Kevin Doyle on VAR, winter breaks and this weekend’s games
Published:
On VAR inthe Premier League
I am personallytotally against VAR but now that it is in, it is here to stay. I don’t think itbenefits the Premier League whatsoever.
Football is the most popular sport in the world because itallows the fans to be passionate and to get emotional at games. They can havetheir own opinion during the games, ‘was it a penalty or not?’.
The fans arguing over a decision is what creates the atmospherein the ground and now all of that is taken away whilst we sit and wait for adecision to be made. One of which, nobody knows is correct or not.
It seems as though we are trying to be like Rugby orAmerican Football when we are neither of those things.
We are football, and the reason why it is the most popularsport in the world is down to the passion the fans show for their team. Whychange and desensitise football when there was nothing wrong with it to beginwith!
If they are to carry on with VAR it needs to be quicker andmore efficient. If I was a striker, I would get so frustrated because you can’teven celebrate a goal without having doubts.
For what it costs, they could have allowed an extra refereeat games to give the referee an extra set of eyes on the pitch and to hope thatbetter decisions would be made as a result.
On the PremierLeague Winter Break
I think the winter break is great. When I was playing, if you played International football you maybe got two, three weeks off maximum at the end of the season which is not the way it should be. You need some time off to not only rest your body but most importantly your mind.
I am not sure about having the break in February as it is agood bit into the second half of the season and people are starting to countdown to the final games.
I feel a month earlier would have been more beneficial. Letthe players get the FA Cup third round out of the way and then go on the WinterBreak for two weeks.
Apart fromthe timing, I think it is a good thing which I would have loved when I wasplaying. It is a tough long season with European and International games andChampionships coming up in the summer, so the break is needed for the playersto rest and recuperate.
Premier LeagueFixtures
Brighton v Watford, Saturday, 17:30
Heading into this game; both teams are under a lot ofpressure. We are at that point in the season where every point counts, so I cansee this being a cagey game.
Both teams are within touching distance of each other withWatford being in the bottom three after a massive blow last weekend.
Having been 2-0 up against Everton and then losing 3-2, theywill be brewing on this all week as that win would have gotten them out of thebottom three. They need to get over this result that and move on fast!
Brighton on the other hand haven’t been performing to a highstandard all season. Having signed Graham Potter in May 2019, the team’s styleof play has changed, and they are still adapting to this. They are where Iexpect them to be for the players they have. I think it will be a tight scoredraw.
Prediction: 1-1
Sheffield Utd v Bournemouth, Sunday, 14:00
I think Sheffield Utd have the upper hand heading into thisgame. They have absolutely no pressure on them and I think they have beenperforming fantastically this season.
I had expected to see a drop off from them after Christmasas I didn’t think they would be able to keep that high level of performance up.But I have been pleasantly proven wrong!
I can’t see Bournemouth going to Bramall Lane and gettingsomething out of the game. Bramall Lane is a Sheffield Utd domain, it is not anice play to go for an away team.
But for Sheffield Utd and its players, it is a great stadiumwith a great atmosphere. They have the advantage of playing at home which willbe intimidating for Bournemouth.
Prediction: 2-0 Sheffield Utd < My best value bet this weekend!
Man City v West Ham, Sunday, 16:30
Man City performed excellently in the first half againstTottenham last weekend. When you look at the stats, they were ahead in everydepartment.
I think they got frustrated the longer the game went on andSpurs capitalised on this. Sometimes it doesn’t come down to what the team hasdone wrong, the ball just wasn’t going their way on the day.
Looking ahead to this weekend’s game, Man City are definitelythe stronger side. I think this is a game West Ham need to forget about.
I see them living to fight another day, but they shouldconcentrate on the other important games and teams around them in the table.
Prediction: 3-1 Man City
My 1-2-FREE PREDICTION
Brighton v Watford: 1-1
Sheffield Utd v Bournemouth: 2-0
Man City v West Ham: 3-1
My Five-Fold ACCA
Man City v West Ham: Man City win
Sheffield Utd v Bournemouth: Sheffield Utd win
Everton v Crystal Palace: Everton win
Blackburn v Fulham: Blackburn win
Reading v Hull City: Reading win
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