I like VAR. I like the way it has been used in this World Cup and I like what it has done to the games so far. Here’s my top reasons to like VAR:
- It angers people who think it “slows the game down”
- It gets calls (mostly) right
- It could end diving
- It gives the referees a second angle on the action
- It allows referees to change their mind when they might have earlier been pressured to make a bad call
First off, it doesn’t slow the game down. If you watched any match coached by Sam Allardyce (or the France-Denmark match today), you know how ridiculous this argument is. Coaches know that there are three factors you need to control in a game: the space, the ball, and the clock. Teams play to kill the clock all the time. And since VAR largely takes place behind the scenes, as play is going on, it’s only slowing the game down when the referee either gets something egregiously wrong or wants to take a second look at the action because he thinks he missed something. It certainly doesn’t slow the game down any more than Neymar rolling around on the ground like a tumbleweed. Something that happens dozens of times a match.
Second, the laws of the game of football are highly interpretive. Intent counts for almost everything. Did the player intentionally handle the ball? Did the play act recklessly or with malice? These are the literal laws of the game and referees have to judge these subtleties all the time. Two referees can see the same tackle and come to two different conclusions.
But what VAR does is allows referees to see the action slowed down and also from a second angle and this lets them get the calls (mostly) right. They will never be 100% correct and fans will never 100% agree with the refs but at least the refs can use technology to make sure that they see fully what happened.
This also allows referees to fix mistakes. For example, Neymar won a penalty for a comical dive. In live action, it did kind of look like a penalty and I could understand the referee giving it. But then the VAR officials called down and told the ref he might want to have a second look, so he did, and he reversed his decision. That was one of the best calls of the whole tournament so far and it was made because the referee was granted multiple viewing angles and time away from the pressure atmosphere which surrounds Neymar.
The only problem I had with that call is that he didn’t book Neymar for diving. But there was slight contact and a tiny amount of tugging, so I can see why the ref decided that it wasn’t a pure dive but rather the more difficult to judge contact+dive.
But if VAR is used more widely, it could end diving all together – or at least the most egregious examples where there is no contact and the player goes down. That’s my dream anyway. For that dream to become a reality, referees are going to have to start booking players when they go down too easily.
All together, I like VAR and my only complaint so far is that it hasn’t been used enough! A sentiment that 77% of my followers on Twitter agree with. Now, if we could only get the dinosaur brains in the Premier League to agree, we might see a season in which Arsenal get treated fairly by the referees for once.
Very much agree with your Post.
There are those who say that VAR confuses them and reduces the game to a lottery because there are ‘no rules’.
There is a simple rule and it is a key one. The referees decision is final — umm, except when VAR is called into play, and then — the referee’s decision either to stick with his original decision, or to amend it is final.
How can that confuse anyone?
OK, the standard of refereeing introduces another variable element as to how this VAR referral can turn out as some of those officiating in the WC, at the behest of FIFA, to give officials from all the countries under their domain a chance to take part, are sometimes pretty weak.
Up to 7 behind the scenes dudes look at possible foul play that the ref has possibly missed — the ref is then put in the position of disagreeing with them and sticking with his original decision, if he believes he was right, and risk being torn apart in the ‘Court of Public Opinion’, or going with the flow and publicly agreeing with them, even if he privately thinks they were wrong. [The Ronaldo nonsense yesterday being a ‘midway’ example.
This is not the fault of VAR — but duff decisions are still being made because fallible human beings still interpret what they see — and get it wrong sometimes.
Me? I like VAR!!!
Unfortunately this whole subject gives Shard ‘n Freud the licence to expound on it for days on end, before politicising the whole deal.
Wait and see! 😀
Touche
Last sentence. I wouldn’t put too much hope in that. They give egregious fouls against Arsenal a lot. Much more than is understandable from just honest mistakes. And the pundits sit and say that this is correct because…. whatever reason.
But VAR will take away one excuse that the ref only sees it once at high speed. Or that his view was blocked etc. It takes away an excuse that cheating hides behind. And that’s why they don’t want it. They’re probably figuring out how to get around that.
Sorry, but the EPL is more concerned with selling their product through ‘marketing’ their narratives than fairness. No reason they wouldn’t suspend Spurs players later if that weren’t the case. We’ve already seen Moss ask his 4th official/assistant whether they heard something from TV. Unofficial testing of VAR is on in the PL and we have no idea what they are doing and why they would delay it (and yes, I know the clubs voted for that delay)
And on that Moss incident involving Kane and Lovren, they said offside was actually onside. They don’t even abide by the rules when it doesn’t suit them. I have no faith. They’ll probably ‘fix’ the angles they have to let them make the choice that is convenient. (I remember a ManU offside goal many years ago with replay shown from behind the goal)
Despite my total cynicism, VAR will be a step in the right direction. I think it’s reduced diving in Serie A already. And though it punishes a lot of ‘soft’ fouls, it is quite fair in how those standards are applied.
