Premier League Round-Up: Matchweek 2
Credit: Manchester Evening News
Matchweek 2:
Arsenal 2-1 Burnley
Aston Villa 1-2 Bournemouth
Brighton 1-1 West Ham
Everton 1-0 Watford
Norwich 3-1 Newcastle
Southampton 1-2 Liverpool
Man City 2-2 Tottenham
Sheffield United 1-0 Crystal Palace
Chelsea 1-1 Leicester
Wolves 1-1 Man United
VAR Is The Worst
Credit: Manchester Evening News
The big topic of discussion from this weekend was from the Manchester City and Tottenham game. While the talks should have been about how great this game was between two title hopefuls, instead it was about the controversial decision in the dying moments of the game that resulted in a 2-2 tie. In stoppage time, with the game tied 2-2, Manchester City scored a goal thanks to Gabriel Jesus, that would all but secure the win. The goal came from a corner where it appeared the ball went cleanly through to Jesus, who was waiting at the back post and fired the ball in for the goal and the win. Nothing about the goal seemed even remotely controversial, and maybe I’m wrong but I don’t even remember Tottenham players complaining and calling for a handball to the refs. But the goal would be reviewed and the goal would be overturned. It turns out that when the corner was crossed in the ball glanced off Aymeric Laporte’s arm before it fell to Jesus feet, thus resulting in a handball and a no goal decision. Despite the fact that the deflection barely altered the ball and was in no way shape or form intentional, it still reversed the goal.
As a fan of the NFL it felt very similar to how replay is used to overturn catches that are clear as day to the naked eye but because on the slow motion replay there is a slight juggle, it’s ruled not a catch. Look, I have no dog in this fight, I’d probably rather have seen Tottenham win as I’m tired of City’s dominance, but Man City got screwed here. To start, I’m not a fan of the new rule where it’s automatically a handball if it touches a players hand or arm. I understand how the new rule is suppose to make it more fair across the board and not allow the refs to make a subjective decision, but now it punishes players for doing nothing at all wrong. His arm was in a natural position and the deflection wasn’t intentional by any means, so it should have been no hand ball. You are reversing a clear as day goal because of the slightest deflection off a fellow teammates arm that didn’t even alter the path of the ball. Maybe I’m wrong but I feel the handball rule’s original intention was to keep players from using their hands to purposely alter the game, not blow the play dead every time the ball accidentally hits somebody in the arm or hand. To top it off the slow motion replay hardly proves it hits his arm and this is enough to pull back the goal? I saw 2 to 3 replays and none of them conclusively showed it hit the Man City’s player’s arm. Maybe there is a replay out there that is conclusive, but I didn’t see it. That is one of the biggest reasons why replay is the absolute worst in most all sports. It does more harm than good. Yeah replay will occasionally overturn a very bad call but for the most part it just brings more confusion. It’s only been 2 matchweeks and I can officially say I’m out on VAR.
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Other Notes:
Shout out to Teemu Pukki. At 29 years old and playing in only his 2nd career Premier League game, Pukki already bagged his first hat-trick this weekend against Norwich. Pukki now has 4 goals through his first 2 Premier League games. Pukki and Norwich couldn’t have asked for a better start to his Premier League campaign.
Speaking of a great start in the Premier League, how about Sheffield United? The team I picked to finish dead last picking up their first win of the season over Crystal Palace. Sheffield now has 4 pts through their first 2 games.
Liverpool and Chelsea played midweek in the UEFA Super Cup. It was a great back and forth game that ended 2-2 and went to penalties with Liverpool coming out on top. Liverpool went a perfect 5 for 5 and Chelsea missed their 5th penalty as Tammy Abraham was very reminiscent of Romelu Lukaku and his missed penalty from 2013. Only difference is, Lukaku was shipped off shortly after by Mourinho and Abraham got playing time this past Sunday vs Leicester.
Paul Pogba is already doing his usual. He was incredible in the first game of the season vs Chelsea and then misses a chance to put United in the lead yesterday vs Wolves with a missed penalty. A game they would go on to tie.
Coming up this weekend the big match that we have is Liverpool vs Arsenal on Saturday afternoon
Thanny