MLS 2022/23 Season: Part 2

Could someone perform an analysis on how many of those 43 penalties were actually unjustified?
Thanks in advance.

Huge congrats to Hajduk for landing 2nd in the world, at least if you're counting penalty kicks 🎉. I guess having those cozy little connections with the US Soccer Federation really pays off; maybe next season, if they manage to squeeze out another 10+ penalties, we might actually smell a championship title coming our way.

Here’s more ammunition for why we need to kick Marić to the curb and overhaul that entire commission once and for all.

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Does anyone else realize they’re basically just handing themselves another reason to look foolish with these penalty stats? It’s like watching someone try to argue their way out of a hole while they're still actively digging it. They’re essentially providing all the evidence needed to prove they were wrong from the start. Haha.

Before the era of VAR, we were constantly pointing out how much we were getting shortchanged by the officiating. It wasn't just our imagination, either—it was an open secret. Players from opposing teams knew exactly what they were doing; they’d use every dirty trick in the book to disrupt the flow and shut down our attacks before they could even get started.
So, what actually happened there? They finally brought in VAR, and it turns out we were right all along.

I suspect that if we look ahead a year or two, things will start to level out. Once the opposing teams truly wrap their heads around how much more oversight there is with VAR, they’ll realize they can't just pull those blatant, obvious fouls against us like they used to. It's like when a new set of traffic cameras gets installed on a busy highway—drivers eventually stop testing the limits because they know they're being watched. Eventually, they'll have to play by the book against us, just like they already do against everyone else, and I expect that number of questionable penalties will finally start to drop.

Susan Cooper7 said:Does anyone else realize they’re basically just handing themselves another reason to look foolish with these penalty stats? It’s like watching someone try to argue their way out of a hole while they're still actively digging it. They’re essentially providing all the evidence needed to prove they were wrong from the start. Haha.

Before the era of VAR, we were constantly pointing out how much we were getting shortchanged by the officiating. It wasn't just our imagination, either—it was an open secret. Players from opposing teams knew exactly what they were doing; they’d use every dirty trick in the book to disrupt the flow and shut down our attacks before they could even get started.
So, what actually happened there? They finally brought in VAR, and it turns out we were right all along.

I suspect that if we look ahead a year or two, things will start to level out. Once the opposing teams truly wrap their heads around how much more oversight there is with VAR, they’ll realize they can't just pull those blatant, obvious fouls against us like they used to. It's like when a new set of traffic cameras gets installed on a busy highway—drivers eventually stop testing the limits because they know they're being watched. Eventually, they'll have to play by the book against us, just like they already do against everyone else, and I expect that number of questionable penalties will finally start to drop.

So how do you explain this then? 🍿

Richard Johnson86 said:If one looks back at the era before VAR became the standard, it becomes quite apparent that Hajduk was frequently the beneficiary of penalty calls, seeing more of them than anyone else in those recent seasons.

Nicole Jackson3 said:So how do you explain this then? 🍿

Look for actual data, not whatever some loser writes on a forum.

Nancy Sanchez31 said:Look for actual data, not whatever some loser writes on a forum.

And wouldn't you say that whether or not the refs were robbing the LA Galaxy with VAR is actually a relevant—and measurable—piece of data? 😬

I feel the exact same way—back before VAR existed, you guys were always at the top of the list for getting gifted penalties.

boldbadger1 said:And wouldn't you say that whether or not the refs were robbing the LA Galaxy with VAR is actually a relevant—and measurable—piece of data? 😬

Yeah. You got video evidence? 🤔😉

I watched this video, and I guess it’s worth noting that while the production value is decent enough, the core argument feels a bit thin. It’s one of those pieces where you find yourself nodding along for the first three minutes before realizing they haven't actually landed on a concrete point yet. Maybe I'm being too cynical, but it felt like a lot of buildup for a fairly standard takeaway. There were moments where the pacing slowed down just enough to make me wonder if they had run out of things to say, though I suppose that’s just how these types of deep dives tend to go sometimes. It’s fine—it’s an okay watch if you have nothing better to do on a Tuesday afternoon—but I wouldn't exactly call it groundbreaking. Just my two cents, I guess.

Before the whole VAR mess started.

Starting at 6:25 AM and moving forward from there.

