Confession #1: I hate soccer.  In my opinion (obviously) it’s a simplistic sport that relies on over-complicating itself  in a way that stifles true talent. In doing this, soccer appeals to both the masses with simplistic rules and the elite with pointless complications that go over the collective heads of the masses.  It’s a delicate dance for a game that doesn’t trust itself to be interesting on it’s own merit. This leads to endless circular tactics and simulation to gain the smallest advantage.  Imagine if the sporting body allowed it’s true talents to run rather than holding them back with rules designed for defense.  Offsides, kicking the ball back to the keeper, being rewarded for kicking the ball sideways out of the box rather than back all keep the best soccer players from being the best they can be.  Yes, they’ll still find a way to entertain and impress, but just imagine if they weren’t being held back in a conservative effort to keep the game as it once was.

Continue Reading