BitcoinNews.com's UEFA Champions League Football Preditor Pool Discussion thread

[buwaytress]

@Trofo, exactly. These matches were a great advertisement for VAR. If you recall even the first penalty at Wembley, the one that Aguero missed, no one would have seen it, no one even asked for it, the entire stadium didn't expect it, so City can't say they didn't benefit from VAR (just that they didn't convert. I'm 50/50 on Llorente's goal, I personally don't count unintended forearms as handball but I know others do. All in all there would have been more controversy without than with VAR.

Not since Istanbul have I heard of something this incredible (Although Roma last season upending Barca was pretty intense too!) but just the way of the last minute goal first counted and then upended, wish I'd been watching it live too.

[hilariousetc]

What did I just watch!?

VAR for MOTM Ballon d'Or.

This was a good game for promotion of VAR. There is no way any referee in the world would have seen that offside without it and it directly decided who will progress to semi final. I was feeling sorry for Pep and City players for a little while and then I remembered how much money thry make and decided it is not so bad for them 

Another decision that makes me think the offside rule should be changed. Should we really be disallowing goals for being inches off side or because you might have been a tiny bit off side at one point. It really doesn't matter. Sometimes the ref misses things and that's part of the game. VAR is still missing things but we have to stop the game for five minutes to find out. It's annoying seeing players wait in anticipation to see if the goal has been allowed or not or the opposite like last night where City thought they'd clinched it in the dying minutes and were going mental only to be told it wasn't a goal. Honestly, I don't even think off side should be checked. If the officials miss it then so be it.

I'm 50/50 on Llorente's goal, I personally don't count unintended forearms as handball but I know others do. All in all there would have been more controversy without than with VAR.

It hit his arm then came off his thigh. They didn't show the angle that showed that clearly. The handball rule also needs to be changed in my opinion because there's far too much inconsistency. I don't think those sorts of handballs matter. It wasn't on purpose. It was accidental. Nothing could have been done about it but sometimes ref gives them and sometimes they don't and in this case VAR didn't even pick it up so what's the point of it? Had the other angle from behind the net been shown it probably would have been disallowed. Annoyed me last week with the penalty on Danny Rose. Yeah, it hit his hand but he couldn't have done anything about it and he was even booked for it. 

[tokeweed]

All I can say is f*ck Laporte and f*ck VAR (twice).  I shall be supporting Ajax to win it!

That is all.

Edit:  Two guys left.

BCT's CL Pool Side Bet:  Which Club Progresses the Furthest?

buwaytress:  LFC
hahay:  Barca

[LTU_btc]

Another decision that makes me think the offside rule should be changed. Should we really be disallowing goals for being inches off side or because you might have been a tiny bit off side at one point. It really doesn't matter. Sometimes the ref misses things and that's part of the game. VAR is still missing things but we have to stop the game for five minutes to find out. It's annoying seeing players wait in anticipation to see if the goal has been allowed or not or the opposite like last night where City thought they'd clinched it in the dying minutes and were going mental only to be told it wasn't a goal. Honestly, I don't even think off side should be checked. If the officials miss it then so be it.

I disagree with you. This what you proposed just would open room for interpretation because it would be up to referee decide what is offside and isn't. Maybe these tiny offsides don't give advantage to forwards, but now at least we have clear rules without any interpretations.
Maybe these VAR reviews are taking too much time, but at least we can avoid so many mistakes by referees. Because it sucks when your team get eliminated just because that referee didn't noticed offside or something. For example, tonight Benfica got eliminated from Europa league because goal was scored from offside and there are no VAR.

[hilariousetc]

Another decision that makes me think the offside rule should be changed. Should we really be disallowing goals for being inches off side or because you might have been a tiny bit off side at one point. It really doesn't matter. Sometimes the ref misses things and that's part of the game. VAR is still missing things but we have to stop the game for five minutes to find out. It's annoying seeing players wait in anticipation to see if the goal has been allowed or not or the opposite like last night where City thought they'd clinched it in the dying minutes and were going mental only to be told it wasn't a goal. Honestly, I don't even think off side should be checked. If the officials miss it then so be it.

