Today's Games

[LincsWoldsClaret]

No attention is paid to the exact moment when the ball is kicked - so the close var decisions are just guesses

[Hibsclaret]

Perfect example of why we should always have a go at the cups. Coventry are a pretty average Championship side and came within a whisker of making the final.

Yes but we draw City all the time

[martin_p]

A bit strange that the pens are at the United end and they get first kick. Not really a surprise though.

Coventry must have asked United to go first.

[mikeS]

VAR just ruined another excellent game.

[taio]

It’s offside because of VAR. If VAR isn’t there the on field decision is onside and no one says ‘but his toe was offside’, everyone sees the replay and says ‘level’.

As soon as I saw the replay I thought offside straightaway although admittedly it was tighter than I thought.

[Hibsclaret]

Coventry must have asked United to go first.

Weird decision then even though it was missed. Definitely an advantage going first and I think the stats show that quite significantly.

[bobinho]

Let’s face it, nobody would be complaining about VAR here if it had disallowed a Man Utd goal.

There may be a few on here who might suggest if Utd score that, it doesn’t even get looked at. And if it does, those lines are level.

Anyway, my stance has always been, if you need lines to prove it one way or the other, it’s neither clear nor obvious, go with the onfield call. And yes, I’d support that even if we have some close ones go against us. I’d sooner have that than some of the VAR shite we’ve had to endure this year.

[Ric_C]

So so angry with that. VAR is ruining the game I love

[AGENT_CLARET]

I'm gutted for the Coventry fans. That offside decision typifies everything that is wrong with football at present.

I'm not, can't stand the little club and their petty fan's

[warksclaret]

Coventry did themselves proud, and the Championship too. For us I hope Kompany/Ballamy were watching Man Utd today. It really is in our hands on Saturday and Forest play Man City

[ecc]

What it says is how pathetic the biggest-spending club in world football is.

[Darthlaw]

So folk are angry that Cov got a penalty they shouldn’t have and had an offside goal chalked off?

[CoolClaret]

This is a game that wouldn't have taken place going forward with the money men's decision to get rid of replays.

Vultures.

[MrTopTier]

Leverkusens unbeaten run continues with a 90+7 equaliser.

[Sgt. Pepper]

So so angry with that. VAR is ruining the game I love

Yup, and it's not even capable of making tight decisions. It's a con.
https://twitter.com/MrStephenHowson/sta ... TX45Q&s=19

[criminalclaret]

So so angry with that. VAR is ruining the game I love

You were angry with Coventry pen - a handball VAR gave which would never been given up to a few year ago - to make it 3-3?

Or you were angry with the very, very tight call which was correct and offside for the Coventry goal to win it with the last kick of the game?

Or are you just moaning at VAR ? Which did it's job completely as expect and normal today.

Had it not been for VAR today you would not have had such an exciting and memorable FA Cup game.

[Vegas Claret]

El Classico in an hour

[TsarBomba]

A bit strange that the pens are at the United end and they get first kick. Not really a surprise though.

Exactly my thoughts. Unless Cov opted to shoot second which would be very strange.

[Darthlaw]

You were angry with Coventry pen - a handball VAR gave which would never been given up to a few year ago - to make it 3-3?

Or you were angry with the very, very tight call which was correct and offside for the Coventry goal to win it with the last kick of the game?

Or are you just moaning at VAR ? Which did it's job completely as expect and normal today.

Had it not been for VAR today you would not have had such an exciting and memorable FA Cup game.

Gives real Stockport County fans obsession with us vibes…

[LowtonClaret]

I really hope we show as much heart and determination next weekend as Coventry showed today.

[ElectroClaret]

I really hope we show as much heart and determination next weekend as Coventry showed today.

Yeah.
And I hope Coventry show as much heart and determination as they did today
at Deadwood next weekend.

[Rileybobs]

Exactly my thoughts. Unless Cov opted to shoot second which would be very strange.

Do they not do two coin tosses for penalty shoot outs? One to determine the end of the pitch and another to determine who takes first?

[Ric_C]

You were angry with Coventry pen - a handball VAR gave which would never been given up to a few year ago - to make it 3-3?

Or you were angry with the very, very tight call which was correct and offside for the Coventry goal to win it with the last kick of the game?

Or are you just moaning at VAR ? Which did it's job completely as expect and normal today.

Had it not been for VAR today you would not have had such an exciting and memorable FA Cup game.

Just angry with it in general mate. It's ****. If you like it then fair play

[martin_p]

You were angry with Coventry pen - a handball VAR gave which would never been given up to a few year ago - to make it 3-3?

Or you were angry with the very, very tight call which was correct and offside for the Coventry goal to win it with the last kick of the game?

Or are you just moaning at VAR ? Which did it's job completely as expect and normal today.

Had it not been for VAR today you would not have had such an exciting and memorable FA Cup game.

VAR didn’t give the penalty, the referee did. VAR didn’t overturn it because it wasn’t obviously an error. Given that VAR technology can’t definitively say the Coventry goal was an inch offside due to angles/frame rates, etc then I don’t know why we override the linesman’s decision in those instances.

[criminalclaret]

Gives real Stockport County fans obsession with us vibes…

Don't really get comment to be honest?

I'm saying today VAR/officials functioned as normal and got the calls right which led a to an extra 40 mins of brilliant and entertaining football.

But apparently it ruined the game because one of those correct calls wasn't what the poster wanted to see happen and I pointed out that hypocrisy

[yTib]

var is crap but apparently the pedants love it.

