BluenoseGolfer
Assistant Pro
Ban Liverpool from everything, all problems solved 
So how would you fix the football problems?
- Thread starter Paul_Stewart
- Start date
AuburnWarrior
Tour Winner
I think football as a game is just fine. It's a simple concept and it's simplicity makes it brilliant.
My problem is the players. There is absolutely zero respect in football anymore. I see cheating in EVERY match, I see a total lack of respect for the officials and I see no respect for the fans.
The cheating aspect makes me seeth! These guys are, mostly, well over six feet tall and pure muscle. They can run at the speed of sound and their balance and co-ordination is comparable to a ballet dancer and yet, with the very faintest of touches, they go down faster than Katie Price!!! I find it embarrassing that a grown man can fall down that easily. I used to go to school with a lad who fell down all the time - he had MS. Maybe the entire Premiership is full of people with early stages of MS!
To compound my anger, when they are tackled, they roll around as if someone has just removed their leg - without anaesthetic! But, what wonder is this? Within 30 seconds they're back up on their feet and running around without a care in the world. How is that possible? A few seconds ago they were in such excrutiating pain that they had to be carried off the field. From such actions I would expect them to out of the game for many weeks - not 30 seconds!
The lack of respect for officials has, I believe, seeped into mainstream society which is why we're seeing so many young people showing a lack of respect to their elders. When they see their heroes - Terry, Keane, etc two centimetres from an official's face calling him every name under the sun - what hope do we have that he'll grow up respecting authority?
I used to play Sunday morning football and I've lost count of the times I've seen an under 11 game and seen one of the players shouting and swearing at a referee. Nothing was done. If I saw/heard my son doing that, I'd drag him off the pitch and make him sit in the car until the game had finished and then make him personally apologise to the ref after the game. He'd then never play football again.
The respect for the common fan has also evaporated from the game. From experience, the Palace lads would always acknowledge us but I have many friends who support the better London sides and I've heard countless stories of them travelling all over England and Europe to watch their side at considerable expense. Did the players clap them to show them their appreciation? No. They simply left the field to get their first class travel home.
My love affair with football has all but ended. To use a proper relationship as an analogy, we know it's over, we're just pretending that we can make a go of it. We'll be sorting out possessions soon.....
I had to turn off MotD the other day as the Newcastle v Arsenal game pretty much highlighted all of the above!!!
And don't get me started on the England team!!!
My problem is the players. There is absolutely zero respect in football anymore. I see cheating in EVERY match, I see a total lack of respect for the officials and I see no respect for the fans.
The cheating aspect makes me seeth! These guys are, mostly, well over six feet tall and pure muscle. They can run at the speed of sound and their balance and co-ordination is comparable to a ballet dancer and yet, with the very faintest of touches, they go down faster than Katie Price!!! I find it embarrassing that a grown man can fall down that easily. I used to go to school with a lad who fell down all the time - he had MS. Maybe the entire Premiership is full of people with early stages of MS!
To compound my anger, when they are tackled, they roll around as if someone has just removed their leg - without anaesthetic! But, what wonder is this? Within 30 seconds they're back up on their feet and running around without a care in the world. How is that possible? A few seconds ago they were in such excrutiating pain that they had to be carried off the field. From such actions I would expect them to out of the game for many weeks - not 30 seconds!
The lack of respect for officials has, I believe, seeped into mainstream society which is why we're seeing so many young people showing a lack of respect to their elders. When they see their heroes - Terry, Keane, etc two centimetres from an official's face calling him every name under the sun - what hope do we have that he'll grow up respecting authority?
I used to play Sunday morning football and I've lost count of the times I've seen an under 11 game and seen one of the players shouting and swearing at a referee. Nothing was done. If I saw/heard my son doing that, I'd drag him off the pitch and make him sit in the car until the game had finished and then make him personally apologise to the ref after the game. He'd then never play football again.
The respect for the common fan has also evaporated from the game. From experience, the Palace lads would always acknowledge us but I have many friends who support the better London sides and I've heard countless stories of them travelling all over England and Europe to watch their side at considerable expense. Did the players clap them to show them their appreciation? No. They simply left the field to get their first class travel home.
My love affair with football has all but ended. To use a proper relationship as an analogy, we know it's over, we're just pretending that we can make a go of it. We'll be sorting out possessions soon.....
I had to turn off MotD the other day as the Newcastle v Arsenal game pretty much highlighted all of the above!!!
And don't get me started on the England team!!!
sawtooth
Tour Winner
Follow the excellent examples in cricket and Rugby and use video technology. Its a no-brainer as far as I'm concerned.
No more missed diving, deliberate handballs, balls that never crossed the line, players sent off for no reason, etc.
