VAR is BACK in the spotlight.
Originally, fans were worried they wouldn’t be able to cheer goals (that turned out wrong). Then they were worried the drama would be sucked out of the game (so SO wrong). Now, they are FURIOUS that sometimes the human looking at the replay doesn’t get it right. THEY WANT HUMANS GETTING IT WRONG WITH NO REPLAYS BECAUSE IT FEELS RIGHT.
The Iran/Portugal game ended up a draw when the ref incorrectly called a handball on a player who handled in the box when he couldn’t really see what the fuck was going on. Sometimes refs give it, sometimes they don’t. I didn’t think the decision was right, but I was glad the ref had a full understanding of what he was doing.
For me, I love VAR. Neymar shouldn’t get away with being really good at cheating. The hopeful offshoot of that is maybe they’ll start thinking more about putting on a spectacle than trying hoodwink the ref and the fans.
One of the reasons we need VAR is because outside the sheer speed of the game, players were getting exceptionally talented at cheating. Look no further than the Champions League final. Ramos freely committed ABH on Karius early on and concussed him into errors later in the game. He also judo rolled the arm of the hottest player in Europe so he couldn’t carry on. Who felt good about the CL result? Who would have felt better if the dark arts of the games weren’t of value?
Most of us, unless you’re the sort of traditionalist that preferred the good old days when you didn’t have to wear a seatbelt whilst you were driving the wrong way down a dual carriageway way on 3 pints of Super T.
VAR is already var better than it was in the Bundesliga. There have been huge jumps in efficiencies already. Give it 2 years and the refs will be watching replays on their armPads or some shit like that and the whole process will be way quicker. There is no joy in shite decisions, there is no justice in a system that consistently rewards those who cheat really fucking well.
MAJOR news about Torriera. Not only did he rock 94% pass completion for Uraguay as they toasted Russia, his Sporting Director is on the record as saying he’s left the club.
“Tomorrow we will have our first meeting with Giampaolo and that is when our transfer window starts. An excellent player like Torreira has left us but we will replace him. The squad will be company will be competitive as always.”
The PERFECT news. A real DM. What a moment.
Ever Banega is on our radar according to Ed Maylon. He says the club have no intention of selling him unless someone comes in and pays his massive release clause of £17m (for a 29 yr old).
‘A high-ranking Sevilla official told The Independent on Monday that Banega is not for sale under any circumstances, and they are planning talks with the player on his return from the World Cup to reassure him that the project at the Sanchez Pizjuan is the best place for his talents. They also believe that Arsenal have higher priority targets, whereas Banega remains at the heart of their plans.’
Any outfit worth its rep as a selling club needs to shift on older players for big money, they’re absolutely desperate to move him on and the player is likely gagging for a Premier League payday.
Gelson Martins is attracting interest from Italy and Arsenal. We apparently bid £30m for him, he’d be a lunatic to turn down Arsenal, the greatest sporting project in the world. Caglar Soyuncu has denied contact with Arsenal, it sounds like he’s fishing for a club, so we’ll see what happens there. Jack Wilshere isn’t of interest to Juventus… what a shocker.
Right, that’s me done. Listen to our ace podcast.
We talk:
- Granit Xhaka and Swiss thoughts
- Mesut Ozil and the Bling Bling gang
- Bernd Leno and the state of our exkeepers
- How Spurs make us feel about England
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Eagle
It all depends on Deschamps as far as I’m concerned.
Stick with a defensive mentality and we’re out.
Lol I knew Nigeria would mess this up. Couldn’t even get a draw against an out of sorts Argentina.
Last 16 will better than the QF at this rate.
I won £168 from £50 for over 2.5 goals in both games.
If I make another £300 I’m going to go to Russia for the last 16.
Argentina very lucky. Not a pretty team… 🙁
Messi isn’t a leader in this side. Was never amusing or showing for the ball from what I’ve seen of the second half.
Thank fuck, Argies and Messi survive !
Only a miracle will see this team lift the cup though, a dysfunctional team. Barely created any chance once Nigeria scored.
