15 Dec 2008

Premier League 2009: A Christmas wish-list by Mike Norman

What would you like to see changed in the game next year? Mr Norman has made his choices...


Post-match concerts, under-seat heating, and Arsene Wenger to be forced to watch a replay of a major incident before being questioned about it.

These are just a few of the more 'exaggerated' things I would put on my Christmas wish list to happen in the Premiership during 2009. But what about those improvements that could realistically be introduced/removed (but probably won't because the hierarchy hasn't got a clue) to ensure that the Premiership continues to be the greatest football league in the world?

* * *

Stop going by 'the letter of the law' so much and instead use common sense.

I'm sick to death of hearing the words, "It was harsh, but by the letter of the law he had to go". If only a referee had the balls to stop worrying about what the assessor will think if he doesn't go by what's written in an instruction manual, and instead use a bit of plain old common sense.

Football is an extremely passionate sport in which players produce massive amounts of effort and express high emotion. So when a midfielder produces the performance of his life, only to mistime a tackle in the last five minutes and send an opposing playing crashing to the floor, then why not have a word in his ear and warn him to settle down instead of cautioning him? Likewise, when the same midfielder scores a last minute winner, why produce a second yellow card when he celebrates by hugging a supporter in the front row?

Oh, of course, going into the crowd might incite trouble and must be punished with a yellow card according to the letter of the law - how pathetic!

Technical Areas - what's the point?

Don't you just love technical areas - a few white lines designed to stop a manager from running down a touch-line to pass on instructions to his players?

So technical in fact, that the manager isn't allowed to cross the white line, but he can give his substitutes detailed instructions, tell them to go and warm up, and before you know the left-back is now playing on the right-wing, the defence is not playing so deep and the goalkeeper has turned into the cat after being threatened with reserve team football. All just like the gaffer requested - that's the magic of technical areas!

Get rid of Saturday lunch-time kick-offs.

Unless you're a fan of one of the teams playing then most of the football audience is either still in bed, washing the car with the kids, or being dragged around a clothes store by someone wanting expert advice (but never listens) on what to wear that evening.

Of course, television dictates the timing of many fixtures these days and we are all thankful for the money that has came into the game through this avenue, but if the people in charge can't see that these Saturday lunch-time games are dull, low-key and lack atmosphere then there is something wrong. And besides, who wants to go to the pub, get lashed and have a curry before the 3pm games have even kicked off? Actually...

TV evidence/referee - surely a case of when and not if.

I have to admit to being a fan of the technology used in rugby and cricket that gives an immediate answer as to whether something happened or not.

When I attend Middlesbrough games I sit five feet away from the press box. In that area they have TV monitors that show replays of the action within seconds of it happening. There's even TV monitors next to the dug out so managers, coaches and officials can see straight away whether a referee has got a decision right or wrong. I assume the same is true at every Premiership ground.

So effectively the technology is already there, we are just not using it. All it takes if for a ref to be wired up to an official in the stands who has access to these replays. The only debate for me is whether we use this technology for everything, or just use it for incidents that could result in a goal/penalty.

More loyalty shown towards managers.

This is not something the Premiership can introduce themselves, but something every club within the Premiership can take a responsibility in doing.

I wouldn't be surprised if Paul Ince is the next to get the boot but what did Blackburn expect? They hired a manager who had previously only been in charge of lower league clubs Macclesfield and MK Dons, sold their star player David Bentley, and give Ince next to no money to spend in the transfer market.

Gianfranco Zola and Mark Hughes are two other managers who have barely reserved a car parking space at their new clubs, yet somehow this morning find themselves being talked about as being replaced if results don't improve.