Another SOCCER thread: Here's what FIFA should do.

[Frankie]

1- Keep the three-sub rule for the duration of the game. Allow one extra substitution for over-time.

2- Allow unlimited substitution at halftime.

3- Join the 21st century with video technology. Replays don't have to be for every little dispute or questionable call. Just goals the are disallowed with near obvious bad calls or ref mistakes. Goals that are illegally stopped by D in a rather obvious infraction (remember US/Germany 2002). Use them also in Red-card situations. Kaka should never have been kicked out that last game.

4- Continuing the video tech theme, there should be cameras dedicated to the goal line (as in Tennis' line cameras) to show whether a ball is actually in as a goal or not.

5- Devise a way to severely punish cheap dives, even if it's after a post-match review. Red-card a blatant diver, after the review and make him ineligible for the next game. Better yet, the next two games. (example: the guy who grabbed his face and fell on the ground in 'excruciating' pain after Kaka feather-touched him in the chest.)

Ideas not yet included in the list since I'm not yet convinced:

A- One offside goal per game should be allowed using basically a team coupon?

B- Maybe having two refs each assigned to half a field?

Your thoughts, ideas and arguments not just welcome but encouraged. I will add the ones that convince me to the above list.

Discuss away.

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by blaise

I'm pretty sure soccer fans in England and Mexico are a bit more open to suggestions than they were a week ago.
The fake injuries, flopping, and blown goal calls are problems. I don't see why a soccer fan wouldn't want those things fixed in some way.

I was speaking more towards the unlimited substitutions, get rid of offsides, etc. trash.

Diving is a problem, and continues to be. HC Bradley spoke out about it, and I think he's right. FIFA has long resisted any appeals process. The FA has a red card appeals process, despite FIFA's objections, but it's fairly strict.

UEFA tried the retroactive punishment not long ago on a dive by Arsenal's Eduardo. They faced a lot of criticism for the randomness of the charge and the double standard.

I'm all for some system that rescinds cards that resulted from a dive, and some retroactive punishment for the diving player. But it needs to be a consistent program.

As for technology, I'm torn. Not having some sort of goal line technology is a disgrace. Whether you want to stick another official to stand at the goal, or use video, I don't care.

I have less enthusiasm for technology on blown calls in the field of play. I don't want to see coach challenges, or have the ref run off to watch video. Perhaps some situations could see it work. I don't know.

[Los Pollos Hermanos]

Not much discussion on my power ball idea for some reason.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

There's nothing soccer fans loves more than listening to suggestions every four years on how to "fix" the game.

Not fix. Improve.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by loochy

Yeah, I'm sure they'd love to fix those things.

I'm not so sure they'd be down with a complete remaking of the game's critical rules, such as offsides.

I really only included the offside suggestion as something I myself was not sold on. Too many posters here have paid more attention to A & B than to 1-5 (The main suggestions).

[Bearcat]

Get rid of the shootout. Ending a single elimination game with a goal kicking contest where the goalie is left guessing which way to dive before the ball is even kicked is one of the dumbest gimmicks in sports. The game is beautiful and full of subtleties that Americans don't get because they just want to see goals... well, until we move to the brute force portion of the game...

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Bearcat

Get rid of the shootout. Ending a single elimination game with a goal kicking contest where the goalie is left guessing which way to dive before the ball is even kicked is one of the dumbest gimmicks in sports. The game is beautiful and full of subtleties that Americans don't get because they just want to see goals... well, until we move to the brute force portion of the game...

What other options do they have if not shoot outs? It's way better than a coin toss.

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by Frankie

Not fix. Improve.

Most of these things would do nothing to improve the game though.

Technology and retroactive punishment, whatever. At that point you're dealing with new ways to enforce existing rules. I can debate those, as will any soccer fan.

But unlimited subs? Friendlies are always played with relaxed sub rules and they're normally ****ing miserable to watch.

Being able to sub out players and back in? Why? Games would be shit. A team would score a goal, and immediately bunker like we've never seen before.

No offsides? Goalie wars! Although this could help the US, since we enjoy booting the ball to ****ing nowhere and hoping someone finds it.

It's nothing against anyone; I can kind of see the reasoning behind these suggestions. But nearly all of them cry out as being from someone that has never watched much soccer, let alone appreciate the game.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by WoodDraw

It's nothing against anyone; I can kind of see the reasoning behind these suggestions. But nearly all of them cry out as being from someone that has never watched much soccer, let alone appreciate the game.

You don't mean the suggestions by the thread starter do you? Because I know for a fact that he HAS played organized soccer (HS, college, and Junior pro team).

[loochy]

Originally Posted by Frankie

What other options do they have if not shoot outs? It's way better than a coin toss.

Actually I'm a fan of the way we did it in high school. We had a 35 yard dribble up/10 second shoot out 1 on 1 with the keeper. That actually gave the keeper a chance and it was much more entertaining.

[WoodDraw]

Originally Posted by Frankie

You don't mean the suggestions by the thread starter do you? Because I know for a fact that he HAS played organized soccer (HS, college, and Junior pro team).

I've talked soccer with you before, so I know you love and know the game. My points stand on the merits of the proposals I mentioned though.

