Spurs 2 Saints 1 - Reactions

Long was ready BEFORE the game resumed play. He was on the sideline with his shirt on when Gabbi was down injured and immediately after play resumed they cut to a shot of him stood next to the fourth official.

So what? If the fourth official's not ready the game will recommence.

So what? If the fourth official's not ready the game will recommence.

Maybe the fourth official should work harder to always be 'ready', or the referee should wait for him to be so, in order to avoid leaving one of the teams at a disadvantage when they haven't done anything wrong?

Maybe the fourth official should work harder to always be 'ready', or the referee should wait for him to be so, in order to avoid leaving one of the teams at a disadvantage when they haven't done anything wrong?

No, it's up to the team to make sure that the player's ready and that the fourth official has all the relevant info. You can't delay the game indefinitely. Out of interest I'll look again tonight but at the time I thought all was in order.

Which particular incident are we talking about?

The specific offside incident that Singapore Saint and yourself were disagreeing about. I assumed you'd know which incident it was given you were both discussing it

No, it's up to the team to make sure that the player's ready and that the fourth official has all the relevant info. You can't delay the game indefinitely. Out of interest I'll look again tonight but at the time I thought all was in order.

Like I said, immediately after the game restarted (as in, whistle blows-cut shot), it showed Shane Long stood next to the fourth official, who didn't look like he was doing anything to "get ready".

The specific offside incident that Singapore Saint and yourself were disagreeing about. I assumed you'd know which incident it was given you were both discussing it

You'd like to think so. Long was offside many times and most of them were clear cut. There was one in injury time that was tighter but his head and torso were comfortably past the last defender. I'll try to get a screenshot and post it but I may have fallen asleep before that happens

Like I said, immediately after the game restarted (as in, whistle blows-cut shot), it showed Shane Long stood next to the fourth official, who didn't look like he was doing anything to "get ready".

I'll have another look. There is a procedure to be followed and no official will cause an unnecessary delay.

I've got the recording in front of me now.

Long was ready BEFORE the game resumed play. He was on the sideline with his shirt on when Gabbi was down injured and immediately after play resumed they cut to a shot of him stood next to the fourth official.

Long still had his yellow top and is warming up as Gabbi is walking to the touchline. As Gabbi is about 10 yards from the touchline Long is in his seat, still with his yellow top on and is tying up his bootlaces. Kevin Friend clears the touchline between the technical areas and escorts Gabbi off the pitch. You can just hear (possibly) a whistle and 3 seconds later Long then appears in shot from the left, minus his yellow top. He and Gabbi shake hands and Long pats him on the shoulder. We then cut to a shot from opposite the pitch and the commentator says ".. has to be replaced by Shane Long but, er, can't get on yet because Spurs have restarted".

Like I said, immediately after the game restarted (as in, whistle blows-cut shot), it showed Shane Long stood next to the fourth official, who didn't look like he was doing anything to "get ready".

The game had already been restarted for several seconds when you see that shot. The fourth official is ready but nothing can happen until the next stoppage in play.

Maybe the fourth official should work harder to always be 'ready', or the referee should wait for him to be so, in order to avoid leaving one of the teams at a disadvantage when they haven't done anything wrong?

It doesn't matter that a team has 'done nothing wrong'. If the substitute is not ready the referee will restart the game.

You'd like to think so. Long was offside many times and most of them were clear cut. There was one in injury time that was tighter but his head and torso were comfortably past the last defender. I'll try to get a screenshot and post it but I may have fallen asleep before that happens

These are from the BBC Live Text report. There seems to be a pattern here

57' Offside, Southampton. Maya Yoshida tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.

69' Offside, Southampton. Steven Davis tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.

74' Offside, Southampton. Steven Davis tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.

79' Offside, Southampton. Steven Davis tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.

90'+2' Offside, Southampton. Oriol Romeu tries a through ball, but Shane Long is caught offside.

I've taken some screen shots and I'll try to post them up tomorrow, if I can master the technology.

I've got the recording in front of me now.

 

 

 

Long still had his yellow top and is warming up as Gabbi is walking to the touchline. As Gabbi is about 10 yards from the touchline Long is in his seat, still with his yellow top on and is tying up his bootlaces. Kevin Friend clears the touchline between the technical areas and escorts Gabbi off the pitch. You can just hear (possibly) a whistle and 3 seconds later Long then appears in shot from the left, minus his yellow top. He and Gabbi shake hands and Long pats him on the shoulder. We then cut to a shot from opposite the pitch and the commentator says ".. has to be replaced by Shane Long but, er, can't get on yet because Spurs have restarted".

