I deliberately avoid using this column to rant about officialdom. Social media does that far better than I ever could.
But am teetering on the brink after last night.
That shouldn’t, however, detract from the fact that the overriding emotion after last night’s draw with Spurs was one of immense pride. Yes, there was exasperation in there too and obviously a sense of injustice, but after a difficult few months that was definitely one to be proud of.
We can’t swerve VAR (if only) but the first thing to say is how well City started the game last night. On the front foot, straight into their passing rhythm, winning every 50/50 and looking nothing like a side that believes its Premier League fate is all but sealed.
The changes made by Daniel Farke – perfectly sensible with such a heavy load over the Christmas/New Year period – worked nicely, and all four ‘new’ faces fitted in seamlessly, offering more of the same in terms of the system and the attacking intent.
As well as being great to watch, Spurs just couldn’t handle it. Mario Vrancic, him of the elegant disposition, the eye brows and left foot that can open a tin of peas, was imperious in the middle of the park against esteemed opposition; his eye for a pass allied to Emi Buendia’s trickery and tenaciousness was irresistible at times.
The opener from Super Mario may have been assisted by Juan Foyth’s carelessness but there was still plenty for the Bosnian to do. How we’ve missed someone, other than Todd Cantwell, who can regularly chip in with goals from midfield. Food for thought for Farke.
The calmness of the finish was a classic lesson in relaxing instead of tightening up in front of goal and, at the time, was no more than City deserved.
That VAR denied us a second still sticks in the craw, every bit as much now as it did last night. I hear those who describe VAR offside decisions in the same terms as goal-line technology in that it’s either a goal or it isn’t, but that’s clear cut, at a single millisecond in time, in a confined eight-yard space.
Offside has more variables: the timing of the pass, the width of the pitch, the proximity of attacker to the last defender and, while I’m no tech expert, is the technology really sophisticated enough to judge millimeters in those circumstances? And why should it? We have umpires call in cricket… should there not be a level of tolerance when the margins are so infinitesimal?
With, admittedly, my Norwich City bobble hat on, it felt like one that Stockley Park was looking to find a reason to disallow. I’m sure I’ve got that wrong though.
Still sticks in the craw. Was a goal in every sense. Or at least should have been. And that crossfield pass from Vrancic…
But still, City kept on keeping on. And they were good value for their half-time lead. Again. But we’ve seen that film before
Naturally, we all feared the worst after recent events but rather than City dropping off their level, it was Jose Mourinho’s changes, both in personnel and shape, that dragged Tottenham back into the game.
In addition to the energy and pace of Lucas Moura causing City far more problems, he found a way to stifle City’s attacking intent out wide, with Jamal Lewis and Max Aarons both finding it harder to get into those advanced areas. The speed and threat of Onel Henandez was also contained by the tweaks instigated by Mourinho, who himself cut a more subdued figure than we’ve seen in the past.
It was tough to contain Spurs as the game wore on and Dele Alli started picking up space in those pockets that give him time to link up with Harry Kane, but Christoph Zimmermann and Grant Hanley handled the threat well. Tim Krul was mainly there to organise and sweep up.
But one diagonal later and what looked like a clip of the heels of Lewis and Christian Eriksen was afforded the chance to equalise from his optimum range. The outcome had a horrible predictability to it.
Was it a foul on Jamal? It was probably inconclusive and perhaps it the effect of the green and yellow bobble hat again, but was certainly one of those that goes against us while we’re breathing the same, refined air as the Tottenhams, Arsenals, Chelseas and co.
But, I guess you could argue the misfortune (if that’s what it was) of conceding that free-kick was cancelled out when Spurs’ back four went into Keystone Cops mode. Yes, it was a massive slice of luck for the second goal but my god we deserved it. We’ve had none lately; it was well overdue.
That Kane had to go and ruin it by first of all winning the penalty and then converting it was a blow to the nether regions but despite VAR doing it’s thing again, we could have few complaints second time around. It was a pen. And in truth, Spurs’ second-half performance was deserving of a point.
It would be nice though if for once – just once – a VAR decision that really mattered came out on our side because right now it’s not done us a single favour. And it’s getting on my wick.
But, that aside, it was a performance of guts and guile, and showed that while some of us have resigned ourselves to a return whence we came, this group of players are still fighting for their lives.
And that’s all we can ask.
