Football

[Hopping Mad]

Steeton, who until recently played at Cougar Park, open their new ground, at Marley, Keighley, on November 14. Garstang are the visitors for a North West Counties League Division One North fixture.

[Bleep1673]

Just who ascribed Torquay to kick off at Hartlepool at 17.20, with a local lock down in progress, and a National one imminent? There will be no hotels available, so a 800 mile one day return journey is the only option, for a semi-pro team with no income.

[Wiltshire Rhino]

17 hours ago, Bleep1673 said:

Just who ascribed Torquay to kick off at Hartlepool at 17.20, with a local lock down in progress, and a National one imminent? There will be no hotels available, so a 800 mile one day return journey is the only option, for a semi-pro team with no income.

"Back in my day we would have had to walk there and back. These modern day, coach driven footballers don't know how good they have it!"

[Gerrumonside ref]

17 hours ago, Bleep1673 said:

Just who ascribed Torquay to kick off at Hartlepool at 17.20, with a local lock down in progress, and a National one imminent? There will be no hotels available, so a 800 mile one day return journey is the only option, for a semi-pro team with no income.

I think they won 5-0

[graveyard johnny]

i never expected to find to find a womans football match exiting, enthralling or even in the slightest bit intersesting, started watching the womens fa cup final on bbc1 and to be honest i was right

[Maximus Decimus]

Since I got Sky back, I've been watching more football and I don't know if it's VAR related or not but there seems to be a huge amount of penalties given now and it is having a negative effect on the game IMO.

Basically, in the modern game I think there is a huge imbalance between the crime and the punishment that is overly influencing the results of games. I suspect the original purpose of the rule was to harshly penalise fouls that directly stopped goals being scored, and this might not have been a problem in the early days of high-scoring matches or when what was classed as a foul was much less strict. 

However, we now have the situation where the rules are more strictly adhered to meaning that penalties are given for minor infringements that were not even close to goal-scoring situations. Yet for this, the attacking side are giving a situation that will result in a goal 75% of the time. Every other foul, in every other part of the pitch probably results in a 5-10% chance of goal. When games are decided by relatively few goals (less than 4 a game on average), getting a penalty represents way too big a punishment for a clumsy tackle on the edge of the box or an accidental handball.

I recently watched two Everton games that were effectively decided by penalties and nothing else. The first was against Palace, and if anything Palace were having the better of it before a harmless accidental handball handed Everton the lead that was the last goal of the game. Then today it went the other way. The game was 0-0 with neither side creating much before a needless foul was conceded from a corner; without it being committed the chance of a goal was about zero. Newcastle scored which left them at about 90% chance to win in a game of few chances. 

I've tried to think of a RL equivalent, and it's like saying any foul committed against an attacking team in the opponents 10 metres is a penalty kick worth 10-15 points. That might sound ludicrous but points wise it's about the same percentage.

[gingerjon]

13 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

Since I got Sky back, I've been watching more football and I don't know if it's VAR related or not but there seems to be a huge amount of penalties given now and it is having a negative effect on the game IMO.

Basically, in the modern game I think there is a huge imbalance between the crime and the punishment that is overly influencing the results of games. I suspect the original purpose of the rule was to harshly penalise fouls that directly stopped goals being scored, and this might not have been a problem in the early days of high-scoring matches or when what was classed as a foul was much less strict. 

However, we now have the situation where the rules are more strictly adhered to meaning that penalties are given for minor infringements that were not even close to goal-scoring situations. Yet for this, the attacking side are giving a situation that will result in a goal 75% of the time. Every other foul, in every other part of the pitch probably results in a 5-10% chance of goal. When games are decided by relatively few goals (less than 4 a game on average), getting a penalty represents way too big a punishment for a clumsy tackle on the edge of the box or an accidental handball.

I recently watched two Everton games that were effectively decided by penalties and nothing else. The first was against Palace, and if anything Palace were having the better of it before a harmless accidental handball handed Everton the lead that was the last goal of the game. Then today it went the other way. The game was 0-0 with neither side creating much before a needless foul was conceded from a corner; without it being committed the chance of a goal was about zero. Newcastle scored which left them at about 90% chance to win in a game of few chances. 

