derry

Leave VAR as it is. The more that any arbitrary margins move away from the technology the more we are back to subjective refereeing decisions and the more decisions will be given to big sides especially at home. Now the ball touches the attackers hand, fact no goal. Change it to referees decision and we're back to opinion. Offsides, defenders are getting it right, decisions are correct, it's time for the forwards to pay attention and time their runs better.

The response, "Course you did, Course you did"

That just proves that we did a lot of attacking. The higher the possession the more passive our offensive game. A great win, it could have been a rout. Everybody put in a shift and we got the result. Now the negatives, Hojbjerg playing passes without looking and giving the ball away. The prat who gave the foul away and instead of taking possession of the ball or passing it back to their GK he just left the ball to Perez who put Vardy in for their goal with a quick free kick. Not the first time, we have to be ruthless.

I remember well the supporters club giving the club £1000 so they could buy Jimmy. He really repaid that, scoring about a goal every two games.

The Echo did a full page today on George. I knew him quite well, first at Stoneham then later through golf. I used to talk to him most days. All of a sudden he wasn't there any more. He was driving a taxi then. The Echo said he was in a care home in Portswood suffering from dementia. He was a great player. Laid out ex Pompey Harry Harris playing against Newport County. One of the best right upper cuts I've ever see I remember Jimmy Shields well he was a real bustling goalscorer but suffered a broken leg which really stopped him in his tracks was never the same after. RIP Jimmy

Well that was garbage 64% possession rather Saints 40% with Yoshida and Vestergaard 24% just passing backwards and sdeways to each other. It's boring, the way we played until 0-9 and the way we certainly don't want to play like that again. The forwards were given poor service, Boufal was poor, Smallbone too narrow which didn't help, good goal. JWP and Romeu ok. Danso ok first half didn't look as good second half. Vokins ok, good goal but needs to fill out, very slight, not physically strong. Yoshida and Vestergaard need to be given a ball and made to pass to each other all day so they never want to do it again. It was a nonsense the way they played together and pretty well neutered our attacking slowing everything down. Luckily Huddersfield weren't even that good.

The back four played well. The midfield two were good. It's good that JP has stopped trying to play like Steven Davis, He is now getting involved, getting stuck in and using his energy to get around all over the field. They are now closer together. We now have good pace, Armstrong is a big plus. Great route one goal for Ings, That's the way to do it. Stephens was the best of the back four. Djenepo is still finding his way. Redmond worked hard but needs to be much more incisive with the chances he gets. Ings is a brilliant little striker. I do think Obefimi, bearing in mind he's only playing 25 minutes could have worked a lot harder. We also should have been putting the ball in behind Spurs quicker to take advantage of our pace towards the end. Another win with 41% possession. Being more direct does that and it works for us. One criticism, closing out the game in the last few minutes, two corners, what the hell were we doing putting them into the box. Keep the defence solid, keep the ball in the corner and play it off the defenders, don't leave us four against three. We held out but we have to be more ruthless closing the game out.

You really do come across as a proper prat. Firstly why would you think I'd get upset over something I have no control over and secondly why would I care what you think. I have a view I've expressed it, others have different views I accept that. I think the major problem is the cheating football world hasn't the self discipline to accept decisions and get over it. The sooner the better the FA copy other sports and come down hard on dissent etc the better the game will be. Happy New Year.

Interestingly the EPL have only adopted part of the FIFA recommendations, as the unused part by the EPL, is the referee not viewing the monitor and only taking the advice from the VAR. It appears that the VAR is following the FIFA guidelines to the letter, as one of the criteria laid down is advising the referee in the event of the ball crossing the goal line and before a goal is awarded whether there is any infringement that will stop the goal being given. As it stands unless either the offside law is changed or officials turn a blind eye the current criteria will continue to be applied.

So you keep saying. However the PL have just said that they will not be changing the criteria in mid season as it could affect the integrity of the competition, The international body have just emphasised the clear and obvious intention.

