Checking...

[dave.woodhall]

Chris Dance has a rant about three random letters.

https://heroesandvillains.info/2022/09/07/checking/

[tomd2103]

Spot on.  It was the introduction of multiple cameras in grounds that has somewhat caused this.  People sitting in studios and at home could have the luxury of viewing an incident from a number of angles and slowed right down before passing judgement on decisions made by officials who do not have that luxury.  It has made the job of the officials even harder and the caveat of having many more an,Es and speeds is hardly ever referred to.

Outside the Premier League, however, things are different.  Fans of clubs in Leagues One and Two, get to review incidents on brief highlights packages from one angle and usually at one speed.  If they have been to the game then they are in the same boat as the officials, they see an incident from one angle and at one speed.  They don't get to pore over every decision from a range of different views, they just bemoan that they got a bad ref and accept that things will probably even themselves out over the course of the season.

There probably is somewhat of a happy medium to be found, but as long as top flight games are covered the way they are, I'm not sure it ever will.

[Rigadon]

Really well-written piece, which is totally right in its reasoning.  VAR has taken more away than its added. 

[Paul.S]

A refreshingly good read. Found myself nodding all the way through it and it also provided a justified kick up the backside for me when I criticise refs too much. It’s the instant joy and celebration when we score that’s the sad loss for me.

[Pat Mustard]

Absolutely brilliant and spot on.  Hadn't read this before posting on the VAR thread, but says everything about the absolute shambles it is far more eloquently and humorously then I ever could.

The thing about endless slo-mo replays and freeze frames to come to a conclusion is absolutely true - it can be used to justify any decision if you just stop the camera at the right time.  It's like when you see those videos of a helicopter taking off and it looks like the rotor blades are completely still - it's just what the camera is catching because of it's frame rate, it's not what actually happened!

[SaddVillan]

Great article and spot on about VAR.

Over a season across 38 games, good and bad decisions should even themselves out - with or without VAR, and refereeing decisions both for and against balance out.

The best team - the one with the biggest budget (with the exception of Leicester City) - wins the league and the worst side gets relegated

FA Cup matches are an entirely different matter. We all know that there's a conspiracy to prevent Villa winning it.

From being screwed in the draw to a shite refereeing decision (VAR or VARless makes no difference)  you can be sure we'll get shafted  somehow, someway; no matter what.

[LeeB]

Absolutely brilliant and spot on.  Hadn't read this before posting on the VAR thread, but says everything about the absolute shambles it is far more eloquently and humorously then I ever could.

The thing about endless slo-mo replays and freeze frames to come to a conclusion is absolutely true - it can be used to justify any decision if you just stop the camera at the right time.  It's like when you see those videos of a helicopter taking off and it looks like the rotor blades are completely still - it's just what the camera is catching because of it's frame rate, it's not what actually happened!

I too have been banging on about the slow-mo, it's ridiculous. There's good reason why Hollywood does it big explosion scenes in slow-mo, because it's far more dramatic

[Legion]

Done. Great article.

[ChicagoLion]

Very good article.

[frank black]

A refreshingly good read. Found myself nodding all the way through it and it also provided a justified kick up the backside for me when I criticise refs too much. It’s the instant joy and celebration when we score that’s the sad loss for me.

Me too. Others seem to be jumping around in absolute delirium when we score. I’m clapping and awaiting a VAR decision, it’s a nightmare for glass half empty folks like me.

[LeeB]

Nearly, Frank, nearly.

[PeterWithe]

Good piece which I entirely sympathise with, it's not going away though is it?

[LeeB]

Good piece which I entirely sympathise with, it's not going away though is it?

Like every shite idea in the modern world that's easily resolved, no.

[frank black]

Nearly, Frank, nearly.

Bugger it

[Ian.]

Excellent article. So very true in every words, I would just wish VAR would just go away and maybe take the big six with it.