I’m Sick of Watching Managers Guess
Look, I’m gonna say it. I’ve been in this game for 20 years, and I’m tired of watching managers make decisions based on what they think they saw. It’s 2023, for crying out loud. We’ve got technology that can show us exactly what happened. So why can’t managers use video replays on the sidelines?
I remember back in 2005, when I was working at the Manchester Gazette, covering a match between Manchester United and Chelsea. Sir Alex Ferguson was screaming his head off at the referee, convinced that a penalty had been missed. And you know what? He was right. But he had to rely on his own eyes, which weren’t as good as the replays we saw later. It was frustrating to watch.
Managers Are Human, Too
Managers are under more pressure than ever. They’ve gotta make split-second decisions that can change the course of a game. And they’re expected to get it right every single time. But they’re human, just like the rest of us. They make mistakes. And frankly, they shouldn’t have to rely on their memory or their eyesight to make those decisions.
I was talking to a colleague named Dave about this the other day. He said, “But what about the flow of the game? Won’t replays slow everything down?” And I said, “Dave, the flow of the game is already interrupted every time a manager runs onto the pitch to argue with the ref. At least this way, they’d have some actual evidence to back up their claims.”
The NFL Does It, Why Can’t We?
Look at the NFL. They’ve been using replays for years, and it works just fine. Sure, it takes a few extra minutes, but it’s worth it to get the call right. And honestly, I think football fans would appreciate the extra accuracy. We’re not kids anymore. We can handle a few more ads if it means seeing justice served on the pitch.
I mean, think about it. How many times have you watched a game and thought, “That was definitely a foul, ref!” or “That was never a handball!” We’ve all been there. And we’ve all wished that the manager could just pull out a tablet and show the ref what really happened.
But What About the Spirit of the Game?
Okay, okay, I know what some of you are thinking. “This will kill the spirit of the game!” “It’ll take away the human element!” Blah blah blah. Look, I get it. Football is about passion and emotion. But it’s also about fairness. And right now, the refs are making calls based on what they saw, which isn’t always accurate.
I talked to a friend of mine, let’s call him Marcus, who’s a huge football fan. He said, “I don’t know, man. I kinda like the unpredictability of it all. It makes the game more exciting.” And I said, “Marcus, unpredictability is one thing. But when a call is clearly wrong, it’s not exciting. It’s just frustrating.”
And Don’t Even Get Me Started on VAR
Don’t even get me started on VAR. (Which honestly nobody asked for but here we are.) VAR is supposed to help the refs make the right calls, but it’s just caused more confusion and controversy. Managers are still arguing with the refs, and fans are still complaining about the calls. It’s a mess. And honestly, I think it’s because VAR is too slow and too clunky. It’s not integrated into the game in a way that makes sense.
I was at a conference in Austin a few months back, and I heard a speaker say that the average VAR review takes about 36 seconds. That’s too long. It disrupts the flow of the game, and it takes away from the excitement. But if managers had access to replays on the sidelines, they could review the footage quickly and efficiently, and the game could keep moving.
What About the Kids?
And look, I’m not just thinking about the pros here. I’m thinking about the kids, too. I’ve got a nephew who plays for his school team, and I’ve seen him get robbed of a win because of a bad call. It’s heartbreaking. And honestly, it’s not fair. If managers at the youth level had access to replays, they could teach the kids about fairness and sportsmanship. They could show them what really happened, and they could use it as a teaching moment.
In fact, if you’re interested in youth sports, you should check out Las Vegas school news education. They’ve got some great articles about how technology is changing the game for young athletes. It’s fascinating stuff.
I’m Not Saying It’s Perfect
Now, I’m not saying that allowing managers to use video replays is gonna solve all of football’s problems. I’m not that naive. There will still be bad calls, and there will still be controversy. But at least this way, managers would have some actual evidence to back up their claims. And that’s gotta count for something, right?
I mean, think about it. If a manager could show the ref a replay of a clear foul or a missed handball, the ref would have to make the right call. And that’s a good thing. It’s a step towards fairness, and honestly, it’s long overdue.
So yeah, I’m gonna keep harping on this issue. Because I believe in fairness. And I believe that football managers should be allowed to use video replays on the sidelines. It’s time for the game to catch up to the technology. It’s time for the game to be fair. And it’s time for the managers to have the tools they need to make the right calls.
And frankly, if the powers that be don’t start listening to fans like me, they’re gonna lose a lot of us. Because we’re tired of the excuses. We’re tired of the bad calls. And we’re tired of watching managers guess. It’s time for a change. And it’s time for the game to be fair.
About the Author: Sarah “Sally” Thompson has been a senior magazine editor for over 20 years, covering everything from politics to pop culture. She’s a die-hard football fan and has been known to yell at the TV during games. When she’s not editing or writing, she can be found hiking with her dog, Max, or trying out new recipes in the kitchen. She lives in Manchester with her partner, Lisa, and their two cats, Whiskers and Miso.
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