Ballboys should be neutral

[Dharmabum]

For a while I have been thinking about the fact that ballboys are from the home team and what an advantage that can cause at time is not fair. And when a ballboy become a hero in CL semi-final because he "tricked" the opposing team it's time to look at the role those ballboys plays.
I would suggest that in the CL and EPL - and other main leagues - the ballboys should be neutral. Yes, it will cost a bit extra and one can never guarantee they're totally unbiased but home teams do have an unfair advantage due to the ballboys being drilled into how to help their home team.



https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/9051471/mourinho-man-utd-ballboys-barcelona/

Mourinho told RT: "You want a quick throw in, the ball boys need to know you want a quick throw in.
"The ball must arrive fast. I had a club where the club never understood how important the ball boys are.

"Even if you are winning, that speed is important. The goal kicks, the tempo of the game, the ball boys, in a good structure, can also play a part.

"People don’t know that a real football club, every detail is very, very important. In this game, the kid, very intelligent, very bright.
"I don’t know if he’s an academy player or not, but the kid knew what he was going to do."

 

[TheChosenOne]

Depends on the benefits .
.
https://www.google.com/search?q=spu...j1j8&hl=en-GB&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8

 

[Col_M]

Refs should be able to book an off field representative. Two bookings and its a massive fine for the home club. They need to uphold sportsmanship.

 

[bubble07]

It's all part of the home advantage. Sooner or later ballboys will have contracts and transfer fees

 

[Flynn]

Can't remember who it was but there was one team that the ball boys would towel dry the ball for the home team but leave it wet for the away team.
IMO that's going a bit far but unless they are deliberately with holding the ball from the away team to time waste I'm not too bothered by it.

Frankly, the FA will be more concerned about people calling them Ballboys than the effect they have on the game.

 

[chrissivad]

Can't remember who it was but there was one team that the ball boys would towel dry the ball for the home team but leave it wet for the away team.
IMO that's going a bit far but unless they are deliberately with holding the ball from the away team to time waste I'm not too bothered by it.

Frankly, the FA will be more concerned about people calling them Ballboys than the effect they have on the game.

I'm sure it was a team like Stoke that had a player who could laugh it into the box.

I'm sure the fa stepped in and said the towl needs to be avaliable for both or neither teams.

 

['O Zio]

How would that work though? What random kid from, say Newcastle, is going to want to schlepp down to eg Leicester to be a ballboy at Leicester Vs Watford or something? Or more to the point are you going to find parents who can be arsed taking them?

 

[Gb160]

Thought this was a gender thread for a minute.
Ballpeople.

 

[Dharmabum]

How would that work though? What random kid from, say Newcastle, is going to want to schlepp down to eg Leicester to be a ballboy at Leicester Vs Watford or something? Or more to the point are you going to find parents who can be arsed taking them?

I see no problem in paying people - boys AND girls - for doing the job.

 

[nailsy]

I don't see the problem. You play most teams home and away so you get the advantage once each. It's only really cup games where one side might get an advantage.

And if you start using neutral ball people then you sound probably use neutral grounds people so that the length of the grass doesn't favour a particular team?

 

[kr1978]

I'm sure it was a team like Stoke that had a player who could laugh it into the box.

I'm sure the fa stepped in and said the towl needs to be avaliable for both or neither teams.

Rory Delap?

 

[Tucker]

It would be a logistical nightmare. It’s bad enough ensuring the ref is neutral and his allegiances aren’t questioned.

Imagine trying to do that with a bunch of kids. Get real.

 

['O Zio]

I see no problem in paying people - boys AND girls - for doing the job.

