01 Jan 2020 07:56:38
Hello Everybody . Welcome to 2020.
Since, we are all talking about marginal offside calls, measured in millimeters even, i would like to state the positive factor in this issue.
Manchester City, esp. Sterling, Aguero, jesus thrive on early runs to get behind the line, same with Mane and Salah. The deceptive runs/ attempts to run in behind is perilously critical to a back four maintaining an offside line. If we recall this strict offside rule back and say we accept these players being a few millies and centimetres offside, then we are going to be giving in to these players. Because added with the knowledge that he is allowed a leeway of a few inches, Raheem sterling alone can cause mayhem in the premier league., not to mention about the others.
Cheers.

1.) 01 Jan 2020
01 Jan 2020 09:15:34
I think the only people going out about it all the time are the pundits, if we give them leeway how much offside do you have to be and an inch or a foot then there is still going to be some one that's a millimetre over that. Is it not the same with goal line technology the ball was only 2 millimetres form being over the line give them there goal. if a player is just offside the defence has held there line good.

{Ed001's Note - the line is a fixed point and so the accuracy is excellent. Offsides are being measured in mm but the accuracy is nowhere near that good. So they could actually be onside by a significant margin when VAR is giving them offside. That is why you should give a bit of leeway, because otherwise we are likely to be getting the wrong decisions.}

2.) 01 Jan 2020
01 Jan 2020 09:37:32
Ed, happy new year!
Where you stand on VAR’s place in the game overall?
For all the current arguments against it, I simply cannot agree to go back to a game that is adjudged solely by Atkinson, Moss, Taylor et al. Their atrocious performances were ruining the enjoyment for me far more than any wait for VAR.

{Ed001's Note - just needs to be run by an independent body that's all.}

3.) 01 Jan 2020
01 Jan 2020 11:31:55
They are offside or not if there not interfering with the play why are they on the pitch then?

4.) 01 Jan 2020
01 Jan 2020 12:28:08
My two cents for a simpler decision. They put a line where the defender is and they put a line where the attacker is. If those lines between the defender and attacker overlap then maybe it is too marginal and a decision of offside should not be given. If there is grass between the lines then offside should be given.

5.) 01 Jan 2020
01 Jan 2020 13:56:43
I am with you, Ed and Barnesboy. The whole "you are either onside or offside" is a pathetic argument cos one could say that you could also be level and in that way, we used to allow goals to stand so why stop that cos we have VAR?

The fixed line is fine cos well, that was the way it was being adjudged before VAR came into effect. The issue here is as you say, measuring offsides based on milimeters or even a quarter inch. For me, that is just a disaster waiting to happen cos you cannot be that accurate all the time, hence the issues we are having. The ref should be given full discretion to say "No, that is not enuff to call offside as it is TOO close to call so the decision on the pitch stands". Hence IMO if it is that close, some leeway needs to be given and let the play or goal stand if a goal was indeed awarded. If there is clear daylight then give it. Fans used to understand that it is too close to call. Just my opinion.

6.) 01 Jan 2020
01 Jan 2020 18:49:21
Would the best thing not be for the ref to have a pitch side monitor and if someone is watching it and thinks he may have got a decision wrong, then he can check it for himself.

7.) 02 Jan 2020
02 Jan 2020 10:43:13
I agree that the technology is not good enough to be dealing with mm's. Therefore how about making the defenders line 3 or 4 times thicker than the attackers. This way we can use the current technology while making sure that is beyond reasonable doubt.