Good Evening Positive AFC fans,
The first game of the 2018/2019 season under the belt, so to speak, and I feel a lot better with that opening obstacle concluded. A real thumping would have cast a pall over my week and I could not have that. Not the result we hoped for but a team performance that I thought was good overall.
Of the parts that impressed me most our teenage debutante Guendouzi stood out, and he earns his first MoTM award. Matteo was able to cope with the physical demands of the game, tackle cleanly, and showed himself able to control the ball with no time or space. There was some pre-match discussion on SKY about the speed/pace of the English PL game troubling foreign players. He had no obvious problem I saw. For the young Frenchman to put in the full 94 minutes with no obvious slacking toward the end also suggests good stamina. Lichtsteiner’s introduction at left back, although the circumstances of it were unfortunate, showed us what the highly experienced Swiss can do. He reads the game well and has that edge of cunning that we need in a cruel, cruel football world. In Michel Oliver’s face, pointing, shouting, even tearing a strip off Mesut at one point. On another day his goading of Aymeric would have seen the opponent on his way back to the dressing room with a red card for his cranial lunge. I like him.
I thought Petr pulled off a string of good saves today, and for a period in the First Half kept us in the game.. The notion that he should have done better on the Sterling goal is bollocks. The kicking out or passing out from the back though between Cech/Matteo/Sokratis/Skhodran ? THE STUFF OF NIGHTMARES!! Sort it out Mr Emery.
Of things we could have done better ? We created a number of half chances and potentially useful positions on the Citeh final third that we did not exploit. We looked rusty. At the key moment the pass to an Arsenal attacker went astray, too long, too short, Auba went left as the ball went right et cetera.At 0-1 we all know a goal for us would have left Pep’s boys reeling. Against good teams like Citeh we can expect only limited possessions around the opposition box and I felt today it was not used as it could/should have been. Scoring goals eh ? That is a thing.
I would also like to see more of Mkhi on the ball and challenging in midfield and that it was Aaron who got the hook first and the Armenian playing the full match was a surprise. He did OK but in the first 35 minutes he did not provide AMN with enough support. He worked better with Hector after the changeover but even then he had a air of Theo at times, always available but never involved.
Onwards to the Bridge next week to meet the currently table-topping Chelsea. Probably a busy week at Colney, identifying the parts of the machine that need to be sharpened, tightened and oiled.
Enjoy your week.
Positively Arsenal 
Might take one of the German world cup players, past and present, talking about Ozil seriously if they reference the fact he came in for by far the worst criticism despite being no worse than the rest of the big players.
Tellingly, I don’t think they can afford to admit to that. Once they did, they’d have to try account for it.
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Look at this tit. Anything legitimately happen to propel him through air like that? Course not.
No way Ainsley could expect something like that unless he was similarly cynical and threw himself over once the honest part of the action was done.
Annoying. Cost Ainsley couple of months of career when he was all set to kick on some more. Fucking Spurs shite.
https://www.shutterstock.com/editorial/image-editorial/arsenal-v-manchester-city-premier-league-emirates-stadium-london-uk-12-aug-2018-9788357cn
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Papers weirdly gone with images of Ainsely and Stirling contesting ball instead of that one.
Just like, no doubt, none of them used pic of Mcnair butchering Wilshere ankle when Jack injured himself that time.
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“The reason for there being no VAR this year was because the clubs were given a briefing by PGMO and told that they saw major flaws in the system, including slowing down the game, and that this could cause knock on effects. The clubs by a majority took that advice.”
http://untold-arsenal.com/archives/70393
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“The reason for there being no VAR this year was because the clubs were given a briefing by PGMO and told that they saw major flaws in the system, including slowing down the game, and that this could cause knock on effects. The clubs by a majority took that advice.”
How does Tony know why the clubs took the decision to delay VAR they did in April Fins – was he at the meeting ?
The link below is from the Telegraph published before the PL quarterly meeting took place on 13/4 and a vote was taken that says the clubs would test VAR for another season. As the article says Mike Riley was scheduled to speak at the meeting so it is unclear how he had already “given a briefing by the PGMO”.
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2018/04/12/premier-league-clubs-ready-postpone-var-introduction-year/
Over to you Fins …
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You are free to ask Tony Andrew.
Trust is a valuable commodity.
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“Over to me”. hilarious!
Have you considered a hobby in stand up?
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I always have and always will appreciate your sense of humour Andy.
