Rory Smith

The reason the Premier League now resembles a billion-pound bar fight is because of VAR. The “high threshold” for fouls that has led to every set-piece being a melee is designed to suit VAR. VAR didn’t decide the PL title. But it now defines the league. observer.co.uk/news/sport/art…

@Samnu_o @PolloiBoi34192 @marcsenal @5liveSport You get me wrong: I like the fact they gave the foul. I just don’t know why they’ve spent the last two years not enforcing those fouls. It’s not a big deal because it’s Arsenal. It’s a big deal because it was a big game!

@RorySmith @PolloiBoi34192 @marcsenal @5liveSport Holding a goalkeeper arm is very different to blocking. If I stand in front of you it’s not the same as holding your arm. Anyways will agree to disagree. Foul was the correct call as much as you may not like it. As I said only a big talking point becuase it’s Arsenal.

Rory came with receipts for Arsenal 📺❌ #BBCFootball #AFC #VAR

@conrad_truedson It is, but tbh I don’t know if we need to do anything that drastic. They could just enforce the actual rules.

@RorySmith Keeping attackers out of the 6 yard box on corners has been suggested and a good idea.

@Samnu_o @PolloiBoi34192 @marcsenal @5liveSport They’re not exactly the same. I didn’t say they were. But if you think they’re vastly different then you’re being disingenuous. They’re fine differences at best, and until three years ago they were ALL fouls.

@PolloiBoi34192 @marcsenal @5liveSport @RorySmith Agree very good journalist but he was liking the sound of his own voice a bit too much here. Making up situations where apparently Arsenal have done exactly the same and doubling down on it was lazy from him.

@John_Stocker7 Yep. I’m not even sure it was quite like this in the early 90s. My abiding response to the PL over the last two years has basically been “you paid how much to do this?”

@RorySmith This may be a bit of recency bias. But I think the current physicality and set-piece set ups we're seeing are more of an unpleasant watch than we've seen in the last 25-30 years.

@John_Stocker7 They did. Howard Webb did a whole thing about it. And then they found they couldn’t, because you need a high threshold for VAR.

@RorySmith Rory do you believe that all of this subjective "threshold" nonsense could've easily been avoided, if the PGMOL had said that they wouldn't stand for this back in August when they have their club visits. I'd rather see multiple free kicks and penalties over what we're seeing.

@albrookshawAFC I’m not sure that one mention of them in a parenthesis counts as lamenting them. To be honest I think the way VAR has changed what football looks like is more important than who wins the league.

@RorySmith Your final paragraph lamenting poor old Man City - I think they have done very well out of the high threshold for fouls over the last few years! It saved them a couple of red cards and a penalty just this weekend!

@cetchingham_ No! I said we can’t get into the same situation as rugby where rules are enforced but nobody really understands what’s happened.

@RorySmith Did I hear you correctly on the Monday Night Club invoking Rugby as a good example of how something could work in football?!

@Geoff_McGivern The Tuscaloosa Penguins are actually an ice hockey franchise. Big ice hockey town, Tuscaloosa.

I want to see the 'Tuscaloosa Penguins', a USA 'sawker' team @RorySmith just invented on a very good Monday Night Club.

@football_pb @5liveSport @markchapman @chris_sutton73 @kickback_nedum Nobody’s said it wasn’t a foul. My issue is with the fact that it hasn’t been a foul for months. I said that several times. You’ll be amazed to learn that I don’t “hate” Arsenal. Would love to see your evidence for the idea that I do.

@5liveSport @markchapman @chris_sutton73 @RorySmith @kickback_nedum Neither of you will reply because a) it doesn’t exist and you are completely letting your hate of Arsenal cloud your commentary on a national, neutral broadcast. Shambolic. You should be ashamed.

🚨 MNC 🚨 Did VAR WIN Arsenal the title? ⚖️ Should the goal have stood? 🔥 Join @markchapman, @chris_sutton73, @RorySmith & @kickback_nedum from 7pm 👇 bbc.co.uk/5live #BBCFootball #MNC #VAR

@SPFLWatch I am coming close to acknowledging it is a possibility that they might not not win the title

@RorySmith Changed your mind now Rory?

I’m on my way to Scotland, where Hearts are absolutely not going to win the title. Obviously they’re not going to win the title. Their fans know they’re not going to win the title. But the fact those sentences exist is probably…good. observer.co.uk/news/sport/art…

@TheBoiledEgg Yes, sorry, realised that halfway through! Think Standard would have claimed that status a little while ago

@RorySmith Standard Liege 😂😂😂 Club Brugge and Anderlecht are the big two in Belgium

At the London marathon last Sunday, Yomif Kejelcha did something everyone thought was impossible. He did something no human had done before. Well, almost. An interview with the man who will always be 11 seconds from immortality. observer.co.uk/news/sport/art…

@MrSammyJames Oh that would be a good twist

@RorySmith Last time Morocco hosted a major tournament they changed the winner afterwards, so there's always that potential option?

Going to be great to see how FIFA manage to ruin this

@WillyWoollyman Yes, and for reasons that are very…convenient. But I think that doesn’t *have* to spoil the whole thing.

@RorySmith Isn't the first match in Uruguay? So, there's that for starters.

New Libero What next for Saudi investment in football? @RorySmith @tariqpanja @JackPittBrooke pod.fo/e/40b450

@gengibirro Nowhere else in Portugal has a stadium big enough. It’s a country I love but it also only has two major cities.

@RorySmith By choosing 7 cities in Morocco and only 2 in Portugal? Wtf

@notwillyoung86 I don’t love that and obviously it is for very cynical reasons, but it doesn’t have to be fatal for the tournament

@RorySmith The opening games being played over the other side of the Atlantic will do that.