I would absolutely welcome this even if it negatively affected WFC (as long as it was consistent for all teams)....how many games would it take before the clubs/players got the message - will never happen wholesale though, alas
Very true. Over the years there has been much tinkering with rules, tinkering heralded with a fanfare but quickly and quietly ignored - so much so that I find it difficult to know if the rules are still in place or have been altered/dropped. When swearing became a bookable offence in Australia back in the 70s, I got sent off for saying "**** - you're joking" to a referee - yet the next time he refereed a game of ours, an opponent called him a "c*nt" to his face and got away with it. Apparently the rule was causing too many players to be sent off, so referees decided to ignore it. Other annoyances of mine are nothing been done about goalkeepers ignoring the six second rule, players not taking throw-ins from where the ball went out, and goalkeepers stepping into the 'D' to punt the ball upfield - I'm sure the rules against those are still in place but referees ignore them.
The C word was a guaranteed Red on my pitch, every time, no exceptions ever unless I couldn't identify the perpetrator and then the captains would get a lecture instead. My pre-match team talk included the line: "The only F-word I want to hear is football". We're taught to maintain our own tolerance levels. As an ex-goalie I was always strict on the 4-6 second rule, particularly the leading team - if you're losing it's "your time" which usually spurred them on. Rarely cautioned for it as is required: an indirect free-kick inside the penalty area caused sufficient panic for it not to happen a second time. County Cup and the higher leagues (or if I knew I was being assessed) got a stricter application. I was also pretty strict on the throw-ins being taken from the right place - always gave them a couple of yards either but I've lost count where I've given a foul throw from the "wrong" half. At PMGO level there is no excuse for failure to apply the technical laws properly and it really annoys me when they don't. Opinion of the Referee is always subjective, the technical aspects are objective: e.g. arteta being out of his technical area to retrieve the ball to give to his player for a quick throw in advantage (they scored as a direct result and the Fourth Official said to him "you shouldn't be allowed to do that..."; the Liverpool "beach ball" goal, and so on. No excuse.
Not taking throw-ins from the correct position always reminds me of our game at Huddersfield during the pandemic empty stadia period. One of our players was gaining a few yards and a Huddersfield director could clearly be heard shouting in a broad Yorkshire accent, "Get back. I've not bin that far on me 'olidays."
And now I've just heard a Sky commentator saying of the Preston striker, "And Parrott, playing on the shoulder of the defender."
Those 3 issues really show how the governance of the game is so woeful. I would add the habit of throwing the ball beyond where it should be for a freekick, but using backspin to 'allegedly' get it into the right place. However, and this is the really annoying thing, from a paying spectator view, rather than a biased fan v, there are solutions to all of these issues. 1) The clock should stop when the game is stopped. Forget injury time - take timekeeping out of the hands of the referee/whoever supports him. The 6 second rule s particularly abused at present. 2) The ref/lino marks the spot where he decides it went out. 3) One warning, then an attacking freekick for handball if the goalkeeper strays. 4) Again , a quick spray of the white stuff - that's where the free kick is taken. Would any of the measures 'sanitise' the game - certainly not. It's supposed to be football, not 'who can cheat the most'. And finally - any, and I mean ANY - dissent . Give a freekick or move the freekick 10 yards. If it moves into the area - then it's a penalty.
Re the last point on dissent, I'm pretty sure that was trialled around 20 years ago - although the free kick couldn't convert into a penalty and had to be taken from the edge of the penalty area. I can't remember what happened to the rule, but it does seem to have disappeared.
I see Spuds have signed Udinese left back Destiny Udogie for £15m. Shame we couldn't have signed him.
Maybe we'll get him on loan although really don't need a starting left back if Kamara goes back into his natural position.
Looks like FIFA are moving Qatar's first game forwards to the Sunday night so the tournament will start a day early. https://theathletic.com/3494370/2022/08/10/qatar-world-cup-2022-start-date-fifa/
It's all very different to how the bookies saw it. But that's very much how the Championship is. Tough to type in bumpy car! Mrs Andy driving, I should add.
Watching the Oldham v Dorking National League match on BT Sport - not too bad a game really. Dorking's history is Roy of the Rovers stuff - founded in 1999 as a park team, they have won 12 promotions since then - and still have the same manager. A lesson there for Gino?
Bet it's a lot more competitive than the Premier league game on atm.. Brentford 4!!!!!!!! Man U 0 Never mind Bachaman they could do with Cathcart, Cleverley back and getting Sarr.