As defensive coaches get to grips with the implications, lines of defenders are going to be better drilled and as soon as a through ball looks imminent, defenders are going to be moving forward quickly in line setting an offside trap, that'll put the cat amongst the pigeons. The whingeing now is mostly a media campaign and managers etc of teams caught by the cameras offside. The sensible thing is stay onside. It's mostly thick forwards not paying attention to defensive lines and being caught out. It won't matter where the line is drawn as there will always be marginal calls. Now that there is technology that gives proof, if VAR allows players to score goals when they are no longer level but marginally offside it will not be accepted ever. As people are already saying the reaction will be worse because now offside goals don't get given. Allowing marginally offside goals is a nonsense.

The important thing is where the offside line off the defender is drawn. It is the reference point nothing else, anything goalside of the line is offside. It is consistent and fair. What is happening is that defenders are getting better drilled to keep a good tight line. Saints are doing this, it's no coincidence we are getting favourable decisions. Forwards have to now get better at staying onside. Wherever the line is drawn forwards will push the boundaries. Stay onside and it's a goal, not too hard is it?

People talk about error margins. Patently they are acceptable to the authorities. Therefore it's where the line is, no ifs or buts. Using a margin of error casts doubt one way or the other. the line is where it is with zero tolerance. I accept that. What I don't accept is the best teams, with the best attackers, who score the most goals being further advantaged as they always have by making it a referees decision or moving the offside line further offside.

Firstly any error could work both ways, the player could be offside by a bigger margin than shown. It's no good arguing about fine margins. It is what it is, otherwise change the rules. I favour going back to two players between the attacker and the goal any overlap is offside, the VAR must show a gap or it's offside. The changing to the level rule favouring the attacker is the problem because overlapping goalside isn't level it's offside. Allowing clear air the other way in favour of the attacker is nonsense. In cricket, tennis, rugby fine margins are accepted, outside it's one way, inside it's the other. If the rules aren't changed then just accept the present criteria and if it goes for or against accept the decision and move on. A lot of the problem is managers, players and supporters disputing the decisions. Just get brutal and hammer the protesters hard so that whatever decision an official makes is accepted and move on. Anyone would think that football is the only sport with passion, it isn't but it is riddled with cheating and indiscipline. That needs stamping on hard and it would be a better game.

It probably wouldn't have been given in Scotland if they had VAR and it was shown that it went in off his hand.

What's happened is that referees are no longer getting away with outrageously wrong or no decisions at all because VAR is getting it right most of the time. If the criteria for offside is breached then it's offside. What is wrong and this weekend I've watched at least half a dozen Premier matches and every time the VAR allowed or disallowed it was correct. What is wrong is managers and players throwing childish tantrums when the decision goes against them. Coady of Wolves after the match still in denial that Lallana's assist for Mane was hand ball, Everybody could see it hit him on top of his shoulder. The VAR pictures as shown on TV should be on the big screens so that it is chrystal clear to everybody. If any body in Rugby behaved like football players they would be carded immediately and probably get a big suspension. What players and managers are doing is rank hypocrisy, for them great, no problem, against, big tantrums. Get used to it, at least in the main VAR doesn't favour the big teams as refs have been doing for years. If it goes against us, accept it and move on. If a goal is not given for offside, that's because it's not a goal. Wherever the line is drawn that's the rule. The players have it in their own hands to stay onside, then it'll be given.

The fact is he is not playing the way he was when he was one of the worst players in the side. He is now getting stuck in, not standing off and his 50 yd crossfield ball to Djenepo was a collectors piece. Well done for stepping up a few gears.

FFS you can't break massed defences down by slow passing in midfield or on Boufal's case running at six defenders. What the hell was Redmond thinking with his undisciplined nibble, of course he was going to go down. I knew that, so he had to. We may have to get in sometimes, but he was going away from goal, covered and no danger. As for the free kick, nobody went for the ball, Bertrand was on his heels and Stephens was jumping late behind Tomkins. The defenders have to attack the ball. We are not going to win many at SMS playing this slow build up against a retreating team. We gave them too much time to set up. We didn't have a shot in the first half. We have to play quick and press them hard in their own third. That was nearly our best team at the end, Long for Redmond for me to help Ings and until we bring players in that's about our best team. Adams didn't really cause CP centre backs any problems in the air. Long would.

