The World Cup and soceer's slipping standards

[sundaymorningstaple]

Well, I don't like the game either. But that's only because I don't like the game. Each to their own I guess. (Before anybody says it, I don't like American football either).

American Football - The hooligans are on the field
European Soccer - The hooligans are in the stands

[nakatago]

as popular as it is, some people just don't like it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f27IqVo5-Oc

hmm, time for this thread to move out of the "strictly speaking" section, don't you think?

[anneteoh]

as popular as it is, some people just don't like it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f27IqVo5-Oc

hmm, time for this thread to move out of the "strictly speaking" section, don't you think?

This thread allows eveyone to express their passionate views about a game which perhaps, since it's from England, brings with it notions of class and culture; but more so, it strikes at any indescribable passion we might harbour and perhaps not be aware of. Strictly speaking, it might unravel some deeper mysteries in ourselves or notions we have of our worlds - and that is a quality money can't buy. If wealth and the possession of it was the goal in the 18 th century ( utilitarianism ), then - and esp after the recent failure of greed in the 21 century, kindness and spirituality can be developed.

In fact, I was damned glad when you guys came into the discussion about a world obsession. We were at the point where most of you recognise that there are eye sores of blatant cheating on the field on screen and that the game must improve its standard on fair play. That's all that matters. The rest is clap trap , but it's a kind of verbal jousting the English and French media like to engage in, in fact, people all over the world have notions of class, background, caste etc - this should be discussed so we can laugh about our pretensions . Whatever you associate with is just an illusion. LOL

Personally, I was anti-football initially, just as a reaction against all that hooliganism, as pointed out by SMS and JR8 - remember the Liverpool crash and the death of several fans? But football fever stays high - in Italy, the bus driver was so obsessed, just in football talk, that he'd be still laughing if he hit a tree.
The social behaviour of football fans have improved since the 1980s though the stigma of hooliganism's still around. If football's meant to be taken seriously by the world, it has to have its worth. No one wants to be fooled by the cheating antics of some players who can get away with scoring goals because the referees are incompetent or lax.

Like the democratic system in the UK, old and defunct structures set up hundreds of years ago must be changed. As technology advances, humans must use it to improve their primitive conditions. We don't want football to stay a primitive game - it might just boil down to physical antics in the end.

Footballers and fans have to know what they expect of the goalies, players, coaches and referees. There's a lot caught on cameras ( French dispute with coach and withdrawal from game ) that yell for our attention to raise the standard. What is a win must be scaored only by fair play. Any fouls must cancel that. Why do you think the teams stand by their national anthems?

[JR8]

Let me take a wild guess, you're a ruggaar fan?

No, a scuba diving fan actually.

Do you know how to spell by the way? lol

[JayCee]

Let me take a wild guess, you're a ruggaar fan?

No, a scuba diving fan actually.

Do you know how to spell by the way? lol

Scuba diving, I thought we were talking about a sport that more then 3 people like

Yes I know how to spell Rugby quite well thank you, clearly the joke was lost on you. Maybe the water in your ears is clouding your thoughts

[JayCee]

We don't want football to stay a primitive game

Yes we do.

What we don't want is it being Americanised, with a game that should take 90 minutes being stretched to 4 hours because of endless tv reviews, ad breaks every 5 seconds, and the game being split into quarters with play-offs at the end of every season even if a team wins the league by 20 points. And we don't want people who don't have the first idea about it telling us how it should be changed, if it ain't broke (and it ain't) don't fix it.

That's what we don't want.

[anneteoh]

Yeah I have to agree.
I'm not into football, it being a chav/pikey sport: haven't watched a whole game in my 4 odd decades hereabouts. Though I do try every 4 years or so, to watch some of the world cup... that said, this week is the first football I have seen in a decade.

I agree with you AT. The sportmanship (lack of) is horrific. The cheating, the perpetual fouling, the feigning injuries... damn they are all as bad as each other it seems. It seems that any time I grab five minutes of a match I am reminded why football is so base, socially toxic, and not something I want to be associated with.

This looks like a race between passion and sportsmanship, JR8 and Februs.

I was glad about the revolution in China though not the blood letting. Imagine an equal society where everyone - from doctors to scavengers get the same pay? It didn't work, sadly. What's in this craze for football - is it the media hype, the money ( British players earn 10,000 pounds a week, the Algerians earn 37 pounds a week), idolatry or the game and its event? It's everything , I guess. If football is one human passion to unite a fragmented world, support it, I'd say. But what are we supporting?

Hum... don't we love a classless society? Football's gone through a little silent revolution in the Uk for the better but passion must balance with reason, I'd say.

[februus]

We don't want football to stay a primitive game - it might just boil down to physical antics in the end.