Not a single player from Spurs appealed that Pukki was offside, didn’t notice Mourinho complaining either, so since it wasn’t a “clear and obvious” error, why did VAR even need to review it?
Jamal Lewis was clearly pushed in the back, causing him to loose his balance and wave his arm around, so should have been our free kick. Erickson then moved the ball back about three yards to get a better distance for him to get it up and over the wall.
We was robbed!
Hi Jim
You’ve just done a spoiler for my piece tomorrow [which I sent to Gary before I read your comment].
We wuz robbed indeed!
Kane was offside leading up to the incident!
Loved live footie since I was about 7 years old. After yesterday not interested in going again VAR has killed the game. Watching Liverpool Wolves today just as bad. Cancelling Sky sports, No interest in mathematical decisions in football, rugby, cricket. Hate it. Its goodnight from me until VAR is done away with.
The problem with VAR is there is no umpires call. It’s accurate to about 30 cm and yet it’s allowed to make decisions when less than this distance is involved.
The powers that be are allowing these marginal decisions to destroy the game.
Due to illness I didn’t make last nights game but I’m glad I didn’t have to sit in the cold awaiting a decision from afar. Personally I’d prefer to leave it to the ref and accept he’s human and won’t be correct all the time, after all VAR is also not 100% but at least the ref doesn’t destroy the atmosphere.
Since the return of a fully fit Hanley I can’t help but feel he’s a better centre half than Zimmermann. Better in the air and neater ball control. Good to see Vrancic back as he’s a class act.
;But, that aside, it was a performance of guts and guile, and showed that while some of us have resigned ourselves to a return whence we came, this group of players are still fighting for their lives. And that’s all we can ask.’
Brilliantly summed up Gary.
You’ve covered the VAR incident very well and the sooner the stupidity of a player being offside by his head/armpit/knee is removed the better for the game. As the fans were singing – ‘it’s not football anymore’ – how true!!!! SURELY if the muppets at Stockley Park can’t reach a decision in 30 seconds, then the decision by the match officials should stand
I’d like to add that the crowd was immense last night getting FULLY behind the team.
Great piece Gary.
I was absolutely livid last night with VAR ruling out Pukki’s goal for ” offside”
I watched on Sky and their original ruling was it was disallowed because Pukki came back from an offside position before Vrancic’s wonderful pass was made. Got to be careful I don’t swear here, but that is called onside !!!
Realising their mistake they then said Pukki’s arm was in front off the Spurs defender by a few centimetres.
1) You cannot according to the rule book be offside via your arm.
2) Look at the shadows, the Spurs defender’s is way in front of Teemu.
3) Is it possible that “allegedly” a line was drawn to get to a certain outcome to cover up a mistake.
VAR must be used for clear and obvious, to disallow a goal like that is turning football into a farce.
I’m alarmed by the number of football supporters, not just City fans who are suggesting that VAR is forcing them to walk away from the game. I’m sure it’s a gut reaction after being on the wrong end of a tight decision but the powers that be would be negligent to dismiss public distain out of hand.
I’m sure that Championship teams pushing for promotion would be very happy to embrace VAR just for the Premiership money that comes with it and imo, that sums up the modern game. £sd.
I’m not currently a season ticket holder but get to see most home games. I cannot see a day when I will buy another ST.
Well written and politically correct too. Somewhere the words “Clear & Obvious error” have been misinterpreted Gary Lineker said that offside should really only need a quick check not 2 minutes worth of algebra and he’s 100% right. Bizarrely though the celebrations were muted as if it’s a given it will be disallowed even though it should never have been! but then Jeanas said the same.
I can’t the FA will change anything this season otherwise they will have to admit a blunder.
Really our play hasn’t deserved our results.
I think VAR is here to stay for one simple reason – its presence is a massive deterrent to the kind of wild leg-breaking tackle, and the sly off-the-ball incidents, that often used to litter games.
Players know they face instant retribution rather than, at worst, being cited after the game is over.
It was noticeable in the 2018 World Cup, which was the first time most of us saw it used extensively, that they were very few if any such tackles and incidents. There have been a couple of bad tackles this season but their incidence is much reduced.
But this issue of very fine margins for offside, or the faintest touch for a handball, is what’s ruining things.
The amount of time taken is frustrating too, though in truth it’s no slower than in rugby or cricket. We’ve just got used it in those sports, which are more stop start anyway. Ironically the call for referees to take a look on the pitch-side monitor – which I totally agree with – would in many cases slow it down even more.
