Just watched the highlights from the Sheffield United vs Newcastle game and the controversy around Jonjo Shelveys goal.
For those who haven’t watched it yet, Andy Carrol flicks it on with his head to Jonjo Shelvey who runs towards the goal. At this point, the linesman flags to signal offside. The Sheffield United players, who admittedly looked unlikely to intercept, stopped chasing. Even the Sheffield United keeper stayed flat footed for a few moments, almost waiting for the whistle.
Shelvey of course went on to score and after a VAR review, the goal was given.
This can’t be right or good for the game. Players are told to play to the whistle but they’re also used to the sight of a offside flag which is usually always followed by a whistle.
Who’s to say that the presence alone of the Sheffield United players chasing Shelvey couldn’t have influenced the end result ?
If that’s the way the game is going to be then we don’t need linesman at all.
I’ve labelled it a flaw - but you might argue that it’s good refereeing and players will simply have to adapt but either way, it’s another debate around VAR.
Shelvey Goal Exposes Flaw
posted on 5/12/19
Whys he flagging in the first place on such a tight call? Almost as if hes lY and cba to run down the line flagged instantly asif that or he was a clear offside. Arent they told to keep their flags down now for tight calls ? Let var sort it out. Players will have to learn quickly to play to whistle only fack the linos
posted on 5/12/19
Like having a lollipop man at a signalised pedestrian crossing
posted on 5/12/19
Looks ok to me....nobody whistled for offside....linesman can do what he wants it's the refs decision to go with it or not.
Stupid s utd players don't know the rules
posted on 5/12/19
Sheffield United players should have played on. They know the rules
posted on 5/12/19
look this is not that easy.
do people want teams to gain advantage from being offside?
example. v Everton there was on occasion van dij k I think gave the lino a rocket for a late flag cos he has to clear a ball. we got the offside.
the game.before alisson had to run miles from goal and out a ball out for a throw despite being chased down by a clearly offside player. lino gave Brighton the throw.
if we remove offside flagging the attacking side can the just take advantage constantly just as long as they were not offside in the direct passage of play for a goal.
linespersons need to flag. players need to learn not react to flags and only react to the ref. fairly simple stuff.
posted on 6/12/19
comment by EL-TORO (U13505)
posted 8 hours, 9 minutes ago
Sheffield United players should have played on. They know the rules
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It was the keeper who should have made an effort because the defenders were out of the game. He just stood there and made it easy for Shelvey
posted on 6/12/19
The only flaw is in the Sheff Utd players not playing to the whistle. That man utd loanee keeper is an absolute mug. If he makes it at Man Utd then it will be because they have serious problems.
posted on 6/12/19
Comment Deleted by Site Moderator
posted on 6/12/19
It's their own fault of they stop as they know VAR is in use. Therefore they would have to be absolute imbecilles to stop.
posted on 6/12/19
the rules are unchanged and VAR makes absolutely no difference, even in this case.
the linesman raising a flag has NEVER been an indicator that play has stopped. the ONLY official indicator to stop play is, and always has been, the referee's whistle.
the flag raise is to notify the REF, not the players, of a possible offside, it's then the ref's decision to agree with the linesman, stop the play and give offside, or to overrule the linesman and allow play to continue.
it's been drilled into players since they were kids, ALWAYS play to the whistle. the only people at fault here are the s. united players for stopping, and their manager for complaining about the decision.