Vital Spurs Debate Section

Tottenham: Rules Are Rules …. Or Are They?

|

Starting with VAR; it is a system that was established to clarify certain aspects of dispute during a match and reduce the possibility of match officials making errors that can dramatically affect a result. So how’s that going?

The way I understand it is, something happens, match officials see it or don’t see it, VAR can then crash the party and reverse decisions or refer it back to the referee who can then leave the pitch and review his original decision. This process takes time during which nobody in the stadium has a clue about what is happening.

The more open to interpretation a rule is, the more confusing it becomes and the less effective it is. At the moment there appears to be no more clarity with VAR than there was before VAR. Although this system has only been in operation for a fairly short time, many of its faults have been repeated many times with little sign of addressing them. There is obviously much work still to be done and I’m not sure how the powers that be are going to do it.

The offside rule is something that we would expect to be as easily judged as goal-line technology. But that does not seem to be the case. A straight line across the field on the screen should make offside decisions easy. But, in reality, that’s not always the case. Should a finger/toe, nose, etc, make it offside. There have been many on-field debates to determine this during matches. What seems to be obviously clear to the multitude seems to been completely missed by the officials …. and they are the ones that matter.

One offside rule that is always open to interpretation is whether or not a player is interfering with play? If an offside player is anywhere between the goalkeeper and the player with the ball, the goalkeeper must, sometimes, consider him in the equation when he decides what to do about dealing with a shot on goal. That is another contentious situation because officials can read this scenario differently.

Maybe the game would be less complicated and more exciting if the offside rule did not exist. If someone wants to ‘goal-hang’ then it’s up to the defence to deal with it. It’s the same at both ends after all. This could result in more goals and therefore more excitement for the fans. Of course, both teams could park the bus which might end in more 0-0 results. Who knows? But there would be less time-wasting decisions required.

Another rule change that has occurred through the years concerns substitutions. Some will remember the time there were no subs allowed (which adversely affected the 1961 Cup final for Leicester). Subsequently, one, two, and now three became the rule. I recently saw an article saying that PL clubs had voted against a proposed increase to five subs. What would such a rule change mean?

For the top money clubs, who usually have more games because of European commitments, it makes sense. But how would that affect the Premier League. Top clubs could have five game-changers sitting on the bench whilst less financial clubs (which is most of them) could have one or two such players and three or four average players on the bench. Surely that would widen the gap even further between clubs in the PL. It would be interesting to know what each club voted for. Personally I think three subs should be enough, but it’s arguable.

Like I said, the more confusing rules become the less effective they are. At the moment there appears to be quite a lot of confusion …. and there shouldn’t be. I’m not advocating anything, just opening a discussion.

Share this article

0 comments

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    I’m liking what he has to say about joining us.

  • Frank says:

    So we have done it and signed our target in the window. The scary thing is that more of these high profile signings fail than succeed, in fact we often put the Grundy on some of these star players careers. I just hope that this time we firstly knew what we needed, and secondly that we have signed the right player this time. At least he is not a Carlos Kickball, he is used to the PL and seems able to deal with it, will we ever be able to say that about Ndombele.

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    I’m not a Jose fan Frank but I’m sure he knows what he is doing with regards to Hojbjerg, he is the equivalent to Matic at Chelsea who Jose brought to Manu because he recognises the need for a no nonsense ball winner at defensive midfield. The latter is too old now but Hojbjerg is just coming into his prime and I believe he is going to be a good signing for us.

    I would love to see a midfield three of Hojbjerg, Ndombele and Lo Celso but the formation doesn’t suit Kane so itlooks like it will have to be 4231 with Hojbjerg and Ndombele as the 2 with Lo Celso further forward or…..we could go 352 with Kane and Sonny up top?

  • Geofspurs says:

    TQ …. I think that was the best’first interview’ by a new player at Spurs that I’ve ever seen. PH’s head certainly seems to be in the right place.

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    I agree Geof!

