The things we love & hate about modern football

The things we love & hate about modern football Most fans born since the turn of the 21st century think that modern-day football is the best era in the sport’s history. They’re wrong. Some elements of football have undoubtedly improved, yet the overall landscape doesn’t compare to the true golden age from the 1960s through to the 1980s. The launch of the Premier League in 1992 was fuelled by the infamous ‘whole new ball game’ marketing strategy, but not everything has changed for the better. With that in mind, read on as we look at the things we love and hate about modern football. What we love about modern football Club rivalries Historical rivalries are the bedrock on which football is built. For the avoidance of doubt, we’re not talking about the artificial ones made up by Sky Sports. Rivalries such as Aston Villa vs Birmingham City, Blackburn Rovers vs Burnley and West Ham United vs Millwall put nonsense such as Crystal Palace vs Brighton & Hove Albion to shame. Community still matters Modern football has become a global behemoth, yet clubs are nothing without their local communities. Fandom is passed down through generations, creating emotional bonds which supporters located overseas cannot begin to comprehend. Better broadcasting In fairness to Sky and other major broadcasters, fans have never had it so good when it comes to watching football. They offer 24/7/365 coverage. The days of waiting until late on Saturday night to watch brief Match of the Day highlights hosted by Jimmy Hill are thankfully long gone. Physical & mental conditioning Sports science has had a major impact on modern football, providing players with the tools they need to maximise their potential. Many professional clubs are also far more adept at offering help to individuals who need support with mental health issues. Modern facilities If you watched football during the 20th century, you’ll be familiar with the unpleasant nature of the facilities on offer in many stadia. Modern grounds are generally more palatable places to visit, although the atmosphere is often less visceral. What we hate about modern football Fans filming games Fans who watch football games through their smartphones should be banned from attending any future matches. Many modern supporters have no concept of ‘living in the moment’. Put your phones down and stop being self-absorbed idiots. Video assistant referee The video assistant referee (VAR) system was introduced into football to make decision-making more accurate. It hasn’t worked. Let’s go back to the days when referees and linesmen were trusted to think for themselves. They’ll make mistakes, but that’s all part of the fun. Cheats and divers Whatever happened to ‘play hard, play fair?’ Modern football is awash with players who feign injury or dive on the floor when they’ve barely been touched. The next time Arsenal defender Gabriel or the rest of the cheats flop to the floor after feeling a gentle breeze, they should be banned for ten games. That’ll stop the nonsense. Modern terminology Clueless pundits who use terms such as ‘low block’ and ‘high press’ to make themselves look clever should be barred from the sport. ‘Expected goals’ is amongst a plethora of other nonsensical banalities that add nothing productive to the football ecosystem. Fabrizio Romano & co Remember when journalism was viewed as a noble profession? It was a role which required reporters to seek out the truth, regardless of the consequences. The rise of clickbait over accuracy, driven by Fabrizio Romano and his ilk, has been hugely detrimental to football media. Fake ‘journalists’ such as Romano are stealing a living.