I disagree with you. This what you proposed just would open room for interpretation because it would be up to referee decide what is offside and isn't. Maybe these tiny offsides don't give advantage to forwards, but now at least we have clear rules without any interpretations.
Maybe these VAR reviews are taking too much time, but at least we can avoid so many mistakes by referees. Because it sucks when your team get eliminated just because that referee didn't noticed offside or something. For example, tonight Benfica got eliminated from Europa league because goal was scored from offside and there are no VAR.

But even with VAR the correct decisions are sometimes not made. We've already seen incorrect decisions happen using it. Sometimes decisions go in your favour and sometimes they don't. Sometimes people get punished for the same offence where no action was taken in another. Sometimes a foul is given when it was a complete dive. Sometimes they're not given when it's an obvious foul. Sometimes a player is fouled in the box but they keep on going rather than go down and nothing comes of it, but if he had of gone down a penalty would have been given. That's one thing I like about Messi. He hardly ever goes down and keeps fighting even if he's been hacked at and will usually try stay upright at any costs, but he could just as easily fall on the floor and get a penalty and in many cases I think he should have done, but that's the game for you. It's swings and round abouts. Where there's a human involved then there is both opinion and room for error and that won't change with VAR. It's good that it helps makes the right decision but at what cost? Ten minutes taken out of the game whilst refs decide on what to do over a few instances some of them very petty and made out of desperation from the opposing team?

If we're not going to rely on the officials then we might as well get rid of linesmen and maybe even referees all together. Maybe just let the decisions down to VAR or even just an algorithm so you take the human error out of it. Nothing is ever going to get it 100% right but we need to take the positives and negatives into account. VAR is only something that going to be happening in top flight football anyway whereas anyone else playing the game whether professional or amateur is still going to have to carry on the same without such technology.

[buwaytress]

It's good that it helps makes the right decision but at what cost? Ten minutes taken out of the game whilst refs decide on what to do over a few instances some of them very petty and made out of desperation from the opposing team?

If we're not going to rely on the officials then we might as well get rid of linesmen and maybe even referees all together. Maybe just let the decisions down to VAR or even just an algorithm so you take the human error out of it. Nothing is ever going to get it 100% right but we need to take the positives and negatives into account. VAR is only something that going to be happening in top flight football anyway whereas anyone else playing the game whether professional or amateur is still going to have to carry on the same without such technology.

I've never been a fan of VAR, and will likely never be convinced, even if I could see that it played crucial roles in the last QFs, and probably made the right calls, but completely agree that the cost is too high. Having played football and watched it for most of my adult and childhood, I treasure football for the way it flows. Referees stop the game if they have to, but if you don't hear that whistle you play on. Time isn't paused for injuries, it just gets added on, and even lengthened at discretion. Linesmen all help maintain that flow to the game. It is downright frustrating if not completely unfootballlike to have to wait 5, even 10 minutes in the whole game just for videos that probably befuddle, rather than sharpen judgment.

I do believe that everything evens out anyway, and that's always been the nature of the game, we as players accept it, managers and big leagues and fans should accept it too. What's next? Artificial touch sensor pitches that tell us if balls are out, or are properly taken for corners and auto offside flag

[Trofo]

For me VAR is a good addition to the game. It helps rectify some of the major mistakes and even adds a new layer of drama. It needs some upgrades for sure but it is much better then going without VAR.

It is downright frustrating if not completely unfootballlike to have to wait 5, even 10 minutes in the whole game just for videos that probably befuddle, rather than sharpen judgment.

It's good that it helps makes the right decision but at what cost? Ten minutes taken out of the game whilst refs decide on what to do over a few instances some of them very petty and made out of desperation from the opposing team?

This is a big problem. I would try to solve it by giving VAR referees more decision making privileges. I believe that already we have at least one top referee inside VAR room, I think I heard that somewhere. Then we could just give that referee 30 seconds to make decision and inform the main referee. This should be manageable with technology and manpower in VAR room. If the situation is unclear after watching it few times the decision from main referee stays and that's it. That way we would keep a big percentage of correct VAR decisions with drastically reduced lost time.

It really disrupts the game when you see main referee watching the situation for 5 minutes. That means it is a situation which could be judged both ways so we could just skip that and let the original decision stay. Example: A handball from Llorente when he scored against City.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

All I can say is f*ck Laporte and f*ck VAR (twice).  I shall be supporting Ajax to win it!

That is all.

Edit:  Two guys left.