I've tried to think of a RL equivalent, and it's like saying any foul committed against an attacking team in the opponents 10 metres is a penalty kick worth 10-15 points. That might sound ludicrous but points wise it's about the same percentage.

Not disagreeing with your essential point that penalties are being given that wouldn't be given before but there are also a lot of games now happening with scorelines that would have raised eyebrows or stood out before but now pass without much comment. And they're not all penalties.

[Maximus Decimus]

2 hours ago, gingerjon said:

Not disagreeing with your essential point that penalties are being given that wouldn't be given before but there are also a lot of games now happening with scorelines that would have raised eyebrows or stood out before but now pass without much comment. And they're not all penalties.

Apologies, but I'm not sure I quite follow your point? Are you saying scoreline are higher or lower or more lob-sided than in the past?

There were another 2 games last night where the winning team got a penalty and they ended up winning by a single goal. In both instances, the fouls committed did not impact anything like a goalscoring opportunity.

I looked it up last night and it doesn't appear to be much opposition to the current penalty situation. Barring one poorly-written blog, I couldn't find a single other person even commenting on it.

However, in some mythical world where I was put in charge, I think a practical solution would be to reduce the size of the box where a penalty is given. The ones out wide are probably the most frustrating and ill-deserved to get a free shot on goal for.

Ideally, it would be left up the ref to decide whether each individual foul was worth a penalty or an indirect free kick. However, with the state of VAR I doubt this would make things any less annoying. 

[Northern Eel]

10 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

Apologies, but I'm not sure I quite follow your point? Are you saying scoreline are higher or lower or more lob-sided than in the past?

There were another 2 games last night where the winning team got a penalty and they ended up winning by a single goal. In both instances, the fouls committed did not impact anything like a goalscoring opportunity.

I looked it up last night and it doesn't appear to be much opposition to the current penalty situation. Barring one poorly-written blog, I couldn't find a single other person even commenting on it.

However, in some mythical world where I was put in charge, I think a practical solution would be to reduce the size of the box where a penalty is given. The ones out wide are probably the most frustrating and ill-deserved to get a free shot on goal for.

Ideally, it would be left up the ref to decide whether each individual foul was worth a penalty or an indirect free kick. However, with the state of VAR I doubt this would make things any less annoying. 

Interesting point. What about just using the 6 yard box for deliberate handball incidents and the 18 yard box just have a direct free kick? Fouls are fair play anywhere in the box IMO.

[gingerjon]

20 hours ago, Maximus Decimus said:

Apologies, but I'm not sure I quite follow your point? Are you saying scoreline are higher or lower or more lob-sided than in the past?

Scores are higher. There are a lot more penalties but there are also more goals overall.

[HawkMan]

Southampton top of the league! Holy cow. A strange start to the season   , Manchester United in the bottom half,  Everton actually doing well, its all looking very interesting for 20/21. Enjoyed the champions league as well, hard to call that this season.  Unusually looking forward to international break with Euro play offs next Thursday,  Serbia vs Scotland looks like the game to watch. 

Edited November 6, 2020 by HawkMan

[HawkMan]

On 16/09/2020 at 17:21, 17 stone giant said:

I tolerate Southampton being in the EPL, but I'm desperate for us to get relegated a couple of times so that we can play some proper football against the likes of Swindon. I'm sure you want the same for Spurs.

Your lads let you down,  little chance of relegation now, top of the league who'd have thought it. Proper football against Swindon will wait a bit particularly as Swindon already look out of their depth in league 1.

[17 stone giant]

12 minutes ago, HawkMan said:

Your lads let you down,  little chance of relegation now, top of the league who'd have thought it. Proper football against Swindon will wait a bit particularly as Swindon already look out of their depth in league 1.

Catch us if you can!

Yeah, I know several of them will, but I'll enjoy the view from the top while it lasts.

