Eddie Howe has given his press conference for tomorrow’s match against Crystal Palace. The lads return home after three away matches. The looming question is the fitness of the squad’s stars Callum Wilson, Bruno Guimaraes, and Allan Saint-Maximin.
While Callum is still out, both Guimaraes and Saint-Maximin are close to returning. This is what Howe said per the club’s Twitter account:
“Bruno and Maxi are close. They weren’t serious injuries but we’ll wait and see whether they’re available for this weekend.”
Bruno has missed the last two while Allan was out for the heartbreaking defeat at Liverpool on Wednesday. New signing Alexander Isak Came into the team to make a memorable debut with a class finish.
Howe has been very pleased with the 22-year-old, who was unveiled just one week ago. Howe has given the following update on Isak’s first week:
“The players have taken to him. He’s quite quiet and he’s going about his business in a professional way – he’s very focused.
“He’s asking questions about how we want to play and what’s required of him – he’s been excellent.
“I think that showed in his performance on Wednesday. It was one of really good tactical understanding in a very short time he delivered what we wanted him to do.
“He showed his ability and the second goal that wasn’t given especially was incredible.”
Isak was our fourth and final signing of the summer window. The four additions have already had their impact on the club. Newcastle were able to move out enough players so that nobody will be left behind unregistered.
Here is Howe’s assessment of the window:
“A very good window for us, I think. From my side, I had a clear vision of what I wanted it to be and it’s never perfect but from the board down everyone’s given their all to create the best squad possible.
“I found the window to be very difficult this year – it was very long. I’m pleased it’s shut and we can concentrate on the football. I’m very pleased with the squad that’s there.”
Loading ...
194 comments so far
dazzler
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:03 PM
Comment #161On VAR the rule is it should be anything you can use to score with, no?
If your head is in front of the last man and a high ball comes in the box and you nut it in, you’d be offside?
If so that’s bollox as you’re only at an advantage in that specific scenario.
The rule was fine as it was and VAR should have made it almost fool proof. So what do they do, change the rules to make sure it’s more stupid than before.
The daylight rule was almost perfect, and would have been made perfect with correct use of VAR.
dazzler
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:05 PM
Comment #162Also, stopping time for stoppages and stopping the game at the next break in play at 45/90 will always be the better rule. There can be no complaints that way.
Refs fear of fergie killed injury time
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:07 PM
Comment #163Dazzler – and you have fans blaming VAR or the referees when they’re just applying rules correctly. If people want to blame something for the Isak goal being ruled out, blame the rules. Maybe if enough people complained about the rules in the correct way, they’d change them for next season.
Munster Mag
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:09 PM
Comment #164Sarge I was saying same yesterday. The role is to stop “goal hanging” not to nail a guy like isaz when his shoelace is offside. It has to be looked at.
Eddie, son of Bobby, nephew of Keegan!
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:10 PM
Comment #165Dazzler – honestly, I don’t really have a problem with any of these rules as long as they’re consistent. Not saying they can’t be improved but we’re just as likely to benefit from the rules as be hindered by them.
niafron
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:11 PM
Comment #166@TDS
Don’t know, of what i remember ( don’t seen the action again since ), Isak was behind the foot of the defender.
So perhaps it should have deserved a more carefull review.
dazzler
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:12 PM
Comment #167TDS,
I agree, I don’t think the problem is with the refs per se (although I think the standard of reffing in the prem to be shite at best), but with the needless change to the rule.
The rule basically protects the refs from making shite decisions as it’s a lot more subjective in previous years. A ref could determine that the head or shoulder isn’t advantageous and use it to allow a goal they’d not ruled out or vice versa.
Put the rule back to how it originally was and then its objective, clear daylight means offside, anything else is on. No arguments, and can be managed by VAR to almost perfection.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:13 PM
Comment #168niafron – Ronway found an article earlier and I published the link. Was from ESPN where they analysed ref/VAR decisions from the last set of fixtures. Look it up and you’ll see the analysis there from experts. It did get a careful review though.
dazzler
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:14 PM
Comment #169Niafron,
I believe it was his shoulder that was off. Both feet were behind the defenders from memory.
niafron
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:14 PM
Comment #170And by the way, the FIFA guideline is still “doubt benefit the attacker”.
So if it is so tight even the VAR can’t give a clear picture, the goal should have been allowed.
