Premier League to Implement VAR for 2019-20

SocrManiac

Tommy Seebach’s mustache
SoSH Member
Apr 15, 2006
8,632
Somers, CT
I have been in favor of this for quite some time. Go figure, however, that VAR probably would have stolen a goal away from LFC last weekend. While a double-edged sword, I think overall the positives outweigh the negatives.
 

Bosoxen

Bounced back
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 29, 2005
10,186
So happy about this. With increased use, they'll be able to smooth out the rough edges so its use in the 2022 World Cup won't be as staggeringly bad as it was this summer.
 

Mighty Joe Young

The North remembers
SoSH Member
Sep 14, 2002
8,401
Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
Hate Hate Hate this. What you see is no longer what you get.

If they just use it for possible penalty decisions it would be reasonable - including offside calls is really dumb IMO. They will have to instruct the linesmen to err on the side of the offense - VAR isn’t going to be able to restore a legit breakaway erroneously called back.
 
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InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
21,753
Pittsburgh, PA
If they just use it for possible penalty decisions it would be reasonable - including offside calls is really dumb IMO. They will have to instruct the linesmen to err on the side of the offense - VAR isn’t going to be able to restore a legit breakaway erroneously called back.
Equals more goals, and equals less opportunity for defenders to just mockingly throw their hands up to "call for" a flag, rather than doing their goddamn jobs. I consider this a positive consequence. I realize slow-mo and video replay has made the offside call a precisely-defined one analyzed frame-by-frame like the Zapruder film, but its original intent was just to make sure strikers couldn't hang around the opposing goal waiting for a long ball over the defense. If we now get fewer breakaways called back for something less than an egregiously offside position, we will get a more exciting game and sport.
 

Mighty Joe Young

The North remembers
SoSH Member
Sep 14, 2002
8,401
Halifax, Nova Scotia , Canada
Equals more goals, and equals less opportunity for defenders to just mockingly throw their hands up to "call for" a flag, rather than doing their goddamn jobs. I consider this a positive consequence. I realize slow-mo and video replay has made the offside call a precisely-defined one analyzed frame-by-frame like the Zapruder film, but its original intent was just to make sure strikers couldn't hang around the opposing goal waiting for a long ball over the defense. If we now get fewer breakaways called back for something less than an egregiously offside position, we will get a more exciting game and sport.
The problem is you know they won’t do that .. Using video review for offside in the NHL was a disaster that was quickly and mercifully rescinded. I’m not expecting anything different from this experience in the Premier League.
 

The Gray Eagle

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 1, 2001
16,720
Unlimited VAR will slow things down and be annoying. I'd like to see them try it on a challenge-only basis, with a limit on the number of challenges a team could use, not per game, but per season.

Say each team gets 5 failed VAR challenges per season, no more. If you challenge a call and your challenge is upheld, you don't get charged for using one. That way, every time a team is clearly on the wrong end of an important call, they can challenge and go to VAR, but they shouldn't waste everyone's time challenging a call that really isn't important in terms of their season as a whole. If you challenge too much and you're incorrect too many times and run out of challenges and can't use one late in the season, then too bad, that's your own fault.
 

rguilmar

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
1,610
I watch wayyyyy too much La Liga, Serie A, and Bundesliga. And I haven’t really noticed much of a change in terms of speed of the game or slowing it down much. I remember reading a report regarding VAR in La Liga, and something like 1 in 3 games had actual reviews. Goals were up at the time and cards were at the lowest amount in La Liga history. Not sure if the Prem will use it like the other leagues, but it’s only really used for penalty decisions, missed potential red cards, and to review goals (particularly for offsides). For missed penalty decisions the video assistant notified the referee to review the play, or at least that’s how it seems. Most of the goal reviews are short. I’ve personally really liked the changes. The only drawback has been players asking the referee for a review, which I’m not sure the referee even has control over. I find it much less intrusive than replay in football.