VAR - Reinventing the Wheel

The Premier League has a problem, and I am not writing this as a disgruntled Tottenham Hotspur fan whose team lost the possibility of a 2-0 lead away at Leicester. We were still 1-0 up and conspired to lose a game we were in the ascendancy of.  Tottenham as a team has problems, and you cannot blame VAR.

I also write this piece as a football referee, one who has done the job for 20 years. Not since the back pass rule have we seen such a stark change at the top of professional football - a rule change that is changing the nature of football so much that it is all we talk about at length.

I accept the VAR decision (eventually), yet I am flummoxed that the FA, UEFA and FIFA are treating the utilisation of video technology with such difficulty as if it is the first time anyone has seen such technology before, as if they are reinventing the wheel.

Football feels it is the global sport, and to a great extent they are right. It is played everywhere, even Greenland, with over 200 nations in its world rankings attempting to qualify for Qatar 2022 where the final 32 nations will converge for the ultimate accolade.

Yet there are smaller sports in terms of global reach and power that utilise their own version of VAR to a greater benefit of integrity and professional standards.

Cricket take the border line fine margins such as LBW appeals, run out and stumpings to be clear in those matters; yet they broadcast it to the paying public at the ground to show the decision, they are also involved then in the theatre of the moment. At this moment, the public at the ground for football are oblivious of the video being shown to the VAR officials - this is disrespectful and ignorant of the masses.

Rugby Union is enjoying its own World Cup in Japan, in the England game versus Tonga there were three possible tries in the first half; one given, one denied and one resulted in a kickable penalty. However, again the screen in the stadium was shown the footage; yet the difference is the referee is mic'd up talking to the man in the booth conversing on the decision at length but with intelligence and clarity to make sure the correct decision is reached.

It helps that rugby has a foundation of respect towards match officials, but the official is given the space to think and come to the correct conclusion. Unlike football where you would be encircled by both sides wanting their preferred outcome. In that instance you have 22 voices shouting at you and one in your ear, when you should be focusing on hearing the one in your ear. No wonder the pressure is so high, how can you concentrate when you have so many voices baying at you.

The problem is not so the fact that VAR does not work, it does work and gets the decisions right; it is the culture of football fans not being able to accept decision immediately and then hating about officials, opponents and law makers on social media instantaneously. You do not see this from rugby or cricket fans though, it is more of an 'it is what is mentality' while in football to quote Mario Balotelli it is a 'why always us?' mentality.

Yet the arrogance of football, as the global commodity it is which comes with a global currency is intrinsic to the problem. Football is a universal language as all high class sports are, a language that crosses boundaries, cultures and dialects to be played by all; yet the arrogance with which they have gone about implementing video technology - from the reluctance to utilise goal-line technology at World Cups to the unwillingness to address visual and verbal dissent towards highly pressurised match officials smacks of governing bodies standing still while the world sped up, even throwing the collective full VAR muscle at the Women's World Cup smacking of hypocrisy and sexism making the women mere guinea pigs for the more important male subjects.

Football is game that is simple to play, simple to coach and if done right, simple to referee. Yet the game has slowly been stripped off its values as bank balances swelled and popularity soared to unseemly levels.

While VAR will become more expected as creases are ironed out over the season - a number of games have gone by without incident - yet they need it to alter initial penalty decisions overturn errors and have a referee go to the video itself to see the error of his or her ways.

Football should realise it is not reinventing the wheel, just added a better tyre to help with the tread.

M J Lee - Where The Silence Calls

M J Lee, is back with another DI Ridpath thriller the third in the series following the success of Where The Truth Lies and Where The Dead Fall, launched by Canelo on Monday 23rd September.

Ridpath, a detective who has overcome cancer and has re-established a stable home environment at the conclusion of the second novel, Where The Dead Fall, is settling into the new position of assistant coroner to Mrs. Challinor. In this role, he helps distinguish if certain deaths are natural or require further criminal investigation following a post-mortem autopsy.

Ridpath is still dealing with the politics of policing, his best friend Charlie Whitworth is retired following the car crash which broke his leg, ribs and left him with a drinking problem. Claire Trent is holding him to account for the fallout of the Connolly case, and is trying to negotiate budget restrictions on her force at all levels.

A new case presents itself when Joe Brennan is set alight in his home; initial investigation establishes perhaps it was suicide but the investigation by Challinor and Det. Schofield refutes that allegation and pronounces the death as homicide.

More deaths sparked by deliberate fires appear day upon day, soon Ridpath discovers that they may have a serial killer on the loose due to the modus operandi of the killer with the use of accelerants and killing them before setting the victim alight.

Ridpath has trouble negotiating the rigid class structure of the policing hierarchy; peers are threatened by his knowledge and hide behind their higher positions to throw weight around and deny others the chance to establish cases - Ridpath is accused of brown nosing yet the only way seemingly to get ahead in cases is by doing just that or convince the higher up's of what they are missing. The juxtaposition of Ridpath to Lorraine Caruso is startling.

Lee goes to great lengths to build this air of PC suffocation thrust upon the hierarchy, and like his other novels he cleverly uses Manchester itself as the second most important character in the story - utilising the industrial revolution architecture with its gothic forebodings amongst a large range of districts to his advantage in weaving a story of protagonists cast by their surroundings.

The author uses contemporary cultural touchstones to mark as this as a time capsule piece; this is brave as the writer is not afraid to age his work by naming such things as South Korean pop band BTS for instance, as the object of affection for Ridpath's daughter. By putting the story in the here and now, you give the story a great sense of current, this is utilised further by having a vital piece of evidence being linked to child abuse within youth football teams in the 1980s and 90s, something Manchester has had to deal with starkly following the arrest and imprisonment of Barry Bennell.

