
• after the ball has touched their or a team-mate’s hand/arm, even if accidental, immediately:
  • scores in the opponents’ goal
  • creates a goal-scoring opportunity
• touches the ball with their hand/arm when:
  • the hand/arm has made their body unnaturally bigger
  • the hand/arm is above/beyond their shoulder level (unless the player deliberately plays the ball which then touches their hand/arm

The above offences apply even if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close.

Except for the above offences, it is not an offence if the ball touches a player’s hand/arm:

• directly from the player’s own head or body (including the foot)
• directly from the head or body (including the foot) of another player who is close
• if the hand/arm is close to the body and does not make the body unnaturally bigger
• when a player falls and the hand/arm is between the body and the ground to support the body, but not extended laterally or vertically away from the body

Of which, the above clearly gives us the decision. The illustration of 'red/green' zones is:

View attachment 103810
and their player was flying across the line of the ball, eight to ten yards from Ampadu and the ball hit one or both forearms, held above his head.

Then it bounced out for a corner.

It was a fucking penalty and whoever was sat in Stockley needs pulling through with a Christmas Tree soaked in Domestos.

pommpey

Totally agree with you, but if VAR thinks it was ‘the green zone’ then the rest is irrelevant because it can’t be handball. The fact that they think it was the green zone (even after watching the slow motion) shows what utter buffoons they are.

 

[pommpey]

Two things stand out for me; We are very predictable, & the ball for Billy's goal was unpredictable.

Amen, Vicar

pommpey

 

[Mad Mick]

What?

"Sharp 6/10: Put a shift in and was rewarded with a well taken goal. But outside of that was a victim of shit service"

Had he been given the support and service, he'd have got more. What's 'wrong' with that?

pommpey

He gave 100% what's wrong with rewarding him for effort? I would have given him I higher mark. You have your opinion I have mine. That's why it's called a forum.

 

[I should coco]

Coco, if there are too many words in my responses then the plan is simple. Don't fucking read them. But if you want a response, and can be arsed to hoist it in, then here it is:

If you give him more credit for the 'good things he did' then list them. I saw one: He threaded Sharp onto his goal. The rest of the time he looked barely at Plymouth's level, and luxuriated in the acres of space around him to clip balls louchely across to the other side of the pitch for more Wilderball. Sum effect of this? Well, someone got a stiffy on about it, didn't they? But with regard 'fuck me, Norwood played a fucking ball in for <insert player's name> and he made it four-one' or 'Norwood had a blinder. Nowt got past him, nobdy could take the ball off him and he just ran that midfield' or 'Norwood picked it up, skinned <insert player's name> and went forward twenty yards, then fucking smacked it' there's nowt is there? All he does is play fancy-arsed balls across the pitch, usually to not benefit, and you're out of your seat like you're watching David Blane make his testicles disappear in a jar of jam right before your very eyes.

I'll give Norwood credit, when he does summat credit worthy. Even Wilder started to agree with me - he hooked him off on 72 and stuck Ampadu in his billet.

pommpey

I read your invective and
loved the David Blane bit.

Like I said, we can agree to disagree (again).

 

[cc1]

Yeah, we won. A win is a win and all that. But in honestly, can we all acknowledge that just like the Bristol Rovers game, we made the gap in expected capability between the two teams seem a little narrower. It's also okay coming out with old tropes like 'The FA Cup is a great leveller' and 'you should never expect a win', but if it is a win, you should not be making it look so treasured, or so rare. We didn't beat Everton, Aston Villa or even West Ham today. We (narrowly) beat Plymouth Argyle, eleventh in two divisions below. Today's match made it look like we were in the playoffs in that division and we'd just pulled off another valuable victory and three points, and maybe we were back on with an automatic slot come May. It's not like Plymouth are any good either. For the first twenty minutes they hardly got into our half and they gave us that mandatory ten square feet of space around every player which made initial forays up the wings easy to do, and Norwood to smack the ball stylishly across the pitch, like he does. Too many times Argyle failed to close up the gaps when we were in possession, a luxury we don't have in our 'day-job' of surviving in the Premier League. But fuck me, how much do we need in front of goal to make it count? We still seem a bit shot-shy at times and despite Brewster having an unthreatening shot on target, a fluffed chance six yards out and Lundstram missing a fucking sitter, it's only when our centre back pops up on the back stick to nod home with the sureity required from our forward line (McBurnie - pay the fuck attention)

But we again showed some alarming lack of attention to detail and Plymouth regularly showed threat, especially when involving Camara. We seemed to want to show them the same amount of space after we'd scored and were lucky not to go in for the break 1-1 or even worse. The second half still failed to impress. Where you'd expect us to come out firing and organised and ready to put Argyle to the sword and finish the game off, we are still playing Wilderball. knocking the ball across the back four and up one wing, until we are met with a block, backwards, across the back four and down the other wing, rinse and repeat. Norwood has acres of space to show off, Ampadu is knocking it long and we aren't doing much until thank fuck, Norwood spots Billy, slots him a pass and he's in, round the keeper and it's in the net. Amazing what you can do when you change the fucking record once in a while.

