I’m not kidding. This “offside is offside” scientific approach angers me. It’s nerdy. It’s not in the spirit of the Law or the game - which is about goals. It’s a fluid, beautiful game. If you can see it’s off it’s off. If you can’t without forensics, it’s on.
Said it many times and still think it - if you have to forensically draw lines to try to establish offside then it’s too close to call and should be seen as ON. It’s sport, not science. I don’t want to watch a trigonometry test.
Just been sacked by
@YorkCityFC
in
@FootballManager
. We were in a play off place nearing the end of the season. Upset doesn’t cover it. Angry with those who’d stopped playing for me 🙃
Been shown a couple of tweets today from people who ‘know’ that the MOTD commentary is done afterwards over the edit. What else completely false, wrong and utter rubbish do they ‘know’? Never the case, never was, never will be. All live. I actually do ‘know’
Another season nearly done. Been at around 100 matches again - but nowhere have I heard a noise like I’ve experienced at
@NFFC
today. What an atmosphere. The City Ground crowd has played an enormous role in Forest staying up 👏👏👏
If you haven't yet seen this, then here it is - for your pleasure. If PSG, Barcelona, Bayern Munich score this, the world purrs. I give you.....The Black Cats purring 👏👌
We all get frustrated with our own teams.....but I doubt there can be a football entity anywhere in the world that's more headscratchingly frustrating than Tottenham Hotspur.
I wish I'd been in the away end at Preston today. Unbelievable scenes. In my experience (and only my experience so no arguments necessary) - the best fans any club could ever have. Loved my Sunderland days.
That's a proper 'statement win' for Newcastle. That's the result more than any yet that says they're there. And staying. Have to admit to underestimating Eddie Howe a bit. Outstanding job.
Raheem Sterling deserves the highest praise for not responding to vile abuse today. Even if the alleged racist element goes unproven - how do grown men think that is in any way acceptable? ‘Passion’? ‘Banter’? It is pathetic. Quite simply pathetic.
Lucky to experience football at all levels all over the world. Nowhere better than Goodison Park when it’s like that. If support were worth points…..(Leeds, Burnley - you’ve a claim to say the same. What a scrap lies ahead)
(Rangers fans look away)
This is pure marketing, the sort of thing I’m usually cynical towards - yet it’s brilliant, touching and human. Well played Celtic 👏👏👏
#ripbertie
🙏
💌🌏🌟 Should 𝘼𝙪𝙡𝙙 acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind...
We’re sending cheer, both far and near, fae the Bhoys at Christmas time 💚
#CelticChristmasAd
And THAT is exactly why the football pyramid - relegation, promotion, the deep falls and the sharp rises - MUST be preserved. From top to (beyond) bottom and back again. Well done Luton. Heck of a story.
Guardiola goes berserk post game; Steve Smith laughs during a press conference.....so what? Can't we stop being so po-faced about sport and enjoy the moments? In the next breath there's a moan about 'no personalities anymore'
All the ‘big club’ arguments on here are so utterly draining and pointless. Every club is big to someone. Every club has its own history. It really is “my dad’s bigger than your dad” stuff 🤦🏻♂️
So so impressed by Blackburn
@Rovers
last night. Full throttle football that seemed to shock Leicester into errors. A joy to watch. A big club on its way back after lean years 👏👍
Thing is Mick, I’m watching at home so I don’t know how you could come to that (if you’ll pardon the expression). Can assure you I’m fully dressed and my flies are done.
Just my opinion, not interested in an argument, but I think these are the most reasoned words I've seen or heard on the subject of 'football's return' yet
Have yet to hear it doesn’t mean it hasn’t happened), but praise should be given to referee Sam Barrott for his handling of Fulham v Sheff Utd yesterday. Only 30, it was his Premier League ‘debut’, and he was excellent. Only fair we review refs both ways.
Can we all be a bit more Wilder this year please? The common sense approach. Less hysteria. Not looking to stir the pot when there’s nothing in it. More human when relating to other humans. Go on. Please.
“We’ve rightly recieved a letter from the FA but I can relate, there was a time when I was player/manager that I’d rush back to the Lane.
I have no problem with Oli going back to watch them, he has a big connection there.
I think it’s quite refreshing to be honest” CW on Oli.
Unreal in Trafalgar Square tonight. For the definition of unlimited devotion to a football club - see Sunderland fans. Brings back so many memories 👏👏👏
Managers - please grow up and take ownership when your team doesn’t play well and/or behaves appallingly. Heartily sick of ridiculous accusations of bias against referees, media etc. Childish, spineless and look what it whips up. 😡
VAR. I refer back to previous tweets. It’s for the howler, not the millimetre. If you like its implementation on offsides like that, then you like a different game to me
Update:
As yesterday, there will be no ‘normal’ MOTD(2) programme tonight. The scheduled commentary team are in full agreement with our BBC Sport colleagues. We hope that a resolution can be found ASAP.
Steve Dale: “I didn’t even know there was a football club in Bury....I’m not a football fan”. Disgrace.
I flippantly suggested once there should be a few questions in the owners ‘test’ to establish they knew (& cared about) a little of the history of what they were buying
All the best to
@SunderlandAFC
at Wembley today. Will always be grateful for some of the best years of my life. Whether or not it’s ‘this time’ today, it feels like the time is right for the overdue revival 🤞
When Jordan Henderson gets player of the year (or/and next year) I do hope we remember it’s because he is the player of the year anyway. An underrated talent for too long, but at least no longer an underrated footballer
Read that
@SunderlandAFC
have settled all monies due to former owners. Whether or not the team goes up this season, it has to be hats off to current owners & unbelievable fans for stopping the rot and turning the supertanker around 👏
Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Billy McNeill. A true giant of football - and on a personal level the kindness & patience he showed, and the wisdom & history he passed on to me as a young student of the game will always be remembered
#hailcesar
Thank you Gareth. Pride and hope restored. A phenomenal job done. Now for somebody to take the next steps - thanks to everything that's been put in place.
