It was always going to be a cagey game on Saturday until the first goal...both teams had to much to lose in defeat - pride
That's a very measured response Aaagh. And to respond in kind, I think we are some way off this yet, but we may well see an added level of caution in many games this year because of the critical need to stay up and get the massive rise in TV money from next year. Whether this will damage revenues long term, I'm not sure - like it or not, Utd, Liverpool, Chelsea are strong international brands. As we are learning with Park, many Far Eastern fans seem to follow individual players rather than teams - so who we have playing in the prem is important. And, even if the prem becomes less gung ho, I'll bet it will still be more exciting than many average European league games, largely because every single game is hard fought and competitive, unlike in many other leagues.
Can't see it being negative in regards to overseas viewers. While of course there are many who love the old style Britsh ultra high tempo game there are others, latin countries in particular, who don't care for it and prefer a more cerebral passing and possession game. As for us being capable of retaining possession frankly it was about bloody time and somewhat of a miracle considering SWP's presence in the team.
They must have missed the first line of your original post QPAAAAAGH, I too 'ENJOYED THE PERFORMANCE AND LOOK FORWARD TO MORE OF THE SAME!' But i do get what you are saying, The kids academies seem to put a huge amount of focus on ball retention, not giving the ball away seems to be a higher priority than incisive direct play. The EPL is sold on the exciting direct style of football played but i too see this changing, TBH i don't think we have a choice the Spanish/Italians will pass us to death in Europe if we don't change and its hard to play fast direct football when you can't get the ball. Hopefully this will help us on a international level as well - how many times have England have been found out due to our total inability to keep the ball and pass it. I do think the slow migration to a more European style of play is probably inevitable, will the Premier League be less exciting and less marketable because of this - quite probably. Watching QPR with players that have skill levels that allow us to retain the ball and pass it around and have better possession stats than teams like Chelsea is ****ing fantastic and will take me at least 5 years before i start getting bored with QPR doing this. However i do recall watching Barcelona last year and thinking at times it was like watching death by passing and really with the players they have there was no need for this. Seems crackers to say but at times Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and Fabregas did get a bit boring. This might be bit harsh and probably says more about me than Barcelona, the aficionado's above will no doubt tell me i nuts - fair enough, but i do see the point you were trying to make, I'm not sure I will look quite as attractive tomorrow as I did last week.
Great input Cannock. I do wonder if we (the grass roots players and supporters) have lost control of our game sometimes. The continual crackdown on any kind of physical challenge by FIFA/UEFA is another example of course and increasingly renders European football something akin to 5-aside but without the boards. This is also crucial in allowing the passing/ball retention tactic to even exist of course. Again, I'm not saying that football is better or worse for the changes but pointing out that up until a couple of years back the PL really stood out for its pace and adventure. I'm not sure we will still be saying that soon.
Yeh, it does seem to me that you can hardly touch a player any longer in the penalty are without seriously risking a penalty. I seen Hazard get given 2 penalties already this season that both looked more like he fell over (I'm being generous here)the leg than that the leg brought him down, and we must have been close to suffering the same fate Saturday. Too many matches are getting decided by these soft penalty decisions for my taste.
EXACTLY . And i'll add that i travel alot through Thailand ,Malaysia and Indonesia and there are as many (if not more ) Barca shirts than MUFC . Our league's popularity was initially due to better exposure than other league's . Alot of supporters there seem to go for success ,just as here and the ultimate prize is the Champions League which CFC were incredibly lucky to win .
Their national teams have beaten the world in the modern era of football (1966 doesn't really count any more since they used to back-pass to the keeper and didn't really have time clocks on how long the keeper could hang on to the ball LOL). We haven't. Nothing wrong with the PL moving towards continental football - especially seeing as the Refs are getting as tough around the world equally trying to level the field as far as Fair Play is concerned, therefore it's conducive to play this possession & buildup free-flowing passing game. That being said, with all these foreign players in the PL, England hasn't got a chance in hell of winning anything ever again, so there you go
Given the choice I would much prefer a bit more tippy-tappy than a return to the days of Kenny hoofing the ball upfield like a mortar whilst the defence steels itself for its inevitable return at the feet of the opposition.
One last thought on this: Everton v Newcastle last night was a great example of the game still at the highest level but played at frenetic pace. Goals, excitement and - dare I say it - mistakes galore. I doubt there is any other league on earth that could deliver that. I guess the still unanswered question is whether it is this kind of thing the foreign audiences want or if they would be happy watching a similar style to everywhere else but played by the world's greatest collection of international players. I still think it is the former personally.
Only skimmed this but have 1 obvious question.... Why do we want to play the ultra fast, high tempo english game. the national team have played it since 1966 and won sweet FA...except le tournoi and i remember how embarrased shearer looked getting that trophy..... The prem is not the most supported league in the world (Germany) nor the most succesfull (spanish/German) why should we want to play like a bunch of kick and run merchants whose style has won nothing of note over the last 40 odd years.....? seems to me as an outsider and fan of continental football, that a lot of people are having problems coming to terms with the evolution of football, just as others would rather we played as we did in the 70's.... Its called progression..either embrace it or get left behind....in my humble opinion. i thought we looked amazing on Sat and just need to (like man ure-sorry) get the balance of possesion and attack in check. i was not at the game, but wastotally overwhellmed at the progression we have made so far...long may it continue..... UUUUUUUUUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRR'ssssssssss!!