PEH drives me mad at times with his poor pass completion. Yesterday after Cedric and Armstrong robbed Chelsea in our half he made a superb through ball thirty yards to Obafemi to turn inside and score.

Possibly try putting the VPN on UK then access Amazon and register a uk address.

Excellent performance from the back. McCarthy deserved his clean sheet. Both full backs defended well and when able especially Bertrand attacked well. The centre backs defended really well but for God's sake under pressure be smart, don't dither, whack it up the other end. In front of them Hojbjerg and Especially JWP who probably had his best game ever. They supported each other and played fairly close to each other. Armstrong was brilliant at times and worked really hard. Redmond had a good game, supported Bertrand as well as Armstrong on the other side. He had several chances, good crosses and finished well for his goal. Adams worked his socks off and was an important part of the win. Showed good control and fought for everything. Nearly got on the end of Redmond's pass but it was just deflected away from him. Obefimi took his goal brilliantly. At times he was switching off and letting Chelsea players go. He needs to raise his concentration because he could defend high up with his pace. He is still playing at U21 thinking except when on the ball when he picks up the pace. Very young but could be a proper handful. Ings, Romeu and Boufal helped us get over the line. Another good win without playing backwards and sideways. 33% possession, two goals. Possession just slows us down, defend and strike quickly suits us better. Our best performance of the season. Now to sort out our home form. I don't want to see the slow passing around at the back that plays into our opponent's hands. It ruins our tempo and pressing. Well done to Ralph for setting it up right and picking Obefimi with a rest for Ings. What the hell was Bertrand's booking by Jon Moss about that early in the match. Aspilecueta took a lot longer in the dying seconds and Moss let it go.

Never meant to be. Play the beautiful football against the teams that play open football. Losing beautifully and stupidly isn't what the home supporters want to see either. Winning ugly will send them home happy that we are coping at last.

No, but I'm not advocating a preference for a system. What I am doing is advocating a way to counter teams coming to defend. We are patently at the moment suffering from a team that is not good enough to play through ultra defensive teams and also be organised and quick enough at the back and midfield to cut off the break that loses us games. We leave ourselves wide open. We have lost most of our games at home because we haven't taken our chances but conceded too many on the break. All I want to see is us out of the mess we are in at the bottom of the league table. To do that we have to get better results at home. What I'm advocating is a counter to massed defenses. Twenty passes between defenders is a sight more boring. We get our best results with the least possession. the more passes we add up the more likely we are to lose.

Playing the way I proposed I wouldn't see the full backs as attacking options. If they get the ball they just stick it down the line and just hold their defensive shape. Let them park the bus but pile the ball in on them. Cut out the possession passing altogether and just put awkward balls in at the defenders and press the life out of them as they break. Eventually we will make chances. Play from the start as teams play the last five minutes trying to get an equaliser by putting the ball into the last third pressuring the defenders rather than trying to play through them. In other words force throwins, draw fouls, play for the free kicks and corners that often produce chances.

I'm afraid the slow possession completely neutralises us. It's all very well to think we can't do anything about it but we can. With the same team as Saturday against a team setting out to counter attack and sitting deep, keep a solid defence, miss out the midfield and stick the ball quickly up front wide of the central defenders for our forwards to pressure. If we hold in midfield and don't over commit the back four we can stifle their forwards and bombard the box and create defensive errors. It won't be pretty but it will be pretty difficult to defend against. Falling into the over committing trap time after time is idiocy. Don't play defensive teams at their own game. If teams feel that vulnerable and want to defend and stand back against slow two thirds possession passing exposing our centre backs by over committing numbers give them something entirely different to cope with.