Can’t believe the cantankerous negativity which surrounds the relatively innocuous introduction of an extra point for the early-round League Cup group. This competition is our least precious, below the Scottish Cup, League title, Champions League, Europa League and at the top of the tree, the Petrofac Cup. Its purpose should be to experiment, especially in the early rounds.
My only issue with the change is its overwhelming conservatism. If you’re going to make changes, be bold.
An objective of any change in our domestic game or competitions should be to increase excitement and drama. Some work has gone into this with the research paper, Suspense and Surprise, by Ely, Frankel and Kamenica, who collected data from 24,000 ‘soccer’ matches across 67 leagues to “compute suspense and surprise generated from each soccer match”. It’s a weighty document, but in brief, they conclude that football is characterised by having plenty of suspense – during any minute a critical goal can be scored, but surprises, either during the game or with respect to the outcome, are few. They write:
“In any given minute of a soccer game, it is very likely that nothing consequential happens. Whichever team is currently ahead becomes slightly more likely to win (since less time remains). There is a small chance that a team scores a goal, however, which would have a huge impact on beliefs. So belief paths in soccer are smooth, with few rare jumps. This sustained small probability of large belief shifts makes soccer a very suspenseful game.”
So your game is suspenseful as a result of nothing consequential happening during any particular minute. It’s that “nothing consequential” line which is a tad disturbing.
The reason I’m referencing this is that on analysing his paper, Frankel accepted (in his academic terms) what kids and five-a-side players have known for decades. A football game where the winner is not decided by the team which scores most goals, but where the “next goal’s the winner” rule holds true, adds crushing drama and excitement to the suspense of the game.
Winning by six goals? So what, it’s next goal’s the winner now – and your chances of winning are no better than 65%. I’m not advocating a competition with this rule – football fans are far too conservative for that, but it’s worth considering why people watch sport, or any other pastime. Put the question differently, a ‘next goal’s the winner’ sport would never drop its dramatic finale to adopt a system which would allow teams to create winning lead with 75% of the game remaining.
Football has come a long way since the formation of the Football Association in 1863. It has cultural resonance and occasionally athletic brilliance, but for the most part the game flourished without that brilliance. It simply offered better entertainment than was on offer elsewhere. Football has never been dependent on skillful wizardry, for the most part this is a rarity. Don’t listen to people who tell you style or ability determines interest in the game, it doesn’t and never has done. The game will live or die on its ability to throw up drama and suspense.
My guess is that the game will last another 150 years, but it will be completely unrecognisable from the sport you and I know. It will be forced to change by increasingly sophisticated and diverse entertainment options.
Always play ‘next goal’s the winner’ at fives, unless it rankles your conservative tendencies too much.
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TBB
Never got to game at weekend but well done.
One of my bhoys was home from UNI and normally up for it
was dying of cold and wasn’t exactly a day to drag out the infirm.
Anyhow caught picture of team on BBC and it gave me a cold sweat.
I am + 50 now and shall we say heavy boned but still play 5s
Your captain used to play 5s with us about 10 years ago
(when we were short as he was about 14)
and the thought of chasing him about a 5s park brought back
night
pedrocaravanachio67 on 8th December 2015 1:28 pm
Thanks,mate. No harm in trying,but you might be right that things are too far gone.
Me,I disagree. Known for it,tbh(!)
The trolls can try,the bores can bugger off. This site is better than them,it won’t take much to grasp it back.
The likes of yourself,for instance,will be a start.
League cup would excite me a lot more if we had to field even 4/5 players under 21.
Least players know if they progress they cannot be dropped when it comes to semi finals.
nightmares
keep getting thrown out
Sounds like they are trying to manufacture a Celtic v Sevco LC game early in the season……I smell—–
Beyonce and Bobby back on the same day, coincidence I don’t think so..
Happy Birthday to CRC, all the best mate..
At the 6-2 game I was still cacking myself until the 6th goal went in.
JC2
I got the gist of it :¬)
garygillespieshamstring on 8th December 2015 1:44 pm
At the 6-2 game I was still cacking myself until the 6th goal went in.
