12/21/24
January 21, 2004
Manager gives goalkeeper an earful.: A Belgian goalkeeper wore an earpiece to get instructions from his manager. Managers shrieking at players from the dug-out may soon be a thing of the past. Will giving earpieces to soccer players transform the game?
Completely agreed.
posted by StarFucker at 11:12 AM on January 21, 2004
Earpieces for the players is a stupid inovation - having the coach actually in your head while you're trying to play can only be off-putting rather than helpful. But it's hardly the same as video replays - video replays aren't there with the intention of aiding one team or another to overcome their rivals - they simply allow the correct decision to be made more often. "success on the field should be decided by the humans on the field without the aid of technology" That's fine too, but what's wrong with using replay technology to establish whether or not they did succeed? Or is the referee making the wrong decision a desirable quirk of the game?
posted by JJ at 11:27 AM on January 21, 2004
Earpieces are fine to me. I think it's more of a hindrance to the player with the earpiece. You think it's annoying to have your coach screaming from the touchline, try it with him screaming right in your ear. Ha! [hijack] I was watching a Brazilian top division game (don't remember the teams) a few weeks ago, and the ref had a spraycan that he used to spray a circle exactly where he wanted the ball placed for a free kick, and a line exactly where he wanted the defending team to line up their wall. Given that the paint seems to eventually wash off or be rubbed off in the course of play, do you think something like this would take off at other top leagues? Anyone seen this used elsewhere? I actually thought this was useful to stop all the delaying tactics and gamesmanship around free kicks. Sorry about the ... [/hijack]
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:59 PM on January 21, 2004
Earpieces are fine to me. I think it's more of a hindrance to the player with the earpiece. Uh, what?
posted by StarFucker at 01:34 PM on January 21, 2004
This is the 21st century. Be glad the players are not yet bionic!
posted by billsaysthis at 01:37 PM on January 21, 2004
You need an earpiece, Fooker?
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:44 PM on January 21, 2004
That spray can solution might've prevented the controversy of the quickly taken free-kick goal by Liverpool last week. I think it was Liverpool.
posted by garfield at 02:00 PM on January 21, 2004
(it was Arsenal)
posted by dng at 02:17 PM on January 21, 2004
That post doesn't make any sense...worldcup... First you say the earpieces are "fine to you..." Then you say that its a hindrance for the player? What are ya bleedin' sayin' ya cock knocker?!
posted by StarFucker at 02:19 PM on January 21, 2004
Fooker, you twangy twat, I was saying that I don't have any issue with using earpieces, i.e., I don't think we need to bar players from using them. I don't see it conferring any undue advantage, or necessarily damaging the sport. If the goalie agrees to wear it, that's his problem. But if he doesn't want it, that's up to him, too. It just seems to me like it would be more of an annoyance. But players should be able to choose whether they wear it or not. I wouldn't wear them, but I don't think there needs to be a rule against it. That's all I was saying, you slimy knuckle-dragger.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:42 PM on January 21, 2004
As for the Arsenal free-kick, as far as legality is concerned, it's pretty clear, as referee Graham Poll explains:
If the attacking team are fouled then it is they who hold the advantage. With a free-kick around the penalty area, we always ask the players whether they want it quick or slow. This is their window of opportunity to surprise the defence. If they want it quick, then they have given up the right to re-take it, no matter if it hits a defender who's three yards away. The same goes if they kick it over the bar. They only get one chance. But if it goes in like at Villa Park then there can be no complaints. The flip side is if they want it slow, they can't then take it while I count out the ten yards for the wall. They must wait for my whistle. There is nothing in the laws of the game that say we have to indicate for the free-kick to be taken.
posted by worldcup2002 at 03:49 PM on January 21, 2004
Dunfermline of the SPL has used a radio system with their youth teams and Scotland manager Berti Vogts wants to try it. Dunfermline manager Jimmy Calderwood claimed he would be in little need of such a system due to his own substantial vocal talents, yet admitted "when you are away to Celtic or Rangers, it can be difficult to communicate with players." It's been in the NFL for years and hasn't ruined it.
posted by Steve-o at 03:50 PM on January 21, 2004
dng, thx...I knew my reef-rattled brain would fail me. wc2k2, thanks for the explanation. I guess I was slightly confused, because one usually sees a ref back away and blow the whistle right before a free kick. I think he swings his arm in circles as well. I suppose that is of the slow variety.
posted by garfield at 04:23 PM on January 21, 2004
Erm, I think "swinging his arm in circles", that's just him getting circulation back in his arms on a cold day. ... JUST KIDDING! Hooohoohoo!
posted by worldcup2002 at 04:37 PM on January 21, 2004
Alain Courtois, a former general secretary of the Belgian soccer federation, said the use of the device was ridiculous. He said success on the field should be decided by the humans on the field without the aid of technology, echoing the argument that FIFA has used for refusing to adopt video replays. Agreed.