Incidentally, it would have been interesting, had Krul saved the penalty, to see if a retake would have been ordered because Tettey had already broken from the 10-yard D when Kane made contact.
The leg breaking tackles and sly off the ball incidents had already drastically reduced because of the amount of television cameras covering games these days. VAR doesn’t look at them unless the referee has already made a decision, in which case they will either support his decision or advise him that he’s wrong.
I think there are two things at play, firstly referees are looking to undermine VAR, they don’t see it as a tool to help them but more like an officious boss trying to stop them doing their job, we are almost seeing a work to rule attitude in how VAR is used. secondly, the VAR ref made an incorrect interpretation last night, making an error in real time without the benefit of replays is acceptable and understandable but given the time and technology this is a massive error and suggests that this ref is not up to reffing matches
Absolutely spot on John, there’s nothing wrong with the concept of VAR – it’s just that the referees are making damn sure it doesn’t work by these ridiculous calls.. You may well have seen that there were equally ridiculous VAR decisions made against Brighton and Palace yesterday so I can’t believe it’s just coincidental. The VAR official for our match was Andre Marriner who should have been discarded years ago but the real problem is and always has been Mike Riley who’s in charge of them all. He was undoubtedly one of the main offenders when it came to giving the benefit of the doubt to the bigger clubs when he was officiating so what chance have we got with him in charge. I for one was really looking forward to this season in the hope that VAR was going to put an end to all this big club bias and give us a level playing field, what a complete fool I now feel.
If tennis and rugby can utilise video analysis to enhance decision making at the highest level of sport then it should not be beyond the capability of the referees at premier league level to do so as well. That is not currently the case in the majority of VAR decisions being made this season. There is a stench of utter incompetence throughout the governance of football at the highest level. It is not just Norwich that is being systematically failed by inadequate officialdom it is all the clubs that are being failed.
VAR will not work in the premier league until a complete review of its use sets a clearly defined criteria for decisions that can be overturned. A time limit must be invoked and not exceed say 30 seconds and must be carried out on a monitor at pitchside. The referees should be miked up and able to justify their decisions through the stadium tannoy system.
Having said all that it was a cracking match last night.
“A time limit must be invoked and not exceed say 30 seconds and must be carried out on a monitor at pitchside. ”
Agree with a lot of what you’ve said but 30 seconds is simply not realistic. In theory I don’t mind how long it takes if they get it right, although if after a couple of minutes it’s still not looking clear, that probably tells them something in itself. Also part of the incompetence of the football authorities is to fail to also adopt a clear “clock-stopping” system and policy whilst VAR is in use. I think they added 2 minutes on in the first half, but VAR took longer than that didn’t it?
It would be very interesting to know what Kevin Friend thought of the overrule yesterday. I suspect he might have been as frustrated by it as everyone else.
Kevin Friend was delighted I imagine, as he gave Spurs everything else he could all night!
Thanks for your comments Keith I said 30 seconds but agree that so long as the right decision is arrived at within sensible timeframe then that is ok, however anything much longer than 30 seconds would suggest to me that a review cannot conclude a clear fact based decision.Isn’t that what VAR is supposed to eradicate.
VAR is appalling isn’t it,your summing up of it is spot on Gary,I’m sure Crystal palace are thinking the same about their goal yesterday as well.
A couple of things we could have done to help ourselves though which seem not to have been mentioned, why on earth with only 10 mins to go and leading Spurs 2 – 1 was Lewis up near their corner flag and Trybull not far behind!!!! this led to the penalty, Zimmerman having to charge across to to try and cover the huge space at left back, if we were drawing or losing I get it, but surely at that stage a bank of 4 should stay put with 5 across midfield for protection…Spurs may still have scored but let’s not make it easy for them,is this down to Farke or indiscipline on lewis part?
Great as always Gary, thank you.
If VAR is to clarify “clear and obvious errors”, as it correctly did when the Sheff Utd player was initially sent off and then allowed to return, and wrongly disallowed Pukki’s goal, how did it not pick up on Kane’s obvious offside; the push in the back from Kane which made Lewis handle the ball; the free-kick being moved back and the wall being told to stand further from the ball than the rules say? For the penalty, there was a very heavy challenge on McLean in the build up, and if Zimmerman on Kane WAS deemed a penalty, the earlier challenge warranted at least a free-kick and possible yellow card. And with the “clear and obvious” tag-line, why did VAR not intervene when Villa were erroneously given the throw-in which led to their goal on Boxing Day?