Then Plymouth smell blood and we are defending - properly - for too-long spells of the game and giving sloppy, predictable balls away. And with equal predictability (and maybe one of Deadbat or ROYs bingo card regulars, Norwood is caught in possession, chases back and fouls the opposition. And more - we still fuck up possession, fail to manage the panic and Camara - who'd looked threatening all game and really was Norwood's to cancel out, is free in the box and does what Lundstram should have done in the first half from the same position. I reckon however had he hit it low down and pretty central maybe Cooper would have got his body behind it, instead Ramsdale (bingo moment) flops down and allows it under his body, like he did with Rashford's.

FULL HOUSE CALLED IN THE LOUNGE, BARRY!

After this, we are simply hanging on and thank for it didn't go to extra time. They'd have beaten us, definitely. As soon as they scored, a thought bubble popped out of every United player's head which read, "Oh fuck. We're gonna lose now." It wouldn't have taken much either. We looked desperately fragile in the final ten minutes and Plymouth seemed to be enjoying us on the ropes.

Quite simply, yet another desperate, dismal, disappointing outcome with a win we 'achieved' but possibly didn't deserve. Neither did Plymouth to be honest, but that in measure is what we have now quickly become - another version of Adkin's strugglers a few short seasons ago. Wilder might chide us with regard 'the system' but even if it shades past a pretty average third division outfit hoping the remaining minutes will be kind, then his system still isn't working and I fear for our credibility against Manchester United.

Ramsdale 3/10: Still shockingly below what we need playing where we are and aspiring for survival or an FA cup run. Even the BBC commentator thinks he's shit, and women's game goalkeeping itself is one of the great debating points of the cross-gender comparison. When I suggest the women's game is actually entertaining and good to watch, the less politically correct observers just illustrate some of the fucking howlers women keepers make, and it kinda deflates the balloon somewhat. In short, Ramsdale should play for Sheff Utd women, and mebbe we should have their keeper? Discuss.
Bogle 5/10: Iffy game with him in and out of it. Looked far from comfortable at times up against another 5-3-2 wingback system
Basham 5/10: Well taken goal but over the past few matches has dropped in form and seems to be finding it difficult
Egan 7/10: As usual, the rock at the back
Ampadu 5.5/10: Better game from him but he's still not impressive, even when given space to maraud forward
Stevens 6.5/10: Managed to exploit space Argyle gave him to get intto places of danger then simply passed wrongly or fluffed up the initiative
Lundstram 4.5/10: Drops 1.5 points for that fucking sitter. Otherwise was involved with little outcome
Norwood 4/10: Slightly better game from him and a really great pass to Sharp, but otherwise he was just showing off.
Fleck 5/10: Seems to be standing still at times or frustrated at the lack of options when he is on the ball. He's not even 50% of the John Fleck of 12 months ago
Brewster 3/10: Unimpressed by his failure to put chances away. There is no fucking way he is worth £23m
Sharp 6/10: Put a shift in and was rewarded with a well taken goal. But outside of that was a victim of shit service

Baldock 5/10: Furious George. Good to see him back
Bryan 4/10: Thought he was no better than Ampadu
Burke 5/10: Typical gutsy performance but with fuck all to show
McGoldrick unmarked

Really surprised Wilder didn't capitalise on this game to bring in some alternate players and a change in lineup. He seems stuck on 5-3-2 and like I say, it costs us. Personally I would have liked to have seen Rodwell, Verrips, Lowe make a start to refresh the system but no, it's Wilderball from start to finish and we were nearly put to the sword because of this. Bristol City might not be so timid to punish our weaknesses as Argyle today. Although we walk away from today with a win - three in four - I urge people to look at that run for what it is - a scraped FA Cup sin against a Div Two team where we were still not impressive, a win against a very underperforming Premiership side with a VAR goal the difference and today, where we hung onto our victory and could have thrown it away.

Finally: Ref/VAR - cunts. That handball was handball with a strawberry flavoured, spit-lubricated, ribbed condom slid on it and up-with-a-'hup! into the slack, well trafficked yet one would imagine accommodating warmth of Katie Price's tattered fundament. Arms in unnatural position - check, Player crossing flight of ball - check. Ball falling to advantage of opposition - check. Had that been Liverpool or Spurs, the cunt would have been redded and had his head kicked in outside the ground, and on the coach on the way back to Pastyland, moi loverrrr.

pommpey

Surely it must be (McBurnie - pay fucking attention - rather than pay the fuck attention)? And not finishing that sentence with 'prick' or 'c**t'??

5/10

 

[Pedro Verde]

Even Wilder started to agree with me - he hooked him off on 72 and stuck Ampadu in his billet.

We have a game at OT on Wednesday thats why he was subbed
You must be blind if you cant see that