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    I guess we will have to wait until the Cl and EL competitions have concluded before we see any real movement in the transfer market.

    Having watched Chelsea’s humiliation at the hands of Bayern I’m really surprised that they have concentrated their efforts on attacking players so far, if they get Havertz as reported they will surely have exhausted their transfer budget on him, Werner and Ziyech. The three must be costing something in the order of £150m – £170m so you have to wonder where the money is coming from in these difficult times and must surely suggest a flouting of FFP rules?

    Their defence was shown to be awful by BM so their philosophy will surely have to be to outscore the opposition every game!

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    Reading the reports this morning regarding Bale’s situation at RM leaves me feeling very sad. It is claimed once again that he is prepared to sit out the remaining two years of his contract with the likelyhood that he won’t play at all.

    I’m not sure his injury record would make it a sensible move but I’d love to see him back at Spurs, but only if he could fit in with our wage structure, if he sits out the next two seasons it’s going to be an awful waste of a wonderful talent.

  • PompeyYid says:

    Well Hoj’ has signed, for me that is great news, he is the no nonsense win the ball at all costs DCM we have all been screaming from the roof tops for, shame KWP going the other way, never mind, JM has got the man he wanted, hopefully its just the start.

    As Geofspurs said earlier it was a very good interview by the new man. COYS

  • Hot Tottingham says:

    After hearing Hojbjerg pronounce his own name, the first syllable of it is not even close to rhyming with Bodge. So, it looks like I’ll have to find another way of insulting him…

    I think I’ll just call him Pierre for now.

    Welcome to the Spurs, Pierre-Emile. It looks like your gonna have your work cut out and have a hell of a lot of defending to do, under Jose. Good luck!

  • 123spurs says:

    so true PY, we also nearly signed ole, and remember Drogba diving antics and I think jose was the manager.

  • wentworth says:

    Unbelievable. We have made a signing before 2 minutes to midnight on last day. Also its not a loanee or bogof..Hope he can play with N’Dombele. But we still need a creative, goalscoring, attacking midfielder to link play and add to our front three. Sadly Lo Celso is very limited and has not scored in Prem or even made decent assists or free kicks. On the Bale issue. What a waste of a glorious talent. Strong,direct, superb shot, great free kicks. Playing golf instead of football. Such a shame. But who can blame him. Now we need two full backs, that top creative midfielder and some sort of cover for Harry. Things can onl get better after the grim stuff at the end of the season. COYS.

  • 123spurs says:

    I fancy 352, but this means a less spot for attackers. Also needing 2 fast wing backs, that can cross. This means like of lamely and lucas miss out, son Lane up top, dele and le celso fightening it out behind front 2, Sissoko, berg and ndombele for final 2.

  • Niall D says:

    PY you left out “kick yer Granny” lol. Looks like EJ and I have got our first player. I think there will be 4 more players in. I can see Aurier, Sissoko, perhaps Lamella out and definately Rose.
    Players in Castagne or Aaron’s RB, Dias from Benfica LCB, Wilson CF, and maybe we may get Coutino
    On loan. Would love a wee bit of flar in midfield.
    All those outs and ins would maybe just about balance the books.

  • Hot Tottingham says:

    As we stand today and if we were playing today:

    Hugo
    Aurier Sanchez Dier Davies
    PEH
    Lo Celso Winks
    Lucas Son
    Harry K

    Like a staggered and adaptable 4-3-3/4-3-2-1 or 4-2-3-1.

    I don’t know! Jose does!

    But, I’m sure there will be 1 or 2 new players at least and maybe a couple of that line-up will be gone. Also, I’d like to see Dele in there… But there’s no room! As for Ndombele? At the seasons end, I couldn’t see him starting anytime soon as a regular. Hopefully this will not be the case in a month from now…

    Up the Spurs!

