The Ref Stop

Football now vs past

R

Runner Ref

RefChat Addict
Had this chat with someone the other day and thought it would be worthwhile having it here.

Do people enjoy watching football more nowadays or in the past?

As much as my team have had a resurgence in recent years and look like theyre going to win the league, I don’t think I enjoy watching it as much as I used to. Teams practically all play the same way, or at least try to. It’s all about pass, pass, pass; there isn’t much variety in play. Gone are the days of someone getting the ball and just running at players, bar the odd exception like Messi. Add goals from distance to that

Then there’s VAR……. 😬
 
Last edited:
The Ref Stop
In the past, city were in division 2

In the present, city are 4 in a row premier league champions

Now is definitely better*










*I totally see what you mean. Gamesmanship/cheating is allowed,
VAR certainly impacts enjoyment too. The game is definitely more robotic now than say 20 years ago...far far far too much money involved which impacts everything as well
 
I think it depends which way you look at it. As someone who spent a lot of time coaching and managing I am intrigued by coaching styles and patterns, and as sad as this sounds I might enjoy a 0-0 draw that others find boring.

I think there's also probably an element of "it was always better in the past", when in reality it wasn't. I can remember the days of Liverpool greatness, they would go a goal up then absolutely kill the game by passing it around the back 4 and back to the keeper who could then pick it up. It really was turgid, and the law change to prevent keepers picking up back passes really helped the game in a big way.

Personally I think this is the most exciting Premier League season in a long time, the established greats are having a wobble and it has allowed newcomers to come in and crash the party. And that is almost certainly because the game has evolved such that teams can now play against possession games to stop it being so effective, but that itself will evolve again in the next few seasons.
 
I'm finding myself watching the Premier League less and less, but I'm getting more and more invested in the championship and league one (soon to be league two) and just how crazy they are
 
I enjoy the the more sophisticated tactical part of it.
I enjoy the more technical side as well, and that it is less physical. I can watch/play a rugby or rugby league game 'if I want it rough'🤣
I hate the gamesmanship which is a lot more prevalent now, diving, time wasting...
TBH, though I don't like VAR in its current form, it hasn't changed my enjoyment of the game.
 
I can definitely see where the author is coming from and I have watched games live since the late 60’s (division 3 and 4 with my team) and from the 70’s with the Big Match and Match of the Day (Division 1). I agree with. the earlier comment about the Championship upon which there was a fab game the other day between Sheffield Utd v Leeds & Refereed very well by David Webb. I also like watching stuff from League 1 & 2. The Referee from the Mansfield v Wrexham game was someone I observed down in Essex as a L3 about 9 years ago! As to the PL, much depends on who is playing, but the Newcastle v Forest game was pretty entertaining for the 1st half.
 
My first game was Brighton v Bournemouth in League one back in 2011. My last was Brighton v AEK Athens last season. Standard is far better!
 
I think the premier league has had a drop of enjoyment of the fans on the whole. Obviously there will be exceptions but when given the offer of watching a non league game or Liverpool vs Chelsea I will probably watch the step 6 game.

Also, I think the EFL has become the more exciting leagues to watch due to anyone being able to beat anyone. And no VAR........
 
Having watched 2nd v 3rd just now in the Premiership I think it was definitely more enjoyable watching Grimsby Town battle re election in Division 4 in the late 60s with my Dad and Grandad! Tactics and deep defending with 5 and 6 across the penalty box is a trifle boring.
 
I just feel football is more manufactured these days. Too many clubs try to play the same way of passing the ball over and over. To be able to do this, it takes very specific types of players. And far too many of the teams who try it don’t have those players. How many times do certain teams need to try and ‘play out from the back’ on a goal kick, only to get caught out and then try it over and over again.

Utd are a prime example. They got rid of De Gea for Onana as Onana was seen as better with his feet. Which he may well be, but he’s not very good at his number 1 task of keeping the ball out.
 
I am not sure, I was born and raised in Germany, as such football to me was always different, getting to watch any game I wanted - no blackouts - different standards and trends across the league made it interesting to watch. Living in England with blackouts made me wonder why people even get sky, not being able to watch your favourite team when it is on, still puzzles me. Premier League is full of foreign players, likely a lot who fill the ranks of different national teams, limited number of English talent which reminds me more of watching wider competitions back in the days. I personally don't see much creativity, a lot of acting rather than impressive football that is fast, technical and wanting you to see more. I catch a game every now and then or go to the local club to watch a game but mostly to watch the refs officiating the game, looking at positioning, decisions and trying to learn from it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top