France were abysmal this afternoon, terrible. 🙁 🙁
FIFA so relieved Messi is through to second round. I had them to win cos of my love for Argentina and Messi but I can’t wait for France to knock them out now. smh
If it was a Nigerian that handballed the ref would have blown
Clearly is the leader, gave them the HT talk, scored the crucial opener, his team mates ran straight to him when the Final whistle went.
“So much for Messi being honest. the lil fucker was about to call for his mattress and pillow”
Nothing new.
He’s a diving cunt like the rest of them.
I won’t be surprised if Argentina up their game and beat France.
The French have been pathetic as well. Their wins have been dodgy,
“Last 16 will better than the QF at this rate.”
Yup. Feels so bad for proper teams to be faced against one another for the sake of 1/16 like England vs Japan and Russia vs Spain.
No pressure on France as they’ve been shit too.
Lol from where does this talk of Messi being a diver emanate from?
Mix Nigerian heritage and being a Maradona fanboy and you get a toxic combo of Messi hatred.
Dissenter pipe down, he’s not a diver you just sound bitter.
Fuckin Argies
WE
He scores a goal but was nonexistent in the second half and never showed for the ball. Did it not demand it like a Ronaldo.
My boy Mercado put in a nice ball for the winner there. Bit harsh on him earlier eh. Are players not allowed to jostle for the ball anymore? because that’s all that Mascherano was doing for the awarded Nigeria penalty. Nigerian falls down because he feels hands on him. That was jostling for the ball and many times contact is made and with hands as well. Snowflakes are going to make football into a non-contact sport. Well done. Mascherano was trying to get in front of the player and ball and jostled the Nigerian. It used to be called part… Read more »
Not many players nowadays can say that they haven’t cheated/dived. Messi surely is not one of them. Ofc Ronaldo ain’t either. Henry as well. List is too long.
Messi and Ronaldo probably have roughly the same number of dives.
Calm down ladies, we still have a few tricks up our sleeves
Don’t bury us already.
Fully aware we have a soft and young team that will have to prove itself v the South Americans but I have a feeling that’s exactly what they needed.
Allez les bleus
At last Messi appears when Argentina needed him
Diving is fine. Alls fair in love and war
Dissenter
Ease of the palm oil, my brodda.
Messi is anything but a diver, and you know this maaaynnnn
Showing strength used to be part of defending.
Physically imposing yourself on the opponent.
This will be no more because of geeks screaming for penalties whenever they see a player lay hands on another. Again well done.
The game is going to end up just about offense with defenders watching on.
A Wenger wet dream.
Messi aint a diver but he ain’t honest. No footballer is honest except Danny Welbeck. If all players were as honest as welbeck penalties will seldom be given
mystic lol
Raptora
Ronaldo is a probably one of the biggest divers the game have seen this past decade
Tough on Nigeria, but had a feeling it was going to end this way.
Ighalo should have scored.
France v Argentina…………………Toss of a coin based on what I’ve seen.
Messi runs into traffic then falls over. Of course he’s a diver.
France will be happier facing Argentina rather than Nigeria.
France v Argentina
Cracking the way it sounds but probably a boring 1:1 and extra times.
Commentators in the studio saying that they should stop showing Maradona because that’s the bottom. Gives a bad example to the kids watching. And the other commentator was like “Exactly. It shows them the thin line between being king and a low life”.
The referee was appalling, Moses was gash, and Ighalo should cover himself with shit after that miss. Iheanacho was trash
“France will be happier facing Argentina rather than Nigeria.’
You are right but all three shit teams
“Mix Nigerian heritage and being a Maradona fanboy and you get a toxic combo of Messi hatred.”
You’ve got a little bit of Ross Barkley about you, WE?
Nigeria was wasting time from the whistle, nobody bats an eyelid. Messi in the 88th min lays for a while and he gets called out. Has Messi dived in his carrier, yes. Does he dive regularly, no. Is the statement like Ronaldo and Messi has probably the same no dives, true? Horseshit. When you’re giving your all and determined to do it by hook or crook, sometimes you cross the line and dive. Does that make you a cheat? No. What’s cheating is deliberately practising the dives beforehand and falls like you’ve just been shot( Neymar, CR7, Suarez, Young). Messi… Read more »
If we did sign Banega doesn’t seem likely we’d use him and Ozil in same team and both too expensive to leave one out so something doesn’t compute
Wenger Eagle
“Dissenter pipe down, he’s not a diver you just sound bitter.”
