UEFA to scrap away goals?

Coillte_Bhoy · 05-02-2019 04:42PM #1

Anyone hear about an announcement expected tomorrow?

LuckyLloyd · 05-02-2019 04:57PM

I actually like the added dynamic of away goals in European ties, but removing them would make sense. They were introduced in an era of the iron curtain, where travel was more difficult, teams had much smaller squads, you were able to pass it back to a goalkeeper to pick it up and - most crucially - you could kick the opposition's best player off the park. It was easier to park the bus, and a far more desirable tactical option. Home advantage is way less prevalent in contemporary football and as such I think it could be a reasonable time for a change.

Arghus · 05-02-2019 05:25PM

I think, as LL said above, they came from a different era and made sense at the time, but I think they have the opposite effect of intended these days - teams are afraid to really go for it at home and scrapping it could help make for much more exciting ties.

osarusan · 05-02-2019 05:29PM

I'd have no problem with it being scrapped. It's such a big advantage given the relative rarity of goals, and the conditions which made it a good idea don't really exist that much any more.

Although it would bring an end to the 'team is out as it stands but if they score once they are through' tension, which is always great.

KaiserGunner · 05-02-2019 05:35PM

About time, I hope. There is nothing worse than going out on away goals. Is one of the most unfair rulings imo.

Drumpot · 05-02-2019 05:35PM

LuckyLloyd wrote: »

I actually like the added dynamic of away goals in European ties, but removing them would make sense. They were introduced in an era of the iron curtain, where travel was more difficult, teams had much smaller squads, you were able to pass it back to a goalkeeper to pick it up and - most crucially - you could kick the opposition's best player off the park. It was easier to park the bus, and a far more desirable tactical option. Home advantage is way less prevalent in contemporary football and as such I think it could be a reasonable time for a change.

I agree, the original reason for bringing it in doesn’t really exist. Now if they abolished it and a higher proportionate of 2nd leg games started to become Ireland v Holland 1990 in the last 20 mins , they would have to review it.

It actually takes the sting out of a second leg to a large degree. I actually always preferred to be playing away in the second game. I hated it when united got a 0-0 away only to be undone by away goal. Also the two for one value was a savage advantage to an away team in the second leg.

The next question then should naturally be if whether or not extra time should also be scraped and just have Penos after 180 mins.

05-02-2019 05:45PM

Drumpot wrote: »

The next question then should naturally be if whether or not extra time should also be scraped and just have Penos after 180 mins.

Penos after 90, which only count if the second leg is a draw, in which case, they carry on.
0-0 first game
5-3 penos
0-0 second game
Penos start again at 5-3

Or
0-0 first game
5-3 penos
0-1 second game
We have a winner!

Mr.Nice Guy · 05-02-2019 06:37PM

Probably in the minority but I'll be very disappointed if they get rid of it. I think it adds a thrilling element of jeopardy and tension.

artanevilla · 05-02-2019 06:40PM

Away goals counting in extra time is very unfair imo.

GLaDOS · 05-02-2019 06:42PM

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Probably in the minority but I'll be very disappointed if they get rid of it. I think it adds a thrilling element of jeopardy and tension.

Agree, love the way a tie can swing dramatically with a single goal.

Greybottle · 05-02-2019 06:49PM

Drumpot wrote: »

I agree, the original reason for bringing it in doesn’t really exist.

The solution before that was a coin toss, some big games were decided on that .

So yeah, the away goals was a big improvement. Notably Celtic beat Benfica in the European Cup 2nd Round on a coin toss in 1969-70, they ended up getting to the final. Italy beat USSR on a coin toss as well in the 1968 European Championships Semi-Final, they went on to win it as well.

As LuckyLoyd said above, home advantage isn't as important as it was in the 70's, 80's and 90's. Time for a change, it's good to refresh the rules once in a while. I think it's a positive thing.

Harry Palmr · 05-02-2019 06:56PM

I like the away goals rule - very strategic.

dfx- · 05-02-2019 11:53PM

Mr.Nice Guy wrote: »

Probably in the minority but I'll be very disappointed if they get rid of it. I think it adds a thrilling element of jeopardy and tension.

the Roma v Barcelona shock wouldn't have happened without it. It has provided incredible drama over the years...Barcelona v Chelsea in 2009...

06-02-2019 12:11AM

I think it should be scrapped for extra time instance but withing the 90 minutes i find it a quite fun aspect of the game

Strumms · 06-02-2019 12:20AM

Get rid of it. The idea that you could score the same amount of goals as your opponent over two legs, be the better side over two legs yet get turfed out of the competition has always been ridiculous and unfair in the extreme. Penalties is not the best way to exit a competition but at least it’s somewhat more fair and even process.

Collie D · 06-02-2019 08:14AM

Is there anything to this? They have announced the scrapping of the assistant refs behind the goals

06-02-2019 08:55AM

Collie D wrote: »

Is there anything to this? They have announced the scrapping of the assistant refs behind the goals

Introducing VAR probably made them redundant, not that they did much it seems anyway

Morzadec · 06-02-2019 11:48AM

Mixed feelings, it makes very little sense as a rule these days and it feels very unfair when you're on the wrong end of it.

It can also end ties early, making a turnaround an impossible task where you have that fear factor of "concede one and suddenly we have to score 3".

That said, it's the only way in football that you can swing defeat into victory in a single moment. Rugby, basketball and loads of other sports have this ingrained into them because of their scoring system. As has been mentioned above it can create moments of unbearable tension, and managing the game strategy of when to stick and twist adds a whole other dynamic to the match.

Thinking back to moments like Gudjohnson's chance in the last minute at Liverpool in 05 (3.30 in the video below), it just wouldn't have had the same same drama and tension had it meant extra time / penos instead of defeat:

For that reason, and dramatic moments like the one above, I think I'd keep it.

Boom_Bap · 06-02-2019 12:08PM

It's a bullsh*t rule, it always leads to one team playing defensive football in the second leg. Football should be about winning by the highest number of goals, not where you score them.

UEFA to scrap away goals?

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