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No St Mary's multi ball system in 2011/12


Matthew Le God
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How stupid. So the ball goes into row Z and the game is delayed until it is returned. So the home team gained an advantage under the multi-ball system, but only if they drill their ball-boys to return it quickly to their players and slowly to the opposition. And then the other team gains the advantage on the return fixture, evening things out.

 

What a load of tossers we have running the game, from the biggest one of all, Blatter, all the way down.

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Terrible, terrible, outdated negative decision. I thought the multi-ball system was brilliant. It keeps the play going, helps the attacking team maintain momentum & most of all, it means the ball is in play longer, which is surely what us paying customers want & deserve.

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This newspaper said it was Millwall that raised the issue at the AGM

http://www.southwarknews.co.uk/00,news,23662,5227,00.htm

MILLWALL WILL propose that Championship clubs do away with the multi-ball system at this week’s Football League annual general meeting.

so perhaps "Brighton's tactics" were used more in the Championship last year.

 

 

The Millwall OS also said they are wanting to do away with transfer windows.

http://www.millwallfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10367~2375406,00.html

Another issue raised at the Football League AGM was the possibility of the 'Transfer Windows' being abolished for domestic transfers. Andy continued: "This is something that would require sanction by UEFA, but it seems to make sense that whilst we are taking steps towards ensuring that clubs are forced to live within their means

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Multiball is a great idea in theory. In practice I am not sure it worked out so well - look at how many times we ended up with two balls on the pitch. What really needs attention is time wasting by keepers. Changing the rules to allow them to take a goal kick from either side was meant to speed the game up. In reality it now gives them the licence to waste time by always taking the kick on the opposite side from where the ball went out.

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This is great news, if the rumours are true that it was infact Super Nicky that suggested this then i for one am delighted. Using only one matchball would save hard pressed clubs cash on having to find multi matchballs and additional funds for ball boys. What another lovely gesture from Nicky to other less fortunate clubs & chairman than ourselves, i am sure other championship chairman are delighted to have such a thoughtful chap amoungst their members.

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I'm actually quite impressed that the League has taken the decision to remove the opportunity for an unfair advantage - anyone who saw Brighton at home last season could see how the supply of balls was being controlled to kill the flow of the game and even back in 2005 Reading were using it to their gain to get promotion to the Prem - though in a much fairer way as they just got the ball back really quickly for everyone, and had trained their players to expect that - which is a fair course of action. It's only when the two teams are served the ball in different ways it's unfair.

 

Of course the logical next step is the introduction of "neutral" ball boy teams and the reintroduction of multiball on a level playing field, because as a concept it's a good idea, it's just the abuse of it by clubs that's caused the problem.

 

On the bright side, Brighton are looking as screwed as I hoped next season, lost 2 of their key players, a stadium which allows the opportunity to spend 2 minutes on a goal kick, AND their entire cheating ballboy squad. I still think they're going to struggle to stay up...

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...or indeed anywhere in the Football League after clubs voted against it at the AGM in Cyprus. Due to "home clubs taking advantage of it" according to the chairman of one club.

 

Simple answer...

we need to train 25,000 home fans to return the ball into play ASAP when its ours, and "employ" ball boys with a minimum age of 65.

Edited by david in sweden
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Simple answer...

we need to train 25,000 home fans to return the ball into play ASAP when its ours, and "employ" ball boys with a minimum age of 65.

 

Heard something the other week about fans abusing multi-ball when their side was leading by waiting for the throw-in and then chucking the original ball back onto the pitch. They were Argentinian though, where the skill in gamesmanship is a tad more admired than here.

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I am indeed. Second season next season. :) I Ball boy "for the away manager" and the cousin "for the home manager" i.e. we are either side of the tunnel.

 

Do you get any pre-match instruction ? Obviously the multi-ball removal thing somewhat pees on your chips, but can you confirm whether or not you spend 6 days a week at Cortese Camp being drilled in towel-using and appropriate ball returning speeds (and how to disappear at 1-0 up with 10 minutes to go)?

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Good decision, teams go 1-0 up and all the ball boys disappear or take twice as long getting the balls.

 

clubs were obviously taking the **** and not even hiding the fact that they had instructed the ball boys to change their behaviour based on the score.

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Good decision, teams go 1-0 up and all the ball boys disappear or take twice as long getting the balls.

 

clubs were obviously taking the **** and not even hiding the fact that they had instructed the ball boys to change their behaviour based on the score.

 

No more obviously than at Withdean.

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I think this decision is in danger of forgetting that as well as being a sport football is entertainment that needs to sell tickets to games. To me the multi-ball system certainly makes matches more entertaining as less time is spent staring at a motionless pitch waiting for the ball to slowly come back from the crowd.

 

Rather than remove the system entirely maybe regulation, policing and disciplining of those abusing the system would have been more beneficial for the game.

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Do you get any pre-match instruction ? Obviously the multi-ball removal thing somewhat pees on your chips, but can you confirm whether or not you spend 6 days a week at Cortese Camp being drilled in towel-using and appropriate ball returning speeds (and how to disappear at 1-0 up with 10 minutes to go)?

 

My experience of this at Saints is nothing like that. I am aware it supposedly happens though.

The only involvement Cortese has had since I have been a ball boy is removing our lunch. We used to get a free meal ticket but now we only get a free drink as opposed to a free cheeseburger, bar and drink. Devastating.

 

I really enjoy it. Good banter with my regulars sat behind me, managers have been mixed towards me, and it's a nice behind the scenes view.

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