So United won today on a goal that was clearly offsides. Because the FA Cup doesn't have VAR, it was never reviewed.     

I have to wonder how hard it is for linemen, who are used to letting marginal calls play out during the EPL season, to go back to calling something more critically when they don't have VAR to back them up. Seems like a bad set up.

Quote from: The Sultan on February 07, 2025, 04:26:55 PMSo United won today on a goal that was clearly offsides. Because the FA Cup doesn't have VAR, it was never reviewed.     

I have to wonder how hard it is for linemen, who are used to letting marginal calls play out during the EPL season, to go back to calling something more critically when they don't have VAR to back them up. Seems like a bad set up.

I understand the point, and the difficulty in switching mindsets, but he was far enough off that there really is no excuse for missing it. If it were close enough where you would have actually needed VAR, I could understand, but that was not the case.

As a United fan, I'm ok with it. I've had nothing else to enjoy this year

USWNT freezing in Houston against Colombia.

So I'm following soccer a lot more closely than I used to and I'm wondering why the FA Cup matches seem so much less fluid and sloppier than PL matches.

Are they using a different ball? I know subs get increased run in the earlier rounds, but even this weekend with most teams playing their top guys and matches between premier league teams, it seems sloppier. Is it my imagination? Everything just seems less cohesive.

IMO, when teams are facing any elimination game, they tend to play defensive and conservative.

Quote from: The Sultan on March 02, 2025, 05:21:47 PMIMO, when teams are facing any elimination game, they tend to play defensive and conservative.

I think there's a lot of truth to that. It does look like they use a different ball as well.

https://sports.yahoo.com/article/guardiola-criticises-fa-cup-ball-224036689.html#:~:text=Guardiola%20said%20he%20was%20not,the%20ball%20is%20not%20right.

So long, Old Trafford.

Manchester United have announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK - an "iconic" new £2bn 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford.
Once construction is complete, the club's existing home is likely to be demolished.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgprplz94yo

Quote from: Pakuni on March 11, 2025, 10:02:07 AMSo long, Old Trafford.

Manchester United have announced plans to build the biggest stadium in the UK - an "iconic" new £2bn 100,000-seater ground close to Old Trafford.
Once construction is complete, the club's existing home is likely to be demolished.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cvgprplz94yo

New Shattford is a strange name, but fitting

Interesting case of letter of the law versus spirit of the law in the Madrid Champions League game. Right call IMO, and I think Simeone is primarily raising a fuss to make sure that the headlines aren't focused on criticizing Alvarez, rather the "controversy".

Brutal loss for Liverpool.  Had chances, just couldn't convert.  Pretty terrible to get top first stage and then draw one of the best teams in Europe with one of the best managers in the world in the knockouts, but such is life.

Luis Enrique is a great dude and if you've ever seen him do interviews about his daughter who passed away from cancer in 2019, he's got a beautiful and inspiring viewpoint on it all.  I'm ok with seeing them take it down.