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:14 PM
Comment #171TDS
That’s the thing, it isn’t consistent at the moment. Plus they keep changing the rules for offside via VAR. If it was working and consistent then there wouldn’t be so many contentious decisions every week where people can’t unanimously agree if it was correct or not and everyone is trying to interpret what the current rules are. If you went just by the position of the players feet it makes it much clearer and would be far more consistent. None of this nonsense of well the shoulder is slightly ahead of the knee, or well his top of the arm is slightly ahead of his foot so are we counting the arm or not, which part of the arm is it as you can use your shoulder ok but then it’s down to the sleeve and if it’s below the sleeve it’s handball and it’s right on the sleeve edge where it’s infront of the defenders shoulder and blah blah bloody blah
It’s ridiculous.
Have those kind of issues and discussions every week.
Or
Well his foot is in front of the defender foot so it’s offside. Or, his foot is behind the defenders foot so onside.
Which is more consistent and simpler? haha
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:15 PM
Comment #172Dazzler – how do you define clear daylight though? Literally a gap between the last point of the attacker’s body to the first point of the defender’s? Or just their feet?
I’m not surprised the quality of refs is a problem. Why would anyone in their right mind want to do that job with the amount of abuse they get just for following the rules??
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:17 PM
Comment #173Dazzler
Yeah his feet were behind or at least level with the defenders but his shoulder was slightly ahead of the defenders foot. Meaning the lines didn’t touch so he didn’t get the benefit of the doubt. All because he was naturally leaning to run and his shoulder went infront of the defenders foot by a few inches.
It’s mad.
If Isak was like 3 inches shorter he’d have been onside haha
Just go by the feet it’s so much simpler and consistent plus doesn’t punish players based on height and taking a perfectly natural sprinting stance.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:17 PM
Comment #174Adam – they tweak the rules before every season to try and improve things. Then it’s pretty consistent. There has been some misunderstanding of the rules under VAR but I think it’s constantly getting better. And we’re getting virtually no howlers now, which is miles better than before VAR. The ball could cross the line by a foot and didn’t count or a player could commit a blatant dive and get a penalty. Those don’t happen any more. Some people are just never happy.
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:18 PM
Comment #175Also agree, these offside and VAR calls aren’t the refs fault. It’s a VAR issue and it needs a reworking as it’s just creating more questions than answers since it got introduced.
Sarge 1892
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:19 PM
Comment #176The Rashford one the other week looked a mile offside.
Didn’t look into the reasoning or if it was on/off, saw it at time then seen shots of it, looks way off.
Sarge 1892
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:19 PM
Comment #177Has anyone watched welcome to Wrexham?
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:20 PM
Comment #178TDS
It’s not a case of people never being happy. It’s a case of if VAR was consistent and working ,these conversations wouldn’t happen every week.
VAR offsides going by feet position alone would be incredibly simpler, quicker to determine and eliminate a good % of controversy. None of this business and ridiculous decisions based on if someone shoulder is slightly ahead and which part of the upper arm you go by.
It’s so so so much simpler, faster and logical.
dazzler
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Comment #179TDS,
It should be feet/legs IMO. They are running so it’s only the bottom half that will offer an advantage. Even if they are jumping for a header it’s their lower half doing the work.
Isaks shoulder offered no advantage when chasing the ball down. It’s not a photo finish they are going for so it’s pretty pointless when arriving at an offside in my view.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Comment #180Adam – I think it’s pretty simple as it is. How about the situation when I ball is knocked forward and someone scores with their knee or head which was in an offside position when the ball was played? People would still complain.
VAR is a MASSIVE improvement to reduce the number of howlers. It’s still a work in progress and they’ll keep refining it I’m sure. Get the ball rolling on the feet idea though.
niafron
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:23 PM
Comment #1810k, so the picture is here ( TDS, thanks for the link ):
https://www.espn.co.uk/football/english-premier-league/story/4734387/the-var-review-tottenhams-penaltyisak-offsideramsdale-foul
Must say i’m quiet confuse, cause if you look at the foot of the defender ( easy to spot with his withe shoe ), it seem to touch the second line…
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:25 PM
Comment #182dazzler – I’m not arguing with you, I’m just saying it doesn’t bother me that much as long as it’s consistent. Sure, saying it’s just feet or feet+legs would lead to fewer goals being ruled out so I’m all for that. That’s not “clear daylight” though, that’s just making it slightly easier to be onside.