Not bitter at all.
I’m not surprised about the scoreline. I’ve been saying Argentina will squeeze out a win all day.
Nigeria asking for the second penalty was like asking your cake after eating it.
Rojo heads the ball onto his head and falls over. Ighalo? has all the time in the world from the spot to finish and he twats it. He regrets for a while and then asks the ref for penalty.
As if first penalty wasn’t soft enough.
I really tried to support Nigeria. Was a neutral at the start of the game. I’m happy now they ain’t going to the KOs.
Banker,
Ever Banega would cost at most 20m(RC) and a wage of around 100k. Not expensive at all.
Akilan
You hit the nail on the head.
Another reason why Messi is, for me, the greatest player in the world.
Does CR7 cheat?……………….Yes!
Does Neymar cheat?……….Yes!
Does Suarez cheat?………….Yes!
All great players but, unlike Messi, serial offenders in the art of cheating.
Masch wrestled the player to the floor.. Penalty.
Defender heads ball striking his arm … Penalty.
A goal which a Gary Lineker could score and a tame freekick was all that Messi contributed to the game.
Good game that.
For me obvious clumsiness when no one did anything to you but you just made a big mistake in the penalty box, should be punished. They say that football is a game of who makes less mistakes. Well heading the ball on to your own hand, without any rebound or anything, is a 100% mistake on Rojo’s part. Should be punished without a doubt in my eyes. He had all the time in the world to adjust towards the ball and hit it properly but he didn’t and directed it towards his hand which moved the ball to a totally… Read more »
Jammy performance from Argentina, but they were definitely the better side. In fact best two sides in group move on.
France vs Argentina going to be a panty dropper.
Can’t help but feel Argentina have a bit of that 06 French side in them, barely escaping the group but starting to show a bit of form. Really set for Messi to take hold of this cup against France and make his mark.
That said i’ll be all Les Bleus in that one hoping France put the pedal to the metal.
Akilan
Not sure where you’re getting your numbers from? I suspect both fee and salary in excess of that but even at that rate its a real luxury if all he’s doing is rotating for no 10. If he isn’t. Then 2 very similar players
Red
All you do is moan an grain….
Who gives a fuck if it’s simple goals ….
Or you still sore the king Denny didn’t get the big gig.
Banega stunk at Inter but he’s always been classy with it and Inter are actually a horrible outfit these days!
I think Banega will be best suited in a midfield with someone with legs like Torreria
I’d prefer we focused on buying a top wide player rather than another central midfielder, assuming Ozil and Ramsey are staying. Mkhitaryan can play either flank so that gives flexibility as to the additional signing. Sadly no links with Draxler now it seems and assume Golovin not now likely
Raptora e’ handball? In Fifa’s Laws of the Game 2005, Law 12 says a free-kick or penalty will be awarded if a player “handles the ball deliberately (except for the goalkeeper within his own penalty area)”. rmer Premier League referee David Elleray said the referee’s interpretation depends on whether the hand or arm is in an “unnatural” position at the point of contact. Referees often consult their assistants on decisions “Referees look at two specifics – did the hand or arm go towards the ball or in a manner which would block the ball, or is the hand in a… Read more »
Carts
Na mate have no Nigerian in us.
And wouldn’t say Banega was crap at Inter, bit meh but so were a few others like Coutinho, Kondogbia.
Club has been in disarray since Jose left really, plenty of good players haven’t played well at Inter for years.
Argentina were shit in the last World Cup scoring only 2 goals in the knockout stages.
They beat Switzerland 1-0 after extra-time in the Last 16
They then beat Belgium 1-0 in the Quarter-Final.
Drew a blank against Holland in the Semi-Final winning in a penalty shootout and lost 1-0 to Germany in the Final.
Anyone have any stand out players so far?
Isn’t as obvious as it was in Brazil in the groups where you had James, Robben and Messi sticking out like a sore thumb.
I’d probably say based on the groups so far that Isco, Modric, Rakitic, Hazard, Lozano and Gimenez have been the best players.
Marble is beside himself that Messi scored and Argentina went through tonight lol.