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I am the reincarnated soul of Frank Carson Fins !
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Bielik has joined Charlton on a season loan
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Unai Emery’s press conference: every single word
Arsenal Media 16 Aug 2018
There were a variety of topics on the agenda when Unai Emery sat down in front of the press on Thursday afternoon.
Our head coach was asked about what he learnt from his first Premier League match, his left-back options and who will start in goal at Stamford Bridge on Saturday. Read on to find out what he said:
on what he learnt from his first match…
The first game gives us more information about things to improve and also things to continue doing. It’s clear that the result was the first [objective] we wanted. But it was Manchester City’s day. We need to continue with our work to make the differences in the next match and in the future. For me, what was most important was the players know the positive things we did in this game and also the things we need to improve on and work more for.
on what we must do to get a positive result against Chelsea…
First, we want to build a competitive team. We are going to play away but we need to keep our personality, keep our mentality, because I think on Sunday against Manchester City, the team kept their ideas, kept their spirit in the game for the full 90 minutes, even when we were losing, and didn’t let [their heads] go down. That was a good thing, [despite] us losing 2-0. I want us to continue with this work and to be completive for 90 minutes, but with a better performance than on Sunday, both individually and collectively. We want a good preparation before and a good response on the pitch to that preparation.
on Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ injury and who will play at left back…
It’s clear that we don’t want to have injuries in the team. When you want to play and be competitive, they can arrive. The first injury with Kolasinac was important because I think he was playing well in pre-season. But we needed to play with another player like Ainsley [once Kolasinac was injured]. His performance can improve, he can get better in his career in the team. Maybe not especially at left back, but he was playing well in the first 25 minutes on Sunday. After this injury, I tried with Lichtsteiner, who is a player with experience. He can play at left back but his position in the team is more at right back. This week Nacho Monreal is working every day, training every day with us. The two options we have now are Nacho Monreal and Lichtsteiner to continue in this position.
on if Petr Cech will start in goal…
I am very happy with his performance. He has experience, he has quality, he has the capacity. Also, with Bernd Leno [it’s the same]. They are two goalkeepers who are important for us. They have different qualities but for us in the way we want to play, they can [both] play. For Saturday, the decision for me is easy. Petr Cech can continue to start the match, I believe in him. [But] If Bernd starts, I believe in him also.
on if he’s become more aware of his task at Arsenal…
We wanted to start [in front of] our supporters, against a great team like Manchester City, but the difficulty on the pitch was big. For me, the result is very important but also the way [of the result]. I think we can improve in each match, in each training. The difficulty is clear: I believe in our team, I believe in our players. We can improve and we need to improve playing in the difficult games. Our demands are very high and I want these demands for me first, but also for the players and the club. We need to work hard, we need to work together and we need to suffer together when we lose. It’s the same for me, for the players and for the club. When you are [at the op or at the bottom] you need the resilience. You shouldn’t change your mentality if you lose the first game. I want a consistency in our way [performances]. I want us to do well with our thinking and our mentality.
on if he has a timescale of when he will be happy that the players understand him…
We have one plan, we have one process. Maybe in one match you can be very happy with the performance and the result – and I want that on Saturday. But then you need more time to completely watch your team as you want [them to play]. For example, on Sunday, we saw good things on the pitch. I want us to show more personality in each match to improve, so the performances arrive quickly. Saturday is a very good option to show our personality, our capacity against a big team like Chelsea, and away from home. [When you’re] away, you have an opportunity to change last year’s difficulties when the team played away. On Saturday we need to be a more competitive team on the pitch to change these away performances.
on what he expects from Chelsea…
We played two or three weeks ago against Chelsea, but with different players on the pitch, to Saturday – Hazard, Kante, Giroud, Kovacic. The personality we want to play with will be the same in this match. It will be different because both teams could have different players on the pitch, but it’s a good reference match to work with ahead of this Saturday against Chelsea.
Copyright 2018 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to http://www.arsenal.com as the source.
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in recent days we have had an ESPN guy call Arsenal “a laughing stock” and we have had one of SKY’s main pundits call us “a pub team”,
if anyone wondered if media would change their coverage of Arsenal once Wenger left, I think you already have your answer.
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Alan Smith also revealed that when he became a pundit/journo he got “kudos in the media” cos he was willing to criticize Arsenal
jeez alan we all know there is money to be made being critical of Arsenal, how else would wright, merson and rent a quotes like adams and petit ever get media work if it was not for this tried and tested formula.
