I know the rules of the game. Pickfords tackle on VVD was a red. Wasn’t given. And so many off sides are being given when it’s not clear no matter how many times you watch it.
VAR will get it right, I’m sure, but right now I don’t think it is.
As for empty stadiums, I get why they are emptied and it is the same for every club. But the whole planning for this season has been poor. Injuries are at a record high. 2, sometimes 3 games a week. Some clubs being forced to play u18s in cup tournaments or playing their leg at a neutral ground. Integrity isn’t there at the minute. It’s just money talking.
I mean, what kind of world do we live in where players can squeeze into a coach, squeeze into a changing room, grapple and wrestle for the ball every time there’s a corner..... but can’t celebrate together or shake hands afterwards?
I don't get the emotion about shaking hands. You've just spent 2 hours at war against your opponents, tackles crunching in, elbows flying, rows on the touchline, running arguments on the pitch, passion everywhere. Then the first thing you have to do after the whistle is shake hands. Klopp v Barcelona comes to mind. Its not just a football thing either.
Playing twice a week is routine at this level. Klopp will never agree with me, but imo playing twice a week when we're winning allows us to build serious momentum and reel off the wins. When we have a week off, I find the players have to readjust and the performance usually isn't great in the next game. I would love a game this midweek to shake the cobwebs off the last game. Instead, we have to sit on it for a week while everyone and his wife writes out long awaited painful obituaries about the team, the manager, and the club.
We see the offside lines live on tv. They clearly show why a forward is given onside or offside. The evidence is there for everyone to see, it's not a secret in a dark room. Whereas in Europe, we often don't see any lines until well after the decision has been made. However, I strongly recommend people watch the UEFA Man in the Middle ref documentary, currently repeated on BT. It may not change your mind about VAR, but at least every VAR decision featured is explained in detail with the communication broadcast.
The games have to be played. The nature of this season means if you have to field a reserve team to fulfil a fixture, or have to forfeit a tie or find an alternative venue to play it, that's what you have to do. There simply isn't the time to cater for mass postponements. The current season must be finished on time, whatever it takes.
We've seen dozens of results this season that would normally happen only once in a decade, if that. Deniers need to explain this.
When Klopp became our manager he put enormous emphasis on improving the fans connection to and belief in the team. He did that because he recognises how imperative the energy and support of the crowd is. We should know this more than anyone FFS. Klopp's teams are about energy, everything they are depends upon it and they can't work without it. Remove the crowd ( including a crowd willing us to lose ) and you take away half the game, you take away the reason to play at all.
We play the game because it has to be played. It's great to have a crowd, but it's not possible atm. After so many months without them, players should be used to it by now. I would accept it as an excuse if we were the only club affected, but we're not. So there is no alternative but to just get out there, do your job, and try to get the result you want, as you would if there was a crowd. The fans may not be physically present, but they're still watching your every move, kicking every ball, and celebrating every goal. No it's not the same, but that's the way it is. Some teams are going to make the best of that scenario, and the rest have to try again next time.
On the other hand, away from home it's not always bad. It was actually refreshing to go to the toilet the other week and not have to endure the Hillsborough singers propaganda every couple of minutes. We had no fans to help us comeback against West Ham, but we won. We had fans to help us win against West Brom, but we didn't win. We are where we are atm for numerous practical reasons. Lack of crowds if it is a factor at all, is way down the list.