Ripley

Having been appalled at Villa covering 7km mor than us last Friday, what to say about Bournemouth last night against ManC - ran 14km more than our most recent effort

Re-read. VAR did NOT get involved for the reason given. Seems theyve spied on at least 2 other clubs this season

Didnt see the match but caught up on the video(s) of Havertz incident. To answer an earlier question, the c*nt of a ref was Paul Tierney (quelle surprise.) A look at the ref forum reveals absolute unanimity for a red. At least one contributor made the apparently salent point that the reason the VAR (Rob Jones) did not get involved was because he will have been aware that the on field ref had such a clear view that he (VAR) was mindful of the policy "not to re-referee the game". if this really is a policy. its application seems to be totally random - except that one club has benefitted from both aspects recently.

Outrun by a whole 7km tonight. Can’t recall that difference between any 2 PL teams recently.

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Due to an acute shortage referees Chris Kavanagh has been drafted in to take charge of this one. Random bloke called Neil Davies will be the 17 angle overlord

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My heart was broken SorrooooooooooooooW

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https://www.theguardian.com/football/picture/2026/may/12/david-squires-on-arsenal-west-ham-and-a-royal-rumble-for-the-ages Squires outstanding on VAR today. Pic 2 is genius. Caravaggio would have approved

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It may also have unnoticed that yesterday saw the ultimate rehabilitation oof Dazza England. He has been awarded the highest honour that a Select Group ref can receive and will referee the FA Cup Final.

Those who read my preview of officials would have known that Winifred Attwell was VAR assisted by the sharp elbowed lino.

No point in putting it in the Match thread because we were the more awful of the "two appalling teams" and deserved nothing BUT The second ManU goal should not have been allowed to stand. The Laws of the Game are now clear that accidental handball by the scorer (as opposed to an assister) cancels a goal autotmatically. If an attacker is struck on the arm by the ball and it falls to his feet and he puts it in the net, it is disallowed. Today, the clearly accidental handball actually put the ball over the line. The view available to home viewers was obviously available to the VAR and clearly showed that the fingers of the attacker altered the rotation of the ball. FACT. No subjective "not enough there for me, Fletch" applies. Explanation/apology from PGMOL needed?.. On a subjective point, the "tackle" by Fernandes on Szoboszlai was launched from a point at which it was actually impossible to get the ball, being on the wrong side of the player in possession beyond a stride away and only likely to cause impact wrlith that player. Yellow card may have been lenient.

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