I thought we were very good again tonight. Should really have put Newcastle away long before we eventually did. I was fearing an undeserved equaliser was heading our way, but thankfully they dallied on the ball and Armstrong finished things off.

Very pleased with the ongoing development of Adams and the performance of Walcott. Didn't even miss Ings tonight, although I'm sure we will against the better teams.

[DavidM]

Southampton played Everton off the park , you’d have thought there was 20 of them. Mind you so did Newcastle so maybe says more about how atrocious we’ve been this last fortnight . Even so , all this makes a far more interesting league . Long may the unpredictability and challenge of new teams continue 

[marklaspalmas]

OWTS!

[HawkMan]

Surely the end for Philip Cocu ? Bottom of the league with Wayne Rooney,  that takes talent. 

[Wiltshire Rhino]

19 hours ago, HawkMan said:

Proper football against Swindon will wait a bit particularly as Swindon already look out of their depth in league 1.

I HATE MY CLUB BEING EMBARRASSED AGAIN IN THE FA CUP!

Oh well, time to concentrate on "learning to swim" in League 1 waters. 

[marklaspalmas]

On 02/11/2020 at 10:04, Maximus Decimus said:

Apologies, but I'm not sure I quite follow your point? Are you saying scoreline are higher or lower or more lob-sided than in the past?

There were another 2 games last night where the winning team got a penalty and they ended up winning by a single goal. In both instances, the fouls committed did not impact anything like a goalscoring opportunity.

I looked it up last night and it doesn't appear to be much opposition to the current penalty situation. Barring one poorly-written blog, I couldn't find a single other person even commenting on it.

However, in some mythical world where I was put in charge, I think a practical solution would be to reduce the size of the box where a penalty is given. The ones out wide are probably the most frustrating and ill-deserved to get a free shot on goal for.

Ideally, it would be left up the ref to decide whether each individual foul was worth a penalty or an indirect free kick. However, with the state of VAR I doubt this would make things any less annoying. 

Interesting point and one I've thought about.

Soccer is deeply conservative and the box has always served the dual purpose of marking both keeper's area and penalty area. 

I totally agree that a big %age of fouls/infringements that lead to a easy chance of a goal from the spot are "soft" and not worthy of the reward to the attacking team.

[Wiltshire Rhino]

My antidote to the nightmare Swindon Town are currently having. 

 

[Bleep1673]

• Aged 19 years and 64 days, Arsenal's Bukayo Saka became the fourth-youngest player to score an own goal in the Premier League, and youngest since Southampton's Martin Cranie in May 2004 (17 years, 218 days versus Chelsea).

[Gerrumonside ref]

FA Cup 2nd round draw tonight on BBC2 tonight at 7pm.

I thought the various camera set ups worked well at the weekend and I tuned into Wigan-Chorley and got an unexpected upset.

Anyone got any local interest?

[Wiltshire Rhino]

51 minutes ago, Gerrumonside ref said:

FA Cup 2nd round draw tonight on BBC2 tonight at 7pm

What is this 2nd round you speak of?  

[Wiltshire Rhino]

 

[Bleep1673]

On 09/11/2020 at 17:22, Wiltshire Rhino said:

What is this 2nd round you speak of?  

Newport County v Salford City

Worked in both. tbc

[Bleep1673]

On 09/11/2020 at 17:22, Wiltshire Rhino said:

What is this 2nd round you speak of?  

Stevenage v Hull City

Harrogate Town v Blackpool

Tranmere Rovers v Brackley Town

Barrow or AFC Wimbledon v Crawley Town

Stockport County v Yeovil Town

Plymouth Argyle v Lincoln City

Portsmouth v Kings Lynn Town

Cheltenham Town v Crewe Alexandra

Peterborough United v Chorley

Morecambe v Solihull Moors

Shrewsbury Town v Oxford City

Mansfield Town v Dagenham & Redbridge

Newport County v Salford City

Marine v Havant & Waterlooville

Gillingham v Exeter City

Canvey Island v Boreham Wood

Carlisle United v Doncaster Rovers

Barnet v MK Dons

Bristol Rovers v Darlington

Bradford City v Oldham Athletic