AuthorSports Billy As much as we love the beautiful game here at the Football Outcasts, there are many aspects of the modern game that grate and at times make it difficult to enjoy the game we all know and love. Having given some of our biggest gripes some thought over the last few weeks, below are list of our biggest hates and how we – the Football Outcasts – would go about improving the sport when we are inevitably asked to head FIFA! The Premier League: Why is it that football appears to only start from 1992 when the Premier League was given its name? Football was around before that. All the teams were there and the same. The league structure was there and pretty much the same. The fundamental rules of football were pretty much the same. Just because it got a new name and trophy to hand out, and football became more accessible on the telly, doesn’t mean that the previous 100+ years of history and statistics are to be forgotten and dismissed. The Premier League is essentially just a new name for the old Division 1, so treat it as such. This goes for the UCL too, there was European cups before! I don’t want to hear phrases such as “hes the highest scorer in Premier League history” as that doesn’t mean too much – the leagues only 25 years old. It would be more impressive if we heard things like “he’s the highest scorer ever in English top flight football”. That means something as it has scale and pedigree. Please stop forgetting football pre-’92. The League Cup: Do we need it? Personally, I like it, but the way Premier League sides treat it, and the way the league itself keeps meddling with it, would suggest that it could probably be done away with. Other top flight leagues in Europe only have one cup to focus on, so doing away with it would be one less reason to hear top flight managers moan about squad size, the need for a Christmas break, and changing their minds on whether it’s a “proper trophy” or not (Jose, I am looking at you!). Technology in the game: Goal line technology? Yes, seems to work and outcomes are quick, although it is removing the age old argument in pubs and living rooms around the world about “was it or wasn’t it over the line”. Video Assistant Referees? No, not needed, get rid as early trials are proving long winded and causing more issues than the one(s) that they are trying to solve! We chatted about this in our podcast a few weeks ago; it’s just not working at the moment. Football has existed for a very long time without modern technology such as the aforementioned methods being required, and it’s functioned just fine. As the old saying goes, if it aint broke, don’t fix it. My main fear with all this creeping tech that’s coming in to the game is where does it stop? This is the thin end of the wedge in my opinion. The A League is currently trialled the use of VAR and we are yet to see it used to its desired effect. The European Championships: Revert back to the old 16 set competition set up. Yes, the newer format allows more teams to qualify, especially the smaller nations, but by doing this the quality has been diluted somewhat. The Euro’s when it was just 16 sides was a tough competition to win as all sides were good sides. This meant it was one of the best international competitions to watch as you knew you were watching the best of the best in Europe fighting it out. Ok we admit this is a bit of a rant but sometimes you need to air your grievances. There are so many more, we have touched on the World Cup expansion, or the way refs are treated or Toms major problem - changing football times to suit the TV viewers! What do you think, what's the biggest issue with football right now and how would you solve it? Image: www.bbc.co.uk
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June 2018
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