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Arsenal medical team on
Jenkinson – “Carl has sustained a significant sprain to his right ankle and will be out for six to eight weeks.”
Kolasinac – “Sead has a left knee injury. We are aiming for him to return to training in October.”
Koscielny – “Right Achilles tendon repair. We are aiming for Laurent to return to training in November.”
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Arsenal medical team on Maitland-Niles: “Ainsley has sustained a small fracture to his left fibula and will be out for six to eight weeks.”
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Guendouzi on Aliadiere’s influence on his move: “I did speak to Jeremie about Arsenal & he said it’s a place where I can progress & learn a great deal from the staff here. He always spoke very positively & that made me feel very confident in the choice that I’d made.”
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sky reporting that Juventus are set to sign Stephy Mavididi and that he is already in Italy to undergo a medical and complete the move.
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should have said Mavididi would be joining Juventus B team which plays in Seri C
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3:05.
– A seemlingly logical, airtight conclusion by Andy-
Looks like a very narrow perspective. Why would one assume the PGMO would canvass such an important position at a general meeting? Now if I was bent on such an action it would be a better strategy to approach each likely club individually. In such a scenario I could also drop hints that would seem unseemly in a public setting.
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Great – super
So let me get this right in my mind Steve
Having arranged to put a presentation about VAR to the quarterly meeting of the PL owners and CEOs on the 13th April Mike Riley (presumably unless you have any other ideas?) set off to brief all the owners and CEOs prior to
that date in order that (presumably) he would have all of them bound to his cunning anti VAR design before all of them sat down together to listen to him, discuss and decide on VAR on the 13th.
That is your view ? That actually happened?
For the avoidance of doubt let me check a couple of background points – whether a) if you have any information that a single clandestine briefing ever took place before 13/4 or after – or ever ? b) your general view of trying to subvert sophisticated business organisations through clandestine pre meeting briefings – do you say that is how major sporting organisations operate and c) that you know if Riley was in favour of VARs introduction in 18/19 or not ?
To you Steve, to you
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Hmmm…Mavididi
Big upsurge in youngsters trying luck abroad or not signing on again at 18-20, mainly from youngsters from London/South it seems. Agents more active there or something in the air/mentality?
Could be good for England in the end but a problem for us, maybe.
More who leave from us greater chance one of them makes it big I suppose.
C Willock, Crowley, Mcguane, Dragomir, Virginia, Da Silva, now Mavididi. Makes me wonder again how on earth Chelsea persuade vast majority of their large numbers of players of broadly the same talent level to sign new contracts at those ages and, often, sign another afterwards, despite a far worse record than us of bringing them through.
Can only be money, surely. What we don’t know in any of the cases is how strong the desire was to keep those players, nor what sort of money was offered.
Let’s just hope Nelson signs on.
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Can understand if people think I’m a huge hypocrite and not gonna argue charge now, but first thought on hearing young ref Madley has quit is concern for the man.
Hope he’s alright and, ultimately, hope I haven’t made a mistake in reaching conclusion some time back that something is wrong with refereeing here.
It took me a long time to get there and…set me at odds with my principles (there’s so much nonsense about them worldwide, the game needs them, and I want to be someone who supports them) or something.
Anyway, I hope he’s alright. No comment on the shite being said about him on twitter but as with any person, including my villain Walker of earlier today, that sick stuff should be treated as pure nonsense.
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Rich there is a simple reason why CFC youths sign on and sign on again with them despite not getting games for the first team, money, back in 2014 CFC played Fulham in the FAYC final, and CFC players taunted the Fulham players by telling them how much they were getting paid, several of the CFC players were at that time on £30K a week, this without being within an asses roar of the CFC first team, virtually all of them are still not within an asses roar of the CFC first team.
Liam Brady said that AFC missed out on many good young players cos the CFC wage offer was so far ahead of what we offered.
We wanted Ethan Ampadu from Exeter last year, his dad is our U18 manager,but CFC blew us away on wages, we wanted Gilmour from Rangers earlier this year, but again CFC just blew us away.
There is currently a trend, a bad trend as far as I’m concerned, of young English players refusing new contracts and moving to the reserve teams at European clubs, or like Hinds at Dortmund, getting an occasional game for the first team. Moving for a compo payment and so getting good wages, but the big factor is their agent getting a big fat fee for making the transfer happen. So many fans of clubs are quick to complain about imagined money going out of their club to the owner(like we see so often at AFC about SK), but not a second thought to the tens of millions being paid to agents, something that certainly is “money going out of the game”.