Who exactly is this "we". You admitted yourself you aren't really into football and frankly I find it hard to accept that someone who thinks there are 24 players on a football pitch are part of the same "we" as actual match going supporters

[anneteoh]

We don't want football to stay a primitive game

Yes we do.

What we don't want is it being Americanised, with a game that should take 90 minutes being stretched to 4 hours because of endless tv reviews, ad breaks every 5 seconds, and the game being split into quarters with play-offs at the end of every season even if a team wins the league by 20 points. And we don't want people who don't have the first idea about it telling us how it should be changed, if it ain't broke (and it ain't) don't fix it.

That's what we don't want.

Obviously not. It's giving me a headache just to read your replay.

What I suggested was that after the game and before the final scores are given out, there should be a review screeplayed . There's no stoppage time given for this as it'll take place after the match and the initial results given. Everything carries on as it is now - there'll be no interruptions during the all important game, but professional judgement, with technical accuracy, can be finalised after the game.

In fact, you could have a committee watching the screen whilst the game's being played so that the final results just needed to be confirmed, perhaps minutes after the game ends.
Whilst waiting for the ofiicial results, the teams can sign autographs or chat with each other.

[JayCee]

We don't want football to stay a primitive game

Yes we do.

What we don't want is it being Americanised, with a game that should take 90 minutes being stretched to 4 hours because of endless tv reviews, ad breaks every 5 seconds, and the game being split into quarters with play-offs at the end of every season even if a team wins the league by 20 points. And we don't want people who don't have the first idea about it telling us how it should be changed, if it ain't broke (and it ain't) don't fix it.

That's what we don't want.

Obviously not. It's giving me a headache just to read your replay.

What I suggested was that after the game and before the final scores are given out, there should be a review screeplayed . There's no stoppage time given for this as it'll take place after the match and the initial results given. Everything carries on as it is now - there'll be no interruptions during the all important game, but professional judgement, with technical accuracy, can be finalised after the game.

In fact, you could have a committee watching the screen whilst the game's being played so that the final results just needed to be confirmed, perhaps minutes after the game ends.
Whilst waiting for the ofiicial results, the teams can sign autographs or chat with each other.

You're not actually serious are you? Come on you can admit it now that you're just on the windup, no-one could seriously believe that at the end of the game reviewing what happened and maybe changing the result based on that is a good idea, that's just ridiculous

[anneteoh]

We don't want football to stay a primitive game - it might just boil down to physical antics in the end.

Who exactly is this "we". You admitted yourself you aren't really into football and frankly I find it hard to accept that someone who thinks there are 24 players on a football pitch are part of the same "we" as actual match going supporters

We is a reference to those in the public.

No, I'm not a fanatic of football , or any other thing for that matter. And I watch the teams only from countries I'm interested in. But my interest in it as a sport in the world cup, played in the way people understand sport to be, is keen. Aren't there 24 players, including the goalies? And thanks for being so begrudging and unhelpful.
Are you saying not everyone can watch football and have opinions about the world cup game?
Whatever made you think I classify myself as a fan? I don't even suscribe to support any one group. I'd only meant to respect your passion but if you're flaunting that and trying to be possessive, you can have the ball to yourself, man. Forget about it ever being a fair game.

The Gang of Four hated intellectuals if there's a clue to go by. LOL

[JR8]

Hum... don't we love a classless society? .

Where does one exist, pray tell?


It is amusing how a poster criticises football, and suddenly, like a swarm of locusts people descend with garish insinuations about the critics background and hobbies. Look in the mirror you football fans at how you behave... and don't be too surprised how many people regard you and the sport with disdain...

[anneteoh]

Hum... don't we love a classless society? .

Where does one exist, pray tell?


It is amusing how a poster criticises football, and suddenly, like a swarm of locusts people descend with garish insinuations about the critics background and hobbies. Look in the mirror you football fans at how you behave... and don't be too surprised how many people regard you and the sport with disdain...

JR8, you're becoming an armour- plated iron-masked warrior. Thanks for being the knight. You're welcome to Arthur's roundtable. LOL
Look for the ley lines. In the 60s, 70s for me, well among the flower power folks and in the 50s, 60s China.

They were time framed phenomenon perhaps, but the principles live on.

[anneteoh]

We don't want football to stay a primitive game - it might just boil down to physical antics in the end.

Who exactly is this "we". You admitted yourself you aren't really into football and frankly I find it hard to accept that someone who thinks there are 24 players on a football pitch are part of the same "we" as actual match going supporters

You're right to fume, perhaps in disgust! I do have a tendency to overlook the small prints. The correct number's 22.

[februus]

Are you saying not everyone can watch football and have opinions about the world cup game?

hmmm see my post earlier, anyone can have an opinion and they are welcome to it, its simply that johnny come lately's opinion who really knows very little about our game matters less in my book.