Again, Lee has a written a winning novel - full of fast paced narrative, quick dialogue that speeds along the story. Much like the king of vigilante narratives, Lee Child, Lee uses the landscape as a main character to his advantage. Whereas Reacher though is not restricted by his homeland, visiting different geo-political locations from novel to novel; Ridpath is restricted by the M6 ring road but as Lee has shown - there is a lot going on within that motorway with ventures out to Derbyshire and the Pennines available.

For those who liked the first two Ridpath novels, this will be a much read and a pleasant surprise to those new to this exhilarating everyman character.

Where The Silence Calls is released by Canelo Press on 23rd September

Joseph - 'Good Luck, Kid'

The new album by sisterly trio Joseph, Good Luck, Kid is out on 13th September from ATO Records

The trio comprising of sisters, Natalie Schepman and her twin sisters Allison and Meegan Closner, grew up in a musical household, yet did not sing together until a few years ago when the band formed in 2014 when Natalie asked the sisters to form a band.

Taking their name from grandfather Jo, and the tiny Oregon town of Joseph where he lived, the sisters have hit upon a sound that is familiar but can only be nutured by a familial bond together. The harmony on this album is otherworldy, which goes hand in hand with the empowering lyrics that runs through the album - a quiet simmering intensity runs through the road movie as album concept that 'Good Luck, Kid' becomes.

Narratives of the songs give an example of three girls transforming along this odyssey, as they start quietly the songs become soaring anthems full of emotion and boldness.

For fans of First Aid Kit, Fleet Foxes alike; the trio utilise their strengths to create a memorable album of unique potential and vocal alchemy. And one befitting the change of the seasons, as we move from summer into autumn, Good Luck, Kid, is an album that demands repeat listens as the nights draw in.

From lead single, 'Fighter' the band have a great ear for catchy tunes to the most recent single 'Green Eyes' a pulsating shot of adrenaline to our mere mortal earlobes that refuses to let go of your attention.

Joseph are playing four nights in the UK in November; 

11th November -Hare and Hounds, Birmingham

12th November - Bush Hall, London

13th November - Night People, Manchester

14th November - Broadcast, Glasgow

Follow the band on Twitter @thebandjoseph

My thanks to One Beat PR for the review opportunity.

Night Flowers Return 'Fortune Teller'

Night Flowers return with new video and material ahead of new album on October 25th from Dirty Bingo Records

Night Flowers who wowed the British music industry with their full debut album, Wild Notion, have announced the release of their second album Fortune Teller on October 25th from Dirty Bingo Records.

The first music released is the title track and it is accompanied by a new music promo which is a 360 degree interactive video.

Featuring Sophia Pettit's great vocal, the London Indie quintet's album is a love letter to 20th century rock greats - Petty, Springsteen, Fleetwood Mac - and with Pettit at the helm the song carries a dream-pop uniqueness in this down on its luck political climate.

The song has chiming guitars, reflective synths and epic drums for a power ballad; with the lyrics evoking a need of the seven sins encompassing the singer on a journey. Reminiscent of their first album, there are great hooks, sweeping vocals and a feeling of euphoria.

It is great to have Night Flowers back and perhaps this will be the album that helps them break into the mainstream, the album cover is great and they are having a live show at Redon, London on 31st October.

The album can be pre-ordered here 

Follow Night Flowers on Twitter

My thanks to One Beat PR for the link

Endgame by Daniel Cole

The third Ragdoll book, Endgame, by Daniel Cole is published on Thursday 5th September

William 'Wolf' Fawkes returns following a brief absence from the majority of Hangman; to be the main driving force of the narrative.  Fawkes returns following the suicide of former colleague, Finlay Shaw; something does not add up though for Wolf who believes there is more than meets the eye in regards to the suspected suicide.

With his former partner, Emily Baxter and private detective Edmunds; Wolf attempts to solve the case in a race against time as he puts his career on the line while not everyone in the Met wants him back to begin with.

Cole does a clever narrative trick of showing the investigation into the suicide along with a flashback narrative of Finlay along with his then partner Christian in the late 1970s, when they made a name for themselves in drug busts and yet became the target of gangs who seeked retribution.

Once the narrative gets going in the 70s narrative in terms of Finlay and Christian dicing with death and establishing the relationships Finlay's suicide leaves in limbo, then the present day narrative takes off especially when Wolf and Baxter must address his leaving the end of Book 1, Ragdoll.

Daniel Cole, author of Endgame.

Cole has created in Baxter a unique female protagonist - fierce yet vulnerable, stubborn but knee-jerk - and the chemistry with Wolf who is a cantankerous soul brings the emotions to the fore for all.  In this novel, Wolf is merely a tool for psychological insight into the waste he left behind, his reappearance granting people a chance to vent and rage against his cynicism and selfishness.

What sets this book apart from the other novels of the trilogy - whereas the opener was a true original concept and plot; the sequel was an action packed female fronted thriller; Endgame is a book less about the end result but how you get there, a tale about camaraderie and fraternity within the police force - the bond forged between the boys (and girls) in blue and the ties that bind them to each other.

While the title may have a sense of finality to it all, hopefully that is not the case and the characters such as Wolf and Baxter can continue to work together and we be able to join them on the ride.

Endgame is out from Orion Books on 5th September.
I am appearing on the Compulsive Readers Blog Tour on 6th September

My thanks to Tracy Fenton for the opportunity to review.