I don’t understand why they’re not simply always connected via comms like the linesman. Something dubious happens and the ref could say “can you quickly check if it’s a corner or a goal kick?” “It’s looking like a corner” “thanks mate” or “I’d need to check in detail the view I have didn’t show it too well”.

Sure, keep lengthy reviews for the important cases, but there’s zero reason to not just have the video ref be part of comms full time and able to provide his inpute from the two/three feeds he can constantly check in real time. And in this sort of situation it would be as simple as saying “there’s a elbow to the neck, did you see it properly?” and the ref can say “I had a good view of it and thought it was nothing” or “Make a full review.”

No need to stop flow of game for VAR to “evaluate”. The linesman don’t stop the flow of game to communicate a foul, they see a foul they wave their flag, the ref makes the call or not. The way it has been implemented is beyond silly.