KB1862

It's been a horrible day in terms of the weather today. It wasn't a very pleasant cycle to work this morning. I left at 5.30 am and thought I was only going to be hit by rain but it wasn't rain, hail or snow. I wouldn't even say it was sleet. It was like sharp frozen rain drops, it comes keen when it comes into contact with cheeks. The weather didn't know what it was doing today. Sleet, Rain and a bit of heavy Snow. It was a whole mixture of things. I'm not a massive fan of cold weather but I'd take the minus temperatures we had a few weeks back over this cold & wet weather. Roll on Summertime. ???? Apparently they're predicting a part 2 of the beast from the east we witnessed in 2018.

I'm the same, it's nice to see a team like Luton mixing it up with some of the big hitters of the Premier League. They aren't a team to be taken as pushovers and they've shown it. At the start of the season, it was looking like it was too much of a big step for them to take but as the games have gone on they've certainly held their own. 8 goals and 4 points in 2 games against both Brighton and Newcastle, it's a great achievement for a newly promoted side. I hope they don't become the new version of Blackpool where they become that team that almost everyone roots for to stay in the league only for them to ultimately get relegated. They are a breath of fresh air for the Premier League. Plus, they've got a togetherness about them and their players are relishing every opportunity. Ross Barkley has been in terrific form for them and I'm glad to see that he's finding the ability that he's not been able to utilise in recent seasons. A credible option for the Euros.

Makes me laugh that they're announcing this like it's breaking news. It's been clear and obvious (bit of VAR talk there) for a long time now that VAR has been ruining some of the enjoyment in the game. Especially those who go to the fans in attendance at games. Not to mention the fact that on ref watch they have on Sky Sports they highlight so many failings from previous weekends action. But, 20 wrong decision calls seems very low. They've got to have missed many decisions off the list to make the number seem better. There's always talk about improving VAR but the only thing they've done is "VAR will not re-ref the game". How about they follow the Women's World Cup and have footage of incidents and allow the ref to be mic'd up so that the whole stadium can see and hear what is going on and for the referee to explain their decisions. That would be an improvement. VAR can be good for the game but it has to be correctly used and it needs to be speedier.

Euro 2020 (in 2021) Patrik Schick scored for this audacious effort for Czech Republic (now Czechia) against Scotland. Caught the keeper off his line, hit it first time from just inside the opposition half and the way it bends outwards in to lob David Marshall. A goal made sweeter at the fact it was scored against Scotland who were in the same group as England ????

Because that would be re-reffing the game, which is what VAR doesn't want to do because fans, players, managers and pundits thought it was disrupting the game which it would do if that was the case. The game played on, Nigeria scored, if there was no incident than Nigeria would have been 2-0 up. But, if he had stopped it there and then with no incident, what happens then? Drop ball, resume play placing everyone back in to their exact positions of when the ref stopped it? It's essentially what you're taught as a youngster, play to the whistle. Referees should make their own decisions and if they make the wrong call VAR will highlight the mistake and see it as an error by the official. Unfortunately VAR is too heavily relied on and it's a get out of jail free card for all referees now.

I strongly believe that out of all 4 divisions (Premier League, Championships, Leagues 1 & 2) the Championship is by far the most competitive. It's unpredictable and there are quite a few games that have outright favourites losing to clubs lower down the league. The parachute payments make it easier for the clubs relegated from the Premier League to bounce back and we get those Yo-Yo clubs but outside of that it's never a foregone conclusion as to who will be promoted. I think, as Notts found out, the National League is possibly the hardest to get out of due to the fact that there is only 1 automatic promotion place with 6 teams entering play offs and when it comes to the play offs all the hard work done during the season is thrown out the window and it becomes a sprint rather than a marathon so to speak. The Premier League is still the best league in the world, in my opinion, but it's losing its edge slightly in terms of competitiveness. There's still a few results that go against form and league positions but those kind of results are dying out the more seasons go on and it's getting to the point of the team with the most money gets the job done in the end. It's getting to the sort of Bundesliga/Ligue 1 sort of competitiveness where the bigger clubs buy out the best players from lower clubs and the gap widens.