 

 

 

The game had already been restarted for several seconds when you see that shot. The fourth official is ready but nothing can happen until the next stoppage in play.

 

 

 

It doesn't matter that a team has 'done nothing wrong'. If the substitute is not ready the referee will restart the game.

I guess it's one of those things that evens out, eh? Wonder if the game would have restarted had Spurs been down to ten. Reckon it wouldn't have.

I guess it's one of those things that evens out, eh? Wonder if the game would have restarted had Spurs been down to ten. Reckon it wouldn't have.

I think they were just being smart. We were dragging out the substitution so they grabbed the opportunity to get on with it. Interestingly the confusion in our penalty area and the penalty followed not too long afterwards. Dier was swigging some Lucozade (other sugary drinks are available) and getting instructions from Pochettino at the moment that Gabbi walked off and went back on the pitch sharpish as they restarted. I think we were a bit naive.

I think they were just being smart. We were dragging out the substitution so they grabbed the opportunity to get on with it. Interestingly the confusion in our penalty area and the penalty followed not too long afterwards. Dier was swigging some Lucozade (other sugary drinks are available) and getting instructions from Pochettino at the moment that Gabbi walked off and went back on the pitch sharpish as they restarted. I think we were a bit naive.

The commentators on Sky commented that it was strange the officials had resumed the game before letting Southampton make their substitution

The commentators on Sky commented that it was strange the officials had resumed the game before letting Southampton make their substitution

It was the Sky recording that I was watching last night and I don't recall such comments. Basically, Spurs were ready and we weren't. They pulled a fast one/smart move depending on your viewpoint. You can see Long turn to Kevin Friend and gesture along the lines of 'what's going on?' They both smile and have a chuckle about it.

The referee will only know that a substitution is requested once the fourth official has been informed as to the names of the two players involved. In my days it was the linesmen who signalled this request by holding his flag with two hands horizontally above his head.

I think they were just being smart. We were dragging out the substitution so they grabbed the opportunity to get on with it. Interestingly the confusion in our penalty area and the penalty followed not too long afterwards. Dier was swigging some Lucozade (other sugary drinks are available) and getting instructions from Pochettino at the moment that Gabbi walked off and went back on the pitch sharpish as they restarted. I think we were a bit naive.

There was no benefit to Saints dragging out the substitution and every reason to have Long replace Gabbiadini immediately, for the very reason that materialised, a goal conceded. I was at the match and my recollection ties in with what others who appear to have watched on tv have said; for some inexplicable reason the officials resumed play even although Long was ready to come on. Your mental gymnastics in trying to defend the officials is quite entertaining though.

There was no benefit to Saints dragging out the substitution and every reason to have Long replace Gabbiadini immediately, for the very reason that materialised, a goal conceded. I was at the match and my recollection ties in with what others who appear to have watched on tv have said; for some inexplicable reason the officials resumed play even although Long was ready to come on. Your mental gymnastics in trying to defend the officials is quite entertaining though.

I watched it several times last night. Long just was not ready to come on when play was resumed and was faffing about as Gabbi came off. The behaviour of the officials does not need defending, they had a game to get through. Just consider what your opinion would be in the same thing had happened at St. Mary's in reverse.

I watched it several times last night. Long just was not ready to come on when play was resumed and was faffing about as Gabbi came off. The behaviour of the officials does not need defending, they had a game to get through. Just consider what your opinion would be in the same thing had happened at St. Mary's in reverse.

I disagree with you, from which you infer that I'm unable to be objective. You've lost me on that one.

Look, you may be right, technically, I haven't had the benefit of replays so can't be certain, but even if Long wasn't quite ready, wouldn't it have been in the interests of fairness and the spirit of the game, to allow a few seconds for him to come on?

Anyway, it's all a bit futile. The points are lost and I would prefer to look forward to slagging off next week's muppet. Let's just agree to differ.

I disagree with you, from which you infer that I'm unable to be objective. You've lost me on that one.

 

Look, you may be right, technically, I haven't had the benefit of replays so can't be certain, but even if Long wasn't quite ready, wouldn't it have been in the interests of fairness and the spirit of the game, to allow a few seconds for him to come on?

 

Anyway, it's all a bit futile. The points are lost and I would prefer to look forward to slagging off next week's muppet. Let's just agree to differ.

Fair enough. As it happens I don't think that there was a clear signal from the bench that Gabbi was going to be replaced immediately and there is a sequence that must be followed before the 4th official can hold up his silly board. Think of it as a quick free kick where the defending team was distracted. Incidentally, there is no requirement for a whistle to restart play, it just needs to be a 'signal' which could just be a wave of the jand or even a nod and a wink. (I may have made that last bit up)

Happy slagging