Comments on: Fulham v Man Utd: Preview http://redrants.com/fulham-v-man-utd-preview/ Manchester United Blog Wed, 23 May 2012 20:39:40 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Grognard http://redrants.com/fulham-v-man-utd-preview/comment-page-3/#comment-11009 Grognard Tue, 04 Mar 2008 17:15:17 +0000 http://redrants.com/fulham-v-man-utd-preview/#comment-11009 The money and the prestige with winning in the CL is immense. That at to the pressure to win or move forward at all costs. This creates caution and negativity. Yes other leagues have it but football and it's governing powers need to correct the problem, especially in it's largest and most prestigious international tournaments like the CL, World Cup, and European Championships. In South America where the money is not as big the problem is not as widespread. They still try to score goals over there. The last Copa for example was a goal feast. I too like and appreciate a good and tense low scoring battle. But not if it is so stifling and negative that you can see it go on forever without a goal. In North America the game of pro hockey was suffering from the very same negative problems I have been mentioning. For 12 years the game was getting faster, bigger but harder to score and many of the talented players were no longer able show off their skills because of the increased physicality as well as the defensive systems in place, especially one designed to stop fast flowing breakouts known as the Neutral Zone Trap. Add to this goaltender equipment that was so large that it took away space for players to shoot at goal. Over the last three years the NHL and hockey in general have worked hard to get rid of a lot of these negative influences in the game. Rule changes in penalties, equipment restrictions and style of play have been introduced and they have helped, but more is still needed. Football needs a lot of fixing up to. Give the game back to the Messi's, Ronaldo's, Ronaldinho's and Riquelme's, and not the Rafa's, Terry's and bottom feeder managers who will set up 10 men in their box to defend at all costs. The game is riddled with cowardice. I say this as a North American and so your comment on culture clash is very valid. But what or who is to say that North American demands for bravery and an offensive approach to sports is wrong. I'd rather watch a World Cup final like 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1986 rather than 1990, 1994 and 2006, Need I mention the problem with the history of the European Cup and all its 1-0 finals. Free the game up again so that it's beauty flourishes. The money and the prestige with winning in the CL is immense. That at to the pressure to win or move forward at all costs. This creates caution and negativity. Yes other leagues have it but football and it’s governing powers need to correct the problem, especially in it’s largest and most prestigious international tournaments like the CL, World Cup, and European Championships. In South America where the money is not as big the problem is not as widespread. They still try to score goals over there. The last Copa for example was a goal feast.

I too like and appreciate a good and tense low scoring battle. But not if it is so stifling and negative that you can see it go on forever without a goal. In North America the game of pro hockey was suffering from the very same negative problems I have been mentioning. For 12 years the game was getting faster, bigger but harder to score and many of the talented players were no longer able show off their skills because of the increased physicality as well as the defensive systems in place, especially one designed to stop fast flowing breakouts known as the Neutral Zone Trap. Add to this goaltender equipment that was so large that it took away space for players to shoot at goal. Over the last three years the NHL and hockey in general have worked hard to get rid of a lot of these negative influences in the game. Rule changes in penalties, equipment restrictions and style of play have been introduced and they have helped, but more is still needed. Football needs a lot of fixing up to. Give the game back to the Messi’s, Ronaldo’s, Ronaldinho’s and Riquelme’s, and not the Rafa’s, Terry’s and bottom feeder managers who will set up 10 men in their box to defend at all costs. The game is riddled with cowardice. I say this as a North American and so your comment on culture clash is very valid. But what or who is to say that North American demands for bravery and an offensive approach to sports is wrong. I’d rather watch a World Cup final like 1966, 1970, 1974 and 1986 rather than 1990, 1994 and 2006, Need I mention the problem with the history of the European Cup and all its 1-0 finals. Free the game up again so that it’s beauty flourishes.

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]]> By: JB http://redrants.com/fulham-v-man-utd-preview/comment-page-3/#comment-10994 JB Tue, 04 Mar 2008 09:05:26 +0000 http://redrants.com/fulham-v-man-utd-preview/#comment-10994 You are right that the money involved in the CL can make managers defensive in the group stages. However as I said earlier it isn’t a CL exclusive issue. The Premiership has the exact same problem in that regards, so it is a bit unfair to hammer the CL for it. As for the changes in the points scoring for goals, it’s a nice idea in theory, but not one I would go for. I am not a big fan of fiddling with sports basic rules to try and make it more exciting, it makes the whole thing seem hollower to me. I am a big Formula One fan but I hate the constant twiddling about with rules in an effort to make the sport more appealing. If it isn’t a sweeping generalization, may it be a case of a culture clash? Europeans always have seemed more content with low scoring in sporting activities in comparison to North Americans. I like plenty of goals, but if loads of games were ending up 3-2, 4-3 etc, it would lessen the appeal for me and cheapen the value of the ‘real’ classic games. You are right that the money involved in the CL can make managers defensive in the group stages. However as I said earlier it isn’t a CL exclusive issue. The Premiership has the exact same problem in that regards, so it is a bit unfair to hammer the CL for it.

As for the changes in the points scoring for goals, it’s a nice idea in theory, but not one I would go for. I am not a big fan of fiddling with sports basic rules to try and make it more exciting, it makes the whole thing seem hollower to me. I am a big Formula One fan but I hate the constant twiddling about with rules in an effort to make the sport more appealing.

If it isn’t a sweeping generalization, may it be a case of a culture clash? Europeans always have seemed more content with low scoring in sporting activities in comparison to North Americans. I like plenty of goals, but if loads of games were ending up 3-2, 4-3 etc, it would lessen the appeal for me and cheapen the value of the ‘real’ classic games.

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