What happened to your group stage exit predictions for Argentina and England?
You gimp.
WE
True that – Inter have the ability of making good players look toilet. Took Perisic a while to find form too.
I’d say stand out players are: Lozano and Gimenez. Not really been impressed by anyone else
@WengerEagle
I would add Coutinho to that list.
Good shout steve.
Carts
Really like Perisic.
Guy’s literally the most two footed player on the planet. I can barely believe that he’s right footed because it seems every tournament he smashes in a goal with his left peg. Still remember when he played for Borussia Dortmund he scored an absolute worldie against us in the CL, think it was the winner and was like a yard out volley on his left foot.
Hope to see him in the PL at some point, seems happy at Inter atm.
^30 yard out volley.
A yard out wouldn’t be quite as impressive now would it…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8sC1LXw00U
It’s quite funny but Arsenal will clearly start next season as the freshest team in the Top 6. Of the players to make the World Cup, Elneny and Iwobi (hardly used) are out. Ozil, Monreal and Welbeck have had limited or no playing time, and only Xhaka has both seen a lot of play and is still in the tourney. Ospina is probably on his way out of the club anyway. Many key players (Aubameyang, Lacazette, Mkhitaryan, Ramsey if he stays) have the summer off. Of the potential signings, even Torreira has only played one full game out of the… Read more »
Lozano had a top game vs Germany and a zero game vs SK. Jury will be on him tomorrow night vs Sweden. Mental that there is a good chance that El Tri might not even qualify for the next round if the Swedes somehow get an unlikely win. Our very own Carlitos Vela has actually been their best player in my opinion along with the captain Guardado. Not sure who’s played that well yet. I know that several players were expected to show their dominance and so far none of them have succeeded. Have to say that James is a… Read more »
Vela’s definitely impressed, was their MOTM vs SK.
Think that’s harsh on Lozano though, his end product was shit against SK but he was causing havoc with his movement and dribbling, pulling apart defenders and creating space for team mates.
If Vela gave half a shit he’d have been a top ten wide forward in Europe right about now imo. Guy has all the talent in the world, just no heart or application.
Hector Herrera has been excellent
Argentina and England are merely prolonging the agony..
Messi fanboys remind me of AKB’s lol
What are the permutations for tomorrow?
Would a Sweden win by a goal be enough for them to leapfrog Mexico? Presuming Germany take care of business against the Koreans.
Banega looked good today, I’ve only seen him play a handful of times but he seemed a tidy player every time. A Spanish speaking midfield pairing of Torreira and Banega that can follow Emery’s loud instructions from the touchline sounds like a winner to me.
I think Aubemeyang is going to win the Golden Boot next year. You heard it here first.
WE
If Sweden beat Mexico they will be in automatically. A +1 on the match would level them on GD and GS, which would then make the H2H result the tiebreaker.
WE
What do you think of Lucas Vasquez?
WengerEagle
“Isn’t as obvious as it was in Brazil in the groups where you had James, Robben and Messi sticking out like a sore thumb.”
Yeah right, Messi was anonymous in the knockout rounds
Agentina
Iran
Bosnia
Nigeria
Quality group lol
Sancho
Wow so all to play for, should be another day of great suspense.
Not going to lie would be heartbroken to see Mexico exit in the groups after how well they played against Germany and SK.
Serbia can knock out Brazil too with a win, if Switzerland get a result against CR.
Cesc
I do like Vasquez, he’s come a long way under Zidane.
Really clever player, good dribbler and passer, very pacey and likes to stay out wide which is refreshing in the modern game with all these wide playmakers/wide forwards.
Are we being linked?
Lozano was all over the pitch making plays vs S Korea. To say he had a zero game means you didn’t watch the match. Oh and Vela belongs to LAFC now, he hasn’t been ours for 6 years now. Just another young talent Wenger pissed down the drain.
WE
There are some links saying we’ve offered him a triple your money deal and that we think we can get him for under £30 Million.
It looks as if we’re trying to get a winger but are shopping in the cheaper options, like Martins.
I have always liked Lucas Vasquez when I’ve seen him in the UCL, hard working player as well.
Might be tempted to move for the wages and starting place, also Madrid are likely to spend.