Back from Anfield. Forest very impressive against a below par Liverpool. Alex Moreno played Salah as well if not better than any full back I’ve seen try
The
@BBCMOTD
running order: New/Eve, Sou/Tot, ManC/Wat, CP/Bri, Car/WHU, Lei/Ful, Hud/Bou. Cracking games, loads of goals and no shortage of controversy.
@BBCOne
10.20
Back home (c 1970). I guess the writing was on the wall for England, but it’s been a super Euros overall - and deserved congratulations to Italy. 👏 Many thanks for all the kind messages. Now, what next to look forward to?!
Why is it so many can’t go abroad and just enjoy it? Have a drink, relax, enjoy what you’re there for, and respect the place you’re visiting. Maybe learn something about it. Just don’t get it. Bad upbringing? Sheep mentality? Just morons?
Looking forward to a thrilling
@premierleague
finale tomorrow, but today is all about two clubs hugely special in my life -
@YorkCityFC
&
@SunderlandAFC
. Double promotion please 🙏 🤞
Been replaced by the former Kidderminster boss John Eustace. I wish him no ill will, and hope he can get more from the lazy f*****g virtual shysters than I managed in recent hours
One more job to do before home - which I’ve just been reminded of. Sitting opposite a Croatian journalist at the Luzhniki Stadium - and he’s wearing a
@LUFC
t-shirt.
I don’t ‘do’ politics on the whole. Centre ground in general and have voted for all mainstream parties in my lifetime depending on what was best for me and my family. This however is quite simply pathetic in the current climate. Fucking grow up.
Shouldn't be surprised, and I'm not really - but it's always upsetting when a really good man loses their job having done a REALLY good job. One of the best in the precarious business. Wish he'd been given another few weeks until 'that game' in January.
Grew up listening to him. Had the honour of commentating with him and the pleasure of many a conversation benefitting from his experience and wisdom - in football & life. God bless you Jimmy Armfield.
All my thoughts are with the family, many friends and ex colleagues of Justin Edinburgh. Fit, vibrant, prime of life. Had the pleasure of knowing him. Please, everybody, live life, smile, laugh & love. No time for wasted emotion in this life 🙏
With (very minor and non heartfelt) apologies to Blyth and Doncaster supporters, I’d like a couple of things to happen today. Actually, make it another - a
@IAmJermainDefoe
goal to blow the bloody roof off!!
@Bradleysfight
Every fair-minded English football fan should now be rooting for Arsenal to win the Europa League to give a man who changed the landscape of our game the send off he deserves (*now to put my tin hat on and retreat!)
#Wenger
I think that's probably me done for the day on here 😀
I'm going to do some commentary prep for the 3 live games I've got this week - just so I can put all the 'good' lines in after
Players constantly berate refs during games but when a ref gives just a little bit back there’s bleating about a “lack of respect” 🤷♂️
For goodness sake, we want our refs to be human. Get on with it.
That Brighton penalty - awarded after several watches by VAR - concerns me hugely. Big defender and supporter of our top class referees, but if they think that’s a foul they interpret football and it’s Laws very differently from most of the rest of us
If a February fortune teller had said my idea of a good Saturday night in June would be watching Bournemouth v Palace, eating a yoghurt, hair uncut for 4 months.....
20 years ago this week, Sunderland sat 3rd in the Premier League. 10 years ago, 8th. 5 years ago, 14th - but in choppy waters. Sinking ever since....... Beyond sad times
So, England had a player sent off for what was clearly an accident. Argentina then see their player only yellow carded for pretty obviously jumping at an opponent? Erm, ok
I have no ‘skin’ in this game whatsoever. But…… it’s a shining example of why (in my opinion, only my opinion) VAR in its current form and procedure is not enhancing football in any way. We’re watching debates and points of law rather than a game.
Last word on York - need one vent purely as a fan. Things can’t improve until owner either sells OR re-engages & acknowledges responsibilities (to fans, the club AND the city), taking back running of club from the people he’s put in place, who IMO aren’t worthy of their posts
I think, when you’ve managed 1,000 games, and your star player says this, then you ARE a good manager. Undoubtedly not right for Newcastle at this time - but then who really could have been over the last few years?
You are, without a doubt, one of the most gentle people that I have ever met in the world of football. You have been a man of your word, a caring man and a fair man who never hesitated to protect us. I will never forget how you treated me, for that I will be forever grateful
Don’t bother with the apologies Clive (though he has to) If you’re watching Millwall v Palace and you object to a few fruity words, then you possibly don’t know why or what you’re watching 😀
This honestly makes me absolutely seethe. If I wasn’t seething so much I’d invite you to a game so you can see how we work. It’s not hard to understand. And it’s ‘your’
I’m with
@IanWright0
&
@GaryLineker
at the moment - I think. I know offside is offside but when it’s a millimetre at such speed can we ever be 100% sure? We want to see goals don’t we? The concept of benefit of doubt going to the attacker has gone forever I guess
@maxrushden
The odd line. Maybe once in an entire season. Speaking for myself, there has to be a VERY good reason for it - not just to make the editor's job easier, or in a 'predictive' context. Apologies, but I care about what we do and can't abide falsehoods being spread around as fact