BCT's CL Pool Side Bet:  Which Club Progresses the Furthest?

buwaytress:  LFC
hahay:  Barca

I’m rooting for my boy buwaytress for obvious reasons
I guess I can release the escrow funds to the winner after the semi finals, no point waiting until the final is there seeing at though the remaining two people’s picks face each other in the semi final.

[LTU_btc]

But even with VAR the correct decisions are sometimes not made. We've already seen incorrect decisions happen using it. Sometimes decisions go in your favour and sometimes they don't. Sometimes people get punished for the same offence where no action was taken in another. Sometimes a foul is given when it was a complete dive. Sometimes they're not given when it's an obvious foul. Sometimes a player is fouled in the box but they keep on going rather than go down and nothing comes of it, but if he had of gone down a penalty would have been given. That's one thing I like about Messi. He hardly ever goes down and keeps fighting even if he's been hacked at and will usually try stay upright at any costs, but he could just as easily fall on the floor and get a penalty and in many cases I think he should have done, but that's the game for you. It's swings and round abouts. Where there's a human involved then there is both opinion and room for error and that won't change with VAR. It's good that it helps makes the right decision but at what cost? Ten minutes taken out of the game whilst refs decide on what to do over a few instances some of them very petty and made out of desperation from the opposing team?

If we're not going to rely on the officials then we might as well get rid of linesmen and maybe even referees all together. Maybe just let the decisions down to VAR or even just an algorithm so you take the human error out of it. Nothing is ever going to get it 100% right but we need to take the positives and negatives into account. VAR is only something that going to be happening in top flight football anyway whereas anyone else playing the game whether professional or amateur is still going to have to carry on the same without such technology.

The main problem of VAR system is human factor. After watching all replays decision still should be made by referee. In football there are lot of room for interpretations and every referee interpret rules differentely. This is why sometimes we see different referee decisions in same situations. In other sports like tennis, basketball, ice hockey rules are very clear and there not much place for interpretations, so in general everyone is happy about video replays in these sports.
I agree that VAR reviews is taking too much time. So, I think that football need something what we have in tennis - it's challenges. For example, every team can ask for VAR review only once per match. If VAR review shows that referee made mistake, team which asked VAR review can ask for replay in same match another time. If after review VAR shows that referee was right, team lose their replay challenge.
It's normal that we have VAR only in top level football. Same like Hawk-Eye is only used in biggest tennis tournaments. But I heard that FIFA is preparing VAR for lower level football also where matches is only filmed with only 1-2 cameras.

[Trofo]

Hey LFC_Bitcoin and all you other Liverpool supporters, how does it feel to root for your arch nemesis United today? Probably only day in a year when guys in Man United colors would be welcomed all around Liverpool. All joking aside I believe this Manchester derby is LFC biggest chance to see City lose some points. Too bad they didn't play it a month ago when United was still playing good  

Don't feel like betting on this one. This could end as win for either club, 0:0 draw or total goal fest. Best to just get a cold one from the fridge and enjoy the game.

[buwaytress]

@LFC I got a good feels about this week and next. I don't feel like it is presumptuous either. Barca may be hunting for the treble (their third isn't it?) but the way they played against Real, Utd amd then more recently Villareal and Levante, contrasted against how The Reds have been playing... That gives me hope. Be nice to book the sidebet early, I still got an almost 10/1 bet on Pool winning Big Ears too!

@Trofo, strange, that's how I feel. You know I like Utd down, but not like that and not chronic! You play better whrn your rivals are in top shape nice to beat them by narrow margins. City will probably savour this league title more than their last if they win and for them impossible to top the one they won on goal diff to defeat UTD.

But yeah, now rooting for our old boy Rodgers to nick City... But we gotta do our part too.

AJAX is 3/1 and I rate spurs highly but they are tired and may not even have sissoko so I fear their midfield can't cope with the youth of Ajax.

Parlaying it with a PSG loss at 12/1.

2-0 Ajax away win is my prediction but I'm not saying what I put in Superbru

[Hhampuz]

I have a lot of faith in Spurs tonight, will be a great game though (I hope).

[Trofo]

I am thinking Ajax is winning today. Spurs look tired and have to play without few key players. I have played Ajax to win and over 2.5 goals today and placed 2:1 for Ajax as result in Superbru.

