In my recent article posted on the Mag a week and a half ago (These claims that the Saudi Arabia PIF have lost interest in Newcastle United are wide of the mark). I challenged what I described as some popular myths that were “doing the rounds” at that time.

I think Saturday evening’s game at Villa Park actually busted one or two more.

First and foremost is the idea that we don’t need VAR. Long delays without communication, inconsistencies and sometimes mystifying conclusions have eroded confidence in the system.

The Aston Villa match proved conclusively that we DO need VAR.

Fortunately, we won the game anyway but with a very obvious offside, an even more obvious handball in the penalty area, a leg breaking tackle and a good shout for a penalty against Lewis Hall all being either ignored or downgraded by incompetent officials (the legally acceptable description!), it should be very clear to all and sundry that VAR is vital to the game.

I don’t agree with Shearer’s idea that VAR has made the officials complacent. They still have to use their eyes, look at things 25/30 yards away (or less) and help each other out. I thought...