OK, but when you can get them for free why bother? Just seems like you're finding a complicated solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. Alright so occasionally you might get some cheeky kid who doesn't throw the ball back quite as quickly as they could've done, but thats nothing compared to the amount of time that's wasted by the players themselves. It's such a minor issue and any other system would involve so much more time/effort/ money than the current system that it just doesn't seem worth it. There are far bigger issues with the game that are a much higher priority to be honeat

 

[Dharmabum]

OK, but when you can get them for free why bother? Just seems like you're finding a complicated solution to a problem that doesn't really exist. Alright so occasionally you might get some cheeky kid who doesn't throw the ball back quite as quickly as they could've done, but thats nothing compared to the amount of time that's wasted by the players themselves. It's such a minor issue and any other system would involve so much more time/effort/ money than the current system that it just doesn't seem worth it. There are far bigger issues with the game that are a much higher priority to be honeat

If is is such a minor issue why can it decide the outcome of certain games? And why did Jose sack ball-fetchers for not doing a good enough job if it was a minor issue?
The ball-fetchers (rather than ballboys as there are girls also doing the job) does not delay throwing the ball to the "opposing" team to waste time but to delay them making attacking moves; I see now comparison between the two.
It would cost a very tiny fraction of what money the EPL earn to introduce such a system.
And regarding time wasting: FIFA should introduce "effective playing time" and that problem would be solved.

 

['O Zio]

If is is such a minor issue why can it decide the outcome of certain games? And why did Jose sack ball-fetchers for not doing a good enough job if it was a minor issue?
The ball-fetchers (rather than ballboys as there are girls also doing the job) does not delay throwing the ball to the "opposing" team to waste time but to delay them making attacking moves; I see now comparison between the two.
It would cost a very tiny fraction of what money the EPL earn to introduce such a system.
And regarding time wasting: FIFA should introduce "effective playing time" and that problem would be solved.

The real issue is time wasting so let's fix that by stopping the clock rather than faffing around with an unworkable plan to hire professional neutral ball boys. They already struggle to find referees so I don't see how you think it's feasible to make neutral paid ballbiys. It's just not going to happen and it such a minor issue that it's not worth the trouble

 

[Dharmabum]

The real issue is time wasting so let's fix that by stopping the clock rather than faffing around with an unworkable plan to hire professional neutral ball boys. They already struggle to find referees so I don't see how you think it's feasible to make neutral paid ballbiys. It's just not going to happen and it such a minor issue that it's not worth the trouble

There is a big difference between being a ref and being a ball-fetcher, so it can't be compared. If they can plenty of security guards I can't why they can't neutral ball-fetchers.
And it's not a minor issue when games are swayed and decided by biased ball-fetchers.
Anyway, at least we can agree to disagree...

 

['O Zio]

There is a big difference between being a ref and being a ball-fetcher, so it can't be compared. If they can plenty of security guards I can't why they can't neutral ball-fetchers.
And it's not a minor issue when games are swayed and decided by biased ball-fetchers.
Anyway, at least we can agree to disagree...

Security guards/stewards etc. Are people who live and work locally. If you want a truly "neutral" ball boys then you'd have to bring people in from outside the local area. And the point about refs I was making is that refs are paid pretty handsomely and theyre struggle to recruit them, so I imagine that problem would be even worse for "professional" ball boys who would be paid almost nothing and have to give up their weekends (and their parents weekends) schlepping all up and down the country. Who in their right mind is going to be a professional ball boy driving g u and down the country all weekend for like 10 quid an hour? Nobody is the answer

Like I say, it's just in no way practical and I think you're massively overstating the importance of it and turning a complete non issue into something it's not. Creating a problem that barely exists and coming up with a completely unworkable and unnecessary solution to it

 

[Coco-1101]

Its the same for all teams. I don't know why its bothering you.

 

[Dharmabum]

Its the same for all teams. I don't know why its bothering you.

It is not the same. The outcome differs from game to so so it is not the same in every game. It is not a mathematical forumala that guarantees that it equals out during the season. I keep on reading about fans saying that ref decision for and against equals out during the season - but it doesn't. The same with the ball-fetchers.
I remember a few seasons back when I suggested we had video refs and all bad reactions I got then and how few who supported it then
It's because of VAR Spurs are in the CL final.

 

[scat1620]

Nonsense thread. Partisan ballboys is part of the fun of the game.