2012-09-17, 14:36 | Link #4021 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Age: 41
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Quote:
It's a matter of culture shift indeed: since more players from Mediteranean countries and Latin America moved outside of their respective countries, that culture of simulating spread out like wild fire. In the 1990s, you wouldn't see too many players trying cheating on such a regular basis because the refs tolerated physical play more. Right now, FIFA and the refs don't have the balls to tolerate full-blooded tackles any more; it's almost a non-touch sport they are trying to sell as a product. |
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2012-09-17, 17:13 | Link #4022 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
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Quote:
FIFA tweaked the rules to get rid of the hard men, made defending more difficult to increase the scoring. It's no surprise that show ponies like Ronaldo and Messi are breaking ancient records. If things weren't bad enough, men like Murdoch have taken the peoples game from public channels and hid it on pay TV. Has the money made things better? Not really. Sure, there are nicer stadiums now, but ticket prices have gone through the roof. International football has become a joke, a dozen big brands clubs who are experts at selling an image merchandise to a global audience and scoop up all the top talent. The sport hasn't been this uncompetitive since the 1950s... /rant anyway, fortunately there are places around that still "get it". For example Union Berlin taking the piss at the fad of selling the stadium name to a sponsor: Always Ultra Arena |
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2012-09-17, 21:24 | Link #4023 | |
Spinning round and round~
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Age: 32
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I rarely see players try to stay on their feet after riding challenges. Players like Oxlade-Chamberlain are appreciated and a rarity these days because he may be young, yet I've seen him ride numerous challenges, and he probably could have won fouls for some of them. However, not sure how he manages to stay on his feet (incredible physical resistance, I'd say) and to be honest I'd love to see more youngsters play like he does. Back on to the subject of Welbeck; he's a crap player, according to United fans I know. They rate Hernandez higher. |
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2012-09-17, 23:17 | Link #4024 | |
Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Montreal, QC, Canada
Age: 41
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Quote:
As Bri mentioned, perhaps FIFA wants to sell a "cleaner" product by tweaking the rules to get rid of hard men, but I think it's wrong because many people love to see players who show fighting spirit out there. Since I grew up in a hockey culture, I guess that I love to see some fighting spirit in sports in general (BTW, even middle-class people in Canada love tough and/or hard-working guys in hockey). That's also probably why I became attracted to Manchester United and the English Premier League many years ago. The days when we had the likes of (Roy) Keane, Deschamps, Vieira, Gattuso, Stam, Adams, and other hard men in football were the best because superstars had no choice but to harden themselves too. Same for me about Welbeck. There are people who build hopes for him because he comes from the Manchester area, but I don't think he'll get better than Darren Bent or Emile Heskey when it comes about a career path. Welbeck is such a mess in his footwork inside the box; and his finishing... let's not talk about it. Meanwhile, Chicharito is starting to find his marks back again and deserves to be the number 3 striker in the pecking order. |
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2012-09-18, 01:34 | Link #4025 |
Shadow of Effilisi
Join Date: Oct 2011
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There should be a panel reviewing possibly deliberate simulations and dish out suspensions to the clear offenders. Right now the harshest possible punishment for simulation is a yellow card, and that happens very rarely. The award is so far greater than the risk that it makes perfect sense for players to simulate. To offset it, greater risk is the only way forward.
Too bad it will never happen. |
2012-09-18, 05:50 | Link #4026 |
Spinning round and round~
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Age: 32
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Everybody wants to see some fight and passion in players and going for full-on 50-50s are a part of the game that is appreciated because of the determination and spirit the players show for the cause of their team. The way referees deal with simulation is also inconsistent; you will see Bale (lolwut) surprisingly booked for diving twice last season, yet Welbeck gets away with this against Wigan.
The reasoning about simulation/diving is that sometimes referees just do not give fouls for blatant enough offences unless the player goes down, and that players have this mindset of "I have to go down to get the foul", especially near the opponent's penalty area. I personally scoff at that justification because it's only encouraging players to go down even more. @KiraYamatoFan: That's the reason why I feel Maradona is ahead of Messi - he had to resist challenges that outright tried to butcher and maim him, and still managed to emerge from the hard-men period as the best ever. Even Pelé, you could see the kind of disgusting challenges laid upon him during the 1966 World Cup. As for Welbeck, I never felt he added anything extra from United because he has average skill in almost everything except for good pace and tireless running. Most of his goals are easy and few are by instinct, unlike Hernandez. If anything, the lack of Rooney makes Welbeck look really average. |
2012-09-18, 07:55 | Link #4027 |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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The Champions League starts tonight, but neither StarHub nor SingTel have secured broadcasting rights. How do you feel about this?
