2018 World Cup

[dbackjon]

Two words: Expandable nets!

After regulation, expand the nets outward one foot each side and 6 inches at the top (or Metric equiv). After 5 minutes, add another foot each side, 6 " up top.

[CAA Flagship]

Two words: Expandable nets!

After regulation, expand the nets outward one foot each side and 6 inches at the top (or Metric equiv). After 5 minutes, add another foot each side, 6 " up top.

I have said the goals need to be expanded anyway. The goalies are far more bigger and athletic than 30 years ago. Keep expanding them until you average 5 goals per game (total).
About 2.6 goals per game thus far in 2018 WC.

[89Hen]

While I'm for change, I'm not for changing the whole sport.

It's not changing it that much. It's just limiting the defense and opening up scoring chances. The 3 players that are limited to the offensive end can't help clog up the defensive end. The three guys that are limited to the defensive end rarely cross midfield anyway. I think the only thing you have to do is create a 20 yard zone in the middle of the field where offsides can't be called. That would help in the transition.

I think it is. You're completely changing the offsides rules and making new rules up for OT. I would be VERY against a hockey OT where you got rid of the blue lines, or forced players to only play half the ice. NHL regular season OT is awesome because the only rule you've changed is how many players a team can have on the ice. All other rules stay in effect.

[∞∞∞]

Back to the World Cup. What a meltdown by Japan. Or what a comeback by Belgium.

This has been the most dramatic WC ever.

[89Hen]

I guess it doesn't happen often in WC play, but I would definitely not award a point to either team for a 0-0 tie.

[BDKJMU]

No reason the top level of soccer can't.

Traditional soccer fans actually take pride in how stupid the rules are and how angry non-soccer fans get about them.

And once every 4 years the non soccer fans in the US can go back to not watching soccer, with all its retarded rules, for another 4 years.

[CAA Flagship]

It's not changing it that much. It's just limiting the defense and opening up scoring chances. The 3 players that are limited to the offensive end can't help clog up the defensive end. The three guys that are limited to the defensive end rarely cross midfield anyway. I think the only thing you have to do is create a 20 yard zone in the middle of the field where offsides can't be called. That would help in the transition.

I think it is. You're completely changing the offsides rules and making new rules up for OT. I would be VERY against a hockey OT where you got rid of the blue lines, or forced players to only play half the ice. NHL regular season OT is awesome because the only rule you've changed is how many players a team can have on the ice. All other rules stay in effect.

But hockey is different in that the rink is much smaller and substitutions can be made on the fly. The field is just too big in soccer and the defense always has at least a three man advantage on goal threats in normal play (assuming the opposing goalie and two defensemen are not taking a shot on goal). Reducing the number of players on the field does not eliminate the 3 man advantage. Limiting players to half the field would even the offense/defense numbers and create better scoring chances.
The offsides change would only be altered in the middle of the field so you can work the ball across the mid-field line without the defenders standing at the line and limiting you to just a couple of feet (allows them some room to come back to a pass).

[∞∞∞]

Traditional soccer fans actually take pride in how stupid the rules are and how angry non-soccer fans get about them.

And once every 4 years the non soccer fans in the US can go back to not watching soccer, with all its retarded rules, for another 4 years.

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

[Rob Iola]

It's not changing it that much. It's just limiting the defense and opening up scoring chances. The 3 players that are limited to the offensive end can't help clog up the defensive end. The three guys that are limited to the defensive end rarely cross midfield anyway. I think the only thing you have to do is create a 20 yard zone in the middle of the field where offsides can't be called. That would help in the transition.

I think it is. You're completely changing the offsides rules and making new rules up for OT. I would be VERY against a hockey OT where you got rid of the blue lines, or forced players to only play half the ice. NHL regular season OT is awesome because the only rule you've changed is how many players a team can have on the ice. All other rules stay in effect.

A thousand times this - 3 v 3 OT is the best thing the NHL's done in a long time. I could see soccer doing something similar, where ET is played 9 x 9. KFTM is a compelling finish only from the standpoint of watching dead-tired field players try not to F-up what should be an almost automatic goal on a global stage.

[CAA Flagship]

And once every 4 years the non soccer fans in the US can go back to not watching soccer, with all its retarded rules, for another 4 years.

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

I think the World Series of Poker has more viewers.

[BDKJMU]

And once every 4 years the non soccer fans in the US can go back to not watching soccer, with all its retarded rules, for another 4 years.

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

I would expect nothing less. The country is becoming softer & more pussified. I'm not surprised the younger generations like it with its players constant whining, complaining, drama queen over reactions, flopping, faking injuries, etc.

[AZGrizFan]

And once every 4 years the non soccer fans in the US can go back to not watching soccer, with all its retarded rules, for another 4 years.

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

Fake news.

eSports is growing leaps and bounds. Both in terms of viewership and actual attendance #'s.

[∞∞∞]

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

I would expect nothing less. The country is becoming softer & more pussified. I'm not surprised the younger generations like it with its players constant whining, complaining, drama queen over reactions, faking injuries, etc.