Player wages sky rocketing is also absurd.
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Rich on Madely, haven’t seen what is being said about him on Twitter, and only report I’ve seen suggests that there may be a video circulation. But the report says he has relocated, which suggests to me that he has left England, maybe I’m getting it wrong and he has just moved to another part of England. But I would not be surprised if he is following Clattenburg to ref in another country. But then again if there is a video showing something bad about him, then maybe he has just done a runner.
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Ed
That’s about all I know. Articles about it mention there could be a video on social media, which seems very irresponsible to me unless they actually know for sure there’s something.
Social media has latched on that and, most likely, made up a crazy rumour (at least I hope that’s what it is)
Relocation does suggest abroad. Refs have moved in past- think both Poll and Halsey mention they did in their books- and no obvious reason why that would stop them unless it’s up in highlands or something.
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Rich there as of yet only seems to be a rumor of a video, this is a five or six hours after main stream media suggested there was a video, to me that sounds like there is no video. even some of the mainstream media have been seeking info on any such video, even putting up where anyone with info can contact their particular rag.
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Ed
I’m pretty much with you on the other thing- youngsters going abroad.
Far as it goes with us, I’d be happier if we were keeping more of our better talents until the 21/22 age, with loans typically from 19/20.
As you say I’m sure it does come down to money.
It’s very possible these youngsters do feel they have a slightly better chance abroad, or are attracted to the foreign adventure, but Chelsea pretty much prove that money generally outweighs that.
Knock on effect of them using money that way of course is that it makes life harder for us and agents will use it against us.
Mentioned before that quite likely our biggest talent of his age, Musah, who is still here after it was reported he was joining Juventus (too young to leave this year anyway, I think), seems to have Italian agent (son of ex Swans boss Guidolin), who also unfortunately seems involved with Nelson (pictured at his last contract signing)
Somehow a foreign agent at that age seems worse news than the alternative- though I’m sure many of our lot are much the same. How many of them aren’t actively working at each juncture towards a good financial opportunity for them rather than what’s best for the player?
From the outside ,I’d say we’re just short of it being a big problem for us, though it may already be one, and Nelson would feel like a tipping point to me.
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some agents are now asking for the same fees to get their client to renew a contract as they would for getting a transfer to a new club. whats worse is clubs are paying them.
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Andy 10:26
If you read carefully, as I know you can, you cannot possibly have missed that I have absolutely none of the evidence you so righteously demand. The PGMO is a secretive organization -that much even you may be able to admit. From what we have experienced of its practice, we have much grounds to speculate the worst of this odious organization. In the absence of transparency and a lack of willingness to explain itself to well documented and troubling experiences we can only, yes, speculate. Your position, at least in this instance, seems to be absolute trust in this organization based on what? Reason? Given the history of the performance of this secretive organization are our suspicions not as reasonable?
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If the PGMOL or the clubs, have genuine worries about the use of the VAR, it still shows up the PGMO as an organisation incapable of improving itself and moving forward quickly enough. Other leagues use it, and accept that it is only an additional tool for the referee, not a panacea, and constantly seek to improve.
The PGMO apparently can’t get their heads around the concept, the technology, the training, or the equipment. For the richest league in the football world, that is damning enough, even without the reasonable concerns and doubts about their impartiality.
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Youth spending is outside the purview of FFP meaning ‘rich’ clubs can spend whatever they like on it. If anyone is so inclined, sanctioning higher agent payments can lead to wonderful kickbacks or opportunities for money laundering.
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FIFA used to require a license for agents, to guard against human trafficking, among other things. That was done away with, quietly, in 2015(?)
Also done away with it was the provision that an agent could only represent one party in a transaction. So now you have Raiola representing Pogba getting paid by him, Juventus and ManU.
Then you also have the situation at Wolves which reminds me a bit of Porto, where some person claimed that Jorge Mendes could decide the Portuguese league simply through his distribution of players. England does not allow third party ownership of players, but apparently the Wolves owners have a stake in Mendes’ agency.