  • PompeyYid says:

    Well spotted ND, that I left my description of “kick yer Granny” out, was trying to be nice! the thing is Hoj is a defensive Midfielder who, if he has to will “kick his Granny” lol, because of the your not getting by me attitude.

    These are really the type of player who do all the donkey work and largely go about their business unnoticed.

    Right who else is coming in, I am not even going to make any name suggestions, so if Aurier is leaving then maybe another RB, who I have no idea, LB maybe but as HT has already said JM likes our Welsh Wizard, so again who knows, so that brings us to a back up for you know who, it appears him from B’Mouth has made it quite clear that he would prefer to join Spurs and JM , so we all have to wait and see, COYS

  • wentworth says:

    That’s a really grim midfield HT. If we want to compete with the big boys, we’ll need a lot more that Lo Celso and Winks after our dismal end to the season. These two are bench players to run down the clock not the inspiration we need to win matches.

    • Frank says:

      Gareth Bale has got it cracked, 650,000/week to play golf, there is nobody on the European Tour that gets that income every week, or I suspect the PGA Tour either, he maybe the world’s best payed golfer. That and being able to enjoy the Spanish climate, isn’t life a bitch.

    • Hot Tottingham says:

      Grim to you maybe. But not for me…

      Besides which Wentworth, I picked that team was with the squad as it stands , if they were playing today…….. So, in another month from now, who knows? Some of those options may not even be available…….

      Also, it may not be that Hoj steps straight in to the team anyway… I was just trying to visualise him in there with the squad that we currently have. (I’m no fan of fantasy football). 🙂

      • wentworth says:

        Apologies HT. I was just dismayed at the thought of Lo Celso and Winks being our midfield generals even with Hoj behind them. Both are mediocre at best and no top teams would consider them as first choices. If we have no other choice at present that needs a remedy quickly if we are to avoid mid table struggles and uninspiring football. Spurs fans will not stand for it. Our end of season performances show we are no longer a dominant force. We have 3 top internationals in Kane, Son and Loris and a lot of ordinary back up players. We need at least 6 or 7 top players in the team to get us back to challenging for a top 4 spot. We have 3. That is not enough.

  • Frank says:

    If we are looking for a CB then rather that chase somebody with no previous in England who may or maybe not succeed, why not go after Dunk or Tarcowski, both of whom have shown the required level of ability and consistency in the PL and have been capped by England. We should learnt from Sanchez and others before him.

  • Geofspurs says:

    WW …. I don’t agree that we have as many ‘ordinary’ players as you seem to think.

    • wentworth says:

      Geof. My suggestion of ordinary is in comparison with top European teams such as Liverpool, Man C., Man U, PSG, Bayern, Real Madrid, Barcelona even Chelsea. We have 3 top players. We need at least 6 to get us back to TOP 4 in Prem and a challenge for Champs League. I cannot see it happening with the present squad with weaknesses at full back, attacking, creative midfield and covering striker. At present, we are a mid table squad. However, I am hopeful we will make some top signings to get us back to winning with style and attacking play.

  • TQ2Spurs says:

    WW…..we all have our ‘marmite’ players and I see you aren’t a fan of Lo Celso. I don’t see him as being anywhere near as ordinary as you, he does something that many others don’t, he works industriously in midfield to break up play and win the ball before transitioning to attack. You have to remember he is only 24 but in my view has shown good promise in his short time with us, he has only played 28 games I believe, and yes he does have a few assists not none as you suggested in an earlier post.

  • Frank says:

    Regarding the quality of our squad, the situation is that firstly we need to decide how much we wish to invest and whether we wish to invest enough to build a challenging squad to consistently take on the best in the PL to regain our CL spot. We need to improve our recruuitment, as most of our more expensive buys have failed to deliver. There is a simple test to use to evaluate a player, ask yourself whether he would challenge for a spot at City, Liverpool, Man u, Chelsea or recently even Leicester City. In this way we might have avoided Aurier, Sanchez, Ndombele who are the latest batch of a long line of failed signings.

Comments are closed.