World Cup 2010

[Jobu]

They want a single set of rules that are valid for all leagues, from the third rate minor league in some godforsaken town to the premier leagues. Only premier teams would be able to afford the additional measures so they argue that you'd have a different game if you play there than you would have in the second or minor leagues. I think it's bullshit but it has been the stance of FIFA for nearly two decades now. All officials that don't subscribe to that line are politically isolated (see Platini).

I agree in principle with both reasons, but they're hard to swallow when you look at things in reality. Most of the leagues I've played in (waaaaaay down beyond anything resembling professional levels) are lucky enough to even have a linesman. Sometimes we'll just make do with two refs (one in each half), or no linesman at all and just the one guy running around trying to judge what happened. It's not like our fields are always the proper dimensions either, I've played on nearly square fields crammed into the outfield of a baseball diamond. There's so much flexibility to the letter of the laws for the rest of the us that this idea of purity and equivalence of rules is just silly and obstinate.

That said, I think technology should be used *only* for goal verification. Offsides calls are regularly blown, and introducing reviews of those would be the thin end of the wedge to screwing the whole game up with delays, challenges, and expansion into reviewing everything else on the pitch.

[01101010]

I agree in principle with both reasons, but they're hard to swallow when you look at things in reality. Most of the leagues I've played in (waaaaaay down beyond anything resembling professional levels) are lucky enough to even have a linesman. Sometimes we'll just make do with two refs (one in each half), or no linesman at all and just the one guy running around trying to judge what happened. It's not like our fields are always the proper dimensions either, I've played on nearly square fields crammed into the outfield of a baseball diamond. There's so much flexibility to the letter of the laws for the rest of the us that this idea of purity and equivalence of rules is just silly and obstinate.

That said, I think technology should be used *only* for goal verification. Offsides calls are regularly blown, and introducing reviews of those would be the thin end of the wedge to screwing the whole game up with delays, challenges, and expansion into reviewing everything else on the pitch.

Still a slippery slope. What about goals by someone offsides?

[Paelos]

Let's tag all the players so we can check their global positioning at all times on the pitch! 

[Hoax]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100701

Makes points on both sides of the current ref debate we have going on. Also if you don't read Simmons you should and I hate basketball but its still worth it. The end made me tear up a little.

[ghost]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100701

Makes points on both sides of the current ref debate we have going on. Also if you don't read Simmons you should and I hate basketball but its still worth it. The end made me tear up a little.

"No gimmicky team names like the 'Heat' or the 'Thunder.' (You know what the announcers call Germany? The Germans. I love this.)"

That's a gem.

[Paelos]

Yeah, that's a pretty solid Simmons article right there. The comments about him being the Soccer Manchurian candidate were really funny.

[WayAbvPar]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/100701

Makes points on both sides of the current ref debate we have going on. Also if you don't read Simmons you should and I hate basketball but its still worth it. The end made me tear up a little.

I am so glad the NBA season is over so I can start reading his stuff again.

[sigil]

Dan Loney over at bigsoccer with the soccer/nerd combo 

[Amarr HM]

Oh man that killed me, bravo.

[Paelos]

There is a Spanish person in your way. 

Awesome.

[Abagadro]

Write The Future Reedited

[HaemishM]

Both the video and the writeup were fucking hysterical.

[Stabs]

Here we go again. After a dominant first 50 minutes and a goal Brazil's keeper has generously gifted the Dutch a goal. Julius Caesar was less than imperious when he tried to punch a Schneider cross.

Brazil 1 - Holland 1. Shaping up to be a great last half hour.

[01101010]

2-1 dutch??

 

[Numtini]

Didn't see that coming.

[Amarr HM]

I always fancied the Dutch myself, lots of experience and Sneijder / Robben combo is pretty deadly. Shame though I enjoyed Brazil up to this point.

[Azazel]

Holland deserves that goal. Bastos is playing like a fucking douchebag and should have been sent or taken off by now.

bah. my post got blocked by the "a new reply has been posted"

Great second half. Well deserved to Holland. I never thought I'd say that.

[rk47]

Brazil deserve to get out. One own goal and their nerves are shot.

[Falconeer]

I have played the game throughout my life in a variety of places and skill levels and I have at least been a linesman and center ref for some games though nothing at anywhere near even class 1 tournament level you weekend warrior types who don't give a fuck about football and only are interested once every four years telling the world the game is run wrong and should be more like hockey? Ehl oh fucking ehl.

Since I did what you did and who knows maybe more, am I allowed to say the game is run wrong?


About technology and lower leagues, it's all bullshit. First of all, you don't have official linesmen in Italy until semi-pro, around 17 years of age. Second, don't pro football refs and linesmen have a headset and a microphone to facilitate communication between them, apparently to make better calls? Sticking against replays is just ridiculous at this point.

[Stabs]

I think most people in this thread know a fair amount about football. Besides the beautiful game should look great to everyone, not just anoraks.

Anyway well done Holland. At this stage in the tournament I'm reduced to supporting Liverpool players and English referees. I thought Dirk Kuyt had a blinder. And hopefully Howard Webb will get the Final.

[Abagadro]

That was a sweet bender. One of the few in the entire tourney.

[Amarr HM]

Uruguay look a bit susceptible without their two main defenders.

[Abagadro]

Holy hell!

[Rasix]

Holy shit. Wow.

[Amarr HM]

 

[Abagadro]

Heartbreaker for Ghana. Really should have taken it.

[Sjofn]

Ghana :((((((((((

[Rasix]

I feel bad for Ghana, but those guys looked like they'd never taken a PK in their life.

[Stabs]

So sorry for Ghana and Gyan and the other players who missed.

It was a marvellous match.

[Abagadro]

Kinda sucks that an intentional handball to prevent a goal can end up saving them through to the next round.

[Amarr HM]

At least the ref saw it and not having Suarez is a major handicap in the next game.

So sorry for Gyan too.

[Trippy]

Why are you guys feeling sorry for Ghana? Those fuckers beat the US.

Edit: you US guys that is

[Righ]

It doesn't really matter whether Uruguay have Saurez or not, because if they play the way they played against Ghana, they will lose to the Oranje.

Yeah Trippy, that's the attitude -  you want the people who can beat your team to lose to other teams. That'll make the US look better. ;)

[WayAbvPar]

I have faithfully set my TiVo for every single World Cup match, avoided coverage until I got home, and then enjoyed the games unspoiled. Until today. Fucking forgot to set it, and missed getting to watch two incredibly dramatic games unspoiled. FUCK.

Good news is I am about to walk out the door and begin my 3 day weekend. Yay.

[Threash]

I thought the miss by Mensah was the worst of the three missed kicks by Ghana, dude took one step and basically passed it to the keeper.