The Rolling Football Thread: season 2024/25

[DuncinToffee]

Football fans join in to share the joy, the heartache and VAR frustration ⚽

“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don't like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that.”

No need for nerves now hope you enjoyed.

thank you - full of relief here! and can i say "WE ARE TOP OF THE LEAGUE!"
😁

@DuncinToffee I still feel a real pang for Highbury...

What is the plan for Goodison/new stadium?

Not Kanes biggest fan but had respect for him today when he refused to lift the trophy after beating Spurs.

Absolutely gutted to see Solanke leave have quite enjoyed having Bournemouth as my PL team whilst Saints took their sabbatical.

I know lots disagree but I don't have issue with having other teams which you half heartedly follow. Like Dunc I have a greater interest Arbroath, Gladbach, Everton and even Wednesday, plus the other teams that over the years I've felt attached too. Also managers, I have always followed any team that Hodgson has led, and despite disagreement with the board at NUFC, Eddie being there makes me hope they do well. Obviously until they play the Mighty Saints.

I'm the same. I keep an eye out for teams I've got an interest in via friends, or because they're oddities or something.

Heck, i even keep an eye out for Sheffield United (eek, i hope that doesn't cause ructions!)

https://ukgbc.org/resources/goodison-legacy-project/

@DuncinToffee WOW!

That was quick

Ryan Lowe leaves Preston NE by mutual consent

Yeah right, as if anything will happen

Hearing into Man City’s 115 alleged breaches set to start next month.

https://x.com/martynziegler/status/1823074153358061671

Also: outcome of Man City’s legal action against the PL’s associated party transactions due in next two weeks. There’s a belief that will be some successes and some defeats for City’s arbitration action.

Slap on the wrist here we come...

I have gotten into the habit now to check Arbroath's results. Love your stories

Awww thank you @DuncinToffee

I just wish they were better stories at the moment. 🙈 A guy we just signed in January has now left as well as one of the board members and another member of staff who was there for 17 years.

And then we had "pie gate". I can't remember if I mentioned it before but the club parted ways with the award winning butcher who had supplied pies for 17 years. And went to a local bakery who are ok but probably wouldn't be winning awards. They used to be 24h so most of the custom was the after pub clientele.

There was such a local uproar that within 24 hours they had arranged to get the butchers back for the kiosk pies and then the bakery for the hospitality pies. And we should get some doughnuts and cakes at the kiosks soon too which will be nice. 😁

That clears things up then

https://x.com/henrywinter/status/1823736669582807339

Players told premier league there were too many hand-balls last season. Players now advised by PL that not every touch of a player’s hand/arm with the ball is an offence and they are not expected to move with their arms behind back or by their side like pogoing penguins (not an official description in the Laws). Handball Law is simplified. No hand-ball if: justifiable position or action; a clear change of trajectory when touched by, or deflected from, the same player; played by a team-mate; hits supporting arm when a player falls; or proximity. Handball still fairly complicated but this should prove an improvement.

More from Henry Winter

Players and managers shown @ premierleaguesix-point VAR improvement plan....

1: Maintain high threshold for intervention. Aim for minimum interference, maximum benefit. ‘Referee’s Call’ (like Umpire’s Call in cricket) will stand unless, in the opinion of the VAR, based upon the evidence readily available, that call is a ‘clear and obvious error’.

2: Reduce delays. Semi-Automated Offside Technology anticipated to reduce offside check delays by 31 seconds.

3: Improve fan experience. Referees to announce VAR decisions in-stadia (pilot scheme). Replays & messaging to be shown on big screens with clips or screenshot of incident. PL to keep lobbying IFAB to extend flexibility to broadcast live video/audio.

4: Improve VAR training and consistency. Emphasis on speed of process while preserving accuracy. Recruit and develop pool of specialist VARs. Some recruits ready for this season.

5: Improve transparency and communication further. New @ PLMatchCentre
to help understanding of decisions. Facts only. Not opinion.

6: Develop ongoing education campaign to improve club, fan, media understanding of VAR purpose and processes.

@DuncinToffee FFS, why do they have to make it all so unnecessarily complicated?! If you have to come up with a detailed shopping list of when it isn't handball, that in itself tells you that the basic rule as currently drafted and interpreted isn't fit for purpose. If you want a laugh, look up the handball rule on the IFAB website sometime, complete with delightful paradigm illustrations of when it is and isn't handball.

Also, unless I'm missing something, the wording of the IFAB regulation is exactly the same for 2024/2025 as it was for last season, so how helpful are the PL's clarifications anyway? I thought referees would still be bound by the IFAB rules, not any PL spin on them? Otherwise, it would be one interpretation of the handball rule for PL games and another interpretation for all non-PL games, which can't be right. I didn't think individual competitions or leagues are allowed a margin of discretion in how they interpret or apply the IFAB rules (other than for just a few admin-related areas where individual competitions can vary certain rules). Or am I overthinking it?! (Brain now hurting.)

I don't think you are over thinking it. I think they may be under thinking it. Or possibly over thinking it so much that they've lost sight of what they were supposed to be thinking about...

It's going to be another mess I reckon

I'm sure the usual teams will benefit / lose out...

Bradley Dack is back!!! After being told it had fallen through thanks Kitman! he's come home. Waiting for his interview now.....

Just boosting this for anyone who wants to join since the season begins tomorrow.

On my eleventy-twelfth selection for my dream team now...

And of course the Ben White rule...

Ha me too - I keep chopping and changing 😂😂 anything to get both Haaland and Salah in there! Although I haven’t managed to do that yet, sadly 😭

What’s that? 😂

So Sheffield Wednesday have played 2 matches so far this season with 37 shots on goal. That is more (my feels not actual stats) than they had in the whole of last season 😂

Off to the match later, less than 12 hours to the start of the new PL season woo hoo. If you don't see me again, I've probably been arrested or something because our new ticket system hasn't worked!

Anyone else's club gone mad? United have introduced live QR codes which you can only download 3 hours before KO. I just know it's going to be mayhem tonight :(

One things for sure, if I get in, I won't be shouting "handball" at any moment!