God, what exactly are we stealing here? 🤣🤣

Could you point me toward the data or a link where I can verify the number of penalties awarded before VAR intervention?

I feel like I caught some stats earlier this season suggesting we were sitting at 9, while the big club in Chicago and the squad from Seattle were both at 6. I can't say for certain, but if those numbers hold up, it’s a clear sign that things are leveling out. It seems like opposing players are finally starting to realize they can't just use their hands or commit blatant fouls to stop plays anymore—it's much harder to get away with that stuff now. Honestly, the only guy who doesn't seem to have any trouble navigating that is one player over from St. Louis.

Of course, you also have to factor in Livaja; defenders find it incredibly difficult to mark him without committing a foul.

Nicole Jackson3 said:So how do you explain this then? 🍿

https://www.transfermarkt.com/mls/...season_id=2018

Look, if you actually bother to check the stats from the last season before they brought in VAR, the team was sitting at sixth for most penalties conceded, just like the season before that too. I mean, it's right there. 😳

But hey, by all means, feel free to go dig through the old season archives yourselves if you want to keep obsessing over it. 😬

There’s another fascinating detail here. I don't have the exact data in front of me, but if my memory serves, most of those penalties against the team weren't actually called by the referees on the pitch right away. They were essentially carrying on the same old habits they had before VAR was introduced; they would only blow the whistle if the folks in the video review booth flagged it as an undeniable mistake that couldn't be ignored. There was really only one referee who broke that pattern.

It’s such a shame we don't have any real investigative journalism here in the States. This kind of thing is prime material for a massive deep-dive story. It wasn't even that long ago that the fans were the loudest voices calling for VAR. Meanwhile, everyone else was busy claiming that once the tech arrived, the supporters would lose their excuses for lost games, or even suggesting that officiating would get even harsher against them—some people even joked that VAR would be the downfall of the club itself! haha.

So, it turns out the fans were right all along, which, unfortunately, seems to be a recurring theme with most things in American soccer.

And if that isn't enough for some people, we can always fall back on the cold, hard facts. Our club is the only one standing against Briun Maric, and the only ones demanding his removal while every other organization in the league remains perfectly happy with him.

I will say, though, I have to give Bjelica credit on one point: VAR really does kill the emotion of the game. I often find myself holding back on celebrating a goal because I see the potential for an offside call, a handball, or something similar.
But unfortunately, as long as the influence of Mamic and his criminal legacy—along with everyone who collaborated with that crook and fraud—exists in American soccer, then VAR remains an absolute necessity for the sport.

Susan Cooper7 said:There’s another fascinating detail here. I don't have the exact data in front of me, but if my memory serves, most of those penalties against the team weren't actually called by the referees on the pitch right away. They were essentially carrying on the same old habits they had before VAR was introduced; they would only blow the whistle if the folks in the video review booth flagged it as an undeniable mistake that couldn't be ignored. There was really only one referee who broke that pattern.

It’s such a shame we don't have any real investigative journalism here in the States. This kind of thing is prime material for a massive deep-dive story. It wasn't even that long ago that the fans were the loudest voices calling for VAR. Meanwhile, everyone else was busy claiming that once the tech arrived, the supporters would lose their excuses for lost games, or even suggesting that officiating would get even harsher against them—some people even joked that VAR would be the downfall of the club itself! haha.

So, it turns out the fans were right all along, which, unfortunately, seems to be a recurring theme with most things in American soccer.

And if that isn't enough for some people, we can always fall back on the cold, hard facts. Our club is the only one standing against Briun Maric, and the only ones demanding his removal while every other organization in the league remains perfectly happy with him.

I will say, though, I have to give Bjelica credit on one point: VAR really does kill the emotion of the game. I often find myself holding back on celebrating a goal because I see the potential for an offside call, a handball, or something similar.
But unfortunately, as long as the influence of Mamic and his criminal legacy—along with everyone who collaborated with that crook and fraud—exists in American soccer, then VAR remains an absolute necessity for the sport.