Time to riot outside their headquarters at Raffles Place no? UPDATE : Looks like Singtel got the rights. They are supposed to be showing.
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Last edited by SaintessHeart; 2012-09-18 at 08:05. |
2012-09-18, 10:12 | Link #4029 |
NYAAAAHAAANNNNN~
Join Date: Nov 2007
Age: 35
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Note : I am still hanging here. Nobody knows if the contract went through or down under. Apparently they aren't airing tonight.......
EDIT : Confirmed. Singtel got the contract. But they are not airing anything but Real Madrid vs Man CIty and Montpellier vs Arsenal.
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Last edited by SaintessHeart; 2012-09-18 at 11:18. |
2012-09-18, 15:44 | Link #4032 | |
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
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I know most people here will start talking about Arsenal (surprisingly this forum has a high amount of gunners) but damn that match in Bernabéu...
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2012-09-18, 21:18 | Link #4035 |
Spinning round and round~
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Age: 32
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I just saw Ronaldo's goal. It's got vicious dip but Hart should really do better if he is to be an undisputed world-class player. I'm betting it'll be another high-scoring affair back at the Etihad Stadium.
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2012-09-23, 09:58 | Link #4036 |
I am a Boxer
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Where hot girls are fighting!
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AC. Milan lost also today i can't stand anymore .......................
Someone please help my AC. Milan.. Mesbha in 90m no one cross was right...no one..i can't believe i have to see something like this..i am more stronger than him damn haaaaaaaa!!!!! F***** Galliani and Berlusconi.
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2012-09-23, 10:41 | Link #4037 | |
✘˵╹◡╹˶✘
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Australia
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Quote:
In my case, my team was royally screwed over by the referee, and knowing how corrupted FA always react, there's no change for improvement. I means in what sport apart 'soccer', where referee can change scoreline through penalties kicks and give out number advantage (through red card) to one team over their 'hunch'? Then the club, the players, even the fans can't voice opinions or challenge ref without getting trouble by the dictatorship of those football organization. Here is one of the challenge that ruined the game, with players in red got red card for 2-foots(?) challenge) Great if your team was granted the advantage. Not so if yours are not. This 'thing' does not classified as sport for me. Luckily that i already gradually stopped watching soccer and get down to only follow the results now. Horrible sport to follow.
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2012-09-24, 04:00 | Link #4038 |
Spinning round and round~
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Age: 32
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Great point away at the Etihad, we really dominated them on their garden, but made a hash of it with one badly-defended set-piece.
Cazorla's just brilliant, every game he makes things happen. Jenkinson with his greatest ever game so far of his young career, and Per Mertesacker a rock at the back. Kos the Boss marked his first start of the season with our equaliser, what an effort! Lescott scored one and gave the ball away to Koscielny for his. About the tackle between Shelvey and Evans, I'd just like to say a word in fairness, as a neutral: The one who made contact first gets the red in this situation. Shelvey's studs clearly went into Evans' shin first; it didn't even matter that both of them were probably going in two-footed on a 50-50 challenge. Had both players emerged hurt, the right decision would be to send off both of them for dangerous play. |
2012-09-24, 15:21 | Link #4039 | |
Mama there goes that man!
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: UK
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Quote:
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2012-09-24, 22:05 | Link #4040 |
Spinning round and round~
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Singapore
Age: 32
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Indeed. Koscielny is just about there and in another year or two, might be considered world-class. His anticipation of danger and his pace is just fantastic but he'd do good to cut out risky challenges in the box. Although, it is his first start in a long while. Probably rusty. That clearance and challenge on Aguero gave me chills.
We were also often criticised for not taking long-range shots when there clearly was an opportunity to. Now, that should be out the window because Santi's ability from range has already tested some goalkeepers. |
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football, soccer |
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