It’s not very edifying, but NOT getting in the referee’s face and screaming for a foul, has by my reckoning, cost us at least two crucial goals, this season.
You can’t make the ref change his own mind, but you can at least, force the VAR to scrutinise everything properly.
Sanchez’ reaction to the late winner yesterday prompted this thread as whilst that one was a (very) long shot, his reaction - remonstrating with himself for the error, rather than beseaching the officials- immediately rules out any possibility of a possible foul being flagged up. The ref and the VAR want an easy life. They don’t want to be the centre of controversy. If they give a goal, and everyone meekly accepts it, then nothing gets looked at closely - why bother?
To my mind we’ve conceded at least two goals that absolutely would have been chalked off, if we’d forced closer scrutiny:
1. Manchester United at home. 100% clear, that Maguire shoves Dunk as the free kick comes in, leaving Dunk off-balance and unable to deal with the cut back. A clear foul that VAR simply has to call.
2. Everton away. As the cross comes in for their first goal, Calvert-Lewin treads on White’s ankle, leaving him on the floor and DCL a free header, to score. Nobody complains. Goal given. VAR doesn’t look. If White and Dunk are in the ref’s face pointing out what happened, the goal is ruled out. No question.
Contrast our players’ reactions to incidents like this, with other teams, and there is a really stark difference.
You can’t make the ref change his own mind, but you can at least, force the VAR to scrutinise everything properly.
Sanchez’ reaction to the late winner yesterday prompted this thread as whilst that one was a (very) long shot, his reaction - remonstrating with himself for the error, rather than beseaching the officials- immediately rules out any possibility of a possible foul being flagged up. The ref and the VAR want an easy life. They don’t want to be the centre of controversy. If they give a goal, and everyone meekly accepts it, then nothing gets looked at closely - why bother?
To my mind we’ve conceded at least two goals that absolutely would have been chalked off, if we’d forced closer scrutiny:
1. Manchester United at home. 100% clear, that Maguire shoves Dunk as the free kick comes in, leaving Dunk off-balance and unable to deal with the cut back. A clear foul that VAR simply has to call.
2. Everton away. As the cross comes in for their first goal, Calvert-Lewin treads on White’s ankle, leaving him on the floor and DCL a free header, to score. Nobody complains. Goal given. VAR doesn’t look. If White and Dunk are in the ref’s face pointing out what happened, the goal is ruled out. No question.
Contrast our players’ reactions to incidents like this, with other teams, and there is a really stark difference.
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