What we saying guys? VAR - keep it and fix it, or sack it off?

We should definitely be able to hear the communication between refs and stockley park. Would really help fans understand why refs make decisions Also think that the clock should be stopped every time the ref goes to var

Like London buses is Spencer. Wait for ages and then BOOM two in no time.

I just wish we had VAR at Hashtag! Would stop me getting so many calls wrong on commentary!!

Very simple for me, give the VAR official 20 seconds of replays if it’s nothing clear and obvious the on field decision stands, if there is a thought issue the on field ref should go to the monitor and make the decision, currently just constantly undermining the officials.

2 days 2 imos, Double decent

I’m Irish and I will never forget that Henry goal.

Spen doggy dog 2 days in a row this a blessing

Being completely serious the prem should take a page out of the mls’s book on how to use var, been in use for two and half years and has been used pretty properly

Him getting back with Alex is having an impact already 2 vids in 2 days omg. Daily vids coming back 😍😍😍

Var in favor of ur team: i love VAR Var against ur team: i fckin hate VAR

This is amazing two imos in two days Double amazing Spencer is doing it

Agree on almost everything you’ve said here, apart from the offside factor. It is objective, however there’s been a question over if the cameras capture the exact millisecond the ball leaves a players foot. This seems like a small problem, but with such a minimal difference (as you mentioned for example 3mm) this is crucial.

Do an IMO on your thoughts on the West Ham owners, they’ve had a lot of scrutiny lately

Spencer back to consistent uploading now?🤔 hopefully

Spence, what do you make of var in the Chelsea Vs Man United match

Love imo, love 2 episodes in a row. One of these a week would be heaven!

Lovin the uploads spence keep it up bro🤛

VAR can be summed up in these lyrics from The Clash: 🎵 Should I stay or should I go now? If I go there will be trouble And if I stay it will be double 🎵

You’re wrong about your offside point, The officials can’t get the tough ones right 100% of the time as they can’t get the EXACT moment the ball leaves the players foot. There have been decisions given offside when the ball would have left his foot milliseconds later but if they gave it those milliseconds later the player is onside. Your other points are spot on but not this.

This has to be one or the most sound and sensible discussions about VAR and some good ideas about how to improve it for football/soccer in the future

More great content from Spen! Great to see him uploading frequently 😃

Great Work Spence! Only voted on twitter yesterday and we got 2 :) cheers!

Love the imos being more frequent

Spencer always has an Interesting Perspective.

Things you love to see: 2 daily uploads in a row

I’m loving these imo’s! Keep it up spenny ❤️

"Clear and obvious" is what the FA told us, being a millimetre is neither of them, also how can people stop the VAR recording on the perfect frame to make sure he isnt a millimetre either side The perfect example of where VAR should be used was Cardiff against Chelsea last year, when the chelsea lad was about 2/3 yards off and the goal stood. Wouldn't take as long to check these decisions, and this goal decision was both "clear and obvious"

2 days 2 bangers I’m crying with happiness

I think the issue with using VAR to check offsides is that a video operates frame by frame, and players can go from onside to offside between frames. The ball might leave a player's boot between frames as well, so I just don't think the technology could ever nail an absolute line. Regardless, glad to hear someone talking about VAR in a level-headed way, another great video!

Spencer you are My favourite football KZfaqr Thank you ❤️❤️

Theres so many different arguments you could have for this. Of course when celerbrating it takes the life out of the experience for fans and things. But its like u see maguire yesterday on rudiger when he doesnt get sent of for something exactly the same son got sent off for against chelsea. And dan burn being offside with his hand and similar things like that is what we need to get clear with var

Spencer: How to fix var Me: Get rid of it

Cricket also has a appeal system if you don’t agree with a decision you can review it to see if it’s out or not out!😁

You need to start a podcast talking about football, you always talk pure sense👍🏼

Loving the IMO's, I hope more are coming in the near future

Top man spencer always talk sense, and you’ve actually changed my view slightly with the points you made, keep up the good work dont go changin 😉

Make the offside rule like Umpires call in cricket: - If the linesman does NOT give the decision, if the scorer is within a specific distance away from the defender, the referee is given the benefit of the doubt. - if the linesman DOES give the goal, and it ends up being offside, if the attacker is within the same amount of distance as before, it is NOT overturned, if it is over the amount, the decision is overturned

2 uploads 2 days love it

13:59 The VAR team sometimes goes with that rule and other times doesn't, always subjective.

