NationStates Jolt Archive

Strikers apparantly love it. Most field players admire it. But goalies apparantly hate it? Both the US and England goalies have come out strongly against the new ball. Goalies have claimed it "dosen't fly true", that it is "slippery when wet" and England's goalie has stated his strong belief that its much lighter than a typical ball, and he compared it to a volleyball.

The US goalie went so far as to state that he felt it was a FIFA ploy. His quote on US television "That's what FIFA wants. They want more scoring and they don't care how they get it".

Thoughts?

That's almost like taking the laces off an NFL football. Except in this case, scoring happens more often.

If the laces were to be taken off an NFL football, there would be a lot less scoring (interceptions, fumbled pass attempts, fumbles when being tackled, etc.).

I don't really watch the sport, but I can sympathise with the goalies. Making it easier for one position, or side, to score in any sport is lame.

Well, I like goals - not on Australia's net, mind you - but I dunno about the new ball. Seamless? Eh...I'll give it a chance, regardless. Let's see how well it does in this Cup, and we can keep it if it performs well. If it doesn't...we pin it to a stake and burn it. Why not? :p

If it doesn't...we pin it to a stake and burn it. Why not? :p

Why not indeed? It's the traditional Catholic approach. :)

Meh. More goals = good. Everyone has to use the same ball, so it's fair enough to me.

Why not indeed? It's the traditional Catholic approach. :)

Funny how I'm Athiest though, eh? ;)

Uh oh...does that just make me a sick, sick person for wanting to tie something to a stake and burn it? I'll say...no. :p

Funny how I'm Athiest though, eh? ;)

Uh oh...does that just make me a sick, sick person for wanting to tie something to a stake and burn it? I'll say...no. :p

*cough*It's Atheist*cough*

*cough*It's Atheist*cough*

:eek:

Meh. More goals = good. Everyone has to use the same ball, so it's fair enough to me.

I agree. I love to see goals scored & the same style of ball is used in every game. I really don't see what the issue is.

I've played with this thing and as a keeper it's improssable to save. It's about half as light as the old one so it goes quickers and stays in the air better. it also moves like a bananana, it us truely impossable to save. If you strike it anywhere other than the middle it curves all voer the shop. If you hit it right it'll curve one way and then the other.

It's also very slippery, it has even less grip that a normal ball being seamless which makes it hard to catch. Like a bar of soap.

Keepers have a hard enough job, you can have a great cup but then be lamblasted for letting a four yarder over you head (Seamen, 2002 anyone?) so it doesn't help when balls can change directions about five times towards going into the net.

Lehman has been unhappy with the new ball and I can see why, look at the trouble the Costa Rica keeper had from long range efforts.

It does feel like a ploy to boost scoring. WHich won't be a problem for rock-solid defences *looks cheerfully at the England defence* but ones which rely more on their keeper are absolutely buggered.

Keepers have a hard enough job, you can have a great cup but then be lamblasted for letting a four yarder over you head (Seamen, 2002 anyone?) so it doesn't help when balls can change directions about five times towards going into the net.

Lehman has been unhappy with the new ball and I can see why, look at the trouble the Costa Rica keeper had from long range efforts.
Look at alkl the keepers fromlems, most of them wehre resorting to punching the damn thind (Which nowi dosn't hurt) or just getting there body behind it. If you try to catch it your buggered.

It's scoring chances, not goals that make a game exciting. If a team has loads of scoring chances but the goalie completely pwns them, it's still a good game. Seeing an amazing save is something special.

It's scoring chances, not goals that make a game exciting. If a team has loads of scoring chances but the goalie completely pwns them, it's still a good game. Seeing an amazing save is something special.

I agree. One of my best moments in the opening day of this world cup was Porras plunging to his right to beat away a header from a German player. It was a great save and as exciting as any of the eight goals scored that day

Here's a question then. Why do the strikers like it so much if its destination is so unpredictable? I'd assume strikers like to place the ball, that they aren't just kicking blindly....

Goalies do like to be able to grip the ball properly, so removing the seam especially when it's rather wet makes it harder for them.

so, what...

http://www.superdairyboy.com/pictures/bestway/beach_balls/smile200.jpg

...? :confused:


(i always thought the shape of a football was really quite clever, with all the octagons/hexagons (forget which) giving the player's foot a flat plane on which to strike... i can quite see this new ball behaving all weird...
not that i actually care that much :p)

Well, now that a few matches have gone by, I think I can honestly say that the ball really doesn't seem to be making much difference in the game. I mean, there're LESS goals being scored this year than the last World Cup, so I doubt the keepers are having too difficult a time with it. Seams or no...doesn't really seem to matter. :p

Meh. More goals = good. Everyone has to use the same ball, so it's fair enough to me.
Unless you have a defensive minded team, in which case you're screwed.

Keep the ball, get rid of the Keepers. That will get scoring up.

I remember reading that seams help steady the ball in flight, much like the dimples on a golfball, and that the less seams/panels it has, the more it bobs and waves in flight.

The BBC comes to the rescue:
The Science Behind the Swerve (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/5048238.stm)

It seems to me that people taking shots are actually having difficulty controlling it. And a lot of long passes are being overhit as well. I think it is actually making the quality of the play worse, and making it harder for attacking teams to score because it is more difficult not to make mistakes when you're passing it around.

So I'm not surprised to see fewer goals, actually.

It's a fricken beach ball. What more can you say?

More scoring and all the scoring records being shattered will be a good start towards making it a better game. I say make the goal a meter wider as well.

Simply put that ball sucks the dick!

I have heard Strikers dislike it for its unpredictability it bounces too much(abnormally high)was one of the complaints i have seen.

Ball Jugglers may like it for doing their tricks but it is unweildy.

Owen or Gerrard disliked it!