Sokartis close according to Dortmund chief.
Wish Mehdi Beniata can be next.
One can only D R E A M
kc,
I know he is very likeable but he had a game of Gervinho – lively but totally ineffective. Tell my wife how well he played, she was swearing the whole game cause of the times he should have done much better.
Game vs Germany he played great, still around 5 situations for him to get that 1 goal. Very talented and dangerous though. Though Mexico should have been leading by 5 goals at half time if it wasn’t for his and Chicharito’s misses.
CA
Yeah could be a possibility, Vasquez was very much a Zidane favourite so remains to be seen if he’s as valuable to Lopetegui.
Not mad on Gelson but the guy has pace and dribbling ability for days, things which we sorely lack.
What are you making of the WC so far?
WE
Yes it would be a gut punch for Mexico to miss the knockouts at this point.
That goal by Son in the SK match really fucked them up, they could have lost to Sweden by 1 goal and still made it through without that. Germany would have needed to beat SK by 2 to overtake them as well. Crazy how things work out.
Vela has been really good – played well against Germany as well. Such a wasted talent that guy is.
Godin has been really good as well I thought – defenders often get overlooked.
No transfer we make would decrease my tears if Manure get Bale. Imagine if they add Kovacic to the already bought Fred. Pretty solid window while we’re buying second and third quality talent.
Check that, Germany would have needed to beat SK by 3 goals. They’d be level on GD in the earlier scenario and Mexico would advance ahead of Germany based on H2H result.
One insignificant, nothing goal changed everything. They were virtually guaranteed a spot if they didn’t concede that goal.
Portugal will have such a hard game vs Uruguay.
Ronaldo vs Godin and Coates won’t be pleasant for him.
Same goes for Suarez and Cavani vs Pepe ofc lol.
Didn’t think H2H came into play in the WC ? After GD it goes to yellow cards no ?
To many here, Messi has a halo on his head. He’s St Messi of Barca. He can do no wrong.
If Messi had picked up a musket, filled it with gunpowder ans shot a referee in broad daylight, many will still support him.
If Messi had picked up a musket, filled it with gunpowder ans shot a referee in broad daylight, many will still support him.
Trump?
No Dissenter but your bias against him is clear to see when you resort to calling him a diver.
Something which has never been levelled at him throughout his career which is very rare for an attacking player btw because he doesn’t dive.
https://youtu.be/xSLxa3MYMcw
Loll messi
Lmao, you found just 2-3 dives in a career that has spanned well over a decade and nearly 800 matches?
Expected better Marble, you disappoint me.
UTarse
No, after GD is Goals Scored, then H2H. Fifa explains it like shit but yeah.
https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/tie-breakers-for-russia-2018-groups
Sancho,
Cheers.
Hector Bellerin has swapped the No.24 shirt for No.2 following Mathieu Debuchy’s return to France in January, with Mohamed Elneny taking over the No.4 jersey after Per Mertesacker’s retirement.
Petr Cech has also moved from No.33 to No.1, while Granit Xhaka has taken his favoured No.34 shirt after wearing No.29 since his arrival at the club in 2016.
Lichtsteiner, who sealed his move from Juventus on Tuesday, will wear the No.12 shirt next season under Emery.
Ridiculous to say Messi doesn’t dive, dudes a professional PK getter, like CR7, Neymar, Suarez, Cavani………..
But lets ignore fact Messi has likely more possession in box than any other player, inviting any and everything. He’s earned his stripes.
WengerEagle
“Lmao, you found just 2-3 dives in a career that has spanned well over a decade and nearly 800 matches?”
That’s 2-3 dives more than the ‘he has never dived in his career’ bullshit you was spouting lol
“Petr Cech has also moved from No.33 to No.1…”
What a busy cunt. As if he’s even going to be #1 next season.
You have to dive more than a couple of times in a career spanning close to 800 matches to be labelled a ‘diver’ was my point you decrepit old plum.
Today’s Cech couldn’t protect a Piggy Bank with an AK.
Still better than Ospina mind, haha.
Maybe Xhaka was sulking bout the #34 jersey for two years and that’s why he was moving slowly on the pitch.
Messi dived 4 times against Nigeria lol
Just maybe Sancho