The problem with your proposal Spen is that if the incident is on the other side of the pitch then the manager will have no clue whether to appeal or not. If they use monitors to show the manager then they will just increase the time taken in VAR

Well time to sit down, relax and watch this one!

my initial reaction on seeing this on my subscriptions: Me: OMG you legend

Gonna be a class video as per usual

Great video Spencer! With VAR being new to the PL, there’s going to be teething issues at first but overtime I’m sure some rules will be changed to sort out debates that are had (Rice’s handball, etc). I think a challenge system would be great, one challenge for the manager and captain per half to challenge a decision for or against the referee’s decision

Keep it up Spenny ! I'm loving it !

Agree with a lot of points you made there. Especially acknowledging that its never the VAR being wrong but the rules or the people looking into it. My problem with the appeal system is that rules are not clear enough for it. Handball rule for example is not a black and white decision most of the time. By implementing the appeal system we force the ref to make a decision and decide whether or not the appeal was right or wrong but we can’t do that because it might be a 50/50 decision. What do you do in that instance? Do you just say oh well that’s unlucky you lose your appeal or does it force the ref into making more decisions they normally wouldn’t make. VAR is very important and we just have to be patient with it and not only acknowledge the things it decides wrong/not perfect but also the instances where it overturnes a wrong decision which seems to be a lot more often.

You’ve hit the nail on the head there Spencer. If people have problems with those offside calls it’s the offside rule they have a problem with not VAR

I think you should combine Spencer’s suggestions. Keep VAR BUT it can only be used when the manager chooses to appeal. You get one appeal per game but keep them if you’re right. No extra apparatus to the bench team just as it is. Then ovs screens in stadiums are necessary.

So many people needed to hear your opinion I agree so much

The problem isn't var it's the referees interpretation of what has happened

Thanks for posting more again keep it up

Plz do more imo. I love this series like all of your other series

A good way to determine whether the decision should be overturned is how long it takes to make the call. If it takes longer then 20 seconds then the original decision should stand.

I’ve always believed an appeal system is the best way. Just like cricket I would the captain and the manager as well as players who were involved in the incident on whether it’s worth the appeal or not. Would put more worth on the use of picking the correct manager and captain who have a clear understanding of the rules.

2 vids in 2 days? Go on Spencer you mad man

Yet again spot on. Btw whoever introduced the idea for 2 hand ball rules needs binning

Great video! Very good points! For example...how it effects time plus teams in history who have suffered such as Ireland, is what I did not put into consideration.

You are 100% on point here. Challenges would be amazing to the game and would be, as you say, another element to management

Hi spencer,I’m a massive fan of you since once a lion and a Man City fan and this is the perfect way to clear up VAR. I’ve watched all of you’re videos since once a lion-to this date and I went to the 3rd Wembley cup and have the hashtag kit with the EE sponsor, from you’re biggest fan shay

Back on the grind

Bang on Spencer, I’m a Chelsea fan and you saw what happened with Giroud on Monday, doesn’t matter if it’s a millimeter or five meters, offside is offside thats how rules work.

Spen been watching u for yrs hope your having a good day

Thanks for this Spen. It’s everything I’ve been saying for ages but from someone with more authority. Lol Putting a mic on the ref is something I’ve said for about 15 years. It would stop decent not just because there would be evidence and repercussions, but it would also help fans be more informed about what decisions have been made and why, AND it would keep the referees in check because they know they’ll have to justify those decisions. The way it has been up until now, the refs can do what they want for 90+ minutes and then disappear down the tunnel without needing to justify anything. This is the reason managers go on camera and get in trouble for questioning the ref’s integrity/competence. Mic them up - force them to make honest and reasoned decisions. It works in a circle because this will foster respect for the ref and prevent players wanting to clash with the refs in the first place.

