Multiball - anyone miss it?

[dellboypete]

I had forgotten that the multiball was no more this season. Saints have used it really well at home over the last couple of seasons, but the cheating likes of Reading and Brighton have put paid to it.

 

What came out of Saturdays game (for me anyway) was the amount of time that can be wasted, especially once you get in front. After we went 1-0 up KD seemed to spend an eternity on goal kicks and a few times he leisurely wandered almost to the half-way line to take free kicks.

 

Under pressure? Just hoof the ball into row z and wait for two minutes before the ball finds its way back onto the pitch giving thedefence a breather and time to regroup.

 

It worked in favour at home on Saturday, but I will be mightily peed off when it works against us away from home.

[The Kraken]

I think I agree with you, it really did slow the game right down. I think the referee was partly at fault though, he made no effort to speed up the play. There were a few instances where KD seemed to have the ball in his hands for about ten seconds or so before he did his customary roll out and whack it, or drop-kick. The ref just let him get on with it, but would have been well within his rights to call him up on it at least once or twice.

[John Boy Saint]

Licence to waste time when needed, without any shadow of a doubt.

The likes of Reading and Brighton manipulating the system and putting on youngsters to carry out their directive in the face of a foaming at the mouth effing & jeffing opposing player is also a little bit unscrupulous. Probably also a factor when the decision was made to abolish multi ball.

[John Boy Saint]

I think I agree with you, it really did slow the game right down. I think the referee was partly at fault though, he made no effort to speed up the play. There were a few instances where KD seemed to have the ball in his hands for about ten seconds or so before he did his customary roll out and whack it, or drop-kick. The ref just let him get on with it, but would have been well within his rights to call him up on it at least once or twice.

 

The Ref did give the "come on goalie speed it up" hand motion (similar to the moving ball) to KD twice in the 1st half.

[Mattio]

What happens in the smaller stadiums where the ball could go over the terrace? I assume you don't have to wait til it's found?

[The9]

Dunno where this "Reading used to cheat" thing came from, whenever I've been there they've always used the system extremely fairly - there's nothing wrong with getting the ball back into play quickly for everyone like they did when Coppell got them into the Prem. It was Brighton (and Colchester)'s disappearing ball boys act that was the kind of thing that got it banned.

 

I think the obvious solution is independent ball retrieval teams, though who pays for that or supplies them I don't know.

[The Kraken]

The Ref did give the "come on goalie speed it up" hand motion (similar to the moving ball) to KD twice in the 1st half.

 

You mean in the same way the ref did with Brighton when they came to visit? And that was pretty much the extent of it, it made little or no difference.

[The9]

What happens in the smaller stadiums where the ball could go over the terrace? I assume you don't have to wait til it's found?

 

The ref does the "ball" motion and they chuck on another ball, like they did for the 100-odd years before multiball existed. They did exactly this at Kingsmeadow on Saturday lunchtime.

[John Boy Saint]

The ref does the "ball" motion and they chuck on another ball, like they did for the 100-odd years before multiball existed. They did exactly this at Kingsmeadow on Saturday lunchtime.

There use to be a chap sat in a Coracle on the river Severn out the back of the old Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury. Should a ball be launched over the stand during a match he would row after it to retrieve it, it was the same chap for years!!

[stevegrant]

Dunno where this "Reading used to cheat" thing came from, whenever I've been there they've always used the system extremely fairly

When we played up there in their promotion season, their ball boys would race to place the ball for corners in the right place for the kicker for a Reading corner, but would amble around and leisurely throw it in the general direction for a Saints corner. Similar with throw-ins, the ball would be dry for a Reading throw, but wet for the opponent.

[The9]

When we played up there in their promotion season, their ball boys would race to place the ball for corners in the right place for the kicker for a Reading corner, but would amble around and leisurely throw it in the general direction for a Saints corner. Similar with throw-ins, the ball would be dry for a Reading throw, but wet for the opponent.

 

I watched that match and IMHO they delivered the ball equally quickly for each side. The difference was that Reading had been drilled to keep the tempo high and returned the ball to play immediately, whilst the Saints players, already with the ball, took as long as they normally did.

 

Dunno about the throw-ins, but you can do that with one ball anyway.

Edited 8 August, 2011 by The9

[positivepete]

I missed it. I enjoyed the high tempo, and the fact that the ball was in play for more of the 90 minutes than will be the case now.

[The9]

There use to be a chap sat in a Coracle on the river Severn out the back of the old Gay Meadow, Shrewsbury. Should a ball be launched over the stand during a match he would row after it to retrieve it, it was the same chap for years!!

 

Yeah, but they'd use a different ball in the meantime... the football didn't just stop !

[pap]

The fundamental law of any system is that people will try to subvert it.

 

On a similar note, what happens if someone skies the ball out of the stadium?

[The9]

The fundamental law of any system is that people will try to subvert it.

 

On a similar note, what happens if someone skies the ball out of the stadium?

 

It means everyone will read the thread before asking questions in future, I hope.

[pap]

Guilty as charged, The9!

 

:sheep:

[paulwantsapint]

the answer to all the problems over the ball being out of play is to make the 4th idiot (official) in charge of time keeping ideally on score board so that if it takes 2 mins to retrieve the ball every time it goes out of play he adds it up then says loads in added time

[The9]

the answer to all the problems over the ball being out of play is to make the 4th idiot (official) in charge of time keeping ideally on score board so that if it takes 2 mins to retrieve the ball every time it goes out of play he adds it up then says loads in added time

 

I played a match in the US once when there was a constanly running clock at pitchside, so I can guarantee the full 45 minutes thing won't work WITHOUT a 4th official, we went 3-1 up and timewasted by wellying the ball miles, knowing that the clock just kept running...

 

...personally I think if we do independent timekeeping they'll have to shorter match durations to 30 mins each way to reflect that the ball's usually only in play for about an hour of the 90 as it is. A 90 min clock stop game would take hours on end and completely change the nature of football.