[buwaytress]

What the EFF. I just checked Superbru and I didn't enter a pick for Ajax. Was so happy the game just ended, and I go Superbru and it stares at me with no pick. I could have SWORN... Not that my 2-0 score (1.5 points) would have mattered haha. Exact scores for all remaining 4 games is still only 12 points. Not even 5th place.

No matter, PSG also gifted a goal to let Montpellier win (which I parlayed with an Ajax win), so I got a very sweet 12/1 win.

The way either Ajax or Spurs played, they shouldn't win the final no matter who they meet. Horrible game to watch, flashes of brilliance either way but wayward passing and over-ambitious play. Wasn't just me, right?

[Trofo]

No matter, PSG also gifted a goal to let Montpellier win (which I parlayed with an Ajax win), so I got a very sweet 12/1 win.

The way either Ajax or Spurs played, they shouldn't win the final no matter who they meet. Horrible game to watch, flashes of brilliance either way but wayward passing and over-ambitious play. Wasn't just me, right?

Congrats on nice bet. I am always afraid to play against PSG in local league. I know they didn't need the win and that there is low moral at the moment but they are so much better than competitors so too risky for me.

I also expected more from this game but stakes are very high and it is understandable that both teams played with caution and next game already on their mind. Should be much better second game.

[tokeweed]

It looks like hahay has the advantage on the side bet...

And who wants to do a side bet vs me if the final is Barca vs Ajax?  Me Ajax for 30 bucks using Nitrogen odds?  I know I could just bet at Nitrogen but having action vs the regs itt is so much fun.  

[Trofo]

And who wants to do a side bet vs me if the final is Barca vs Ajax?  Me Ajax for 30 bucks using Nitrogen odds?  I know I could just bet at Nitrogen but having action vs the regs itt is so much fun.  

I will probably be interested to take you on that bet but let's wait to see those odds first. Bookies sometimes post odds quite different to what I would consider fair odds for the game. Example: I thought Ajax was a slight favorite in first game against Spurs (Son, Kane, Ajax great away) and all bookies gave advantage to Spurs. In the next game I think Spurs will be even better and will probably not lose and bookies will for sure favor Ajax. Maybe we can find some bet on that game as well since you seem very confident Ajax will be in final 

I agree that betting against "real people" is much more fun then simply playing tickets and paying margins.

[LFC_Bitcoin]

It looks like hahay has the advantage on the side bet...

And who wants to do a side bet vs me if the final is Barca vs Ajax?  Me Ajax for 30 bucks using Nitrogen odds?  I know I could just bet at Nitrogen but having action vs the regs itt is so much fun.  

I could probably pay out the escrow now. Barely been on any kind of social media or watched sports becauuse it still hurts. How did we not score at least two precious away goals? Mane, Salah & Milner should have scored. It just wasn’t to be.

I’m 99.9% sure hahay will win the side bet but I guess I better wait until it’s confirmed to release the escrow.

[Trofo]

I’m 99.9% sure hahay will win the side bet but I guess I better wait until it’s confirmed to release the escrow.

You never know, Barca has a history of surprising second leg results in last two seasons. First they turned the tables on Psg and won 6:1 to pass trough two seasons ago. Then last season they lost to Roma 3:0 after winning first game 4:1. It could have so easily finished 4:1 against the reds and I guarantee that some fear will creep into Barca players legs if Liverpool starts good and score first.

[tokeweed]

^  Yup.  I'd looove to see it go 3 - 0 then go the penalties. 

And who wants to do a side bet vs me if the final is Barca vs Ajax?  Me Ajax for 30 bucks using Nitrogen odds?  I know I could just bet at Nitrogen but having action vs the regs itt is so much fun.  

I will probably be interested to take you on that bet but let's wait to see those odds first. Bookies sometimes post odds quite different to what I would consider fair odds for the game. Example: I thought Ajax was a slight favorite in first game against Spurs (Son, Kane, Ajax great away) and all bookies gave advantage to Spurs. In the next game I think Spurs will be even better and will probably not lose and bookies will for sure favor Ajax. Maybe we can find some bet on that game as well since you seem very confident Ajax will be in final  

I agree that betting against "real people" is much more fun then simply playing tickets and paying margins.

Heh no.  I'm not really that confident.  I just think Ajax vs Barca would be an interesting final and something I'd like to put some action on vs a fellow BCT degen.