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So it was offside after all!
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Amazing really. Everybody missed it including David Moyes himself. The decision was so subtle but so right. But there is a caveat. Let me explain.
I've watched the video over and over again. Piquionne takes the ball to the by-line after Distin slips. He's right on the line. He then passes the ball into the crowded penalty area to Vanden Borre. Immediately, he gets the ball back. As he gets it back he is definitely offside as he is right on the line. Tim Howard and his defenders are all slightly in front of the line, naturally.
Now here's the caveat. Does he get the ball back from Vanden Borre or from an Everton player? It's difficult to see. If the latter, then he has been played onside. If it is from Vanden Borre, he is offside. He then passes the ball to O'Hara who flicks it across the goal area to the unmarked Vanden Borre to score.
From what I can see, Piquoinne originally passed the ball to Vanden Borre who returned the ball straightaway. At that moment, the lad became active and the flag went up. Everyone is looking at Vanden Borre and saying he's not offside — which is true. But we're looking at the wrong player!
There it is. Solved!
David Ellis, Posted 10/05/2010 at 23:39:07
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There are those in the media that think refs should be interviewed after games to explain key decisions. Anyone who remembers the flash interview Graham Poll gave after THAT decision will know why the FA would never allow that!
I'm the same and it's killed part of the game for me. It isn't just reserved for offside either — as soon as the ball hits the net my immediate thought is "Won't be allowed, no idea why but it won't be..", I shoot a look over to the lino, then the ref and if they're both on their way then happy days!
That split second of doubt takes a right kick out of the elation of scoring though.
I watched from the extended Sky highlights and Trevor Francis wasn't wise to it, but as David Hallwood put it he is a 'knobhead'.
Matt Traynor — what was 'that decision' for which you speak??
I think where the confusion came was because the lino, sorry, I mean Referee's Assistant, was SO late in raising the flag!!!
Yeah, I remember that. We where robbed. The FA refused to do anything, and Graham Poll went on to become the country's 'top' official.
Change as many rules as you want. But until you bring your referees into line, it's pointless.
We had a perfectly good goal disallowed at the Britannia stadium a week earlier due to subjective scrutiny of the offside rule. The authorities realized it was somewhat dubious to disallow it and so decided to even things up a week later when Portsmouth scored an equally good goal. You see, things DO even themselves up by the end of the season!
Both goals should have counted and if they did then we would have finished one point closer to the RS.
Let's just all look forward with excitement to another silly season full of frustration and lack of transfer activity... oh, and a World Cup!
On here it is easy to comment but I guess it would help if the comments are at least informed.
"The authorities realised it" FFS
Otherwise, you just have to step off the pitch to stay on side and then back again etc etc so there must be something about coming back on without permission or a break of play.
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1 Posted 11/05/2010 at 06:44:15
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