Other Games 2025-26

[Toronto Villa]

I get the black and white nature of it, but if that is the measurement it's impossible to get it right every time.

Well, yes. Grey areas exist and always will do.

Well yes. So where it’s so marginal and therefore grey give the advantage to the attacking team. And I know it works both ways. But when you don’t know for the sure the immediate contact of the foot on the ball for a cross, then give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team. Right now everything goes to the defending team regarding offside.

[Somniloquism]

They have widened the lines to try include the "grey" areas of frames for the last few years. If the lines overlap then it is not offside, there has to be a gap for it to be offside. The gap could be pixels again still, but the attackers still get more advantage. TBH I'm fine with it all. The same bollock or heel is a problem for all teams and if you start adding even more vagueness then where do you go "that is definitely offside"? Wenger wanted there to be "fresh air" for example. But all you are doing is moving the measuring points.

[Dave]

I get the black and white nature of it, but if that is the measurement it's impossible to get it right every time.

Well, yes. Grey areas exist and always will do.

Well yes. So where it’s so marginal and therefore grey give the advantage to the attacking team. And I know it works both ways. But when you don’t know for the sure the immediate contact of the foot on the ball for a cross, then give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team. Right now everything goes to the defending team regarding offside.

Sure. No disagreement in principle. But as soon as one of those "benefit of the doubt" calls go against us, this place will be filled with "he's either offside or isn't". And very much not offering the benefit of the doubt.

Also - while I appreciate you've moved us on to offsides, much of the last few pages have been people getting very angry about the attacking team getting the benefit of the doubt on a marginal decision!

[Toronto Villa]

I get the black and white nature of it, but if that is the measurement it's impossible to get it right every time.

Well, yes. Grey areas exist and always will do.

Well yes. So where it’s so marginal and therefore grey give the advantage to the attacking team. And I know it works both ways. But when you don’t know for the sure the immediate contact of the foot on the ball for a cross, then give the benefit of the doubt to the attacking team. Right now everything goes to the defending team regarding offside.

Sure. No disagreement in principle. But as soon as one of those "benefit of the doubt" calls go against us, this place will be filled with "he's either offside or isn't". And very much not offering the benefit of the doubt.

Also - while I appreciate you've moved us on to offsides, much of the last few pages have been people getting very angry about the attacking team getting the benefit of the doubt on a marginal decision!

Oh believe me I think the rule benefiting attacking teams for handball is ludicrous too. I said a page or so back there was to be intent. Or some reasonable assertion there was intent to move the hand or arm into a position to stop an attacking play. The unnatural arm position thing is the equal of being offside by a nose hair.

[Somniloquism]

There is no handball rule specifically benefitting an attacking team at all. The same rules already mentioned apply to attackers in the box. If anything the handball rules are more benefit for the defensive team because if the ball accidently hits the goal scorers hand/arm in any way, it is ruled out no matter what.

[Toronto Villa]

There is no handball rule specifically benefitting an attacking team at all. The same rules already mentioned apply to attackers in the box. If anything the handball rules are more benefit for the defensive team because if the ball accidently hits the goal scorers hand/arm in any way, it is ruled out no matter what.

You’re right. I just think we see and maybe associate it more with defenders as it leads to a penalty versus a free kick the other way. The defensive one hurts a lot more when it happens.

[Pat McMahon]

What is obvious is that no one knows what constitutes a handball now becomes it ( the law) is interpreted differently .
What is happening is that penalties are being awarded that would not have been awarded pre- var. I can not help thinking that refs are now there to sell the game by increasing the drama.

Well you do see corruption/ulterior motives in every single football decision, but how you can think that type of decision would only be awarded these days WHEN we have had some awful decisions go our way. Remember when Elleray awarded a handball because Delaney spun around to looking for the ball that had just been flicked up and the dropping ball hit his arm as he turned? I don't think "drama" was needed then.

Jesus don’t  bring back that nightmare.

The ball actually came off Niall Quinn’s arm
Onto Delaney’s arm. Surprised he couldn’t spot that given the x ray vision he had perfected by the time Emckmann let a ball go under his foot a couple of years later at the sty

[Flamingo Lane]

Fenerbahce v Benfica ft Jhon Duran may be worth a watch this evening, on TNT, just about to kick off.