Great video! Some very good ideas

Love the imo, keep going!

Oh no, we’re playing in the prem next season. Me:Exuse me Mr Slaven Billic, bottle the league plz so we don’t have to face Vvvvvv Var

I agree 100% mate. Very well spoken

Good vid mate 👍

Great IMO, I'm also Pro-VAR and think it's a great and fair way to look at contentious decisions. I also agree that it's a great tool and that instead of VAR changing it's the rules in which VAR in analysed needs to change. I don't think VAR and the delays take anything away from football, it's there to make sure the best team on the day wins and in some ways, VAR can enhance the experience. For example, a goal is scored for your team, you are celebrating massively, most of the time you don't even realise that VAR is looking for the decision until you have stopped celebrating. If VAR rules out your team's goal then obviously it has been disallowed for a valid reason (I still agree some rules in football, not VAR need to change), if your goal stands then it's an extra incentive to have a mini celebration (especially if it's an important goal). However, if you have seen a stadium erupt due to a goal scored against your team and then VAR has chalked it off (again for a valid reason) then that's as good as scoring a goal itself and an incentive to celebrate and to stick it back to rival fans. As before this, you would have to just accept the decision even though it's not fair. Think the appeal system is a little farfetched and would actually delay the proceeding more (i.e. you said possibly an analysis watching the game and calling it, I think this would cause much more of a delay). I understand the "spectacle" of it and your angle being that it is a managerial tactic, but it's a little too Hollywood and American for the PL. It works well in individual sports such as tennis because that is a very intimate sport in terms of space (half a court) and the decisions which need to be made (in or out), football is more contentious so waiting for an analyst/manager to call out a decision and then waiting for it to be analysed by VAR would take longer. Most importantly these appeal systems don't make it a fair game in a sport like football, in football, a goal can literally be the difference between promotion and relegation, points are so vital. Imagine using all of your calls and then losing a game and ending up getting relegated or losing a final because of it. I do believe that slowly, through trial and error that we will see VAR improving and with less controversial decisions as we have seen in other countries who adopted earlier than the PL. I love your enthusiasm for change in the game and different approaches and ideas, I bet you're the kind of man that loves the old silver goal rule 😂

Lots of great ideas here and agree with the majority of what you said. Only thing I disagree with is with the offside rule. I don't know if the technology is fully ready yet because the difference between frames may make a difference between onside and offside. How do we know the exact moment the pass has left the players foot to start the pass which results in the decision having to be made - are the cameras accurate enough?

Seeing the replay definitely helps the fans not get as outraged. At least this does so in the states with the NBA. Of course people will still disagree with calls, but I think it will definitely make a difference.

Quality video mate!

Anyone else like before watching just to see he’s back on his grind

As a football and rugby fan (more rugby) the speed rugby uses the TMO is very nice compared to the speed of VAR, you also could’ve mentioned the ref being able to communicate to the VAR team. Sometimes in rugby you get a dodgy tackle and the ref tells the TMO to check it during play that way play can be brought back without initially slowing the game down. I can see how this would cause issues in football however for things like offsides and penalty decisions can be worked sorted while play is going. The refs having microphones is a great idea because players may start treating the ref with respect rather then swearing at him.

As a rugby fan as well, The football offside line seems impressive and is something we need in rugby

Love the IMO great quality professional football knowledge. I agree VAR has to speed up Your videos are Always worth watching. Dont go changin Spencer

Rugby is my sport, the respect shown for referees and the ability to crack on regardless of the decision is awesome to see in sport. The TMO in rugby seems to executed extremely well. The referee can ask to see specific items, or the TMO can suggest that the referee take a look at a specific item. I think that right there is the key, specific items either asked for or suggested by the “VAR” and then the decision is made on the field by the referee/official, and the game cracks on.

Really glad that you mentioned the respect rugby players have for the ref. It's a rule in rugby that only the team captains can speak to the ref, anyone else and they get a warning. 2 warnings and they get a yellow (off for 10 mins). If players shouted and performed at the ref the way the footballers do, they would all be sent off within about 15mins.

