James Gheerbrant, Jonathan Northcroft and Gregor Robertson join tom Clarke to give VAR a grilling.
Does the mic’d up programme help or hinder the case for VAR in games? The team look at issues around how subjective football is, how effective current VAR is and are there other, better options to use the technology? After an inconclusive but heated debate it’s on to England’s midfield.
Bellingham and Rice seem certain starters, but who plays alongside them? Do England have a defensive midfielder, and if not, who plays instead?
Finally, Jonny recently voted in a poll asking who are currently the world’s best players…he names his top five.
Timeline
VAR
2’ VAR, are the audio releases helping or hindering
4’ Pain is not worth the gain. It is a really difficult job, but it has become farcical.
8’ Running VAR can be exhausting, in the spotlight, no clear right and wrong, walking a tightrope
Possible clips
11’ the number and detail of incidents can’t be assessed in the time allowed.
15’ modern mania to achieve perfection…in a subjective sport.
17’ timing is an issue; it takes too long the flow of the game has been affected.
20’ Has the mic’d up programme improved things or further mudded the waters.
22’ sin bins. Good idea or not? Keeping refs mics on would stop player dissent quickly.
26’ do players influence VAR by appealing and asking refs to check things.
England midfield
31’ who plays alongside Declan Rice and Jude Bellingham.
33’ the chemistry of the three is important. Southgate prizes control over everything else. Gregor thinks still Philips.
35’ can’t pick Philips or Henderson because of lack of top flight football.
37’ Trent Alexander is the answer according to Jonny.
40’ James, consider Connor Gallagher.
45’ stones, Rico Lewis, Foden Maddison. Jonny think whoever Jude wants Keep Bellingham happy.
Best players in the world
49’ Jonny voted for worlds best players. Hard to over look Premier league and England players. Haland, Rodri, Kane, Bellingham.
55’ Kane now getting the coverage he deserves.
57’ Messi still the man. What about defenders??
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Will City Live To Regret Selling Cole Palmer To Chelsea?
Late goals, ladles of drama and a Liverpool comeback "for the ages”
Is Pep Starting To Panic?
Triumphant Tottenham, Disastrous Debuts and Victorious Villa
Can The Lionesses Lift The World Cup On Sunday?
Who looks good, who doesn’t and a title decider…in Aug?
Opening Weekend and an Ecuadorian adventure
Premier League season preview: Part Two
Premier League season preview: Part One
Women's World Cup & 2023/24 EFL Preview Show
What Did We Learn From England's Euro 2024 Qualifiers & What Next For O'Neil & Moore?
Bellingham Unveiled At Real Madrid & International Football Returns!
Manchester City Seal The Treble With Champions League Triumph!
West Ham's Europa Conference League Glory & Man City On The Verge Of The Treble!
Manchester City On Course For The Treble & Could Postecoglou Rebuild Spurs?
Can Man United Stop Man City's Treble Quest At Wembley?
Survival Sunday ends with Leeds & Leicester suffering the drop
Final day drama predicted as Everton, Leicester & Leeds fight for survival and Spurs manager hunt continues
Man City Are Champions Again; Forest Survive & Brighton Qualify For Europe!
Man City on course for treble as Toney gets hit with 8 month ban
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Football Weekly
The Athletic FC Podcast
The Totally Football Show with James Richardson
The News Agents
Freakonomics Radio