The Footie Thread

[Don Barzini]

Just hilarious that Man U fans are whingeing all over Twitter that the first penalty was a dive, with barely any contact….yet earlier in the season when Rashford did EXACTLY the same against Forest, it was a stonewall penalty!

Still, that’s football fans for you isn’t it?!

 

[samthom99]

I went to bed at 2-3, just been picked up and the driver told me the result A major confidence boost for sundays big game haha.

 

[Swango1980]

Just hilarious that Man U fans are whingeing all over Twitter that the first penalty was a dive, with barely any contact….yet earlier in the season when Rashford did EXACTLY the same against Forest, it was a stonewall penalty!

Still, that’s football fans for you isn’t it?!

There are hundreds of millions of Utd fans. So obviously there will be some silly ones who think it wasn't a penalty. So, don't assume that all or even most Utd fans think the same things you read on Twitter

I'm sure Forest have a few fans that post stupid things as well

 

[Don Barzini]

There are hundreds of millions of Utd fans. So obviously there will be some silly ones who think it wasn't a penalty. So, don't assume that all or even most Utd fans think the same things you read on Twitter

I'm sure Forest have a few fans that post stupid things as well

Well yeah. I mean, that’s why I said “That’s football fans for you”.

 

[Swango1980]

Well yeah. I mean, that’s why I said “That’s football fans for you”.

That's human beings for you.

Pick any subject people have opinions on, you'll hear some crazy opinions on twitter on that subject

 

[Tashyboy]

Marhez & Gundagan big misses imo.

Certainly are, I was gobsmacked they wanted to leave. Re Mahrez he had a love hate relationship with Citys fans, Ut pep bought him in to unlock tight defences like arsenals last week. He struggled for the first year, very similar to how Doku has this year.

 

[Swango1980]

Starting to get really really frustrated with the monumental injury list, and I'm sure fans of some other clubs are feeling equally frustrated.

I've no idea why it is happening, but what I read on BBC is that injuries are definitely up. Maybe there are many reasons, winter world cup hangover, sports science keeping some players out when in the past they would have just played or teams trying to play that high octane high pressing football made popular by Pep and Klopp over the years, and not having the players able to cope.

But, one thing that really really needs to be sorted out is VAR and officiating in general. When Chelsea were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, it really seemed that there was no real doubt it was a penalty. Certainly nothing to suggest the referee made a serious mistake. Yet VAR decided to review it for 2-3 minutes. I think that is seriously pathetic. And, if you have players who have been charging around for 90+ minutes, then stand about for 2-3 minutes, and then have to start charging around again after that, I can see how this would increase the likelihood of injuries. I genuinely think that clubs should start demanding a 5 minute warm up period again, if VAR take 2+ minutes to make their blooming minds up.

Then we look at the additional time referees are adding at the end. Last nights game we had 8 minutes added, and it was certainly not a game that either team was being accused of time wasting. We had 1 goal in the 45 minutes of the second half, and a bit of time for Wan Bissaka to get a head cut sealed. But, in no way, shape or form would I have expected 8 minutes. In the old days, before officials were directed to add more time on, I'd have thought it might be a typical 4 or 5 minutes added. So, what on earth are they adding on these days? Fans have no idea. Some referees might only add on clear time wasting, maybe others just add on any time the ball is out of play for more than 10 seconds? Just so random. However, if players are having to keep playing for an extra 3 or 4 minutes on average each half than previously, then that is only extra time that can help lead to injury. I've no issue with it if players are continually going down or delaying restarts to time waste, but do have an issue with it if that isn't happening. In fact, I suspect teams might as well time waste if that is their thing, because if nearly every game is going to get a lot of injury time added regardless, you might as well waste as much time as you can. Referees seem to be adding 6-10 minutes in second half for every game, I don't often see them add 10-15 minutes for teams we can all see are wasting time frequently.

 

[Billysboots]

Well, that was a crazy game of football. Still not entirely sure how I feel about it.

Bottom line is that I need to stop focusing on top four or five. United do not deserve Champion’s League football - they are nowhere near the level required. It may make attracting the right players more difficult, but that must be balanced against the huge selling point that, for 2024/25, the club should at long last have a clear structure in place which allows for year on year progression.

There were positives for me last night. Antony had perhaps the best game he has had in a United shirt. Garnacho took his goals really well. And Mount continues his return from injury - I genuinely look forward to seeing him next season.

So many negatives again, though, not least the continued saga which is our central defence and an inability to keep players there fit. And the inability to concentrate for 90+ minutes is unforgivable for a team which has traditionally benefited from last gasp goals. United, more than many clubs, should identify the need to play until the final whistle.

