Yeah I think what's needed is an analysis of whether the stoppage time approach actually discourages negative play. I doubt it - the benefit of negative play against a team like us is more about interrupting the flow of our game and preventing momentum than it is about minutes in play.

Another solution needs to be found, that is more punishing to those teams. Or, we accept that low-mid block negativity is just part of the modern game now. I dont think many football fans want to watch that, but maybe I'm wrong.

I also think there is room for the strategy in the sport and if Arsenal were using these tactics we'd be looking at it much more favourably. So who knows.

[–] sensiblepuffin 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

I've said this before, but we really need ball-in-play-time to be a stat that gets tracked. Right now, the number that UEFA seems to be looking at is total match time, which is completely pointless given the problem we're trying to solve. If we can show that adding more wasted time on decreases wasted time only, then it's a success.

Edit: Oops, this wasn't supposed to be a reply

[–] nuggsy 3 points 11 months ago (1 children)

As shitty as that style of play is, you can't stop a team from doing it. Time wasting is part of the game, it's just infuriating how blatantly some teams (Porto, Newcastle) do it and get away with it with no consequences.

So, I like the idea of a ball-in-play stat pundits/staticians/fans use to draw attention to it and the larger scrutiny could possibly put pressure on it to change.

[–] sensiblepuffin 3 points 11 months ago

The style of play? It's true, you can't stop that. But feigning injuries and/or pausing for a minute every time you get a goal kick? Those are both explicitly against the rules of the game, and if our opponents saw half as many cards as we've gotten this season for time wasting, we'd probably win some of these matches by default.

[–] Astrealix 3 points 11 months ago

idk about other people but I know I wouldn't have been a fan of Arsenal in the first place if we played like that lol.

[–] sensiblepuffin 2 points 11 months ago

I really hope they find something to counter it. In my opinion, the mid-block mania that teams are using to counter free-flowing, possession-based tactics makes football into - for lack of a better descriptor - the way Americans think it is. (basically, this) We really need to discourage this somehow.