The money is made not through football operations. That tends to lose money (and save on tax) The most benevolent form of ‘making money’ is through raising the valuation of the club. Which seems to be the Kroenke model, and generally matches the Arsenal model. The most visible form of bad ownership is asset stripping. But what of most of the rest? Including the supposedly benevolent sugar daddies? How do they make money? I exclude the nation states from that because their aim is strategic, though this does not exclude money laundering as a possibility. Maybe even increases it?
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A secretive organisation? I do not follow Steve – in what sense secretive ?
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Shard
I’ve thought of that youth spending exemption a number of times, and again last night.
Definitely an area where, potentially, City, Chelsea or anyone else without a true, accurately-reported budget could get up to a lot of mischief.
It all depends on what the actual framework is like- I’ve never seen any details but there must be some- and whether there’s any rigour in the defence of them.
Crucially, what are the cutoffs- on ages transfers or wages can be written down/off as youth expenditure?
It’s very reasonable to believe whatever they are, Chelsea and City push them to the max and beyond, as that is what they have done with every element of the rules, including youth transfers (bans for both), 3rd party stuff, FFP. Rumours persist of families of very young players- say 10-14- being given large financial inducements
Again the issue of real budgets vs no real budget but a set of figures created and managed to comply with rules/ give appearance of a budget.
It could be the case that the money being offered by others has inflated prices, making it harder generally to get promising talents to sign on, but it’s also, a little worryingly, starting to look like we might be feeling the pinch a bit on youth spending (that darn real budget thing again)
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I’m not the PGMO’s biggest fan, but it’s bit unfair loading the blame for the non implementation of VAR onto them. This was solely a Premier League decision and wIll eventually get to the PL, and I support it.
“The clubs agreed that advanced testing will continue to the end of season 2018/19 to make further improvements to the system, especially around communication inside the stadium and for those following at home and around the world.”
As for the PGMO being a ‘secret organisation’…..where did that come from? They may be a bit secretive in much of their business, but it’s stretching credibility a bit isn’t it? Actually, I do where it comes from, and that particular blogger does Arsenal more harm than he’s ever done good.
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As for kickbacks…jeez, if that’s going on then it’d be bad news.
I read a brilliant book recently examining FIFA corruption and most of it was done through bribes, especially from sports marketing companies.
They would pay various FIFA heads in South America and Concacaf fat bribes (10 mill to one man by time of that centenary Copa America, which was actually the brainchild of sports marketers, and the means by which two of the biggest ones ,who were in dispute, settled their difference, which arose in the first place because one of them bribed their way into the breaking of a long-term deal which itself relied on bribes!!) in order to be given the rights at a low enough price to make the expensive bribing a good deal for them.
The money is seriously big. The guy it started with, Chuck Blazer, had himself a 10% deal on the competition which was his brainchild- the Gold cup- meaning 3 mill if an addition was sold for 30 mill. Plus original bribe. Untaxed as he was in charge of all accounts and hadn’t filed any tax for more than ten years at time of arrest. But that’s small fry next to some of the figures, with more than one sports marketer being ordered to pay the courts over a 100 million.
Illuminating but depressing read.
Anyway, it made clear how effective (100%) that way of dealing was in that arena (if you didn’t do it, you couldn’t operate). So I’m left hoping it isn’t common practice elsewhere in the football world, especially among clubs and agents.
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For the sake of clarity: ‘I do KNOW where it comes from……….
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Do NOT
Blame players for taking the money
Most of them come from situations where you sitting in your house, educated opportunities at your fingertips , can look down your noses and feel capricious because they take a better deal for themselves and their families.
The clubs should not pay if the cannot afford it.
It is mostly about greedy Football Clubs, greedy administrators and agents,Not the players who have given up their lives for that 1 in a Million chance of being a top pro.
Most do not make it
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If any of you staunch defenders of the pgMOB rep from the 49th game a football match which many Arsenal fans can call as it was even if you are incapable of admitting what everyone else have seen:
If you can please drop a link to the website of this allegedly “non-secretive” organisation that would begin to provide some data/information to support your opinions (as others have done which you have been incapable of debunking which is why you talk about another website here and not there).
No rush. Take your time. Happily awaiting any evidential matter of some substance to support your opinion (some crazy kooks call that the scientific method).
Cheers.
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Ah – I see – to be a “non secretive organisation” you need a website Fins
Here is a link to MI6’s website: https://www.sis.gov.uk/ and here is the one for the FSB : http://www.fsb.ru/
(banned smiley)
Personally I cannot see see the referees and their organisation are any more open or closed than any other football organisation. I know who there are, what they do, who pays for them and what they spend. I know what Riley is paid as MD as it says in their accounts. They make various announcements through via media. Riley is not particularly charismatic but does that matter?