[criminalclaret]

Just angry with it in general mate. It's ****. If you like it then fair play

I have no issue with VAR when it gets stuff right. The offside was, by the law, offside and I don't mind it when it proves it correctly.

I'd love a timer though (15 seconds to check it or if it's so tight it's attackers advantage) but those discussions are probably for a other chat.

[martin_p]

I have no issue with VAR when it gets stuff right. The offside was, by the law, offside and I don't mind it when it proves it correctly.

But that’s sort of the point, for calls so close VAR can’t prove it because the technology isn’t up to it. It’s essentially guessing when it’s inches.

[Darthlaw]

Don't really get comment to be honest?

Wasn’t aimed at you but posters like those you quoted.

Your rationale was fine that folk are seemingly upset at VAR for correctly giving an offside but make no comment around VAR failing to overturn a handball penalty, where the player has his arm behind his back.

The obsession with Man U losing gives Stockport County fans v Us vibes.

[Casper2]

Do they not do two coin tosses for penalty shoot outs? One to determine the end of the pitch and another to determine who takes first?

Yes they do 2 coin tosses but don’t tell anyone as it ruins their conspiracy theories

[bfcjg]

Yup, and it's not even capable of making tight decisions. It's a con.
https://twitter.com/MrStephenHowson/sta ... TX45Q&s=19

Very interesting article, there has to be something that givesbygecadvantage to the attacker when it's so tight.

[criminalclaret]

But that’s sort of the point, for calls so close VAR can’t prove it because the technology isn’t up to it. It’s essentially guessing when it’s inches.

Yeah I agree with those concerns and that's what I meant by a some form of timer (very similar to crickets review system) They have X seconds (call it 20) to draw 2 lines, rock and roll and see if there is a gap. If there isn't a conclusive decision in that time, it should be attackers advantage to encourage positive football. But all that is for another chat.

Coventry fans should hold there heads high, they have us a great game to watch and definitely embarrassed united even if they didn't win. City will be licking their lips to meet them in the final

[ecc]

Our policy upon returning to the PL in 2014 of picking up other clubs' rejects has yet to pay off in terms of one of them becoming a first-team player. However, we got circa £2m for this lad from Coventry.

Maybe he would have played for us had we not have been a PL team.

Whatever, he can be proud to have been part of a team who ridiculed the self-styled "Biggest Club In the World".

Feel for the lad and his teammates.

[Quickenthetempo]

Money for Dunne at QPR 1m+
Dwight McNeil
Benson 1m at Barnsley
Lad who went to Burton for a fee.

To name a few.

[Vegas Claret]

the more players that come through our club and go on to do well the better it is for us. I would have kept Thomas long before McNally

[mdd2]

Poor lad has lost twice now at Wembley (I think)

[wbfc]

I have seen Bobby 4 or 5 times and he is a proper defender ...sure he is well thought of at Coventry ...

[ecc]

Yes, there was Dunne and Benson (the latter's fee has never been revealed but I've read 500k).

I think the policy was essential because, as we all know, our youth system had been wrecked.

Dwight was different for me as he joined us when aged 14 (I believe).

[boatshed bill]

I have seen Bobby 4 or 5 times and he is a proper defender ...sure he is well thought of at Coventry ...

He is very well thought of at Coventry.

[Woodleyclaret]

Why was my post re Bobby Thomas deleted?
Is it not possible to critise our club now?

[Tricky Trevor]

Poor lad has lost twice now at Wembley (I think)

It was Luke MacNally that played in last years Championship play off match, before he went to Stoke and Thomas went to Coventry.

[ClaretTony]

Why was my post re Bobby Thomas deleted?
Is it not possible to critise our club now?

Nothing has been deleted but the Thomas threads have all been merged into today's football to prevent duplicate stuff.

[CoolClaret]

Really good thread / thoughts on VAR and specifically the 'offside' decision from today's game.

https://x.com/daisychristo/status/1782131160224518633

[dsr]

Wasn’t aimed at you but posters like those you quoted.

Your rationale was fine that folk are seemingly upset at VAR for correctly giving an offside but make no comment around VAR failing to overturn a handball penalty, where the player has his arm behind his back.

The obsession with Man U losing gives Stockport County fans v Us vibes.

I agree with you in the sense that VAR did its job. Its job is to disallow goals that were legitimate goals 5 years ago, and to do this it has to kill the excitement, to make it impossible for the linesman, and to create long delays. But it is worth it.

Why is it worth it? Because 5 years ago, we would have been talking about a fabulous match with a great goal to win it. Instead, we are talking about VAR. VAR wins, football loses.

The irony is that under the rules Coventry normally play under, it was a valid goal because he was level. Linesmen are not expected to judge toenails at Championship level.

[Enola Gay]

Anyway, my stance has always been, if you need lines to prove it one way or the other, it’s neither clear nor obvious, go with the onfield call. And yes, I’d support that even if we have some close ones go against us. I’d sooner have that than some of the VAR shite we’ve had to endure this year.

This.

[distortiondave]

I think five years ago a linesman disallows that goal immediately because it looked offside in real time, and it's the easier decision to make rather than potentially being responsible for Man Utd losing a semi final to lower league side from 3-0 up in the 121st minute if you turn out to be wrong.
With VAR being what it is, the linesman doesn't even need to flag, or even be there at all for offside decisions.

[morninbob]

Simms will be the next Toney/Watkins.