It seems pretty obvious that the gurus in Stockley Park don’t want us in the Prem.
A fantastic performance last night; even though we’re now further away from our direct rival. As the Spurs fan with his family directly in front of me in the South Stand (how did they manage to get those tickets???) said, “no way would we have comeback from 2-0 down at half-time” .
Unless it can be sorted, VAR needs to be binned, and soon.
O T B C
Hi Gary
An excellent read and a cracking match to boot
Riley the overall supremo of the VAR system needs to be either removed or given clearer instructions on how to implement VAR.
As many people gave suggested Stockley needs an ex player with each Video team to give his or her opinion on any given incident during the game, Le Tiss said that this might even stop some being viewed by VAR.
The feeling that at the start Stockley were backing the REF’S decisions seems to have turned full face and more incidents are getting over turned.
The original law for offside was a player’s full body was to be infront of the opposing player not an Arm, Elbow or Knee cap.
The picture shown on Sky was at an angle not in a straight line so Pukki being offside looks like an optical illusion, but come Monday on Sky’s Ref Watch will agree with all the VAR decisions I can’t remember him ever saying that one decision was wrong he is a puppet for Riley.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Just to add that the ref at Villa Park , who gave Villa the throw in that lead to their goal, was the same bloke on Var duty who gave Pukki offside.
@John – It seems pretty obvious that the gurus in Stockley Park don’t want us in the Prem.
Precisely what I said to another fan yesterday after the game.
The ‘VAR’ referee was the SAME referee who officiated at Villa Park on Wednesday…………
Thanks Gary. A difficult one to write. We go 2-0 up and the game changes. But understandably heads went down a bit after the VAR decision. The folk at Stockley are attention seekers. Never in a million years was the refs decision a “clear and obvious” error. The instant joy of celebrating a goal has gone with VAR which either needs to be scrapped or the rules changed to end yesterday’s nonsense.
Half the season to go and if we can keep up yesterday’s performance level consistently over 90 minutes maybe, just maybe, we can pull off a great escape !
Having watched the sky and BBC edits yesterday, and having read all the excellent comments above, I am now at boiling point. The so called VAR line shows Pukki ONSIDE and yet someone in stockley has interpreted this otherwise AND believes a clear and obvious mistake has been made. I agree, it’s been made by the numpty in VAR land. He should be held to account, incompetence at best, are we allowed to ask if he’s a Spurs fan ?
Need to reinforce the unity the Spurs match has evidenced. I lent my ST so watched on Sky. A key aspect of the Sky live coverage for me was watching the coaching staff on our bench as well as the team: Everybody onside/focused This is more than a paycheck for them all. Visceral. Whilst constructive criticism is always valuable the wholly negative whingers on social media/elsewhere need to be challenged. Save it for 18 May 2020 onwards. TCN, ACN, MFW = One City Strong – Regardless of whether its a great escape or relegation.
As my wife and teenage children will tell you I am very rarely right about anything. I hope you will allow me some small sense of self satisfaction when it comes to VAR. When all this was mooted and pushed for by disgruntled managers and TV companies (mainly) who were more worried about their jobs than the good of the game I predicted that it was inevitable that it would come into the game and just as inevitable that it would be crap, wouldn’t work and wouldn’t improve things at all.
It would work for line decisions (ball over the line for a goal) but nothing else. It doesn’t work in cricket either in my view. There are many occasions when with my umpires eye and the benefit of replays it is clear that the ball tracking is rubbish, mainly because it tracks the line of the ball in a straight line from the point of impact rather than allowing for any further movement in the air. VAR in football was always going to be a disaster and so it has proved – it is typical of our times that we assume the technology is flawless so we blame bad interpretation and human error where the blame lies with both rubbish officialdom and rubbish technology.
The good news is that my smug “I told you so” attitude shows no sign of ending any time soon. TV LOVES VAR. It gets them “in the game” with constant replays and analysis to fill the increasingly rare moments of silence so now the door is open we will see it used for more and more decisions over the coming seasons……unless the authorities listen to the fans rather than the TV companies. How likely is that? All together now…….