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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Don't mistake not liking it with not understanding it [/quote]

Thank you. It isn't rocket science.  You get the ball and try and generate opportunities to score. We understand it just fine. At its core, it is not that different than many American field sports like lacrosse, hockey, and even volleyball and basketball (albeit often with more players and a bigger field).  Possess the ball, move the ball, create mismatches/numbers advantages, and generate high-quality scoring opportunities.  How you do it is generally the same -- move without the ball to strategically-advantageous open space, utilize crisp and accurate ball movement.  Even football is the same (albeit much more structured and without the continuous in-game flow).

I don't like it (I don't hate it, but I don't watch it at the professional level) b/c the rules (offsides) depress scoring opportunities and archaic traditions (clock management/transparency) are non-sensical and frustrating.

[/quote]

You not understanding the point of offsides means it might just be rocket science for you.  Imagine if "cherry picking" was allowed?  Where would defenders need to stand?  It would create massive gaps in the midfield and ruin the game.  Offsides in necessary...otherwise you would have defenders parking the bus and waiting for the attack.  It would reduce scoring opportunities so much more.

Also, clock management is a problem in all sports.  If you don't think they are wasting time in other sports, you might just not be wanting to see it.  I'm not trying to convert you because I don't care.  Soccer is the biggest sport in the world and Americans just want to hate it.  The same people who call it boring also watch baseball...shoot me now.  Those bemoaning flopping in soccer love the NBA or love it when their favorite NFL receiver makes it very clear their arm was touched.  It's just bias and that is fine...it's our lovely culture.[/quote]

Have you watched a lacrosse game?  They are REQUIRED to "park the bus" and yet the offense manages to generate plenty of scoring opportunities.  And what is wrong with open space in the midfield?  In hockey, they eliminated the two-line pass to open up center ice, and the game is faster and more exciting.

Of course they are wasting time in other sports.  But when a player goes down for an injury or the ball/puck goes out of play, they transparently stop the clock and restart it when play resumes.  Imagine that: An actual clock that shows the fans, coaches, and players exactly how much time is left.  And no, I don't love it when a basketball player flops or a receiver makes histrionics when he thinks he is interfered with, but it doesn't interrupt the flow of the game.

[/quote]

You can't be talking about flow...you can't.  With the clock stopping constantly and ridiculous commercials every couple minutes.  It is the worst.  And yes, your examples absolutely ruin the flow of the game cause the clock has to stop unlike soccer.  You just don't want to like it and that's ok.  I personally think the added time in soccer is a fun wrinkle in the sport and it makes it more enjoyable for me.

Lacrosse is not soccer and I daresay (based on score) it's a lot tougher to score a goal in soccer.  Reducing fast break opportunities in soccer would be a disaster.  Lacrosse may be able to survive it, but soccer wouldn't.  Opening up the midfield might be fine in hockey because the rink is tiny.  In soccer, parking the bus because of no offsides would basically create two games...one in our attacking third and one in yours.  The field is far too large to do this.  The sport is fine the way it is, you just don't like it.  [/quote]

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