Against thems I could never even begin to relax until there were fewer minutes (including extra time) left than we were goals ahead…
Nice to see some out the box thinking from the SPFL regarding the League Cup but it will fail if it’s not priced correctly or the games are included as part of your season book package.
It will be interesting to see the kick off times also.
Scheduling and pricing. Get those two right and it’s not just putting lipstick on a pig.
The League Cup Format:
A fairly insipid rehash (apart from the bonus point) of a tired competition.
They should have revamped it to make it more ‘Youth’ friendly;
~ players aged 21 and under at year-end (of competition);
~ maximum 3 players aged 21+ (on field at any time);
~ maximum ticket price @ £15 Adults – Kids @ £5.
Happy Birthday CRC!
Top Tip
When out shopping with the wife…………try no to let your ire colour an honest appraisal of the dress she’s trying on.
When she pops out of the changing room of the clothes shop wearing a figure hugging dress and says… “what d’ya think”?
Apparently, “a bit lumpy” is not the correct response.
garygillespieshamstring on 8th December 2015 1:44 pm
At the 6-2 game I was still cacking myself until the 6th goal went in.
———————————————————————————————————-
At half time in that game i was saying Larsson should be subbed after missing a 1-on-1 with Klos. What do I know, eh?
BOURNESOUPRECIPE
That’s yer Mum’s fault. Not yours.
She brought you up not to tell lies.
Was the 6-2 game the first game that Celtic brought out a DVD/Video/Betamax/35mm reel for?
Welcome home BMCUWP!
Yahoooo!
Davidopoulos
No way, the 3-0 game against Deidco in 1984 (McStay brothers both scored) was the first one I bought. Don’t even think it was on the telly. Had a nice chase by hundreds of huns down the Trongate after that one, Plod looking on disinterested.
BMCUW
I like the Nom De Blog.
*****Info for people traveling to the Fenerbahçe game***
There will be a party tomorrow night from 9pm – 3am at Turuncu Panpan. It’s just off Taksim square. A DJ shall be playing some good Celtic tunes.
Before hand i will be meeting up with a few other local Bhoys at the James Joyce bar at around 6.30pm.
All are welcome to meet us In the James Joyce for a few beers. We may take in another bar before the party.
If you’re not coming yourself, feel free to pass this message on to anyone you know’s coming over.
jeez_I_thought_blinker_was_pants
In investigating your claim, i stumbled upon this:
http://www.thecelticwiki.com/page/VHS+-+Celtic+Multimedia
A lot of the videos in that list are still in my mum’s loft!
Christmas Gifts for CQN’rs
Davidopoulos
I think I’ve got most of them too. Pity I’ve got nothing to play them on .
I also remember the Ajax away game being available in AZAD video shops (one for the old timers) at the time as well. Rented it from the Anniesland shop and had the mates round for a swally.
I have been brainstorming with myself and came to the conclusion that the game could be jazzed up by introducing special 10 minute time phases.
Initial ideas are..
1. Any goal counts double phase.
2. No offside phase.
3. No goalkeeper phase.
4. Nine versus Eleven phase (usually lasts 90 minutes if youre team is Sevco)
5. Tigers on the pitch phase
etc. etc.
That lot would surely put the excitement back into soccerball. This innovation stuff is a dawdle…
special teams…..
oh wait
BSR & the new, improved BMCUWP
The subordinate/ancillary of that is when out shopping with your wife..she holds up a hanger with a dress and says
“Whadya think?”
And casually you say..
“I can’t tell when it’s on a hanger, I’ll need to see it on you…”
And for the next hour you regret being so honest…but you can’t let her see that emotion on your face..
Unengaged Brain CSC
My wish list for the Scottish game.
(A) Summer Football
(B) Top teams allowed to enter colt teams in lower Division, obviously with a bar against Colt team getting promoted to Premiership.
(C) Ogilve & Co. to go.
(D) End of criminalisation of Fans & police harassment.
Corkcelt
I think your wishlist just broke the blog!