I agree about the delay. I was at Palace vs Arsenal when Aubameyang was sent off, all the ref had to do was walk 10 or so meters to go to the monitor, take 5 seconds to see that it was a red and we could have continued straight away, but instead, we waited about 3 minutes for the Stockley Park to check it out. Firstly, it took too long and secondly I did not know what was going on, it has to improve.

VAR shouldn't be used to referee the game, the on pitch ref should make all initial decisions. VAR should ONLY be used if either the manager or captain of a team appeal against the decision. I think 1x appeal for the captain and 1x for the manager would be enough to start with. Completely agree with the mic and big screen replays as well. People in the stadium need to know what's going on.

I agree with everything you said! Only thing I want to add is that people get mad because of the inconsistencies of the referees. Which I could agree with as well; I'm not mad at the VAR but the inconsistencies from game to game.

There is one thing people are generally missing when discussing VAR. The camera technology is not ready for VAR yet. The cameras filming the premier League games run at 50 Frames pr second. between each frame the game "moves" 1.2 microseconds. for example, Sterling moves at top speed 13 cm between frames. This is a huge issue when it comes it offside desitions. The VAR room has a few seconds to decide in which frame the ball leaves the player passing the ball's foot. If they get that wrong by 1 frame that has en big impact on weather the player receiving the ball is offside or not.

I was at the Chelsea game yesterday and the song that kept being sung was "its not football anymore" and I completely agree. the rule has to be changed. for Olivier Giroud's toe to be offside when he scores a header just doesn't make sense. also how the people at Stockley Park to not see Azpilicueta pushed by Fred to create a foul that get rid of our first goal is unbelievable and don't even get me started on Harry Maguire still being on the pitch. None of the United players seemed to have a problem with any of the Chelsea goals. IMO the 3 appeal rule has to be implemented or VAR has to be gotten rid of because at the moment its not the football anyone fell in love with

Spencer when you gonna bring back the Wembley Cup?

TOTALLY agree with u mate!

The trouble people have with the offsides is they try and be so precise using the lines, but then that level of precision is not applied when picking the correct frame for when the ball leaves the player's foot

Absolutely nailed it Spencer

Well put

damn spencer you just appeared in my recommended holy moly the nostalgia mate

Especially being a West ham he’s not got the opinion I thought😂

Great video Spen, I have to disagree with your comment about VAR compared to Goal Line Technology. GLT has a clear system in which it can tell you if the ball was over the line or not. The issue with VAR (especially when it comes to offside ruling) is that there is no consistent method or proving if someone was offside or not, it depends on the person putting the lines in place and the position of the player. I’ve always said a appeal system should be introduced (like tennis) but more importantly I believe there should be a measurement given for offides e.g. if it as close as a millimetre it should be given to the attacker, that is hardly an advantage to the attacker (if i had a mm headstart vs Usain Bolt i’d still lose) but if its lets say 2cm then it should be ruled offside. Or find a way where cameras are setup all around the stadium to take a still image of those players and have better grids to determine if it was onside or not

Yessss love the IMO series

I totally agree with your idea of the appeal system!

Fair to say we disagree on many aspects of VAR and it's possible future, probably too much to leave in a comment, I might have to go old school and make a video response! Interesting to hear your thoughts though.

You mentioned it at the end. My issue with VAR and offsides is that I dont believe the technology is accurate to 1mm. I think there needs to be a small margin of error within the VAR offside line that allows for the call on the field to stand.

I like the idea of appealing but it would definitely have to come with the screens in the benches because otherwise you cannot tell and I don’t know if that would happen

In Portugal they change the rules on handball. If there is a handball of a offensive player it doesn't matter if its intentional or not the goal is always disallowed.

Having watched rugby league all my life I think it sets the standard for the minimum Video Referee system requirements - unlike union, it doesn't have that conversational aspect between the two officials, but they still communicate with each other to detail decisions and this can be heard by the TV audience. In the stadium the fans are able to watch the replays and see everything the Video Ref sees, and if they aren't able to work out what the issue is from that, the referee gives a hand signal that associates to the call

Can you wish me a Happy Birthday, Spen Doggy Dog?