It signals the start of the new season and gives us a first look at two of the top sides. City have contested the last 3 editions of the shield and lost the last 3 editions of the shield. So, it really means nothing, as they have won the last 3 editions of the EPL.
Losing the shield match is no biggie. Last season's shield match saw Liverpool beat City 3-1. The more stupid scousers took to Twitter after the game to gloat at Haaland missing 2 sitters and boasting that Nuñez was the better signing. How'd that go? Basically, you can't read too much into the game, it is only a small indicator of form. Arsenal won this year's edition. Well done to them. I am looking forward to watching them play again this season, they were classy last time out and have improved the squad. I hope they do well. However, the more interesting aspect of Sunday's game was the introduction of the new rules for refs, staff and players.
Firstly, games are going to last longer. A report into EPL games last season noted that the ball was in play for only 55 minutes out of the 90. So, going forward more added time will be played. We got a glimpse of this at last winter's World Cup. Time was always added for substitutions, but now time will also be added for goal celebrations. Players who exaggerate injury to waste time will have to wait an extra 30 seconds before being allowed to rejoin the match in an effort to try to deter this form of time wasting. Players will also be carded for kicking the ball away. As was witnessed in Sunday's game. We also saw Arteta getting a yellow card for aggressive behaviour towards match officials, and we can expect to see more of it this season. There will also be tighter restrictions on managers leaving their technical areas and what staff may enter the technical area, and who may approach the 4th official. And lastly, we will see players being carded more often for crowding the ref to remonstrate a decision.
All-in-all I believe that Howard Webb is right in introducing these changes. Too much time is being wasted by players kicking the ball away and feigning or exaggerating injury. And too many times the players are getting in the face of refs to argue a decision. The Refs' body has said that these behaviours are translating to the amateur game and resulting in a shortage of refs as they fail to control games and face growing aggression. I'm also fed up with managers losing their shit on the side lines. A little more decorum from our managers is long overdue. The sight of Jose Mourinho attacking Anthony Taylor after last season's Europa League Final was a new low from the ex-special one.
Firstly, games are going to last longer. A report into EPL games last season noted that the ball was in play for only 55 minutes out of the 90. So, going forward more added time will be played. We got a glimpse of this at last winter's World Cup. Time was always added for substitutions, but now time will also be added for goal celebrations. Players who exaggerate injury to waste time will have to wait an extra 30 seconds before being allowed to rejoin the match in an effort to try to deter this form of time wasting. Players will also be carded for kicking the ball away. As was witnessed in Sunday's game. We also saw Arteta getting a yellow card for aggressive behaviour towards match officials, and we can expect to see more of it this season. There will also be tighter restrictions on managers leaving their technical areas and what staff may enter the technical area, and who may approach the 4th official. And lastly, we will see players being carded more often for crowding the ref to remonstrate a decision.
All-in-all I believe that Howard Webb is right in introducing these changes. Too much time is being wasted by players kicking the ball away and feigning or exaggerating injury. And too many times the players are getting in the face of refs to argue a decision. The Refs' body has said that these behaviours are translating to the amateur game and resulting in a shortage of refs as they fail to control games and face growing aggression. I'm also fed up with managers losing their shit on the side lines. A little more decorum from our managers is long overdue. The sight of Jose Mourinho attacking Anthony Taylor after last season's Europa League Final was a new low from the ex-special one.
The one criticism I do have is that neither players nor coaches were consulted in the decision to lengthen matches. Pep argued this point in the presser after Sunday's game. The authorities are introducing more and more games to the season and now are lengthening the games to 100 minutes or more. Surely some consultation should be done with those it affects most. Although anything that makes the game flow and reduces bad behaviour from players and staff is to be lauded. With his focus on improving VAR and making reffing more transparent, I think Howard Webb is a breath of fresh air in the game. More power to his elbow.
All eyes now look to Friday night and the first match of the new season as City travel to Burnley.
Here we go again!
All eyes now look to Friday night and the first match of the new season as City travel to Burnley.
Here we go again!
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| Peter Anderson is a Unionist with a keen interest in sports |
This isn't even football, it is a monopolly game which involves a club involving football players. The true name of what the arseholes today call the "Community Shield" is the "FA Charity Shield"!
ReplyDeleteJust to join in on this farce where our game has been stollen, perfectly legally, by oil rich nations and local multi billionaires, how long before we see the first "billion pound" player? Are the governments getting the inflation figures right? Just another pack of manipulated figures and lies!
It will, all the same, be interesting to see the battle between the red and blue of Manchester this coming season. Not the red and blue I, and older United and City fans, grew up with but interesting all the same. Must get the calculator out and work out the profit margins because, after all, that comes first, doesn't it??
Caoimhin O'Muraile