THE BEAUTIFUL GAME - Can We Improve It ??? (8 Viewers)

[johnniericoh]

Well its nearly midnight - thoroughly depressed with recent events on an off the field - thought I would home in on suggestions to improve our national sport for the better.

The basic concept of league footy has remained virtually unchanged for years but there have been a few peripheral changes that have enabled the game to flow better:

• 3 points for a win
• substitutes
• penalty shootouts
• playoffs at end of season
• etc

I'd like to throw in one or two, not earth shattering, suggestions to complement the above:

DISCIPLINE
Introduce a three card offence system YELLOW for first offence, BLUE for second offence (this would eliminate the automatic sending off for two trivial offences) and RED for third offence with either a 10 minute spell in the sin bin or sending off depending on the severity of the offence.

FREE KICKS
Reintroduce the 10 yard rule (sorry - don't do metric) for disputing free kicks

TIME WASTING
When taking throwins the first player to touch/pick up the ball takes the throwin and eliminate all this pssing the ball about before the actual throwin takes place

SUBSTITUTES
No subs after the 90 minutes is up - this really infuriates me with numerous substitutions coming on some with literally only 15 seconds left of the game.

TIMEKEEPING
Introduce independent timekeeping (away from the ref) with the clock stopped at each stoppage displayed on an appropriate screen (Rugby Union manage this with no problem)
This would eliminate all the criticism associated with additional time awarded by the ref.

Well thats my attempt

Any comments/suggestions

PUSB

 

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[gouldberg]

I'd personally like to see the 7 subs on the bench rule brought back in. As suggested the 10 yard rule should also come back. I'd personally like to see a couple of technology based improvements. For example:

Referral System
Much like Cricket, each team would have 2 referrals per game for offside/handball/last touch/goal-no goal decisions. Play on to the next stoppage and refer the call to a video ref. If the team that asked for the referral gets it correct they go back to the time in question and play from there/give goal etc. If the on field decision stands then the team loses the referral.

Instant bans for diving/simulation/violence
If a player is caught diving or throwing an elbow etc during a game, regardless of if the referee sees it or not, the player should receive an instant 1 game ban. If he repeat offends the ban will be 2 games per offence.

 

[rob9872]

BALL IN PLAY

Look at the stats of most games. Time in play is often around the one hour mark. It's easy to control and can be independent from the refereee. If the ball never even goes out for a throw in, it could be over in 60 minutes or it could take four hours, but would stop silly timewasting and we all know at any given time exactly how long is left.

 

[rob9872]

A bonus point for teams who score three or more goals.

 

[rob9872]

Penalties after draws for a bonus point, but can't dilute going for a win as teams would draw and get a bonus to make two so less incentive to be attacking, but if it was 4 for a win and then one for a draw plus one for penalty victory.

 

[rob9872]

No player can move to another team before their 21st birthday and no player can be awarded a contract of more than £1,000 per week until they are 21.

 

[Paxman II]

here's a few thoughts at 4am........

Goal line technology.

In fact I'd go back to 2 points for a win, 1 for a draw. Can't see where the 3 point thing has done any good.

I would eliminate the play off's and simply promote the top 4. Watch teams fight like hell for a top 4 berth.

The fact is changes have been made for financial gain which has in turn actually not helped the game.

Oh while I'm on it....cap the wages. There just is no level playing field any more.

Dismiss TV rights for league coverage and let individual clubs negotiate their own deals.

If we call them clubs then make them be clubs. A club has a membership. Let the supporters (members) have more ownership like a co-op.

Sort out the transfer nonsense. Let a club only have say 6 transfers a season. They must operate a youth team with a recruiting policy and a reserve and first team. Cap the price a player can cost a club. make a players employment transparent (no off shore companies) they must be employed by the club as with all other staff.

All stadia must have ample parking facilities, multi storey, underground, whatever (for the next 100 years any way till the car is no more)
:wave:

 

[BrownCow]

4 to go up?

 

[Otis]

Yellow Card for any player producing their own imaginary card and demanding players are carded. Really pees me off this. There should be no intimidating or trying to influence the ref. Ungentlemanly Conduct. The rule is there for all to see in the FA Rulebook.