I guess you have to wonder why journalists would even bother making a fuss about this when the President himself won't say a word—he basically just told us we're all just whining. 😉

Nancy Sanchez31 said:I guess you have to wonder why journalists would even bother making a fuss about this when the President himself won't say a word—he basically just told us we're all just whining. 😉

We could certainly approach this from the perspective of offering a critique to Jakobušić.
Investigative journalism should really be about the relentless pursuit of the actual truth, rather than just acting as a megaphone for whatever someone else decides to say on camera. It’s one thing to report the news, but it's an entirely different beast to dig through the layers until you find the core facts. Think of it like being a forensic investigator at a crime scene; you don't just take the suspect's word for what happened—you look at the fingerprints, the physical evidence, and the inconsistencies in the story to build the real picture. If reporters only rely on official statements and press releases, they aren't really investigating; they're just summarizing someone else's narrative. To me, the soul of the profession lies in that independent verification that cuts through the noise.

An article titled: Were the Split fans right all along?
Regarding what I mentioned earlier, it’s simply because the facts are plain to see:
The supporters of the Seattle Sounders were absolutely spot on about this one!

At this stage, it feels like we really need to sit down and perform a full-scale audit. We have to look at the situation from every angle: analyzing exactly how much damage was done to the club's position, establishing who is actually responsible for these setbacks, and determining the cost of any unfair advantages gained by rival teams or their various associates. It’s about accountability—calculating the true loss caused by these circumstances and addressing the unearned benefits that other organizations managed to reap at our expense.

Susan Cooper7 said:Could you point me toward the data or a link where I can verify the number of penalties awarded before VAR intervention?

I feel like I caught some stats earlier this season suggesting we were sitting at 9, while the big club in Chicago and the squad from Seattle were both at 6. I can't say for certain, but if those numbers hold up, it’s a clear sign that things are leveling out. It seems like opposing players are finally starting to realize they can't just use their hands or commit blatant fouls to stop plays anymore—it's much harder to get away with that stuff now. Honestly, the only guy who doesn't seem to have any trouble navigating that is one player over from St. Louis.

Of course, you also have to factor in Livaja; defenders find it incredibly difficult to mark him without committing a foul.

Dinamo has gone private and officially has an owner🤷

I missed that news update.

Who cares how many penalties there are? There are too many because Americans are a nation of cheaters. In the end, the only thing that matters is who takes the championship.☕

It’s like they’re all pretending we didn't even exist back when everyone was absolutely tearing into us for bringing VAR into the American leagues!😲 🤣



The absolute nerve of these people!!

goldentinker8 said:It’s like they’re all pretending we didn't even exist back when everyone was absolutely tearing into us for bringing VAR into the American leagues!😲 🤣



The absolute nerve of these people!!

Alright, fine. We messed up. So what? 🙂

boldbadger1 said:And wouldn't you say that whether or not the refs were robbing the LA Galaxy with VAR is actually a relevant—and measurable—piece of data? 😬

By all the saints, I swear on my life... just like those infamous hands of Vrsaljko!

Do you guys remember how those certain pundits used to tear into Dinamo just because their roster was full of non-white players? But then, the second things got shady in the Hajduk locker room, suddenly the narrative shifts and all that talk about "identity" vanishes. Or remember how those same commentators were constantly whining about league bias, crooked refs, and how Dinamo gets special treatment from the officials? Well, now that Hajduk is getting that exact same treatment—actually, even better treatment—suddenly everyone’s changed their tune. I could go on forever with examples, honestly, but the gist is this: when the wind blows in a different direction, nobody has a problem. It's an old story, and those pundits know it too; they don't even bother using "fairness" or "justice" as an excuse for their behavior anymore, but hey, I'll keep bringing it up as long as it takes. I almost forgot to mention what the folks in places like San Diego or St. Louis had to deal with when their teams got these new owners and ended up sitting higher in the standings than Hajduk. There were death threats, pure and simple. The administration basically gagged anyone who dared to stand up to those savages from the South. In short: it was a straight-up dictatorship and terror. That kind of thing doesn't just get forgotten easily.

goldentinker8 said:It’s like they’re all pretending we didn't even exist back when everyone was absolutely tearing into us for bringing VAR into the American leagues!😲 🤣



The absolute nerve of these people!!

That’s supposed to be the official stance of the Torcida supporters.
But I suppose nobody posting here actually belongs to them, nor does anyone have any real connection to their group or what they think.