shurlock

Meme off?

Les has got to have one eye on the trophy again. What would it be? 4 years in a row? Going to be difficult with the VVD money available but if anyone can build a dynasty, it’s Les and the club.

I thought it was only that Nation of Islam-worshipping upstart from Kenya, nursing colonial sour grapes that said Brexit was going to be bad. F**k the economy.

Potentially another surly North African - Les might be hedging his bets with this one.

Missed the first half but thought Nigeria were the better side in the second half.

****. From a dog**** player to boot.

Have you heard of the principle of subsidiarity pal?

There goes half the wild speculation and cod pyschoanalysis on this thread.

"Our research tells us..."

Are they second-guessing themselves if they didn't have a good initial view of the incident?

Think he’s decent and arguably more unlucky than injury-prone. Would happily sell Long if it meant bringing him in.

Refs ultimately vary in their interpretation -some look purely at the intent; others look at the intent and the outcome and others infer the intent from the outcome. The Iranian was brushed; rather than getting an elbow full in the noggin. It’s like head butting: it’s seemingly ok to square up with an opponent and push them with the butt of your head; but it’s not ok if there’s any flick of the head.

It was intentional and petulant. Robust as someone else described it is inaccurate. It’s not as if he had gone in overzealously for a tackle that was there to be won. He had no business putting his arm out as he did.

Can't speak for everyone but you've got to give me Jihadi John. Surely pal...

It’s a very good article - I guess the jihadist sheep are finding refuge in the completely unsourced, contextless JRM quote about Southampton. What do the customs operations directors at Honda and BMW know compared to a freakshow novelty act who’s got form for peddling barefaced lies that even the Sun had the integrity to acknowledge were innumerate horse****. See the Brexit Bargains debacle. See UK car investment has fallen - must be the snow again.

If so, the system requires far more communication betweem the VAR officials and the ref to explain precisely the basis on which they’re sending back a decision and their level of confidence (something you point out).

Can see where you’re coming from -agree it’s led to more appealing for VAR, though, in principle, that could be stamped it out by booking players or even giving sides a fixed number of challenges, as happens in other sports. Not so sure it’s led to more cheating or diving. Quite the opposite - it’s now harder to get away with that kind of gamesmanship when they can be reviewed (see Neymar). The goal reviews are probably the shortest part of the VAR process, though agree other incidents can take longer. Still we’re currently talking about two or three incidents per game. Maybe it’s just me but have actually found VAR has added to the drama of the game - certainly given it an edge when sides/supporters have had a decision overturned against them. But maybe that’s just the novelty factor.

VAR has made more good calls than bad calls, so it's a net improvement in my book. Can't think of any other 'fair' baseline against which to judge it.

Probably too complex but I'd separate the var refs in the control room - too easy for seniority and peer pressure to win the day. I can't believe three professional refs looking at the Soares incident independently would have all deemed it a handball. And if you're splitting refs -whether it's 2 or 3 refs in the control room- make it a requirement that for any decision to go back to the ref, it must be unanimous.

Very difficult to back yourself when not one but three refs in the VAR control room, come back and tell you to look at an incident again, especially when you might have had an imperfect view of it to begin with. Moreover the reviews that come back to the ref are precisely the ones that the VAR officials feel most confident about. Frankly the Soares handball is on the VAR officials, not last night's ref (as bad as he was).

Wouldn't say the pens against Panama were inconsistent Les. FIFA came out after the Tunisia game and stated that the pens should have been awarded. It seems that the officials in the Panama took that feedback onboard and applied it. That's called learning. Now if Kane is denied similar penalties in future games, that would be inconsistent.

There's a big difference JJ: Soros has never suggested that Brexit is anything but a disaster for the UK whereas Farage has made a living misleading morons like you and Nolan that it's a great thing. Real courage of convictions stuff then to take the other side. You might want to keep an eye on the antisemtism too pal. Drinking hours begun and we all know what you get like. #alwaysbackthesmartmoney

So we now have jihadists claiming that being outside the customs union and single market still means frictionless trade. Fruit and veg? You're in the wrong business pal: you should be in the thick of negotiations, ensuring Irish peace and preventing the return of a hard border. Needless to say once the snows clears and you can get out of your driveway.

George Osborne, punishment budget, project fear, zombie apocalypse blah blah blah.