Relegation, when finally confirmed last May, condemned West Ham to the second tier of English football for the first time since 2011 and a summer of turmoil with sixteen exits from last year’s expensively assembled Premier League squad.
The allegations made in June’s BBC Panorama programme created further chaos in the boardroom with the end of the Brady/Sullivan era, West Ham fans celebrating – prematurely as it turned out – that the departed Chairman looked set to exit the football club altogether. Whilst Sullivan retains shares, his influence on the club is waning fast.
Much as fans dreaded starting life in the second tier, there has been a pretty unanimous thumbs up to one aspect of the football – reverting to referee-controlled matches and no VAR in theChampionship is perhaps the biggest breath of fresh air for supporters weary of the contrived results seemingly orchestrated by the officials off the pitch last season.
VAR Delays and Interventions are no more – much to fans’ relief
The spontaneity, the spectacle, indeed, the instant reaction to referee decisions are cause for celebration or uproar but are again authentic and instant. Just as it used to be.
West Ham’s players have taken a couple of games to get wise and stop rolling around waiting for a VAR overturn: The referees in the Championship appear less indulgent of play-acting and more prepared to allow the game to flow. The officials’ mistakes are the same, of course, but each side and their supporters merely live with it and get on with the game.
Goal celebrations are once again without hesitation and free from endless, minute, slow motion re-examination.
Relegation may be catastrophic financially for the club and emotionally draining for supporters – but as far as the entertainment is concerned, to borrow a phrase, “I’m lovin’ it”!
Given we have always historically been in the bottom 3 teams for bad decisions leading to goals against I didn’t think I would say this but completely agree it’s much more fun watching football without VAR.
Maybe VAR when it comes to checking if a goal is allowed, has introduced its own inconsistencies and possible interpretations but it also takes 10 mins deciding? Anyhow, whatever the reasons, as glad as everyone else do not have to put up with it.
Agree completely with everything everyone says and the change of attitude in the players on a pitch is a big plus with no cynical managers watching their players roll 10 yds without batting an eyelid.
The above is bang on, instead of the normal moans and abuse directed at the officials, and the wait for VAR to manufacture a way to disallow a goal, we are now celebrating when the ball hits the net and only then taking a glance at the lineo.
I commented Saturday, that I hadn’t noticed the ref during the game, that’s probably the best plaudit I can give him. He let the game flow, didn’t get mugged by diving and we didn’t end up with 10 mins added on, compare that to the farce that unfolded at Forest.
Like the old days, Your take one look at the lino , see no flag up, then look at the ref to see him point at the centre circle , goal. no time at all
VAR was worth a try, but it has made the game far less exciting. I genuinely enjoy the Championship – heaps of games, heaps of goals, loads of different styles of football, not loads of VAR delays and official controversies, players with something to prove.
I would have no issues with the richest clubs carving off into a Super European League and leaving us and the other paupers to have a real comp again.
I thought the same when the plans for that Super League were floated last year. The Championship is real football, there’s no real idea who is a top team from week to week and it’s competitive. Sad to say I don’t want to go back to the Prem.
Good observation. VAR as it is operated is a terrible blight on football and an insult to fans. With it being so unpopular it’s difficult to understand why football authorities doggedly refuse to radically reform it. Although we have to hope for success for the club, no doubt many of us have misgivings about the prospect of a return to the PL :- VAR, big club bias, media overhype, massive egos, stifled football preoccupied with posession/pressing/set pieces, fixture & ko time churning due to European competitions. Let’s enjoy our time in the Championship, free of all that pleasure sapping B/S.
I’m loving no VAR and the referees allowing the game to flow. Let’s face it the Championship is a way better ‘product’ to watch on TV and so much better in the stadium. I would be happy to skip promotion and just stay in the championship to be honest.There must be a way to balance the books and stay a championship club.
Totally agree. I found that VAR took away the most enjoyable part of a game, namely celebrating a goal. Now there isn’t the wait while being subject to the whims of whichever official is imposing his own particular interpretation on a review. Personally I am quite happy if the officials on the pitch don’t get it right every time so long as the game flows and you know that the referee ‘s whistle is all that matters. The match day experience is all the better for it in my opinion.