General Premier League Thread 2020-21 - Mod Notes in 1st post. [Updated 17/12/20]

Drumpot wrote: »

I understand that, but You can’t absolve the FA of their responsibility for the culture within the sport by saying “it’s not easy”. Of course it’s not easy to manage but they’ve done as little as possible over the years to manage racism and homophobia within the game. Players are left forcing the sport to awknowledge the issue while the FA bring in rules to protect its brand but in the name of anti racism!

I don't think I'm doing that, I'm making the point that for off field events, I don't have a problem with a zero tolerance approach with set specific punishments for anything that falls under the clear guidelines they've laid out. The only jurisdiction they have off the field is for bringing the game into disrepute - they don't have any other grounds to do anything to anyone off the football field and outside the football stadium. Clubs can, because it's their employee. And the FA can when it's on the field - which they've done with Suarez, and Terry, and Casilla. But off it, all they can base their complaints on is within the context of players as association ambassadors.

Now, I totally agree with you when you about the FA having a responsibility for racism in the broader football culture. Which is entirely different to everything we've been talking about up to now. The main issues relating to racism in football are not between players, either on the pitch or off it, and the systems already in place for both instances are grand - on the pitch, you have a full inquest with very serious repercussions, and very clear behavioural policies off the pitch. The main issues related to racism in football are in the terraces, and in representation within the broader footballing community and power structures. These are different matters entirely, and things they need to do much much better on.

I’d argue that this sort of lazy rule (that’s under a racist banner) is nearly more damaging to the fight against racism when all it does is penalise a silva or Cavani for being silly. Hell, they haven’t even properly addressed protection of players from head injuries so it’s not like they are progressive at addressing issues in the game. Even shearer said what we are all thinking “that they won’t do anything until a player dies of a head injury”, that doesn’t say much about the FA.

I think You are way too understanding of the gymnastics and cynical strategies the FA are playing when it comes to racism.

It sets a very very clear standard that no racial descriptors will be tolerated in public messaging. Perhaps it only catches those who didn't even realise they were impinging, but perhaps its existence outright stops those who may otherwise have done it more consciously.

So many results just have this empty feeling to them now... I get that he's a millimeter offside, but that's not what offside is for. it's never been what it's for. it's to stop an advantage. If you need a microscope to see if someone is offside, they're not offside.

One line to show the exact line across the field since the camera angle isn't directly in line, and just eyeball it from there. Basically exactly what we had pundits doing in studios for decades with that yellow line, where you could see if someone was on or off. That was enough. That's all you need. The mm'ing of it all is something no-one asked for.

And for other decisions, like pens and such, they should be made at game speed. No slow motion. Replicate the reffing experience, except with the benefit of replays and camera angles. If it doesn't look like a pen in real time, it's not a pen.

citytillidie wrote: »

21 Spurs Liverpool
20
19 Chelsea
18 Leicester
17 West Ham Southampton Wolves
16 Everton Man Utd
15 Villa Man City
14 Leeds Newcastle
13 Arsenal Palace
12
11
10 Brighton
9
8
7 Fulham
6 WBA
5 Burnley
4
3
2
1 Sheff Utd

That looks much more like how a league table should look!
Well, except for Sheff Utd. Poor auld Sheff Utd.