24 Feb 2020 18:28:15
I'm thinking someone could send out live coverage of Stockley Park as a reality show.
They could explain some of their decisions, on unclear and ridiculous errors being made by them even after looking at several camera angles.
I'd thought that VAR was much needed to help the refs, but I'd rather do without it.
What happened last weekend is a disgrace, some of these officials should be fired.

1.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 19:09:16
the reason we needed var was because we had poor refs, who watch's the screens in the var room? the same poor refs, that's why you get inconsistently poor decisions the real problem was never addressed, it seems to work almost fine everywere else.

2.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 19:51:41
Rick Dallas - Spot on, our refs are truly poor &, as you say they are the same ones checking VAR. How anyone can watch the Lo Celso foul at the weekend and not send him off is beyond sense.
I repeat my suggest that we fast track retiring profession players as the next generation of refs. They have played and understand the game. To attract retiring players to become refs, increase the salary for PL refs to say £500,000 per annum, paid for by a small levy on PL clubs salary bill.

3.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 21:00:18
And the refs and var at the last world cup?
I think our refs are brilliant, 97% accuracy on a split second decision?

Personally I think that's extremely impressive and I wouldn't fancy my own chances of getting anywhere close to 97% even with an action replay or two.

The reason people think our refs are worse is because they are who we see most of, I bet if you asked French German and Spanish fans most would think their refs are worst.

It's called negative bias and we all do it without realising it.

4.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 21:27:56
Nailed it, gunner62.

5.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 21:44:43
Cheers OT mate.

6.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 22:37:38
Spot on 62 - add the speed, camera coverage, intensity and amount of aggression in EPL game Vs some of the other leagues. Although a leg breaking tackle on a car replay is the same across Europe.

7.) 24 Feb 2020
24 Feb 2020 23:34:10
Absolutely SY, there will always be things that puzzle everyone but the person making the decision at the time but we have to taken an overall view rather than make an assessment based on the best or worst individual decisions we can find.
The trouble with all of us is that the more passionate we feel about something the more incapable we are of being objective about it.
Hence confirmation or negative bias.

8.) 25 Feb 2020
25 Feb 2020 08:28:40
I don’t believe for one moment that refereeing is easy, particularly at the top where the speed of the game is astonishing. However, too many decisions are simply wrong and although I agree with VAR, the criteria seems flawed. Firstly we need a pitch side monitor for the ref to use. Secondly, we need to train a panel of VAR observers from retiring players. We also need a system to correct wrongs such as the Lo Celso incident. The rules in terms of handball and offside require attention. Two of the points in respect of offside that should be clarified. 1. If you are on the pitch you are interfering with play. 2. You are offside whether it be a millimetre or a metre. If you truly believe our refs are the best, you are living in a fantasy. I prefer the refs I see in the CL. The Italian refs are been the best I have seen, the Spanish are decent too. Their refs look younger and fitter. The best ref I witnessed was the retired Italian Collina (the bald one) .

9.) 25 Feb 2020
25 Feb 2020 10:01:48
Did I say they were the best? If so that was a bit silly of me because I haven't seen all the rest to declare anyone the best worst or whatever.
I think premier league refs are absolutely excellent and to get 97% of decisions correct is brilliant.
I also think the doctors and nurses in the UK national health are fantastically brilliant to, do they ever make mistakes and get things wrong? Yes unfortunately it does happen but overall they do an exceptionally brilliant job in my opinion.
When I'm perfect myself then watch out everyone else because I will expect the same from you all but until I get there myself I will accept other people's imperfections as I've come to accept the lorry load I have of my own ;-)

{Ed047's Note - no you didn’t say that at all mate

10.) 25 Feb 2020
25 Feb 2020 10:48:18
Cheers Ed047 mate, I didn't think i did but I have been known to get carried away in the past :-) my missus keeps reminding me that 3 inches really isn't a foot, but then I feel the need to remind her that some women consider 3inches to be just that bit to wide for them personally :-)

{Ed047's Note - love it mate! 🤣

11.) 25 Feb 2020
25 Feb 2020 17:48:29
It will always be difficult for refs when (some) players are always out to take a dive. I hate that part of the game : (.

{Ed047's Note - any attempt to con the ref is bad and sadly it seems like a big part of the game Sally and I don’t like it all either.

12.) 25 Feb 2020
25 Feb 2020 19:18:30
Excellent point Sally, the same players and managers who are complaining about Refs mistakes week in week out are quite happy to accept their players and team mates doing all they can to con the ref into a mistake.

I'd be more than happy to see Guendouzi Torreira and Lacca receive 10 game bans for any future diving if it was applied across the board to all players of all clubs, it would stop instantly and managers would go mad at any player who did it.

13.) 26 Feb 2020
25 Feb 2020 23:59:42
I reckon a simple red card would be enough Gunner.

14.) 26 Feb 2020
26 Feb 2020 07:48:58
Your probably right Sally as long as it was retrospective if the refs missed it and was enforced 100% of the time.

15.) 26 Feb 2020
26 Feb 2020 12:55:34
I work about 500meters from the Stockley base, shall I pop over and get them to sign up to arsenal rumours so they can give us an insight into their ridiculous decisions?

16.) 26 Feb 2020
26 Feb 2020 16:05:52
I don't think we would we be any the wiser only more confused than ever if they explained their baffling decisions mate.
Obviously the systems that is in place now is much much worse than what we had before, so either ditching completely or change it quickly before your audience start to drift away never to return.