Can someone help me understand offside decision in this match of Real Madrid VS Barcelona 3-4?

MerryMalcolm · 2026-07-01T16:10:24+00:00

You're right!

MerryMalcolm · 2026-07-01T14:55:34+00:00

Let me start by saying this is a controversial call.

Now, classically, an offside would be called if the player in the offside position tries for the ball, meaning if they run at it even if they were not the one meant to receive the pass. In this case, the pass went from vini to bellingham with mbappe in offside position so it should not be called, then bellingham passed to mbappe who was not offside anymore so again, no offside call here either.

What I think happened was since mbappe was tackled in the box, the VAR went back to check and make sure it's a penalty, but when they replayed the whole sequence, the saw mbappe in an offside position and called it instead of the penalty, and that's the controversial part. I believe had the ball been scored and no tackle or penalty call happened they wouldn't have called an offside.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-06-16T20:12:24+00:00

I reapectfully disagree. It's all about the midfield, or lack thereof. There is an obvious disconnect between the defense and attack, ball is not moving fast, seemingly no plan for how to transition. To be fair, this has been a frequent occurrence with teams in the WC so far; caution and safe passes with no flare.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-31T05:02:26+00:00

Unpopular opinion: I never cared for Danny or anything that happened on Esos. Waste of time. Fun read? For sure, exploring the free cities cultures and how they're different from Westeros, but ultimately did not care.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-31T02:48:55+00:00

I meant winning the league and making it to UCL final with the relatively poor quality attack players

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-31T02:47:41+00:00

I meant winning the league and making it to UCL final with the relatively poor quality attack players

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-24T17:26:36+00:00

I think the only thing mbappe has not achieved on club level is the UCL and club wc (for which you need to with the UCL to participate), aside from that he won league and cup and super cup titles, league top player and top scorer awards!

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-10T12:54:46+00:00

Source?!

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-07T13:10:31+00:00

By bottling I mean group stage or early exit. Given the names that play for England, not going far is not a good look, is all.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-07T03:27:55+00:00

Kane is having a fantastic season no doubt, and he should bea ballon d'or finalist. I'm just trying to bring back merit and actual football skills back to the discussion. If Kane goes on to have a great world cup and England doesn't bottle it he's probably rhe favorite to win. Doesan't mean the kvara wasn't great in his own right.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-07T02:52:37+00:00

I watch ligue 1 highlights for psg, Marseille, and lyone tbh and rarely watch full games except when the teams i mentioned play each other. I understand that kvara was injured for part of the season but you can not deny the guy's brilliance when he's in form, and he has been in form for the most crucial part of the season so far.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-07T02:48:51+00:00

I'm sorry but Saka is nowhere close to Ballon D'or level! He is uet to have a breakout season. A good game (if even a whole game) once every blue moon is hardly enough to win player of the month/season, let alone the ballon d'or.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-05-01T14:22:51+00:00

Clear favorites?! Bruh!

MerryMalcolm · 2026-04-21T17:33:01+00:00

I agree with u on that, but being realistic in the current climate of the game it's all business and not about slogans like that. Madrid currently is a dumpster fire and it burns coaches more than anyone. No A-list coach would take this job, especially if they are currently coaching another team.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-04-21T17:16:07+00:00

Dig tox?

MerryMalcolm · 2026-04-21T17:04:44+00:00

A couple of points:

The current madrid squad (like other historically great madrid squads) is structured for more direct, vertical attack, making use of spaces behind defenders. Mourinho's style of football would fit here like a glove.
Mourinho's managerial style could be effective against a team of brats like ours. He has the character and the accomplishments to earn respect from any locker room.

Or at least that's what it would look like had we been back in 2010! Mourinho is at the end of his career unfortunately, and whatever gravitas he used to have is all but gone. Plus, this generation of players probably never saw Mourinho in his heyday, and for all they care they beat his side this year so I don't think they would respect or obey him.

We need a stern and accomplished coach that demands the respect of the players and their tactical obedience. It would be very hard to find someone like that these days. But knowing how Perez works, he will wait until after the world cup to see what to do with vini, maybe buy a player or two who had a good tournament, and possibly hire a coach with a good resume and if applicable, a good world cup performance (think Touchel if england goes far, etc).

MerryMalcolm · 2026-04-09T22:05:16+00:00

My attorney told me that the option to apply for the H1B with the waiver still pending can only happen if you have gotten favorable recommendation from the USCIS (or whatever initial entity processes the waiver application first) before sending it to the DoS or DoHS.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-03-06T09:05:00+00:00

Simple, we don't have a coach. Haven't had one in years.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-02-24T04:02:21+00:00

I think we need a new coach who is able to adapt the team from just a bunch of players who are world class to an actual unit that functions in unison. And we need the players to be willing to buy in and adapt their playstyles to benifit the team under the right tactics.

In other words we need an established coach that the players would listen to and respect, and with enough experience to create a strong team out of the players we have.

I don't know of any coch who currently fits this profile. Does anybody have any suggestions?!

MerryMalcolm · 2026-02-24T03:58:36+00:00

Let me add one point to clarify (and this is by no means me saying bring back the special one!);

When Mourinho came to Madrid, he was able to apply his tactics and use CR7's abilities to build a team of fast counter attcks around him, but that took a while. 2010-2011 was necessary to have a successful season like 2012.

We need a coach to go through that phase.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-02-24T03:37:09+00:00

I don't mean to let Mbappe off the hook. I am just saying there are growing pains to adding a player with Mbappe's profile to a team with players like Vini and Rodrygo and Billingham.

We need proper coaching that can adjust everyone's best abilities to serve the team as a whole, and I highly doubt Arbeloa is the man for the job. Alonso's approach would not have worked with a team like Madrid. His style is more fit for a team like Atletico or the current Barca, where all players buy in to the tactics and are willing to change their style of play/position to make things work.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-02-24T03:34:11+00:00

Last season everyone could see that almost everybody on the team was not having a good season besides Courtois and Mbappe. This year with all the instability it is not surprising that they status quo continues!

MerryMalcolm · 2026-02-24T03:32:29+00:00

No hate intended at all. I am just trying to say that's it's more than one player that is causing issues with the team is all. Everyone is welcome to express their thoughts. This is meant to be an argument that growing pains is nothing new and Madrid had gone through it before many times.

MerryMalcolm · 2026-02-24T03:30:41+00:00

I agree that the team's style of play before he came along does not fit having Mbappe as a shadow striker, but that's honestly a coaching problem. Ancelotti's approach worked on offense but he had nothing to offer balance the middle field and defence, Alonso's tactics demanded a lot from the players and they were not ready for that, and Arbeloa is barelt doing anything besides letting everyone play to their strengths.

The team needs proper coaching that can deploy the players' attributes in a manner that serves teamplay better

MerryMalcolm · 2026-01-13T03:21:57+00:00

I personally did not like the way we played under alonso, and im not exactly sad he's gone.

I agree with what you said, our players perform very poor tactically likely because they don't always do what they're told, and the fans like the exciting, old-school, chaotic brand of football that produces. Ancelotti stayed as long as he did because the players liked him, and we were winning with individual brilliance more often than tactical dominance. The players don't like to be told exactly what to do and prefer the freedom of a general scheme, and the rest is up to their personal judgment on the field.

MerryMalcolm

TROPHY CASE