Last week a radical addition to the world’s most popular game was outlined for the English league. Chairman of the league Lord Mawhinney suggested plans to introduce shoot-outs to allocate a bonus point at the end of a drawn league game.
For a start people called Lord Mawhinney have no place in football. Especially if all they spout is ridiculous crackpot ideas they have come up with after too much brandy up the country club.
I mean, what next? A shot clock? Multi-ball power plays? Exploding balls?
The game has sustained its popularity for this long, it doesn’t need suggestions like this just so people like Lord Mawhinney can justify claiming an unneeded wage each month.
The shootout method was unsuccessfully introduced in the US in the 70s and the J-league also tried and failed with the same idea. Not to mention as an Englishman the thought of extra penalties to endure is not appealing prospect.
Anyone who witnessed the recent 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Real Madrid was unlikely to be disappointed by the entertainment value.
Just when I didn’t think Lord Mawhinney could fall any lower in my estimations he made the comment: "We decided to use this proposal to have a broader look at a range of ideas that might refresh our product."
"Our product". Football is not theirs and is not a product. However people like Lord Mawhinney are still at the helm of the game’s decision-making.
On a local note, if such an established league as the one in England is considering this move, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the A-league bigwigs mull a similar shift.
The A-league already enforces a final play-off between the top four, a method unused in Europe's major leagues. The A-league is keen to attract crowds so don’t be surprised to see a few "out there" ideas pitched to spruce up attendances.
We don’t need Americanised penalty shoot-outs. Football is a pretty simple game, that’s half the beauty of it.
For a start people called Lord Mawhinney have no place in football. Especially if all they spout is ridiculous crackpot ideas they have come up with after too much brandy up the country club.
I mean, what next? A shot clock? Multi-ball power plays? Exploding balls?
The game has sustained its popularity for this long, it doesn’t need suggestions like this just so people like Lord Mawhinney can justify claiming an unneeded wage each month.
The shootout method was unsuccessfully introduced in the US in the 70s and the J-league also tried and failed with the same idea. Not to mention as an Englishman the thought of extra penalties to endure is not appealing prospect.
Anyone who witnessed the recent 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Real Madrid was unlikely to be disappointed by the entertainment value.
Just when I didn’t think Lord Mawhinney could fall any lower in my estimations he made the comment: "We decided to use this proposal to have a broader look at a range of ideas that might refresh our product."
"Our product". Football is not theirs and is not a product. However people like Lord Mawhinney are still at the helm of the game’s decision-making.
On a local note, if such an established league as the one in England is considering this move, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the A-league bigwigs mull a similar shift.
The A-league already enforces a final play-off between the top four, a method unused in Europe's major leagues. The A-league is keen to attract crowds so don’t be surprised to see a few "out there" ideas pitched to spruce up attendances.
We don’t need Americanised penalty shoot-outs. Football is a pretty simple game, that’s half the beauty of it.
