The Modernist wrote:Games are 70 minutes in length, but an independent timekeeper stops the clock each time play is stopped or the ball goes out of play
No, I'm happy with things as they are.
Actually my suggestion was 60 minutes.
I think you may be missing the point here G - the ball is 'in play' now for an average of 55 minutes. This is taking actual games over a prolonged period. So you're not getting any less football. But what you will stop is time-wasting. There is simply no point in taking 30 seconds over every throw in or corner or goal kick - or the 90 seconds free kicks around the area now take. Or the new one - the substitution by the team in front, where the player coming off is always the furthest away from the fourth official, and then takes a minute to trundle over... all a complete waste of time. The clock is stopped so it makes no difference if you take ten fucking minutes over taking that goal kick (or whatever)... the clock doesn't start ticking until the ball is kicked and actually 'in play'.
Isn't that something you'd like to see, or do you get some perverse delight watching players throw the ball to another (having already wiped it dry) and then that player take another thirty seconds over actually getting the ball in play? Or the goalkeeper insisting on inspecting his studs before every goal kick and then moving the ball three centimeters to the left before retreating and studying the position of every single player, and then have that ridiculous hand signal exchange we get every time - before he just hoofs the ball forward in exactly the same manner as every other time? Etc etc etc.
I know American sports aren't your thing but the one certainty with the NFL is you never seeing anyone 'time wasting' or roling around faking injuries because there is absolutely no point or benefit in doing so.