VAR will cause a riot if Tottenham vs Brighton shambles continue

So where do you start? As the legendary Julie Andrews once sung, at the very beginning....
Harry Kane goes tumbling after Adam Lallana challenges for the ballHarry Kane goes tumbling after Adam Lallana challenges for the ball
Harry Kane goes tumbling after Adam Lallana challenges for the ball

Albion boss Graham Potter sprung the first surprise of Sunday evening by dropping Maty Ryan and giving Spanish keeper Robert Sanchez his Premier League debut against Spurs.

In justification of his decision Potter stated that Ryan had played a lot of football in the last two or three years. Sorry? Isn’t that what he’s paid to do?

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Further down the lineup, no Neil Maupay, not even on the bench, and the Albion taking the field at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium without a recognised striker.

And it was a recognised striker who drew first blood in north London, when England skipper Harry Kane basically went looking for a foul, and got lucky when Adam Lallana was adjudged via VAR to have fouled him in the box.

One nil down, and a huge mountain to climb, VAR then arguably showed all its flaws and let the Albion down when Leo Trossard was denied a penalty up the other end.

Then Tariq Lamptey’s equaliser was allowed to stand via VAR when clearly there had been a foul by Solly March in the build up.

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So three pivotal moments, possibly two out of three wrong, help decide a result.

Not forgetting the complete lack of marking for Gareth Bale’s winner!

No one has touched on the huge footballing elephant in the room, albeit pending.

Picture the scene, when ‘normal’ returns and the stadiums are full, and say Leeds are playing Sheffield United at Elland Road in a end of season game which is effectively ‘winner take all’ game which sees the loser relegated from the EPL.

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Goalless at 88 mins, The Blades then score highly contentious goal which after a three minute delay is confirmed by VAR, frankly you’re going to a have a riot on your hands.

VAR, on paper, it looks a great idea, in practice, it’s flawed and unfair.

But unfortunately, it’s drama and the TV companies around the globe who effectively now control the game love it, so it’s here to stay.

Back to the Albion, no explanation as yet as to Maupay’s absence on Sunday.

Injury? Covid? Temperament?

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Let’s hope whatever it was it’s all sorted by Friday evening’s visit to the Amex by Burnley, that and Maty Ryan’s had a good rest.

It simply is a must win game, and the first post lockdown so fans will have to watch from home on subscription TV (don’t get me started)

Ryan in Goal, Welbeck and Maupay up front, I can see a 3-1 win for the Albion.

Anything else, your guess is as good as mine!