@richardwoods@hallenbeck@coys@spurs Agreed on the manner of it, but I don't think you can quibble too much with the substance. Amazing the difference it makes when you can see what the VAR people are seeing and hear what they're saying.
No arguments with the substance or outcomes at all. Was certainly a red. Udogie should have had a red for his first two-footed tackle, too.
Totally agree it makes a big difference being able to hear and see the analysis. I thought that video humanises the referee, too. All seemed very reasonable.
My only criticism would be that they should tighten up on all the "mate" language. The optics aren't good on that kind of familiarity and informality.
That game was interesting in many way. The players were hyped. We're told Ange does that. He's a terrific motivational speaker and gets them fired up.
Against Arsenal and Liverpool, that worked, but something was different against Chelsea. Romero, for example, has been controlled all season, but lost it.
Add to that Bissouma's loss of form, perhaps due to the yellows and suspension hanging over him: his lack of presence leaves the back line more exposed.
Add to that we are the most fouled team this season (Maddison now out until 2024 due to ankle kicks he's sustained), with no PKs and most touches in opp box...
Add to that a lack of yellows against us, but plenty for...
So we're comfortably the most fouled team (numbers are per 90)
We've got second most number of yellows
But we're only mid-table for number of fouls we make.
My guess would be frustrations in a hyped up game where decisions are perceived to favour the opposition and not us and a mounting sense of injustice, even a reformed and more controlled Romero is going to pop eventually.
Credit to him though, he's been terrific most of the season.
@hallenbeck@richardwoods@coys@spurs 100%, yes. It's uncanny reading your description of your current situation and feeling the deja vu! (We need not to be getting it so bad this season, but remain baffled that Grealish is supposedly fouled four times as much as Salah!)