VAR and Soccer Saturday

[insider]

You said, and I quote: "If the original Laws were brought back and applied as they should be then the game would be in a far better state."

The laws of the game 30 years ago were not the original laws, obviously.

It comes as no surprise whatsoever that you believe things were better 30 years ago during what you regard as 'your' era and that time should have stood still since then. That's a trait of so many men of your age and of my age too. It is, of course, a daft notion.

In my opinion, the changes to the offside laws have generally benefitted the game, as have keepers not being able to pick up back passes, while other minor tweaks such as the ball being able to go backwards from a kick-off and three substitutes being available rather than one or two are sensible rather than problematic, and goal line technology is a definite and clear benefit.

VAR is rubbish though, as is the new handball rule.

What are your thoughts on the goalkeeper being able to pass a goal kick inside the box?
It seems to contradict the back pass rule to me in as much it just wastes time and adds nothing to the game.

[lardy]

What are your thoughts on the goalkeeper being able to pass a goal kick inside the box?
It seems to contradict the back pass rule to me in as much it just wastes time and adds nothing to the game.

How does it waste time? Teams can do exactly the same tactic as before but have a bit more space to do it in.

[The Lone Gunman]

What are your thoughts on the goalkeeper being able to pass a goal kick inside the box?
It seems to contradict the back pass rule to me in as much it just wastes time and adds nothing to the game.

I agree it adds nothing to the game. It seems a really odd change as I don't know what was perceived to be the problem in the first place. It benefitted City against Huddersfield, though. I couldn't believe how often they were trying to pass the ball around their own penalty area from goal kicks. It was just idiotic on their part as it was so easy for the City lads to quickly close them down and put them in trouble.

[Father Dougal]

I agree it adds nothing to the game. It seems a really odd change as I don't know what was perceived to be the problem in the first place. It benefitted City against Huddersfield, though. I couldn't believe how often they were trying to pass the ball around their own penalty area from goal kicks. It was just idiotic on their part as it was so easy for the City lads to quickly close them down and put them in trouble.

Yes almost as it’s a nice shiny new law some teams feel they should take ‘advantage’ of it.

I think you are correct in that it will benefit teams like Cardiff who will likely never use it than teams who will.

[splott parker]

I agree it adds nothing to the game. It seems a really odd change as I don't know what was perceived to be the problem in the first place. It benefitted City against Huddersfield, though. I couldn't believe how often they were trying to pass the ball around their own penalty area from goal kicks. It was just idiotic on their part as it was so easy for the City lads to quickly close them down and put them in trouble.

I can’t see the point of the new goal kick law, goalies have very often in the past had the ball at their feet in the six yard box during open play yet it was very rare that a defender would run back to receive a two yard pass from him. I know from the goal kick the attackers have to be outside the box but they’re still close enough to create pressure. Teams like Huddersfield, thinking that they’re better footballers than they are, are committing suicide doing it. Oh for someone like a young Craig Bellamy in these situations, he’d have had Huddersfield’s pants down every time. As for Fulham using it the other night, I wasn’t sure what type of football was more mind numbing, our hit and hope or their two centre backs playing keep ball deep in their half.

[lardy]

I can’t see the point of the new goal kick law, goalies have very often in the past had the ball at their feet in the six yard box during open play yet it was very rare that a defender would run back to receive a two yard pass from him. I know from the goal kick the attackers have to be outside the box but they’re still close enough to create pressure. Teams like Huddersfield, thinking that they’re better footballers than they are, are committing suicide doing it. Oh for someone like a young Craig Bellamy in these situations, he’d have had Huddersfield’s pants down every time. As for Fulham using it the other night, I wasn’t sure what type of football was more mind numbing, our hit and hope or their two centre backs playing keep ball deep in their half.

As a tactic, I think it's silly for all but the top teams who have ball players at the back. As a rule change, it's fine.

[Pedro de la Rosa]

I agree it adds nothing to the game. It seems a really odd change as I don't know what was perceived to be the problem in the first place. It benefitted City against Huddersfield, though. I couldn't believe how often they were trying to pass the ball around their own penalty area from goal kicks. It was just idiotic on their part as it was so easy for the City lads to quickly close them down and put them in trouble.

The problem was that there was no punishment for receiving the ball inside the box, it was simply a retake. So if the keeper played a sloppy pass, the defender could step in and retake the goal kick, stopping the attacker from nipping in and scoring.

The handball rule though, is an absolute p*sstake. I was at a league meeting discussing the new rules and the lead ref (refereed in EFL for 10+ seasons) who was running the training described it as "people making decisions for the sake of making decisions".