[Frankie]

Please, FIFA, BAN THIS!

[Mr. Laz]

Frankie really doesn't want to know what we think they should fix


he should of included "soccer snobs/non-america opinions only please..."


cuz lets fact it he's doesn't give a rat's ass about the regular man opinion only people who want to "maintain the beauty of the game"

oh please ........

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by Laz

Frankie really doesn't want to know what we think they should fix


he should of included "soccer snobs/non-america opinions only please..."


cuz lets fact it he's doesn't give a rat's ass about the regular man opinion only people who want to "maintain the beauty of the game"

oh please ........

Ouch, Laz. Why?! You, of all people.

[ct]

Originally Posted by Frankie

1- Keep the three-sub rule for the duration of the game. Allow one extra substitution for over-time.

2- Allow unlimited substitution at halftime.

3- Join the 21st century with video technology. Replays don't have to be for every little dispute or questionable call. Just goals the are disallowed with near obvious bad calls or ref mistakes. Goals that are illegally stopped by D in a rather obvious infraction (remember US/Germany 2002). Use them also in Red-card situations. Kaka should never have been kicked out that last game.

4- Continuing the video tech theme, there should be cameras dedicated to the goal line (as in Tennis' line cameras) to show whether a ball is actually in as a goal or not.

5- Devise a way to severely punish cheap dives, even if it's after a post-match review. Red-card a blatant diver, after the review and make him ineligible for the next game. Better yet, the next two games. (example: the guy who grabbed his face and fell on the ground in 'excruciating' pain after Kaka feather-touched him in the chest.)

Ideas not yet included in the list since I'm not yet convinced:

A- One offside goal per game should be allowed using basically a team coupon?

B- Maybe having two refs each assigned to half a field?

Your thoughts, ideas and arguments not just welcome but encouraged. I will add the ones that convince me to the above list.

Discuss away.

Kinda late, but here goes...

I agree with extra sub in OT, but NOT unlimited subs at halftime or free flowing subs in game via Hockey. Call me soccersnob if you like, but the long duration stamina is too integral to what this game is about.

Video technogoly is a MUST in some form, but nothing like NFL replay stoppages, that will not work. I suggest a 'booth' official to do the replays in game, similar to final 2 minutes in NFL, but they must be short. A short pause on the field for key moments only, like close calls on goals, offsides, corner/goal kick decisions, inside/outside penalty area fouls would be accaptable for booth reviews. I mean look at how much time is wasted for fake injuries at various points in the game? Allowing 30 seconds for a booth review would be ok.

Speaking of fake injuries and flopping, I think the refs should call a foul as they deem them to occur, then resume play. Meanwhile, similar to baseball scoring, the booth official reviews the severity and issues, post-event and in-game, a yellow/red card, which is then announced via PA speaker. Further, if the booth official deems a flop has occured, issue a yellow card or warning to that player, just as if they had committed a foul. Of course if this occurs at an aforementioned critical point, e.g. penalty box foul, then it should be quickly reviewed immediately.

For goal line disputes the cyclopse thing from tennis for foot faults works pretty well.

Do NOT change offsides, at all. Just devise a better method to catch and/or correct the calls using video, and also leads to...

I like the 2nd side ref on either half. Interesting point somebody made with the EPL who tried and found the refs were even more hesitant, have to train well to overcome that, not sure how. Perhaps one side ref purposely stays back line of defense all game, and specifically focuses on offside traps/alignments.

Lookin forward to the Qtrs, some incredible matchups! Two of these matchups could very well be World Cup finals.

[Frankie]

Originally Posted by ct

I agree with extra sub in OT, but NOT unlimited subs at halftime or free flowing subs in game via Hockey. Call me soccersnob if you like, but the long duration stamina is too integral to what this game is about.

Your point about stamina is well taken. But the upside of the halftime subbing is that the games going into overtime will feature fresher legs and less drop of play quality. Also it allows more reserves to have a chance to play and be viable in the game instead of just sitting on the bench.

Originally Posted by ct

Speaking of fake injuries and flopping, I think the refs should call a foul as they deem them to occur, then resume play. Meanwhile, similar to baseball scoring, the booth official reviews the severity and issues, post-event and in-game, a yellow/red card, which is then announced via PA speaker. Further, if the booth official deems a flop has occured, issue a yellow card or warning to that player, just as if they had committed a foul. Of course if this occurs at an aforementioned critical point, e.g. penalty box foul, then it should be quickly reviewed immediately.

What do you think about post game red carding of the offender based on official review of the tapes. This should pretty much scare players from taking dives and acting.

Originally Posted by ct

Do NOT change offsides, at all. Just devise a better method to catch and/or correct the calls using video, and also leads to...

I'm actually totally down with that.

Originally Posted by ct

I like the 2nd side ref on either half. Interesting point somebody made with the EPL who tried and found the refs were even more hesitant, have to train well to overcome that, not sure how. Perhaps one side ref purposely stays back line of defense all game, and specifically focuses on offside traps/alignments.

Bottom line is better trained refs should be brought in. These refs seem like a bunch of amateurs.