Arrivederci negative football

[blewuporstuffed]

watching Dublin V Kildare on Saturday, the entire steps issue did come into my head, especially Jack Mccaffrey, it appeared that he was taking a lot more steps than five, more like eight or ten, Paul Earley in the commentary box was so enamored by his speed that he was oblivious to the steps issue. Mccaffrey was not the only one, but he was pretty obvious.

Going forward, under the current rules, it will be difficult to train/recruit kids to become backs.

Going by alot of people on here they expect defenders to be nothing more that fodder for the free scoring forward. The attacking side of the game seems to be the only one that matters

[johnneycool]

I agree with haranguerer here, in days gone by often the first 'skill' of defending was to get fist full of an attackers jersey and not let it go for the day. The second one, as haranguerer says was to wildly swing away at the forward in the hope of maybe hitting the ball but if not the arms or body would do. I think defending has improved immeasurably but when you can't foul as much and the quality of the ball in is much better then more scores accrue.

On a related point, why is a high scoring hurling game brilliant and 12 steps being allowed less of an issue for football fans but a high scoring football match and 6 steps in a sign that football  is becoming basketball?

I can't get into this high scoring game equals good game shite either, good defending is a skill and should be lauded as much as good attacking play. Hurling by its nature can be high scoring due to the fact you can put a ball over the bar from 80 metres out, but great scores come from attacking play or players getting the better of good defending.

Defenders in hurling have more opportunity to rob an opponent off the ball as the only time you are in true possession of the ball is when its in your hand, put it on the end of the hurl and it can legally be knocked off or flicked away and you're restricted in having the ball only twice in your hand.
In football its not too often you see someone lose possession when hopping it and any attempt to knock the ball away whilst in the hands of an opponent isn't normally successful. Blocking the kick is the only real option for a defender.

I'd like to see the steps thing tightened up in both codes TBH.

[AZOffaly]

DJ Carey. No more needs to be said.

[johnneycool]

DJ Carey. No more needs to be said.

Tomas Mulcahy made the mould, DJ broke it..