@Robbie Love hearing Micah Richards version of events whenever this goal is mentioned on a podcast, he gets so defensive about him not being the one at fault ????

@Robbie I started watching this game when there was 15 minutes left of normal time and I was gonna come to this point. It showed how useful VAR can be when used correctly. I do agree with your point about the referee not blowing for a penalty in the first place. When watching the replays, it was clear to see that the referee could not have been in a better position to see the incident than he already was. He was a few yards behind, looking directly at the incident. I mean from a neutral fans perspective, it made for a dramatic entertaining end to the game. Nigeria going 2-0 up and looking set to secure their place in the final only for them to have that lead snatched away and then have to go for another half an hour. I do feel the play went on for too long for it to be pulled back though. However, as I mentioned it was VAR being useful. The referee missed an incident and VAR intervened which is what it is there for "a clear and obvious error". It was the right call but without VAR it would have been totally different. Unless the referee would have given it without VAR being involved and having to make the call in real time himself knowing that VAR won't come to the conclusion. On to the other incident, it's understandable why VAR was used for that because of where the foul took place. It was always going to be a red card, rightly so, but they needed to determine whether or not it was inside or outside the box that the actual contact was made. Both decisions still took too long to come to any conclusion and it needs to be quicker but the main thing is both decisions were 100% correct and that's what is needed from VAR.

I think a cap is a more appropriate solution than the current rules or this new proposed rule. It would still benefit the bigger clubs to a certain extent but would also make it more competitive. Capping wages and transfers sort of levels out the playing field while also allowing clubs to sustain themselves because of the cap. As long as the cap isn't massively above what teams can actually spend.

Even if they do change the rules, they still shouldn't let Man City off. They'll probably try spin it saying that the new rules means no offence has been committed but the offence was committed before the rule change so irrelevant of the new rule change, when they implement it, they still should be punished. So, if they do change the narrative on Man City then they should also do the same with Everton. Be interesting to see how it plays out. The whole thing plays in to the hands of clubs that have the most money. Chelsea and Man United aren't the big hitters they used to be. Newcastle and Aston Villa are mixing it up there. I wonder if that's why they're changing it? Making it easier for teams of the "big 6" to keep up there and the rest struggle to keep pace. Anything to keep them clubs happy no matter how negatively it effects others. They're also probably doing this because clubs have had a quiet transfer window due to the fear of being punished for FFP spending. Premier League clubs have for a long while not been the biggest spenders in the transfer window. That is also a factor for this change I believe.

In 2002, Dennis Bergkamp scored this incredible goal against Newcastle. To this day, there's still debate on whether or not he meant it. From the podcasts I've listened to when Bergkamps ex-team mates mention it, they say it was 100% intentional and he did this regularly in training. Given the ability Bergkamp possessed, I wouldn't put it past him for this to be intentional. The way he swivels the defender, manages to shrug him off and then calmly slot it in to the corner.

Flashback to 1995, I was just 2 years old when Tony Yeboah scored this absolute cracker against Liverpool for Leeds United.

Since I missed yesterday, I'll post a double for today. Both goals Notts related. Firstly, 3 years ago, Elisha Sam scored this worldie against Oxford City in the FA Trophy Quarter Final. Secondly, sticking with the FA Trophy, 4 years ago Michael Doyle scored this sensational stoppage time winner. The commentary speaks for itself.

@Fozzy Wasn't that Sunderland? Because I remember seeing a few posts of him posting about Sunderland and then Sunderland fans tweeting about him deleting the comments and being confident they were going to sign him. Maybe it was both clubs but I do agree that someone has obviously come in for him but Notts declined the offer. There was a speculative rumour floating around that Notts had rejected a £3m offer from an unnamed Championship club early in January. So it could be either of those I guess. There was certainly a lot of interest. Bolton, Birmingham, Middlesbrough, Sunderland amongst the main names.