Mixed feelings about how it’s applied, because the human element doesn’t go away, the games yesterday offering a case in point (it caught the clear foul on Ronaldo for the penalty, but I still don’t know why that push on the Iranian player at the other end wasn’t reviewed, nor why Ronaldo avoided a red card…but there’s the human element).
One thing I like about it, though, is the added drama!
I agree about the added drama. It’s actually quite nice.
I wonder another thing: would people like a running tally of Arsenal matches that could have used VAR?
The two that spring to mind most are Rooney’s dive in 2004 and Babel’s against Toure in 2008 in the Champions League quarter final. Still seething about that.
Still seething as well.
One of the most frustrating aspects of the Rooney dive is that Sol Campbell read what Rooney was about to do and pulled back from making a full-on challenge. He should have been rewarded for that; instead he was punished.
Are you saying you have a running tally of Arsenal matches that could have used VAR? If so yes please!
Top of the list must surely be the 49th game of the Invincibles’ run at Old Trafford. It’s because matches like that are seared into my football memory that I’ve never taken a single anti-VAR argument seriously.
Not that interested in this World Cup overall, but turning global opinion in favour of VAR will be a great legacy for the tournament.
I’m loving it. Agree with every word.
Getting decisions as right as possible should be the priority. Iran would never have gotten a pen for a clear handball. Another ref would have, unfairly, sent Ronaldo off. Mike Dean without VAR would have.
Bring on game clocks that stop the clock, and reduce matches to an hour. They’d still run longer than 95 minutes.
What a pass from Banega,
Noted 🙂
Certainly, certainly noted. A peach.
Just to say though, that it’s either him or Xhaka in an XI, not both. He reminds me of vintage Arteta. Assuming, of course that he does arrive.
Agreed on him or Xhaka. Exactly what I thought as well. Though it could be 2 out of 3 from them and Torreira depending on the opposition.
Not convinced Banega is joining us though.
1. Also not convinced he’s joining us (though, now that Jack is gone, and after seeing the Argie game today, gotta say I’m feeling more positive about the prospect!).
2. That was a peach of a pass and so was the one that sent Di Maria (who was truly, truly awful all game) in on goal shortly thereafter
3. Agree with you guys about it being either/or with him and Xhaka. Or, in more conservative games, we could play them both if we *also* play Torreira/AMN, i.e. someone with mobility and bite, and push Banega forward a bit. I believe he played a lot at ’10’ for Emery, even though he’s clearly not really a ‘pure’ 10 of the Ozil or Bergkamp variety. On the other hand, in comfortable games at home where the opposition are a) pretty bad, and b) going to sit back, we could play just Xhaka and Banega (though in the PL these days, there aren’t too many games against teams who won’t give you trouble if you’re soft defensively). So I take it back: it’s not either him or Xhaka, but it’s certainly fair to say they’d play similar roles for the team.
Cleary I have to get over losing Jack for nothing. When I force myself to do that, I can see the logic in getting Banega for around the reported £16m. He faded a bit in the second half today (not entirely his fault), but he was 100% the difference between this Argentina team looking like an absolute shambles and it looking like a half-decent team, at least for spells in that first half. What stood out to me was his intelligence: you could see him constantly directing traffic, gesturing to his teammates, and not in that shouty, showy Flamini-type way, but telling them the most intelligent thing to do with the ball when under pressure. If he’s content with not being a guaranteed starter, he could be a really valuable squad player for us.
I agree with everything you said there. He’s clearly faster in the head than in the legs, but he’s a very, very intelligent player, and, given that Messi was triple-teamed most of the time, Banega was the head-and-shoulders difference between th sides, more particularly, as you said, in the first half
Till yesterday, I wasn’t convinced that we should go for him. Now I totally understand why Emery would want him, and you know, I want this transfer to happen. It’s far from done, but hey, let’s fantasise a bit.
Ive slightly changed my mind about whether he and Xhaka can play together. They can, though not in an Arsenal first choice XI. Xhaka isnt pacy, but he can play forward midfield. If, say, we have an injury crisis and Ramsey is out for a spell (as he surely will be if he extends), Banega can be Xhaka (the orchestrator), and Xhaka, with that sweet left foot, can be Ramsey. AMN too. It’s a tactical change option.
But given the old piece of conventional wisdom that you need two players for every position, here’s how I think we look in midfield…
Orchestrator — Xhaka, Banega
B2B — Ramsey, Xhaka (+ AMN)
Sitter/Holder — Torreira, Elneny (+AMN)
Ferryer/dribbler — Miki, Torreira (+Iwobi)
No 10 — Ozil, Banega
Obviously, some players fill more than one role, which is good. We also need an out and out winger, tom rotate with Miki right, or play left.
Banega even tackles a little clumsily like Xhaka. 🙂
I had a similar thought process to claude about our midfield options. It seems to me that Emery (or Sven?) is looking at building a team that can lose players and have ready made replacements ready to step in.