Only the captain should be allowed to approach the ref. Would stop all this surrounding of the referee and pushing and jostling.

Ungentlemanly Conduct for players taking the ball into the corner flags and just trying to kill time at the end of games. Really an entertainment spoiler this one. Could be deemed to be time-wasting and as in Rugby Union, the ref at some point can say "Use it or lose it."

Diving - Red Card.

Goal Line Technology to be introduced. Also video replays of key incidents by a 4th or 5th official in the stands. There to spot any deliberate foul play missed by the ref and linesmenor other major incident.

Clampdown on pushing, pulling shirts and holding down of players in the penalty box especially at corners. Don't care if the refs have to book 5 or 6 players at a time at the onset. It would soon sort it out if players knew there were going to be instant bookings. Also, if there are too many players involved, just identify those the ref and linesmen they can and book them. As I say, I think this can be sorted. Think they can introduce a rule whereby when the ball is dead and in the corner flag semi-circle, that before the ball is kicked there can be no physical contact such as grabbing arms or pulling on shirts. There must be half a dozen offences for every single corner in the game at the moment.

 

[edgy]

Scrap points for wins and draws. Base league standings purely on goal difference. Goals goals goals.

 

[skyblue_rich]

A few things I would introduce:
No one, except the captains allowed to talk to the ref, unless he calls them over.
Maximum wage at all levels of 10k a week.
Each squad (16 or 18), must have 8 english or GB, or Irish players in, and 5 of them must have came through that teams academy.
Goal line technology, in some way-hawkeye or a chip in the ball.
Plus I would ban all sponsorship of ground since they sound crap ( just a personal thing I hate).
And I agree on the 1k for under 21s and they can't move clubs idea, plus limited spending

 

[guicey15]

To be honest, i like football the way it is. I find if we change it with the reasons you mentioned, football would lose its spark, its excitement and its talking points. 1966 imagine if we had "referrals" then. England might not have won the world cup and we all would know if the ball crossed the line, which would ruin the 1 thing we all remember today. Did it cross the line? We will never no, that is the great thing about it. Yes its horrible when a decision goes against you, but isn't it brilliant when it goes for you. How boring would it be if for every time there was a handball given, the team 'challenged' it or used a 'referral'. And then the penalty wasn't given, the game would lose what it is all about. Exiting, drama, injustice and most of all it gets talking points. Without them there wouldn't be the football banter the next day at work or school. So i think we should just keep the beautiful game how it is, and how it was always intended to be played.

 

[Otis]

Was it intended to be played with people cheating, feigning injury, producing imaginary yellow and red cards, harassing the ref, pulling shirts and holding players down in the penalty box, time-wasting and trying every trick in the book to win the game at any cost?

And how can it be as it is? Changes happening all the time. From no substitutes, to 1 substitutes, to 5 substitutes to 7 substitutes. Keepers used to be able to pick the ball up from a back pass, they can no longer do so. You used to be able to barge the keeper into the net and get a goal, now you can't. Offside rule has changed. Two footed challenges are now not allowed.

The game has perpetually changed. How can you say keep it as it is when it is constantly changing and this isn't the beautiful game now as it was intended anyway!!

 

[andyboy81]

Next goal wins???

 

[Nick]

First Man Back plays in goal!

 

[guicey15]

Was it intended to be played with people cheating, feigning injury, producing imaginary yellow and red cards, harassing the ref, pulling shirts and holding players down in the penalty box, time-wasting and trying every trick in the book to win the game at any cost?

And how can it be as it is? Changes happening all the time. From no substitutes, to 1 substitutes, to 5 substitutes to 7 substitutes. Keepers used to be able to pick the ball up from a back pass, they can no longer do so. You used to be able to barge the keeper into the net and get a goal, now you can't. Offside rule has changed. Two footed challenges are now not allowed.

The game has perpetually changed. How can you say keep it as it is when it is constantly changing and this isn't the beautiful game now as it was intended anyway!!

Yes there have been minor changes here and there over the years, but nothing completely drastic that would change the complexion of a whole game.

 

[Otis]

Yes there have been minor changes here and there over the years, but nothing completely drastic that would change the complexion of a whole game.

What do you think will change the whole complexion of the game then?