Happy New Year to all Blue Moon users. I posted this long set of ideas on Blue Vibe earlier.
Thanks for taking the trouble to plough through!
I have not posted for many years . Whilst I read every day and value the opinions and humour expressed on this site hugely, it is only the the treatment being dished out to our players over the past few weeks that has prompted me to re-activate my account. At least from a personal angle, there is I guess is one silver lining from a personal point of view.
In football terms, I don't mind being beaten fair and square but to be kicked off the pitch from game to game, with zero protection from poor and incompetent officials is too much.
In chronological order, Kane, Alli, Murphy, Dann and Puncheon should all have walked. (Dann arguably yellow, but he crocked Aguero at Selhurst Park last season so I won't split hairs). Kane, in the period for which he should have been banned, notched two hat traicks and is lauded by the blinkered media.
It has struck me for some time that the system of punshing player related misconduct on the field, and furthermore, the concept of bringing the game into disrepute if you are being paid to pass an opinion is not fit for purpose. There is I feel much to be gained by protecting the offended against team be it OVO or Manchester United. In that way, a more accurate and fair outcome is achieved. The business of 21st Century professional football is too big financially for it to be otherwise, and jobs are on the line at the whim of a poor decision.
1. Yellow Card.
The team that has been offended against should be the direct beneficiary of the offence. To achive that logical end there should be a sin bin in line with that used in Rugby Union. The length of time in the bin might reflect the type of offence. A foul tackle being worth more that kicking the ball away. The poster who pointed out on Blue Vibe earlier this evening that it is farcical that Sane's offence to be effectively treated in the same manner as Puncheon's, is totally correct. An accruement of a given number of cards could still result in a fixed term ban.
2. Suspensions.
In line with the above, a three match ban should be served as follows. The next two games in the season calendar, and the next game against the team who was offended against, regardess for who the offending player is representing. This should, if necessary carry over to the following season, in order to ensure that the "sinned against" team receives some degree of benefit.
3. Competition discrete bans.
When Luis Suarez was sent off for biting in a Premier League fixture, his 8 match sentence was partially served in cup ties, mainly a two-legged league cup semi-final. That is directly discriminatory against those league teams not involved in said cups. If one of their players were to have bitten an opponent, that player would miss eight league games. The current status quo is therefore not a level playing field. A sending off in an FA Cup Tie or League Cup Tie would result in them missing the next three F.A. cup ties for which that player is available.
4. Player Availability match by match scrutiny
There should be independent srutiny by expert football doctors of injured players. If a player is injured and unavailable, that match should not count towards his suspension.
5. Post match reviews.
Again, in line with Rugby Union, players should be able to be cited for any offence regardless whether, the referee, referee's guide dog, Uncle Tom Cobley or whoever did or did not see the incident. All games should be reviewed for the full 90 minutes by an independent panel sitting in isolation as per the current diving review. This is due to the fact that currently, a top six player or a player in a high profile match is more likely to receive the slo-mo MOTD trial by T.V. overseen by a non-official jury.
6. Bringing the Game Into Disrepute.
Comments made by players (e.g. Paul Pogba) or "pundits" (e.g. Danny Murphy....sadly one of the observers with a better than average record until his appalling inciteful remarks recently), should be banned in line with other offences, either from the pitch or the airwaves. Pundits who are paid to pass comment and print media journalists should sign up to a charter and agree to abide by rules that regulate their written comments and expressed views. In this way there is accountability for what they say and write.
7. VARs
The sooner the better. I have given up watching neutral matches because it is 90 minutes gone when I could be listening to Miles Davis to witness a result that is incorrect.
8. The F.A.
Tear it up..spit it out..start from scratch.
Happy New Year. We are watching an icredible team.