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:27 PM
Comment #183TDS
Similar to how Dazzler just said, if someones feet are behind the defenders then i’m honestly not sure what advantage they get (if any) if their knee/shoulder/head is slightly ahead of the defenders. Their run still starts from behind the defender when the ball is played so the advantage is minimal if any. Plus it would be the same across the board, so if someone did score with their head but their feet were onside, fine. The same would happen to the other team if their player done the same.
It’s just an easier rule to implement and removes varying degrees or ‘were they or weren’t they’.
It still wouldn’t be perfect but it’d be quicker, simpler and in general be easier to agree upon.
ottawageordie2
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:27 PM
Comment #184Another problem with var is that it gives the referees the option of making a decision based on their bias or other influences. To much room for incorrect decisions for which they can’t be held accountable.
niafron
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:27 PM
Comment #185Also, i don’t agree about the fact it isn’t the ref responsability.
The technology isn’t perfect, especially about the timing, wich mean the precise moment the ball have no contact with the foot of the passing player.
So, i stick to my point, if it isn’t clear, the ref should apply FIFA guideline: the doubt benefit the attack.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:27 PM
Comment #186niafron – the colour of the lines is a little confusing. The defender’s foot touches the blue line but Isak’s shoulder is touching the red line, therefore it’s offside. A little misleading that the red line is for the team not playing in red but I think the point of the lines is that blue is the defensive line and then if the attacker is offside their line is red and if the attacker is onside their line is green.
ToonDarnSarf
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Comment #187Adam – again, I’m not arguing the point. The rule won’t be changed until next summer at the earliest so if people really want it changed, start a petition and get the ball rolling. It would mean more goals are allowed and it’s still fair so I’ll happily sign it.
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:29 PM
Comment #188That link Niafron put up shows again how ridiculous it is with the Demarai Gray example. Gray’s legs are fully behind the defenders entire body, yet because his stance to start running pushes his shoulder slightly ahead of the Leeds defenders foot, he’s offside. He gains no advantage from his shoulder being slightly forward.
Makes no sense.
Adamn_92
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:31 PM
Comment #189TDS
Aye i’m not attempting to argue don’t worry, I just didn’t agree when you said it’s consistent now as there’s still variables discussed each week which I’d say show it’s not consistent. Plus it’s just something that winds me up as I think the offside calls are ridiculous when they’re as tight like that and a player is punished for taking a perfectly natural running stance.
niafron
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:32 PM
Comment #190@TDS
Oh yeah, i know, i do speak of the red line.
Tyran21
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:33 PM
Comment #191niafron
Look at Rashford one, it’s more bizarre. The defender’s head determined Rashford is onside, even though almost the whole Rashford body was offside.
jimiley
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:35 PM
Comment #192VAR should be based on where the foot is not the upper body or the armpit!
Bad news on Dubs and Fernandez . Nothing but praise for both from Howe. How come Fernandez goes and Richie stays. Fernandez can still play.
8 out of 10 for the window. Only weak signing is Wood since January and some great signings. There will be more top signings than weak ones but there will be some weak ones. I am not one who thinks every signing will be great just because the manager backs it.
A bit disappointed that we did not sign another top centre mid to help Bruno. Mid is our weakest position and the reason we will not get 6th. There is no Murphy or Richie in the Manure squad. For the sake of another 50 million on top centre mid we could get 6th. Why wait another year? This fair play bollix is over 3 years not one. Missed a big trick not signing Paqueta a proven and regular Brazil int. West Ham will be hard watch. Want my cake and eat it? Yeah and what’s wrong with that? We have the cash
Charlie in the Gallowgate
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:37 PM
Comment #193Asking silly questions..
Should VAR not be at just above head level so a line slice/ barrier can be drawn down and see if any part of attacker/defenders body cuts the imaginary line barrier?
To me at the minute it seems to be far to high up where the technology is situated.
Also is the line drawn exactly when the ball leaves the passers foot etc??
jimiley
Sep 2, 2022 at 2:45 PM
Comment #194Charlie
Good point about the line and the ball striking foot.
When you are a toenail offside, is the foot touching the ball or a centimetre off the ball. Accounts for the toenail!