And Trippier, and Rose. Who's left to play on Saturday?? Foyth at attacking mid? Dier in net?So poor from Eriksen and Lloris though.
Matches should be on the 30th and 1st, so no issue head to head.Do we believe this is going to be another situation where both matches will be played simultaneously, and TNT will only air one?
I ended up purchasing the B/R Live stream for Liverpool/Porto today for $2.99. It worked perfectly and I will be doing it again for future CL matches that aren't available on TV.Do we believe this is going to be another situation where both matches will be played simultaneously, and TNT will only air one?
The ball definitely went in off his hip. It may have glanced his arm as well, but I don't see the ball change directions twice in that replay.Don’t begrudge Spurs they did enough to win the tie and dealt with some tough injuries. City fucked around with the first leg and ultimately not scoring an away goal proved costly as it often does.
It really chafes to have this ruled not handball though. Certainly not much luck there.
That's not a handball. They had rules guy on radio. Arm against body, arm not moving towards ball, no deliberate action. The rules are the same for offense or defense.Don’t begrudge Spurs they did enough to win the tie and dealt with some tough injuries. City fucked around with the first leg and ultimately not scoring an away goal proved costly as it often does.
It really chafes to have this ruled not handball though. Certainly not much luck there.
At the moment, it needs to be deliberate handball in order to be an offence, rather than simply inadvertently making contact with the arm or hand as appeared to be the case with Llorente.
As a sports fan, I have sympathy.Just a gut punch to go through
Both fair. And I’ll Mo Salah right over that tripAnd that's why I would buy you a beer if you were at the Bash, but might try to trip you afterwards.
From the sound of it, it's a good goal this year but not next year. Starting next season if any advantage is gained from a ball hitting the hand or arm of an attacker, even if it's accidental or unavoidable, it's a free kick for the defense.So .. it clearly hit his arm .. and then the hip. But .. the arm wasn’t in an “unnatural position” .. it was right beside his body. Is that a handball? Frankly I have no idea. And it seems 95% of the public - not to mention the pundit class - seems to either.
I don't think it matters, does it? It was clearly touched by a Man City player to a player in an offside position and there was no intervening act by a defender. Are you thinking of the interpretation that says that if a defender touches or tries to play a ball that is headed toward a player in an offside position, the player in the offside position is no longer thought to have gained an advantage? I think that's not this case. Law 11 merely says that it's an offense for the player (in active play) to be in an offside position when the ball is played or "touched" by a team-mate.I would think there should be more decision about the offside call. Was the Man City touch just a deflection on a back pass by Spurs?
Well, I'm not 100% sure. On SiriusXM FC after the game, Tony Meola said he was talking to a US professional official that does VAR and that he said the ball has to be "played" by the City player, not just touched, on that play.I don't think it matters, does it? It was clearly touched by a Man City player to a player in an offside position and there was no intervening act by a defender. Are you thinking of the interpretation that says that if a defender touches or tries to play a ball that is headed toward a player in an offside position, the player in the offside position is no longer thought to have gained an advantage? I think that's not this case. Law 11 merely says that it's an offense for the player (in active play) to be in an offside position when the ball is played or "touched" by a team-mate.
In any event, the guy who has to be happiest about VAR tonight is Erikson because that was a really awful play. Wanyama had a couple of panic plays too after his brilliant tackle late in the game.
How about Aguero's lack of argument?I thought the issue was that Aguero was offside when that deflection occurred, and given that the deflection was by his own teammate, it's a pass to an offside player and a violation.
That said I haven't seen anything conclusive that he was offside.
You could say the same in reverse, not one Spurs player appealed for offside and the flag never went up. Just a VAR buzzHow about Aguero's lack of argument?
Given City's motivation and Spurs healthy players (of whom there are few), this is my fear.But, good lord, City legit terrifying. Saturday might be 7-0.
Oh, I don’t know. I haven’t understood that to be the rule. I thought the touch by the Man City Player was sufficient. But I could be wrong.Well, I'm not 100% sure. On SiriusXM FC after the game, Tony Meola said he was talking to a US professional official that does VAR and that he said the ball has to be "played" by the City player, not just touched, on that play.
I'm not saying either side is right, I'm just wondering why that's about the only person I've heard that from--a soccer official.
I am NOT complaining.
This squad already has its most important player - de Jong - heading to Barca in a matter of weeks. And the current decision makers at Ajax have been very smart in recent years about selling young players when their value is high - Kluivert, Wober, Sanchez, Klassen, etc. They’ll weigh up the offers for de Light, Neres, van de Beek, and friends and make shrewd decisions.So, my random (drunk) thoughts:.
- Ajax are incredible. Kids that age don't play with the tactical nous they displayed, especially in Turin. I hope to hell they can hold that squad together, but it seems impossible.
Don’t forget that VAR gave City an extremely marginal penalty in the first leg, which Aguero missed. VAR giveth and VAR taketh away, blessed be VAR. City’s problems were of their own making.You could say the same in reverse, not one Spurs player appealed for offside and the flag never went up. Just a VAR buzz
Edit: that’s a rough angle and I’m still not even sure he’s offside. Again we are calling that a clear and obvious error and overturning the play on the pitch? God does VAR annoy me I was handling this Ok before
This is extremely likely and I will not care one bit.Eh, we're never gonna have perfect angle, I see enough there.
