Euro 2024 Thread

[Bluemike]

Get used to this sh*t as well when its against your club at domestic level…….. if it happens at Euro Tournaments with “the best” officials……. God help us all……

https://x.com/ewanmackenna/status/18111 ... 46061?s=48

Marko, we all pretty much hate VAR, it's awful and yes there could well have been a handball which was missed but that still doesn't stop the tackle/block from being a penalty, even if it should never have happened, sadly VAR will never be any good despite what some say.

[valleyroad]

The defender hit Kanes shooting boot/foot , and made no contact with the ball. So to me that’s a penalty.

Well, , remember this Hallam when VAR is in all ITFC games next season. (Speaking from VAR in SPL / Easter Rd etc etc)

……. The player was “closing down a shot”. Was not a direct challenge on Kane. So when this shyte happens next season, (because it will) we know you’ll be understanding the decisions. Because i STILL don’t.

Basically……… defenders are not allowed to defend anymore. Must get used to that.

Nothing at all wrong with closing down a shot - but when you do it at waist height with your studs showing *and make contact with the opponent) it's reckless and a penalty all day long.

Hi foot is flat. Kane kicks up into his foot.
We might as well have plastic dummies for defenders now.
Maybe take the practice wall from training and stick on the park !

Not be long till they legislate that Kane was at fault as his foot hit the defender. Its a total farce

If that is where football is today then we might as well give up

[Bluemike]

Sadly that is where Football is at today, I don't think anyone is saying they like it, I certainly don't but it IS where we have arrived at with the sissy rules we adhere to today.

[hallamblue]

Well, , remember this Hallam when VAR is in all ITFC games next season. (Speaking from VAR in SPL / Easter Rd etc etc)

……. The player was “closing down a shot”. Was not a direct challenge on Kane. So when this shyte happens next season, (because it will) we know you’ll be understanding the decisions. Because i STILL don’t.

Basically……… defenders are not allowed to defend anymore. Must get used to that.

Nothing at all wrong with closing down a shot - but when you do it at waist height with your studs showing *and make contact with the opponent) it's reckless and a penalty all day long.

Hi foot is flat. Kane kicks up into his foot.
We might as well have plastic dummies for defenders now.
Maybe take the practice wall from training and stick on the park !

Not be long till they legislate that Kane was at fault as his foot hit the defender. Its a total farce

If that is where football is today then we might as well give up

TBH I thought that was largely what Town has had, at Rt CB especially ..

[marko69]

KMcK : “Ok, today we’re going to work on defending counter attacks. Being on your guard prepared for it, back pedalling into a better position, assessing the situation in those split seconds, and then making the block or the tackle to end the counter…….”

Morsy: “What about the EPL VAR though, boss?”

KMcK: “Oh yeah. Hmmm, forgot about that.
Oh well, who fancies an early Wetherspoons? Fk it. Lets go.”

[Dubai Blue]

Penalty all day long. Kane deserves credit for being athletic enough to play the shot at that height, forcing the defender into the offence as he was not close enough to get his body in the way.

Only surprise for me was that Kane was able to take the penalty, but what a great penalty it was (again).

I just hope that its not settled by penalties on Sunday.

[marko69]

Penalty all day long.

As the mighty Ipswich Town are back in the EPL, we’ll start a sticky “MATCH OF THE DAY” thread for discussions on VAR! Let’s see you all get riddled with err…… .. double standard-ness! It’ll be BOTH a nightmare, but also hilarious.

“HOW THE FK IS HAALAND GETTING THAT PENALTY!”
“Err, because Wolfie did EXACTLY what Dumfries did? Whats the matter with ye??!”

(Granted……. Wolfie wouldnt be anywhere close; insert another player name)

[Shed on tour]

All I’ve heard from the so-called pundits in the last couple of months is how Foden and Bellingham are world class.
Well Sunday gives them the perfect opportunity to prove it. Whether they will or not is another matter.

