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The 2025-2026 Football Thread

Lord Blackadder said:
On the upside, if you do go down there is no VAR to worry about...except in the playoff final.

Grimsby Town went down 2-1 against Salford in their playoff first leg, with the winner being scored while the keeper was potentially being unsighted by an offside player. Scenes.
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lol. I’m still really hoping for a different outcome!
 
Apple fanboy said:
lol. I’m still really hoping for a different outcome!
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I have no allegiance to West Ham, but I'm rooting for them to stay up, largely (selfishly) because Spurs going down would be a massive 'narrative' and generate some great pod content.

But I have to say, I think the most damning thing I could say about VAR is that I get more angry when VAR blows a call than I did in the pre-VAR era when it was just the on-pitch ref making a mistake. So on that very subjective evidence I'd deem VAR a failure. It hasn't improved the quality of refereeing enough to compensate for all the expense and inconvenience.

VAR is a perfect microcosm of the 2020s. Another expensive piece of technology that we're told will solve a social problem that fails to live up to expectations.
 
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Lord Blackadder said:
I have no allegiance to West Ham, but I'm rooting for them to stay up, largely (selfishly) because Spurs going down would be a massive 'narrative' and generate some great pod content.

But I have to say, I think the most damning thing I could say about VAR is that I get more angry when VAR blows a call than I did in the pre-VAR era when it was just the on-pitch ref making a mistake. So on that very subjective evidence I'd deem VAR a failure. It hasn't improved the quality of refereeing enough to compensate for all the expense and inconvenience.

VAR is a perfect microcosm of the 2020s. Another expensive piece of technology that we're told will solve a social problem that fails to live up to expectations.
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I disagreed with VAR when it was introduced and I stand by that decision. It has not improved our game. Quite the opposite.
 
Playing devil's advocate, VAR did its job on this occasion

I do think keepers are overprotected but this wasn't a nudge. There were 2 clear fouls on Raya.

Granted there were a million others going on (Rice, Trossard) etc. But ball came to Raya, who tried to catch it, but couldn't...because of the fouls

Did it take too long yes, did it disrupt things absolutely, was there consistency...of course not. But it technically made the right call (IMO) on this occasion

Fernandes should've scored his chance. It was a sitter...arguably easier to score than miss.

The refs need to sort out the pen area aggressions next season. Not helping anyone really.
 
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That was a difficult game to watch today. On another day, you would have expected that West Ham goal to stand, even more so, since it was against us. It is rare for us to get a call from a Ref go our way.

Well, onto the next, and hoping the Oil Company, sorry, meant City, lose...

PS: I still think VAR needs to be abolished! It slows the game down, and spoils celebrations. Yes, bring out the celebration Police, I don't care...
 
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Just a few more weeks… the conclusion of the league, the finals of the European competitions, and then on the 11th of June the start of the World Cup.
 
Sal09 said:
Correct decision though.

Trossard and VAR saved Arteta’s colossal **** up.

Rice at RB was a massive mistake.

Arsenal got One Hand and One Leg on that PL trophy now.
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Agreed.

Arsenal's agonisingly eked out victory was almost in spite of, rather than because of, Mikel Arteta. They made heavy weather of that game.

West Ham did well to deny Arsenal - who were excellent (but, characteristically, still failed to actually score) in the first twenty or so minutes - for so long.

A relieved Gunner, here.
 
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daneoni said:
Playing devil's advocate VAR did its job on this occasion

I do think keepers are overprotected but this wasn't a nudge.
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Agreed.
daneoni said:
There were 2 clear fouls on Raya
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This is the key point.
daneoni said:
Granted there were a million others going on (Rice, Trossard) etc. But ball came to Raya who tried to catch it but didn't...because of the fouls
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Again, this is the key point.
daneoni said:
Did it take too long yes, did it disrupt things absolutely, was there consistency...of course not. But it technically made the right call (IMO) on this occasion

Fernandes should've scored his chance. It was a sitter...arguably easier to score than miss.
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Again, agreed.
daneoni said:
The refs need to sort out the pen area aggressions next season. Not helping anyone really.
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Completely and passionately agree.
 
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The World Cup is too wrapped up in the current state of affairs in the US, which are dire. It's impossible to enjoy the event unless you seriously stick your head in the sand or are able to compartmentalize your life. People will attend, the matches will be played, hopefully nothing bad happens. But I am not looking forward to it and I probably won't watch much of it.

Plus, Columbus have had an absolutely dreadful start to the season under their new manager. Add to that Liverpool's plight and I'm not really enjoying my football right now apart from the odd lower league match.
 
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I have mixed feelings about the World Cup. I enjoy the beautiful game, and so many matches between lesser teams turn into stolid, turgid affairs where any real creativity is stifled. I thought the first game between PSG and Bayern was an absolute cracker, a highlight of recent years, but I think few if any games in the World Cup will reach that standard. Sadly.
 
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Bodhitree said:
I have mixed feelings about the World Cup. I enjoy the beautiful game, and so many matches between lesser teams turn into stolid, turgid affairs where any real creativity is stifled. I thought the first game between PSG and Bayern was an absolute cracker, a highlight of recent years, but I think few if any games in the World Cup will reach that standard. Sadly.
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I don’t think having the extra teams will help either. No disrespect intended, but a WC should be the best 16 or 32 teams on the planet. Not 48. That’s too many.

But yes it’s the sound bites I’m looking forward to the least….
 
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Apple fanboy said:
I don’t think having the extra teams will help either. No disrespect intended, but a WC should be the best 16 or 32 teams on the planet. Not 48. That’s too many.
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A 48-team world cup is a silly idea. Over the least generation tournament bloat in the WC and continental international / club competitions has made it so they are all just turning into mini-leagues, not elite knockout competitions.
 
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daneoni said:
Not a bad result for WHU. Could've been worse.
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Agreed. 2 points behind and with a weaker goal difference I still think we are going. We need to beat Newcastle (doable) and Leeds. But I can't see Spurs not getting a result against Chelsea who have been woeful of late and will have just played in the FA Cup.
 
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