I am totally for innovation, I actually think the game will die without it. Certainly in Scotland anyway!
Early start and group stage to the league cup is a good plan, but I am not so sure about the bonus point. Thinking from a negative, strategy point of view, the best plan for a smaller team, would be to hold out for a draw, and try to win the penalty shoot out, instead of ‘going for it’ with ‘nothing to lose’.
But yes, at least it would bring some drama to a boring 90 mins. (Maybe not that boring if it is your team hanging in there for a point, but from a neutrals point of view, games might not be that interesting.)
Still, its a step in the right direction I think.
Tim malone,
Great ideas. Fair cheered me up. :)
Tigers would be some sight. Not as impressive as The Lions though.
HH
Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, MD (19 February 1954 – 4 December 2011), simply known as Sócrates, was a Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder. His doctorate in medicine and his political awareness earned him the nickname “Doctor Socrates”.
Easily recognizable for his beard and headband, Sócrates became the “symbol of cool for a whole generation of football supporters”. He was considered to be one of the greatest midfielders ever to play the game. In 1983, he was named South American Footballer of the Year. In 2004 he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players.
Sócrates played for Brazil for seven years, scoring 22 goals and representing the nation in two World Cups. He captained the team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup; playing in midfield alongside Zico, Falcão and Éder, considered one of the greatest Brazilian national teams ever. He also appeared in the 1979 and 1983 Copa América. At club level, Sócrates played for Botafogo-SP before joining Corinthians in 1978. He moved to Italy to play for Fiorentina, returning to Brazil in 1985 to end his career.
@wiki
p.s. he was 6ft 3 1/2 inches ( in case DBBIA is lurking )
RWE
It’s nice to be nice.
Istanbulcelt-is that info for tomorrow or Thursday mate?
Marrakesh Express on 8th December 2015 12:00 pm
I caught 30 minutes of Shortbread last night while her indoors was in Asda.
The main topic about where and how did Scottish football get it wrong over the last three decades.
Speirs, the odious Keith Jackson and King lamb muncher Richard Wilson doing the analysis.
Every excuse trotted out, lack of facilities, bad weather, Walker’s plan a waste of money, Roxburgh’s grand plan ignored, complacency etc etc.
Not one mention of Murray’s recklessness and the ensuing effects on the national game, and the carnage on one club, now deceased.
How these guys can take a wage for that and look themselves in the mirror.
The stuff we’ve sadly come to expect
*I posted on here yesterday about the Boston Globe breaking rank and exposing the RC Church in one of the most Irish Catholic cities in North America.
Incidentally Boston doesn’t have the largest Catholic population; neither does New York or Philly, its LA but a different diaspora to the other 3.
A couple of weeks ago I watched an interview with Charlie Rose (one of the US’s finest interviewers) and investigative reporter Nick Davies.
Living over here I had no real concept of the workings of “News Corp.” or “News International” until that afternoon.
I have now just picked up his book “Hack Attack: The Inside Story of How the Truth Caught Up With Rupert Murdoch” and only read the preface, that alone is quite stunning.
It’s this type of investigating journalism that’s required to bring the Scottish Football house of cards down.
Sadly I can’t see that happening and it disturbs me to say this but they’re going to get away with it.
The craft has a lot tae answer for.
Anyways off oot tae get some root canal done….need something tae brighten up ma day.
!!Bada Bing!! on 8th December 2015 3:06 pm Istanbulcelt-is that info for tomorrow or Thursday mate? – See more at: http://www.celticquicknews.co.uk/next-goals-the-winner/comment-page-2/#comments
That’s for tomorrow mate, we will be meeting up on Thursday also.
H H
Sevco Advent Calendar!! https://t.co/QjXFdhPjs0
ISTANBULCELT-thanks,my mate and his bhoy going over HH
Good stuff, if they look us out, we can have a beer together and if they want, they can stick with us. I will wear a hoodie and a CQN badge so anyone can come up and say hi.
Can anyone give me information on a vote/poll to decide whose face should adorn a new , plastic £10 note being issued soon by one of the Scottish Banks?
Thanks,
JJ