But, good lord, City legit terrifying. Saturday might be 7-0.
The post game show showed him in a offside position, but just barely. And I mean just. And that was compounded by the fact that Aguero turned backwards at the exact moment that the ball was struck, then went forwards. That turn meant that he had no advantage from the offside position, but from the rules of the game he was offside and it was technically the right call.I would think there should be more decision about the offside call. Was the Man City touch just a deflection on a back pass by Spurs?
Going to be fun when Spurs losing the CL final and then finish in 5th.I didn't understand the call in real time because I didn't see the deflection at first. It's the correct call, just unlucky. I don't think you can call the non-handball goal unlucky because, well it was the correct call. It was just a terrible goal for City to give up.
Every season it seems the the ending is chaotic but this year especially is nuts. 2 teams going for the trophy, 4 teams battling it out for the last two top 4 spots, and with Cardiff's win over Brighton they have an outside shot at avoiding relegation.
Plus you have 2 English teams in the semi finals of the Champions League and 2 likely to be in the semis for Europa. Oh those 2 squads just happen to be in the battle for top 4.
Crazy.
Is that going to be before or after Harry Kane rescinds his contract to join the NFL?Going to be fun when Spurs losing the CL final and then finish in 5th.
Despite it's questionable legality, Ajax and Barca seem to have a deal brewing where Ajax will be an official feeder club for Barca. De Ligt recently said that he will only field offers from Barca and while that's also his prerogative as a player, it does seem to support this idea.This squad already has its most important player - de Jong - heading to Barca in a matter of weeks. And the current decision makers at Ajax have been very smart in recent years about selling young players when their value is high - Kluivert, Wober, Sanchez, Klassen, etc. They’ll weigh up the offers for de Light, Neres, van de Beek, and friends and make shrewd decisions.
What’s interesting is that after last season’s Europa League run, Ajax clearly decided that they wanted to add a few veterans to the mix to help them hang in the Champions League this season. They made brilliant & uncharacteristic moves for Blind & Tadic, costs which were covered by recent transfer surpluses. And now the entire value of those two contracts is covered many times over by CL prize money and whatever marginal increase in transfer value for their younger teammates that comes along with high profile successes.
What I mean is that the transfer strategy and execution have been incredible. And given Ajax’s long track record of identifying and developing talent as well as their crystal clear organizational philosophy, it really seems like they are set up for regular cycles of success in Europe.
Well, Couts will be on the bench as long as Dembele is healthy ;-)It's going to be interesting to see when Barca plays at Anfield. I think Suarez will get a good reception, but Coutinho probably won't.
I listened to one of the Everton fan podcasts this morning (The Blue Room - it's pretty good - https://www.theblueroomefc.com/). They were talking about their discussions with the Southampton fans they knew about Tadic at Ajax this year. They were, of course, physically ill that a guy who washed out for the Saints became a leader of a side that's going to the CL semis. You have to give enormous credit to the Ajax braintrust for recognizing Tadic's quality and his suitability for their side, and putting him in a position to succeed.This squad already has its most important player - de Jong - heading to Barca in a matter of weeks. And the current decision makers at Ajax have been very smart in recent years about selling young players when their value is high - Kluivert, Wober, Sanchez, Klassen, etc. They’ll weigh up the offers for de Light, Neres, van de Beek, and friends and make shrewd decisions.
What’s interesting is that after last season’s Europa League run, Ajax clearly decided that they wanted to add a few veterans to the mix to help them hang in the Champions League this season. They made brilliant & uncharacteristic moves for Blind & Tadic, costs which were covered by recent transfer surpluses. And now the entire value of those two contracts is covered many times over by CL prize money and whatever marginal increase in transfer value for their younger teammates that comes along with high profile successes.
What I mean is that the transfer strategy and execution have been incredible. And given Ajax’s long track record of identifying and developing talent as well as their crystal clear organizational philosophy, it really seems like they are set up for regular cycles of success in Europe.
Well, what about SpursI listened to one of the Everton fan podcasts this morning (The Blue Room - it's pretty good - https://www.theblueroomefc.com/). They were talking about their discussions with the Southampton fans they knew about Tadic at Ajax this year. They were, of course, physically ill that a guy who washed out for the Saints became a leader of a side that's going to the CL semis. You have to give enormous credit to the Ajax braintrust for recognizing Tadic's quality and his suitability for their side, and putting him in a position to succeed.
How many teams are there in the highest tier of clubs, the ones that you would never consider selling clubs? RM, Barca, City, Bayern, PSG, etc. Wherever you make the cut - for any teams below that tier, Ajax this year are the model to emulate.
The squad with 4 former Ajax players? That is one way to try to copy the model.Well, what about Spurs
Or when they win it and finish 5th and keeper Arsenal or Chelsea or ManU out of CL.Going to be fun when Spurs losing the CL final and then finish in 5th.