Meter out very harsh penalties for bad tackles and cheating.
No more missed diving, deliberate handballs, balls that never crossed the line, players sent off for no reason, etc.
Meter out very harsh penalties for bad tackles and cheating.
d2cko
Assistant Pro
Yeah that does annoy me. Everybody is there on merit, why not just have a FA cup style draw - totally random!
BluenoseGolfer
Assistant Pro
I also agree with AW, there are many many problems on and off the pitch, corruption, lack of respect etc and the amounts on money involved are getting obscene now, anyone seen the new wage packet of Samuel Eto'o?!?!
d2cko
Assistant Pro
I don't blame the players for moving for the money though. If somebody offered me 20% more to do the same job somewhere else I'd snap their hand off.
bladeplayer
Money List Winner
thats why Arteta deserves respect , he went for CL football & took a pay cut to get it ,
sawtooth
Tour Winner
Yes thats true but what if you already earn £5M a year?
d2cko
Assistant Pro
Yes thats true but what if you already earn £5M a year?
Then I'd love another £1M! Football careers are very short, usually ending at about 35 if your lucky enough not to get injuries. So why not build up a cheeky nest egg for the rest of your life?
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
To be fair these footballers it was a dream when I was young to play for England win the FA cup etc, if you offered me it now would I take it, I honestly dont think I would. The money on offer yeah brilliant, the private life? you dont get one your life becomes public in everything you do or say. Chanted by 30,000 fans every other week saying your sh!t and your wifes a whor3 etc.
On the technology front its very hard to do as it will become very elitist. It would be premiership only. The way you stop the cheaters who disrepect the referee is to make sure cards are being handed out for dissent and move the ball 10 yards closer.
The problem you have at the moment with only captain talking to the referee is a lot of referees will try and chat to the players during the game and this is what they are told to do by the FA, I have even seen a referee have a go at a young linesman because he wasnt encouraging good play enough. As you can imagine all the managers piped up at the ref to leave the youngster alone. (he was an proper official not a club official)
I dont think there is a way to have video technology used and it not affect the flow of a game. Football is loved because of the way it has so many views on what happened.
On the technology front its very hard to do as it will become very elitist. It would be premiership only. The way you stop the cheaters who disrepect the referee is to make sure cards are being handed out for dissent and move the ball 10 yards closer.
The problem you have at the moment with only captain talking to the referee is a lot of referees will try and chat to the players during the game and this is what they are told to do by the FA, I have even seen a referee have a go at a young linesman because he wasnt encouraging good play enough. As you can imagine all the managers piped up at the ref to leave the youngster alone. (he was an proper official not a club official)
I dont think there is a way to have video technology used and it not affect the flow of a game. Football is loved because of the way it has so many views on what happened.
USER1999
Grand Slam Winner
I would introduce a review system, like in rugby, with a fourth official using tv footage.
Was it a goal (did it cross the line).
Was it off side (back to was it a goal).
Was it really a penalty.
That's it. Nothing else. I would only review when play has stopped, so if there wasn't a break in play, then there is no review. So only penalties given can be reviewed, not one not given.
This would still have the flow, and the potential for mistakes, but would eliminate the 'hand of god' type goal.
Then as previously said, a review after the game, to look at diving, elbowing, head butting, etc.
The other thing I would change is the automatic red card for violent conduct. It is a nonsense getting a straight red, and a 3 match ban for a slow motion slap (Gervinho on Barton for instance). Once the player has the red, he should be allowed a free punch at the nancy who went down so pathetically. If he doesn't take it, the ban gets increased to 4 matches.
Was it a goal (did it cross the line).
Was it off side (back to was it a goal).
Was it really a penalty.
That's it. Nothing else. I would only review when play has stopped, so if there wasn't a break in play, then there is no review. So only penalties given can be reviewed, not one not given.
This would still have the flow, and the potential for mistakes, but would eliminate the 'hand of god' type goal.
Then as previously said, a review after the game, to look at diving, elbowing, head butting, etc.
The other thing I would change is the automatic red card for violent conduct. It is a nonsense getting a straight red, and a 3 match ban for a slow motion slap (Gervinho on Barton for instance). Once the player has the red, he should be allowed a free punch at the nancy who went down so pathetically. If he doesn't take it, the ban gets increased to 4 matches.
Shaunmg
Head Pro
The football ruling bodies national and international, are stuck in a Victorian era, refusing to change with the times and technology, as the clubs themselves advance into a 21st century world of big business and become commodities. Is it a sport or is it big business?
The answer lies at the top. A salary cap is essential in my view. Do we really want to see money continue to buy success, or do we want to see a level playing field?
FIFA is corrupt to the core, yet FIFA would be a nothing without the European nations. Forget the world cup, UEFA should break all ties with FIFA, then sit back and watch them collapse as a result.