I listened to the game on the radio and from what I can gather, it didn't sound like the greatest game of football but Notts can feel very hard done to not to have got at least a point from the game. The referee didn't seem to have a good game either. Stal was gesturing for a card on one of the Mansfield players for a cynical foul, which is a bookable offence anyway, but also because it was apparently the 3rd time he had committed a foul. There was also claims for a penalty for a potential foul on Langstaff. 13 shots and just the 1 on target. That's a poor stat to have in a game. It sounded like we were getting there but no urgency to properly attack or make any sort of great chance to find an equaliser. The best of the bunch that I heard of on the radio was Jodi Jones hitting it over after capitalising on a mistake by a Mansfield player. Baldwin sounded like he had a very good game at the back. Stone also sounded like he did well between the sticks and made some good saves. It's not great losing to a rival like Mansfield but it's not as bad as the 4-1 defeat we suffered at Meadow Lane earlier on in the season I suppose.

In 2013, Jack Wilshere scored this fantastic team goal with a delightful finish for Arsenal against Norwich. This is one of my all time favourite Premier League goals.

FFP was enough to worry teams it seems. I'm guessing that given the Everton points deduction, Forest and Everton facing punishment as well as Man City being taken to a hearing was enough to make clubs think twice before splashing the cash.

@Piethagoram It's possible but I have to admit I'm surprised that bids didn't come flying in for Macca or whether the price wanted by Notts was too much for some to even try.

I've seen this account on Twitter a lot recently, especially yesterday, but I wouldn't read too much into it. Doesn't seem to be very reliable with information but who knows maybe we were in for him. Considering he signed for Motherwell on loan before this, I don't know why they would have accepted a bid for him.

Sticking with the underrated goal theme, in 2004 Patrik Berger scored this against Charlton. Brilliant technique and volley.

@super_ram I always wondered why he never hit the ground running as much as he could or should of at Derby. He's certainly capable of bagging goals but it never worked out for him at Derby but if he wasn't being used well by Lampard, it's understandable as to why he never did as well as he could have.

Good striker tbf. I agree with that tweet, he will get goals in League 2. He definitely is a player capable of playing at a higher level.

Rewind to 2010, Johan Elmander scored this delightful goal for Bolton against Wolves. Great balance, footwork and finish. It doesn't get talked about as much as it should. I'll be posting a different goal each day. Feel free to add your own goal of the day. There's bound to be some absolutely beauties to see.

Yeah I read about this when they first announced reformatting the UCL. They basically want teams that have history and reputation to be in the competition more. There was a lot of fans angry and annoyed at this proposition. Quite rightly too. Take Chelsea for example, since Abramovich came in in 2003, they've been a regular feature in the Champions League and have won it twice. Even if they position how they are currently, they could still earn a place due to history. I think that idea may have been squashed but essentially this is exactly what UEFA opposed about the Super League so essentially if they were to go that route and stick with the idea, they're going to be hypocrites. Personally, I think the Champions League should be what it states CHAMPIONS. They have a UEFA Coefficient Standings so why not utilise it? The champions of the top 10 nations, based on the coefficient league, play out a league or even a straight knockout format rather than having 4 or 5 different clubs being able to enter it. Also, if you get eliminated from the UCL, teams should be out of Europe all together. None of this nonsense about relegated to the Europa League than relegated to Europa Conference League. Once you're out of your European competition you have "earned" the right to play in, that's it over done. All these things put in place by UEFA, the FA etc. they make it sound beneficial to the game for everyone but read between the lines, it only increases the dominance of the already elite and keeps them there for a long while, as you've pointed out.

Yeah I think he's capable of adapting, who knows the adaption may prove even more beneficial. It could bring him more in to play and open up options elsewhere or be able to link up play and get into even better positions than he already does.