Back to the Premier League this weekend with the early kick off at the swamp

Big big win required

In Pep we trust

Excellent result at the Toon

Bring on the rags

No, they said he's obstructing Thiaw, not Pope. They have said if Haaland wasn't there, Thiaw would have got to the ball.

It is Technically the correct decision, but only because pope was 2cm ahead of Thiaw, which made Pope the last defender and Thiaw the goalkeeper for the purposes of offside.

I don't agree with the rule btw, but to the letter of the law, it's offside.

Quote from: Swiss on January 13, 2026, 22:18:38He wasn't obstructing the keeper, it was the defender.

I now get the offside, but if he was behind the keeper with the defender protecting the keeper closest to the keeper, how in earth can they decide he was obstructing the keeper.

More importantly if Haaland was obstructing the goalkeeper the referee would have given the foul during play. Why then can he go to the TV Monitor and change his decision. I think the answer is obvious and clear to all. VAR decided Haaland was obstructing the keeper and told the referee to go and look again ( put simply go and rule out this goal). No wonder Pep, the squad and City staff were fuming.

Quote from: Swiss on January 13, 2026, 22:16:19It was the right decision, but shouldn't have taken that long.

Iirc, we benefited from a similar decision when Sun Jihai was deemed the last player, and therefore the keeper and an offside was given

Haaland, the keeper and the defender are all level. No need to get the set square out. It is plain to see that no-one is seeking to gain an advantage by standing offside. These lines are just daft.

But let's take away the fact that we won 2-0 at St James'. Taking a good lead into the return leg.

Seymenyo and Doku combined well.

Cherki and Ait Nouri did too.

Good, tough match for us after the easy one against exeter

Quote from: KunDB on January 13, 2026, 21:41:40VAR is a joke, an abuse of football

There is no system in the world that can call such a close decision as that accurately, aside from the fact they admitted when the Liverpool goal that was offside was allowed, that there was 2 feet leeway.

Haaland was never ever obstructing their goalie and his jersey was being held by the Newcastle player a 50/50.

Ruined the whole game that stoppage and the dodgy decision sided the home crowd into action.

He wasn't obstructing the keeper, it was the defender.

It was the right decision, but shouldn't have taken that long.

Iirc, we benefited from a similar decision when Sun Jihai was deemed the last player, and therefore the keeper and an offside was given

2-0 and should have been three, if it weren't for the crackhead officials.

That disallowed goal was a cracker too but what a fantastic team goal the last one was.

VAR is a joke, an abuse of football

There is no system in the world that can call such a close decision as that accurately, aside from the fact they admitted when the Liverpool goal that was offside was allowed, that there was 2 feet leeway.

Haaland was never ever obstructing their goalie and his jersey was being held by the Newcastle player a 50/50.

Ruined the whole game that stoppage and the dodgy decision sided the home crowd into action.