The Rule Change that Saved Football

Discussion in 'Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International' started by pettyfog, Jun 21, 2008.

  1. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    My evening perusal of the poli-blogs produced this unexpected nugget from Paul Mirengoff, one of the three Musketeers of PowerLineBlog and rabid Everton fan:

    I'd never thought of this, but I think he has a point about prohibiting the GK from handling pass-backs as...
    The rule change that saved soccer
     
    #1
    pettyfog, Jun 21, 2008
  2. SteveM19

    SteveM19 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2007
    Location:
    Cleveland OH
    Correct me if I am wrong, but the backpass rule came into effect in 1990, just after Liverpool won their last league title? Hmmmmmmmmm.
     
    #2
    SteveM19, Jun 21, 2008
  3. pettyfog

    pettyfog Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 4, 2005
    You're not wrong, actually.1992

    Like you I had the impression from that piece it was set in the early 80's.

    What the article does, though, is argue the case for 'long-ball' and falls into arguments I've made for occasional use of the lng kick forward...
    To wit: Passing the ball around in the backfield is by no means 'pretty football'
     
    #3
    pettyfog, Jun 22, 2008
  4. HatterDon

    HatterDon Moderator

    Joined:
    Mar 18, 2006
    Location:
    Peoples Republic of South Texas
    agree with that, 'fog; but I also like the no=backpass rule. The unintended consequence -- and there always is one -- was the demise of the sweeper. Since goalkeepers had to be able to "handle" with their feet as well as their hands under the new rule, they became the new sweepers.

    I remember clearly one of the first internationals under the new rules when Tony Meola had a brain cramp and picked up a back pass in a match against Colombia. Rene Higuita -- the Colombian gk took the indirect FK in the area and the US lost. If you wonder what the "old fitba" looked like, keep an eye on FSC's England "classics" for any match in the 1980s and before. That rule and the use of cards rather than just "bookings" improved the game tremendously IMHO.
     
    #4
    HatterDon, Jun 22, 2008
  5. Clevelandmo

    Clevelandmo Active Member

    Joined:
    Sep 13, 2007
    GaryBarnettFanClub pointed out this rule change and its effect on the game along with a lot of other observations that I am still thankful he shared with soccer newbies like me. I forget what thread it was.
     
    #5
    Clevelandmo, Jun 22, 2008
Similar Threads: Rule Change
Forum Title Date
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International MLS rule changes: foreign players Dec 19, 2007
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International UEFA sets Spending Rules May 28, 2010
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International EPL - Homegrown Rule Sep 15, 2009
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International The new "Beckham Rule" -plus- Growing MLS Nov 11, 2006
Prem talk, Those Other Leagues, and International TorontoFC: How MLS will handle eligibility rules Nov 6, 2006

Share This Page