Or because it doesn't price gauge its audience, actively engages with and listens to fans, revamped its game day experiences to make it enjoyable for ALL price-points, and has an incredible social media presence.

You know, things people look for when they're going to pay money to watch a sport.

[89Hen]

And once every 4 years the non soccer fans in the US can go back to not watching soccer, with all its retarded rules, for another 4 years.

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

Somewhat deceiving. It's growing because they add new markets that come out to see the new product. Time will tell if Atlanta really sustains their numbers. Most clubs have had their numbers shrink.

[Ivytalk]

MLS is the only professional sport in America that's growing, both in terms of viewership and actual attendance numbers. And the age of its viewers is the youngest among all sports, NCAA or professional.

Somewhat deceiving. It's growing because they add new markets that come out to see the new product. Time will tell if Atlanta really sustains their numbers. Most clubs have had their numbers shrink.

My son says that Philadelphia Union games are fan-friendly and safe. I don't care about MLS, myself. I just go in for the quadrennial jingoism that we're watching now.

[89Hen]

My son says that Philadelphia Union games are fan-friendly and safe.

So are WNBA games, arena league games, minor league baseball games...


BTW, Union attendance...

2016 - 17,519
2017 - 16,812
2018 - 15,740

[93henfan]

Soccer.

phpBB [video]

phpBB [video]

[Rob Iola]

Somewhat deceiving. It's growing because they add new markets that come out to see the new product. Time will tell if Atlanta really sustains their numbers. Most clubs have had their numbers shrink.

My son says that Philadelphia Union games are fan-friendly and safe on TV. I don't care about MLS, myself. I just go in for the quadrennial jingoism that we're watching now.

FIFY. Because Chester.

[∞∞∞]

Soccer.

phpBB [video]

The ending is perfect.

[Skjellyfetti]

NBA, for sure on lane violation, but I'm trying to think of the equivalent in MLB, NFL or NHL. Help me out.

The Balk.

Spoiler: show

Balk Rules

You can't just be up there and just doin' a balk like that.

1a. A balk is when you

1b. Okay well listen. A balk is when you balk the

1c. Let me start over

1c-a. The pitcher is not allowed to do a motion to the, uh, batter, that prohibits the batter from doing, you know, just trying to hit the ball. You can't do that.

1c-b. Once the pitcher is in the stretch, he can't be over here and say to the runner, like, "I'm gonna get ya! I'm gonna tag you out! You better watch your butt!" and then just be like he didn't even do that.

1c-b(1). Like, if you're about to pitch and then don't pitch, you have to still pitch. You cannot not pitch. Does that make any sense?

1c-b(2). You gotta be, throwing motion of the ball, and then, until you just throw it.

1c-b(2)-a. Okay, well, you can have the ball up here, like this, but then there's the balk you gotta think about.

1c-b(2)-b. Fairuza Balk hasn't been in any movies in forever. I hope she wasn't typecast as that racist lady in American History X.

1c-b(2)-b(i). Oh wait, she was in The Waterboy too! That would be even worse.

1c-b(2)-b(ii). "get in mah bellah" -- Adam Water, "The Waterboy." Haha, classic...

1c-b(3). Okay seriously though. A balk is when the pitcher makes a movement that, as determined by, when you do a move involving the baseball and field of

2) Do not do a balk please.

NFL also doesn't call rub routes - but, less egregious than college.

Slashing in the NHL, though I think they've started to crack down on it.

[Ivytalk]

My son says that Philadelphia Union games are fan-friendly and safe.

So are WNBA games, arena league games, minor league baseball games...


BTW, Union attendance...

2016 - 17,519
2017 - 16,812
2018 - 15,740

You have something against minor league baseball?

[89Hen]

NBA, for sure on lane violation, but I'm trying to think of the equivalent in MLB, NFL or NHL. Help me out.

The Balk.

NFL also doesn't call rub routes - but, less egregious than college.

Slashing in the NHL, though I think they've started to crack down on it.

None are even close Jelly. You're comparing a clear line violation (no judgement needed) on a penalty kick in a game where there are often less than a handful of shots on goal to a judgement call that may result in a minor infraction (except if the balk is runner on third).

[89Hen]

You have something against minor league baseball?

Not at all. I go to at least one Shorebirds and one Keys game a year. They are easy to get to, cheap as hell, and usually have fireworks at the end. They're much better than MLS.

[Ivytalk]

You have something against minor league baseball?

Not at all. I go to at least one Shorebirds and one Keys game a year. They are easy to get to, cheap as hell, and usually have fireworks at the end. They're much better than MLS.

I agree with that. My wife and I were season ticket holders of the Blue Rocks for a couple of years back in the 90s. We’ve adopted the Shorebirds now.

[89Hen]

I know England was only doing what all WC teams do with the lead, but it was so satisfying seeing Colombia tie it up with the stupid stall tactics of England.