And is the referees’ PMGO that much different to Arsenal, Tottingham, the Premier League or anyone else or did I miss some age of golden refereeing transparency !?
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If the best that supporters of Riley can conjur is that critics of the pgMOB:
Have “forgotten how to enjoy the game”
Are “anti-English” like Keith Hackett (former head of the pgMOB is apparently anti-English? Amazing!)
then,
I wish you good luck!
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Bobby Madley just quit the pgMOB.
How do I know?
From the premier league website wink wink wink.
The no of refs on the roster significantly different to the other leagues.
Wanting Best Practice appears to be unreasonable for the supporters of Mike Riley.
Which is why critics like Keith Hackett are apparently “anti-English”
great defence there lads. Well done.
Bloomin’ hilarious.
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Grea humour Andy.
Secret services are in the movies, in the new, bar giant headquarters by famous rivers etc. And that’s the reference you give to explain why a multi million pound private company operating in the public (sporting) realm does not even have a website.
Fantastic!
You’ve just helped me to underline and quantify my opinion with some observational and objective evidence.
Thank you.
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< newly built flashy headquarters by famous rivers etc…
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I am not following this at all Fins – first you want a website as proof of non secretiveness – I point out with a bit of humour I thought that the most secret organisations in the world ( that we know about!! ) have great big websites.
What information or perhaps channels of communication do you say that the PL referees and their organisation should provide us with ? Why is , for example a website, necessary and/or why would it be helpful to you – What is it that you WANT ?
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We know what the intelligence agencies’ budgets are too. Or at least, that’s what they would like us to believe. I think it’s funny that in making the point that the website is a non issue, Andy has said the secret arms of government willingly share more information with the public than the referees of a professional sports league.
The thing is they have a website (or had) But when they faced questions, they put it up behind a membership scheme. No responsibility to the public. They get to make statements, sure. But no one gets to ask them any questions. Such as, why are there so few refs. How do you arrive at 99% correct decisions figure. Why are there so few southern refs even among this small pool of refs. Why are you lagging behind in implementing VAR. Just for starters.
Apparently Andy feels these are issues they need not answer. Which is true. They need not. That is not the same as saying that the issues deserve no answer. But who is even asking? Only us kooks who think that money, plus lack of accountability, arbitrary decisions and a media silence is not exactly prime grounds for fair play but something else. Must be all this tin foil on my head. Angel Riley whose only flaw is being non-charismatic, may he help me.
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‘Why are you lagging behind in implementing VAR. Just for starters.’
Shard, I think the reason for that would be that it’s not yet been approved for the Premier League by the PL clubs. The FA appear to want it, but the clubs want a couple of problems sorted, and PGMO can’t (probably pleased not to TBH) do anything without the green light.
I don’t know how Arsenal voted on this issue, but I do know Wenger was in support.
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Andy for a man of letters you manage have managed to mis-quote me in the past but as above i just assumed it was an attempt at humour.
Your efforts to denigrate or deflect from the simple request from sports lovers
who want a so called professional organisation to act like other nominated professional organisations, there are many many references both within and without sport, doesn’t make any more sense today then it did yesterday when you failed with inferences that people who want such “have forgotten how to enjoy football”
What people want is not hidden and for you to apparently to have not understood all this time is truly remarkable! But if you misread all those Dickie Bird quotes and had to resort to misquoting people in order to support your opinion, is that a surprise?
A weaker defence for Mike Riley then any defending offered upon the pitch last season by the Arsenal.
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Hi SR
I know the clubs voted against it. But what specifically concerns them? Is it the tech, or is it the way the Pgmo choose to use it?
What I saw is that when it was used in the cup competitions, the refs were inconsistent, and the media was outright trying to destroy its use and credibility.
So, whatever the exact reason, which frankly, a league should mention even if dressed up in corporate speak, the fact that it has ‘problems’ which are unacceptable to clubs still speaks to something wrong with the PGMO’s ability to use it well, or maybe the clubs are just perfectionists.
Also, how many ‘rule changes’ do the clubs actually vote on? For instance, when refs say, we’ll punish grappling in the box more harshly now, do clubs vote on that? Or do the league and the refs just say this is happening?
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