Head of the FA for a Day

[Jerzy]

Originally Posted by Val

Just curious, HH, but what exactly would the FA do that it isn't doing now? I share your concerns, but if you were FA commisioner for a week, what would you do? Hmm, actually, there's a thread there somewhere...

OK, I'll bite, but since I'm not British I can't comment too much on the state of English football. So, I'll pretend that I can be the head of MLS soccer.

First off, I would definitely hire Klinsmann to coach the national team. I mean, this is a no brainer, and the commissioner is talking to Klinsmann right now, but I'd go farther. This is the time to make the proverbial offer that he can't refuse. Bruce Arena was a fine coach and the obvious choice, but we need someone who can take us to the next level, and Klinsmann now has the track record to go with his obvious cachet.

And while I've been satisfied with the level of foreigners that have come to the MLS, now is the time to go after Beckham in January's transfer window. Beckham is past his prime, obviously, but is still a quality player and he can come to the US and we'll benefit for 3-5 more years.

Thirdly, the national team has to get out of CONCACAF and/or play in the Copa. We need to have a harder qualifying path to the WC if we are going to make it to the next level, e.g. a team with realistic second round aspirations. We might miss a WC, but soccer in this country is strong enough at this point. 8 years ago, missing a WC would have been disastrous, but not now. We need to play the best to get better, and beating Jamaica and Canada just ain't that tough.

That would be a pretty busy day, don't you think?

[Val]

Jerzy, those would be my same thoughts for MLS head, though playing the Copa is not really his purview, but I know where you're coming from.

I'll give a crack as to being FA chief.

Firstly, I would give the linesmen whistles. I think the wiring of ref to linesman is a good thing, and I think conferring is something to be promoted, but refs are far too autonomous and I think giving linesmen the power to make calls would only be a good thing.

Secondly, I would allow video replay for dives and flagrant fouls. The game is so fast these days, that refs, who are eminently human, miss things.

And thirdly, I'd try to figure out a "carrot" for encouraging teams to have more English players in their squads. Not a hard 6+5 with fines, but perhaps monetary rewards for each English player you have in your squad.

Something like that....

[Jerzy]

Originally Posted by Val

And thirdly, I'd try to figure out a "carrot" for encouraging teams to have more English players in their squads. Not a hard 6+5 with fines, but perhaps monetary rewards for each English player you have in your squad.

Something like that....

I was looking at the amount of money each team the Premier league gets, it makes the American Football contracts look like chump change. If there is a move afoot to try to get more englishmen on their teams, maybe make a rule that you don't get your Premier money if you don't have 3 Englishmen starting each game...

[Trev Knight]

Originally Posted by Val

Jerzy, those would be my same thoughts for MLS head, though playing the Copa is not really his purview, but I know where you're coming from.

I'll give a crack as to being FA chief.

Firstly, I would give the linesmen whistles. I think the wiring of ref to linesman is a good thing, and I think conferring is something to be promoted, but refs are far too autonomous and I think giving linesmen the power to make calls would only be a good thing.

Secondly, I would allow video replay for dives and flagrant fouls. The game is so fast these days, that refs, who are eminently human, miss things.

And thirdly, I'd try to figure out a "carrot" for encouraging teams to have more English players in their squads. Not a hard 6+5 with fines, but perhaps monetary rewards for each English player you have in your squad.

Something like that....

Hi there,

As a football league Official i thought i would just share a couple of thoughts with you on your views.

1) Assistant referee's do have the power to be able to make decisions based on their view and interpretation and also based on the referee's position. The weird thing is, strange as it may seem, the closer to you the incident is is normally the hardest one to call. Imaging running down the line, looking infield judging offside, with two players tussling for a ball thats almost going out of play right in front of you., we need eyes everywhere and sometimes its just not that easy.

We are now judging: Offside, fouls, ball out of play in a millisecond all at the same time.

2) Video replays. Think of this scenario, the player is fouled in the penalty area and claims for a penalty, at which point the goalkeeper collects the ball and immediately kicks upfield for a couter attack for his team. Now the referee isn't sure and calls for a replay. The replay shows no foul and the referee was correct, the trouble is the team has now lost its counter attack because of the opponents dive. yes a yellow card may be given but a team would much rather a goal scoring opportunity than a card?

in Germany we are trialing a micro -chip in a ball to sense when the whole of the ball has crossed the line which is proving very successful

Just food for thought?

Regards,

Trevor

[Jerzy]

Originally Posted by Trev Knight

1) Assistant referee's do have the power to be able to make decisions based on their view and interpretation and also based on the referee's position. The weird thing is, strange as it may seem, the closer to you the incident is is normally the hardest one to call. Imaging running down the line, looking infield judging offside, with two players tussling for a ball thats almost going out of play right in front of you., we need eyes everywhere and sometimes its just not that easy.

We are now judging: Offside, fouls, ball out of play in a millisecond all at the same time.

My experience with international soccer is limited, but I liked the use of the wired refs for the World Cup (first time I'd seen it), but linesmen are not empowered to make calls. They can wave their flag, but the ref can ignore it if they so choose. In American sports, every ref can make the call and stop play. There is a head ref, to be sure, and each ref has different responsiblities, but every ref can make the call. Linesmen are just too deferential to the head ref to be much use, IHO.

Originally Posted by Trev Knight

2) Video replays. Think of this scenario, the player is fouled in the penalty area and claims for a penalty, at which point the goalkeeper collects the ball and immediately kicks upfield for a counter attack for his team. Now the referee isn't sure and calls for a replay. The replay shows no foul and the referee was correct, the trouble is the team has now lost its counter attack because of the opponents dive. yes a yellow card may be given but a team would much rather a goal scoring opportunity than a card?

I think anyone would want a card for a dive against an opponent than a single counter opportunity. And refs already have the ability to allow the game to play with advantage, and then think better of it if advantage is lost and still bring the ball back. The ref can come back to the replay at any time, I would think.

[Trev Knight]

Originally Posted by Jerzy

My experience with international soccer is limited, but I liked the use of the wired refs for the World Cup (first time I'd seen it), but linesmen are not empowered to make calls. They can wave their flag, but the ref can ignore it if they so choose. In American sports, every ref can make the call and stop play. There is a head ref, to be sure, and each ref has different responsiblities, but every ref can make the call. Linesmen are just too deferential to the head ref to be much use, IHO.


Sorry but assistant referee's ARE allowed and DO make decisions. You have to look at what is deemed a credible decision making distance and also look at where the referee is positioned and also if he needs your intervention to make the call.


I think anyone would want a card for a dive against an opponent than a single counter opportunity. And refs already have the ability to allow the game to play with advantage, and then think better of it if advantage is lost and still bring the ball back. The ref can come back to the replay at any time, I would think.

Sorry but I have to disagree, games are won by goals not cards issued?

Think you have missunderstood what i am saying about a replay, how can you play an advantage which creates a goal/no goal to then bring it back to a video replay?? the game would last forever??

[Val]

I'm with Jerzy on this, maybe just because of the American experience. Linesmen don't have whistles. They are not equal to the head referee. The linesman, or if he's going by the new title of assistant referee, sees an offsides, he can wave his flag, but only the referee can whistle the play dead. The referee can choose to ignore the linesman. Now, I agree that a referee would be foolish in most instances, but the referee and the linesman are not equal partners in the game.