[Bluemike]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

[hallamblue]

Is it just me , or there a lot of hype surround Bellingham , that doesn't appear justified at these Euros?
I know he's a fantastic player, but he keeps giving me the impression, he believe all this adulation / hype and presents like a bit of a prima dona at times... Big ego at 21 ? isn't good .

Southgate has IMO sacrificed the very effect Foden, in his more central position to accommodate Bellingham who apart from his goal hasn't done to much else as far as I can see.

[Ricco]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

Agreed, although I'd say second worst after Kane and some of the Dutch.

Foden's sub would have been premeditated though, and pacing yourself for 60-80 minutes is very different to pacing yourself for 120 (like Bellingham), it would have allowed him to pay with a much higher intensity. Roles reversed may have seen performances reversed.

Can't explain Kane though, good lord, what is wrong with him? I understand if he doesn't make runs, it's not his game, or if he's not 100% fit, fine... but his bread a butter is getting in to the right positions in the box, and on that front, complete joke, awful. Honestly, it's one of the most baffling things I've seen in football, I genuinely mean that, speechless, staggered. He only has to move a yard or two, this way or that, to find a pocket, and he hasn't even bothered. And if you're that slow/unfit/injured, whatever, then if you're going to remove yourself from the 18 yard box in the build-up, then you're as sure as hell not getting back in there in time to meet a cross.

[Shed on tour]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

Thought first half was by far his best performance in the tournament so far. 2nd half not up to the same standard. As for Bellingham the least said the better. Think we are going have to need the majority of the team playing to their best level if we are going to bring it home on Sunday.
Spain are on a different level to any team we have faced in this tournament so far.

[TODD66]

Lets hope they have shot their bolt.

Surely they are due a poor or at least an average performance in this tournament!

[Ohiotractorboy]

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9P0lLKP ... V3dDFpaQ==

Hard not to like the Dutch

[Bluemike]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

Thought first half was by far his best performance in the tournament so far. 2nd half not up to the same standard. As for Bellingham the least said the better. Think we are going have to need the majority of the team playing to their best level if we are going to bring it home on Sunday.
Spain are on a different level to any team we have faced in this tournament so far.

I think Foden's second half performance was more down to how the Dutch changed things to nullify him which worked pretty well.

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

apart from, maybe, Rice, Walker, and Kane

[Bluemike]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

apart from, maybe, Rice, Walker, and Kane

LOL

[hallamblue]

Foden was excellent last night, Bellingham woeful, worst player on the pitch.

Agreed, although I'd say second worst after Kane and some of the Dutch.

Foden's sub would have been premeditated though, and pacing yourself for 60-80 minutes is very different to pacing yourself for 120 (like Bellingham), it would have allowed him to pay with a much higher intensity. Roles reversed may have seen performances reversed.

Can't explain Kane though, good lord, what is wrong with him? I understand if he doesn't make runs, it's not his game, or if he's not 100% fit, fine... but his bread a butter is getting in to the right positions in the box, and on that front, complete joke, awful. Honestly, it's one of the most baffling things I've seen in football, I genuinely mean that, speechless, staggered. He only has to move a yard or two, this way or that, to find a pocket, and he hasn't even bothered. And if you're that slow/unfit/injured, whatever, then if you're going to remove yourself from the 18 yard box in the build-up, then you're as sure as hell not getting back in there in time to meet a cross.

I cant disagree with any of that Ricco.... Problem is will Southgate drop his captain? I doubt it . although I think he should!

[The Odious Mr Rossi]

Penalty all day long.

As the mighty Ipswich Town are back in the EPL, we’ll start a sticky “MATCH OF THE DAY” thread for discussions on VAR! Let’s see you all get riddled with err…… .. double standard-ness! It’ll be BOTH a nightmare, but also hilarious.

“HOW THE FK IS HAALAND GETTING THAT PENALTY!”
“Err, because Wolfie did EXACTLY what Dumfries did? Whats the matter with ye??!”

(Granted……. Wolfie wouldnt be anywhere close; insert another player name)

yep - just the same as before VAR was ever heard of. In the old days there were many post match discussions about decisions made by referee and linesman. VAR has simply added an extra factor into the mix - point is that we all see things differently no matter what people/machines are making the decisions. VAR has made no difference to that - increased the number of disputes, yes, but made no difference nonetheless.