I hope ETH now uses what’s left of this season to gain clarity over which players he wants rid of. There are too many who simply don’t have the legs any more, or who simply don’t care. Build around the likes of Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund. But please, stop living in the past, and placing faith in players who have done nothing to warrant it.

 

[PaulMdj]

Starting to get really really frustrated with the monumental injury list, and I'm sure fans of some other clubs are feeling equally frustrated.

I've no idea why it is happening, but what I read on BBC is that injuries are definitely up. Maybe there are many reasons, winter world cup hangover, sports science keeping some players out when in the past they would have just played or teams trying to play that high octane high pressing football made popular by Pep and Klopp over the years, and not having the players able to cope.

But, one thing that really really needs to be sorted out is VAR and officiating in general. When Chelsea were awarded a penalty deep into stoppage time, it really seemed that there was no real doubt it was a penalty. Certainly nothing to suggest the referee made a serious mistake. Yet VAR decided to review it for 2-3 minutes. I think that is seriously pathetic. And, if you have players who have been charging around for 90+ minutes, then stand about for 2-3 minutes, and then have to start charging around again after that, I can see how this would increase the likelihood of injuries. I genuinely think that clubs should start demanding a 5 minute warm up period again, if VAR take 2+ minutes to make their blooming minds up.

Then we look at the additional time referees are adding at the end. Last nights game we had 8 minutes added, and it was certainly not a game that either team was being accused of time wasting. We had 1 goal in the 45 minutes of the second half, and a bit of time for Wan Bissaka to get a head cut sealed. But, in no way, shape or form would I have expected 8 minutes. In the old days, before officials were directed to add more time on, I'd have thought it might be a typical 4 or 5 minutes added. So, what on earth are they adding on these days? Fans have no idea. Some referees might only add on clear time wasting, maybe others just add on any time the ball is out of play for more than 10 seconds? Just so random. However, if players are having to keep playing for an extra 3 or 4 minutes on average each half than previously, then that is only extra time that can help lead to injury. I've no issue with it if players are continually going down or delaying restarts to time waste, but do have an issue with it if that isn't happening. In fact, I suspect teams might as well time waste if that is their thing, because if nearly every game is going to get a lot of injury time added regardless, you might as well waste as much time as you can. Referees seem to be adding 6-10 minutes in second half for every game, I don't often see them add 10-15 minutes for teams we can all see are wasting time frequently.

Approx 30 secs is added for each goal and substitutions during the 2nd half, that must of been 5-6 minutes easily last night.

 

[Billysboots]

Approx 30 secs is added for each goal and substitutions during the 2nd half, that must of been 5-6 minutes easily last night.

You beat me to it. I always understood that 30 seconds was added for each substitution - that soon adds up.

 

[Swango1980]

Approx 30 secs is added for each goal and substitutions during the 2nd half, that must of been 5-6 minutes easily last night.

Yeah, which is what I mean.

1 goal, subs in 66, 71, 75, 86 and 89 minutes.

Total up all those 30 seconds, you have 3 minutes. I'm sure Wan Bissaka was not down injured for 5 minutes? But, I do agree 5-6 minutes was more than likely. I just struggled to see how it was 8 minutes. And, there have been other games (including non Man Utd games), where I've seen so much injury time added, and just can't work out how the referee came to that.

 

[Deleted member 21784]

You beat me to it. I always understood that 30 seconds was added for each substitution - that soon adds up.

I thought also they were commended for adding proper time in the world cup and it was incorporated to the premier league

Yeah, which is what I mean.

1 goal, subs in 66, 71, 75, 86 and 89 minutes.

Total up all those 30 seconds, you have 3 minutes. I'm sure Wan Bissaka was not down injured for 5 minutes? But, I do agree 5-6 minutes was more than likely. I just struggled to see how it was 8 minutes. And, there have been other games (including non Man Utd games), where I've seen so much injury time added, and just can't work out how the referee came to that.

Any var decisions in that time ?

 

[PaulMdj]

Yeah, which is what I mean.

1 goal, subs in 66, 71, 75, 86 and 89 minutes.

Total up all those 30 seconds, you have 3 minutes. I'm sure Wan Bissaka was not down injured for 5 minutes? But, I do agree 5-6 minutes was more than likely. I just struggled to see how it was 8 minutes. And, there have been other games (including non Man Utd games), where I've seen so much injury time added, and just can't work out how the referee came to that.