The sport needs to be re-claimed from the billionaire tycoons who are destroying it.
The answer lies at the top. A salary cap is essential in my view. Do we really want to see money continue to buy success, or do we want to see a level playing field?
FIFA is corrupt to the core, yet FIFA would be a nothing without the European nations. Forget the world cup, UEFA should break all ties with FIFA, then sit back and watch them collapse as a result.
The sport needs to be re-claimed from the billionaire tycoons who are destroying it.
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
Paul_Stewart
Tour Rookie
And he gets 3/4 handicap difference in singles match-play?
19thagain
Head Pro
We cannot change it immediately BUT for starters ... SIN BIN.
This would allow players to cool off for a period of time dictated by the ref. A yellow card has no effect on players and the manager, if he is sensible, will sub the player so no real problem for the offenders team whilst the star player for the opposition is having a scan of his leg! Sin bin means the team suffers, the player suffers and the manager suffers along with the fans. The player being the target of all this anger will think twice the next time he misbehaves.
A RED CARD is a 90 minute penalty for the TEAM!
Currently a player takes one 'for the team' in the latter stages of a game, the team then soldier on for the remaining 5 minutes and get a result. The player gets a pat on the back from his manager and a week in Majorca with his wife, during his ban, paid for by the club.
However, I would make that team play 85 minutes with 10 men in the next game so that the punishment, to fit the crime, is served.
Lucky for the next team being faced but so be it
This would allow players to cool off for a period of time dictated by the ref. A yellow card has no effect on players and the manager, if he is sensible, will sub the player so no real problem for the offenders team whilst the star player for the opposition is having a scan of his leg! Sin bin means the team suffers, the player suffers and the manager suffers along with the fans. The player being the target of all this anger will think twice the next time he misbehaves.
A RED CARD is a 90 minute penalty for the TEAM!
Currently a player takes one 'for the team' in the latter stages of a game, the team then soldier on for the remaining 5 minutes and get a result. The player gets a pat on the back from his manager and a week in Majorca with his wife, during his ban, paid for by the club.
However, I would make that team play 85 minutes with 10 men in the next game so that the punishment, to fit the crime, is served.
Lucky for the next team being faced but so be it
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
Could you imagine a dodgy decision by a ref where the fa backs the decision as technically the ball hit his hand from point blank range. Then you have the biggest game of the season next and you only have 10 players. would cause massive uproar and teams trying to benefit other teams.
Sin bin sounds good for say 10 minutes at a time may see some negative tactics but would be best idea to stop players moaning at refs if they got a yellow straight away etc.
Paul_Stewart
Tour Rookie
How about eliminating penalty shootouts in major competitions?
You just keep playing until someone scores. Yes the winning team would be at a diaadvantage for the next game but it would serve them right.
This is a good discussion and there are some good points here. I think the key is to actually try them out.
Back in the 1980s I was involved with a non-league team and we were going to stage a pre-season friendly with no offsides. All the national media were going to attend, the officials and other team were up for trying it and yes it was a publicity stunt. Naturally the Surrey FA said no and threatened action if we went ahead. It would have been one hell of a wide open game.
You just keep playing until someone scores. Yes the winning team would be at a diaadvantage for the next game but it would serve them right.
This is a good discussion and there are some good points here. I think the key is to actually try them out.
Back in the 1980s I was involved with a non-league team and we were going to stage a pre-season friendly with no offsides. All the national media were going to attend, the officials and other team were up for trying it and yes it was a publicity stunt. Naturally the Surrey FA said no and threatened action if we went ahead. It would have been one hell of a wide open game.
AuburnWarrior
Tour Winner
Yes, it would but it would have simply become a game of kick and run.
The strikers would have stood by the goal and waited for a 60 yard punt up field.
The formation would have been 8 - 0 - 2.
Not for me, thanks.
jammag
Challenge Tour Pro
Interesting point about the penalty shoot out. One thing me and mates have discussed in the past would be extra time maybe shortened to 10mins a half, then you have golden goal but every 2 mins you have to take off a player so gradually goes 10v10 9v9 etc so the game becomes very open and bound for some one to score
Crazyface
Tour Winner
Too late mate it's already happened. Portugal V England world cup or Euro finals, I can't remember which it was. big central Arsenal defender heads a corner in fairly. Foul given. Quick free kick, zoom, the balls in our net as quick a s a flash whilst we're still argueing at the other end. It's a conspiricy FIFA do not want England to ever win anything again. Remeber the last world cup? That goal v Germany? Against the run of play admittitly, but it would have been 2-2 and we'd got them on the back foot. I vowed then never to watch England again, and to date haven't.