[hallamblue]

VAR is only another level of humans having their opinion about an event that took place in a micro second. The spontaneity from events has now been removed. Its rubbish tbh .

[Ricco]

I cant disagree with any of that Ricco.... Problem is will Southgate drop his captain? I doubt it . although I think he should!

It's the one area I don't envy Southgate having to make the decision, that's for sure!

I don't know what I'd do, huge call to drop the captain. Toney would be like for like and I can see there being plenty of long balls, but I can't see Southgate going that route at this stage. Watkins is a complete change of system, useful to hit Spain on the counter and help press, but then he's also probably most dangerous coming on against tired legs like last night.

[valleyroad]

VAR is only another level of humans having their opinion about an event that took place in a micro second. The spontaneity from events has now been removed. Its rubbish tbh .

If only fans, media, managers etc had accepted the referees decision in the good old days we wouldn't be here.
When the referee awarded a goal we could jump about daft now we need to wait 5 mins and the moment is gone !

[marko69]

VAR is only another level of humans having their opinion about an event that took place in a micro second. The spontaneity from events has now been removed. Its rubbish tbh .

If only fans, media, managers etc had accepted the referees decision in the good old days we wouldn't be here.
When the referee awarded a goal we could jump about daft now we need to wait 5 mins and the moment is gone !

Yep....., because a pubic hair stuck to a big toe is offside.

[hallamblue]

VAR is only another level of humans having their opinion about an event that took place in a micro second. The spontaneity from events has now been removed. Its rubbish tbh .

If only fans, media, managers etc had accepted the referees decision in the good old days we wouldn't be here.
When the referee awarded a goal we could jump about daft now we need to wait 5 mins and the moment is gone !

What? No players included in your list of criminals??

[valleyroad]

VAR is only another level of humans having their opinion about an event that took place in a micro second. The spontaneity from events has now been removed. Its rubbish tbh .

If only fans, media, managers etc had accepted the referees decision in the good old days we wouldn't be here.
When the referee awarded a goal we could jump about daft now we need to wait 5 mins and the moment is gone !

What? No players included in your list of criminals??

etc should cover that but yes Players for sure

[hallamblue]

Tbh VR, players would have been the first to have been listed

[Bluemike]

Wasn't a penalty, but Maradona's was handball, Beckham's was never a red, Campbell's should've stood in 2004 Lampard's was over the line. I couldn't care less.

Saw this posted somewhere, swings and roundabouts.

[goldandblack]

VAR is only another level of humans having their opinion about an event that took place in a micro second. The spontaneity from events has now been removed. Its rubbish tbh .

If only fans, media, managers etc had accepted the referees decision in the good old days we wouldn't be here.
When the referee awarded a goal we could jump about daft now we need to wait 5 mins and the moment is gone !

VAR is all about making the right decisions for the right clubs at the right times, they will make decisions for or against on all clubs to even things out so they can show on paper it evens out,but its all about the box office clubs being at the top.

The premier clubs had a chance to get rid of it but decided not to rock the boat, so its no good them start winging next season when it goes against them. Think the Wolves could pay for the audacity to call them out.
you blues have all that to look forward, Good luck with that,

[Dubai Blue]

Will be really interesting to see how we perform against a side who are likely to leave us some much bigger spaces to work in than in any of our previous games. What Netherlands did in the 2nd half, everyone else in the other games has been doing too. Spain don't seem to be a side to take that approach - their arrogance might just be their downfall as we have a side packed with talent that will certainly punish a side that gives space, especially in midfield.

Going to be a great game to watch IMO.

I'm not going to get into the debate about VAR as it will just be deja-vu. But just to say that in this competition it has really shown its value a number of important interventions when refs have not noticed infringements. Also I like that there has been much less onfield TV viewing and quicker decisions. Let's see these improvements carried into Prem games please and improve the automation with some decent AI.

[marko69]

https://x.com/paddypower/status/1811786 ... buST0ruMfw