1 sub 30 secs min, some of those were 2-3 players at a time and took longer than 30 secs, Jonny Evans didn’t exactly run off either!

Every minute is accounted for by the 4th Official.

 

[Swango1980]

Well, that was a crazy game of football. Still not entirely sure how I feel about it.

Bottom line is that I need to stop focusing on top four or five. United do not deserve Champion’s League football - they are nowhere near the level required. It may make attracting the right players more difficult, but that must be balanced against the huge selling point that, for 2024/25, the club should at long last have a clear structure in place which allows for year on year progression.

There were positives for me last night. Antony had perhaps the best game he has had in a United shirt. Garnacho took his goals really well. And Mount continues his return from injury - I genuinely look forward to seeing him next season.

So many negatives again, though, not least the continued saga which is our central defence and an inability to keep players there fit. And the inability to concentrate for 90+ minutes is unforgivable for a team which has traditionally benefited from last gasp goals. United, more than many clubs, should identify the need to play until the final whistle.

I hope ETH now uses what’s left of this season to gain clarity over which players he wants rid of. There are too many who simply don’t have the legs any more, or who simply don’t care. Build around the likes of Mainoo, Garnacho and Hojlund. But please, stop living in the past, and placing faith in players who have done nothing to warrant it.

Agree with all. Awful against Brentford, but the woeful United defence really ruined Mount's moment. And last night, the woeful Utd defending really spoiled it for Antony. I thought he played really well. Ironically, poor he gave the 1st penalty away, yet a penalty that would never have been conceded if Rashford played ahead of him, because Rashford would not have tracked back.

In hindsight, in many games, you could argue that Utd should play a deep defensive unit, and play on the counter. But, I can almost see the madness in playing the way we do in most games (except against City and Liverpool away). ETH can only see who is capable of playing his style of football in games, you can't really find out what the players are capable of in training to that extent. Put them to the test when they are playing in front of millions, against opponents who are prepared to go in hard on them. So, my hope is that he is using this season to find out who is capable and who is not, so that he has all the evidence he needs, and the owners have all the evidence they need, to show who needs to go, and the types of players they need. If that is the case, he has given us plenty of evidence that "golden boy" Rashford is really not up to much, he has had plenty of opportunity.

There also needs to be a massive inquest into why players are getting injured.

 

[Swango1980]

I thought also they were commended for adding proper time in the world cup and it was incorporated to the premier league



Any var decisions in that time ?

which VAR decisions? Not saying there were not any, I just cannot remember any

 

[Deleted member 21784]

which VAR decisions? Not saying there were not any, I just cannot remember any

I dunno that's why I was asking you?

 

[Swango1980]

1 sub 30 secs min, some of those were 2-3 players at a time and took longer than 30 secs, Jonny Evans didn’t exactly run off either!

Every minute is accounted for by the 4th Official.

When they started allowing 5 subs instead of 3, they also said only 3 windows could be used to make all 5 subs. The idea being it wouldn't really waste any extra time. When making multiple subs, they pretty much come off at the same time, not one after another. So, if referees are adding 30 seconds per player rather than per window, it really is a farce.

To be honest, I don't even know if 30 seconds per window is a rule at all? From when play is stopped, until ref restarts play seems like a much simpler way to do it? I don't think any of the subs took massively long to come off compared to normal. Some might have been a bit slower than average, some quicker. All of Chelsea's 3 windows were when they were losing, so I doubt they'd have taken long to change.

 

[Lord Tyrion]

I was chatting with an old guy the other day who was reminiscing about football in the 70's, 'never had as many injuries back then'. I pointed out that he should watch a re-run of a game from that time. Most players are walking around with the occasional burst of pace. No way would you get as many muscle injuries when the muscles are simply not being tested. I am not saying things are better or worse but the sheer amount of running now, the fitness being on the edge, is surely a big part of why there are so many injuries.

 

[Swango1980]

I dunno that's why I was asking you?

Ahh, see the context of your statement now. I read the question as VAR being a potential reason for added time, rather than simply a question of were there any VAR decisions

I don't think so. The only one I remember was the one deep into added time.

 

[Swango1980]

I was chatting with an old guy the other day who was reminiscing about football in the 70's, 'never had as many injuries back then'. I pointed out that he should watch a re-run of a game from that time. Most players are walking around with the occasional burst of pace. No way would you get as many muscle injuries when the muscles are simply not being tested. I am not saying things are better or worse but the sheer amount of running now, the fitness being on the edge, is surely a big part of why there are so many injuries.

Also, in that time, a lot of them were probably walking around because they were playing with injuries