Some things really annoy me about the world's greatest game and I thought I'd share them to see if anyone else gets wound up by the same things....
1) abolish the transfer windows - let clubs sign players as and when they want/need. Can anyone think of a good reason to keep the 'window' in place?
2) abolish long term loan signings - Didn't loans used to be for a few weeks at a time to cover for injuries or suspensions, or in case of emergencies? How can a prem club loan another prem club one of their players for a year?? madness.
3) 'shielding the ball' out of play. According to the FA rule books, 'preventing a player from getting to the ball with no attempt to play the ball' is blatant obstruction. Certain changes like the 'no pass back' rule were brought in to speed the game up so why do refs allow such negativity as this 'shielding' nonsense?
4) introduction of 4th official technology - to be used for penalty box incidents only
5) diving - anyone found guilty of CHEATING (let's not all it 'simulation') should get a 12 month ban without pay
6) pre-rehearsed goal celebrations - how camp and ridiculous do these people look doing their routines?? (sky have even got an award for 'best celebration'!!!)
7) brightly coloured football boots. ponces.
Have I missed anything? (this list started off with only 3 items but keeps growing...)
Good post.
1. I agree, most of the transfer movements go on on deadline day (in the January window particularly), which has become a bit of a joke and a sideshow. Makes exciting viewing, but clubs tend to get ripped off and pay over the odds (See Torres/Carroll). One negative point I can think of to abolishing it would be that it would lessen the security of teams who may have players linked with moves away. Just think of the speculation we've had over the years about our better players leaving, such as, Torres, Gerrard, Alonso, Mascherano, etc. How relieving was it when the window closed and we knew they weren't leaving (this time). Imagine the worry of losing your better players hanging over the team constantly - not to mention the players themselves minds being elsewhere.
2. Completely agree. This has only started happening in the last 10 years or so. Completely against it.
3. I think it's okay as long as the player shielding is
A) regularly touching the ball every couple of seconds (to prove he's actually
in posssession) and
B) that he's not actually leaning back on the opponent or holding him off with an arm.
4. 100% agreed. Needs to happen soon.
5. I think your 12 month ban idea is harsh and extremely unrealistic, but certainly they need to get a lot harsher on cheaters than they currently are.
6. Camp as a row of tents.
7. Hahaha!
I have an idea of my own, which I brought up last night in the pub after watching the Chelsea match. I wonder what others think of it...
Ramires, Ivanovic, Meireles and Terry will all miss the CL final through suspension. Playing in a CL final is quite often a once in a lifetime opportunity. I think it's very harsh for a player to miss out on this after the hard work and dedication of helping the team get there. Wasn't David Luiz suspended last night for having already accumulated the bookings for a suspension? Yet he'll get to play in the final. So he got booked more regularly than Meireles, Ivanovic and Ramires, yet he gets the reward of a place in the final.
I think this is wrong. When Meireles made the challenge, he was pleading with the ref not to book him (because he knew what it would mean). The ref had no choice - it was a yellow card offence. Ramires scored the goal that sent them to the final, yet he got booked and will now miss it. This is very harsh on these players, so here's my idea:
If a player accumulates the bookings for a ban up to this stage, the final is exempt from suspensions - ie: Meireles, Ramires and Ivanovic would be able to play in the final, but their suspension would carry on til the next season, when it would then be served. If a player in the semi final second leg gets a straight red - or two yellows in a single game resulting in a red - then the ban stands for the final, and they miss it. I think this is a much fairer system, than depriving a player this massive opportunity to play in a final which they've worked so hard for.
Another example was Roy Keane and Scholes in 1999. Both missed the CL final after getting bookings in the semi. Roy Keane practically dragged Man Ure through than semi against Juventus, yet picked up a booking and missed the final. Am I right in saying that the players who aren't in the match day squad for the final don't even get a medal? I think it's very harsh, and could do with some revising. Most of us would want to see a final contested with two teams at full strength anyway.