Xhaka/Banega – deep lying playmaker
Torreira/AMN – defensive minded but technical dribbler
Ramsey/Elneny – All action, high stamina runner (I expect Elneny to be more expansive with his passes if used in this role, and I think he could blossom)
I like claude’s classification method too, and I agree that we could use a winger to carry the ball. Maybe Gelson Martins? On a free? (Ongoing court case)
Ozil, Miki, Auba… with Iwobi, Perez (or Martins) and Laca as the reserves.
The only reason I can think of for the EPL to refuse to adopt VAR (according to some reports, it’s the only top league to do so) is because the League is fully aware that its referees are bent and is unwilling to give up the ability to direct referees on which calls to make or ignore. Ergo, it will also direct pundits to continue to peddle the rubbish about calls “evening out over the course of the season” which we all know is a complete fabrication.
We will look back in a year or so and wonder how we ever managed without it.
What is not to like about more good decisions being made?
And it will stop both diving and holding at set pieces as the players realise, as per the England game, that rugby tackles and forearm smashes, or any combination of the two, will be punished.
I’m just amazed that more haven’t been (Mitrovic should have had at least one penalty in the Switzerland game), despite the availability of VAR.
The ONLY downside is that the prevailing ill discipline of the pre-VAR era means that this World Cup may well be decided by a penalty resulting from a VAR spotted infringement rather than a moment of open play brilliance.
But players and teams will adapt, allowing the game to become even more free flowing.
Next step mic’d up refs and zero tolerance for dissent!
It amuses me that the league that uses one match ball which at times disappears into stands for 20 seconds or so,, and the league that allows keepers to notoriously take their sweet time putting it back in play would give as the main reason for rejecting VAR that it slows the game up.
A geriatric Wenger was at the forefront in supporting it ,while the hipster Klopp against it.
I hope next time refs fu#k him over on a call and cost Liverpool points, he will be foaming at the mouth the way he always does when calls cost him.
It’ll be quite enjoyable a sight 🙂
VAR was absent in the Germany-Sweden match when Boateng brought down the CF who was in on goal. Should have been a card and a PK.
For a defending WC champion, Germany has not been convincing in this campaign.
I’m still waiting for a team which can play up to their hype and give us a dominating performance against a strong opponent.
Yep, agree totally, VAR is a great move forward and will only get better and better.
The only people in the game who don’t like it are cheats and Mike Riley, which has a certain symmetry about it.
More VAR for me please…
Reason why I love wenger beyond football is his vision and sound thinking.he’s being advocating for VAR for the league for sometime and no one gives him hearing.now evry1 sings VAR and forgets all he’s said towards it. What a world
One of the best reasons to like VAR is that a lot more penalties are being called which forces the defensive minded teams to come out of their shell when they are a goal down and that makes the game more exciting.
Well well well. Sevilla have signed Roque Mesa. A player who was among my list to replace Santi a couple of years ago based on whoscored data and youtube. Sevilla are a selling club. They could be concerned about being OVER30FC more than Arsenal are. A decent offer for either Nzonzi or Banega might see them sell. My doubt is if Banega would want to come to a new country, and play less. Here Emery’s relationship with him might help. We wait.
From the Ministry of Silly Blog Comment Rhymes…
I say, the game will go far with VAR.
It might not quite make it sublime
but the game will improve with VAR if it’s given time.
Positive change is nothing to fear
For more, there’s a good read here:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jun/26/var-world-cup-2018-verdict-so-far-sachin-nakrani
The thing about VAR is that, as Tim says, there’s still going to be wrong calls because there will always be a human element involved in each decision. I can understand people who think it changes the game too much, I have sympathy for that perspective, but people who think that VAR is a failure or pointless if even one call gets incorrectly made are expecting way too much.
No system is going to result in every single call always being called correctly. VAR is about implementing a system that’s an improvement…it’s never been about implementing a system that is perfect.
Man, Germany are garbage. I’m sure it will all be Ozil’s fault somehow. I guess the upshot is that he’ll return in time to start the season!
Timo Werner is one of the worst Number 9s I’ve seen this tournament.
Amazing for South Korea, but Germany could play another 90 minutes and not score. Werner was unbelievably bad. How did Sane not get in that side???
Amazing finish to the game. And VAR ensuring that an absolutely critical goal stood instead of being wrongly called offside.
I feel for Mesut. There’s an awful lot of sh1t coming his way. Much of it, unfortunately, from Arsenal fans.
For Germany, not so much. They didnt have a single good game of the three, and were lucky not to be beaten 3-0 by Mexico.
I thought Ozil had a good game, actually. He would have had at least two assists if Werner (volley went wide) and Hummels (shoulder) had been sharper. I did somewhat enjoy Neuer’s brain farts this tournament. Too many players got picked for that German side based on reputation rather than form. Kimmich was poor for Bayern this season, Neuer hadn’t played since September, Khedira is a spent force, etc.
That’s what I really meant to say, Bun. That Ozil didnt play badly, and at least one of those near-assists seemed unmissable. But, Hummels. Mesut’s got ‘scapegoat’ written across his forehead, and is constantly a victim of lazy analysis. Cant wait to see how BBC viewers vote… not.