Both teams should get zero points for 0-0 draws
It seems at the minute, there are quite a lot of ideas flying around concerning possible rule changes in football and the latest one mooted appears to be whether both teams should receive zero points for a 0-0 draw.
Obviously, this would have its fair share of upsides and drawbacks and it would depend on a case-by-case basis according to a particular club.
No points for both teams when the game ends in a 0-0 draw https://t.co/YUT5X60hvC
— SPIKE⚡ (@dennizzer_k) October 1, 2024
Take a promoted club, for example, that has just got back into the English Premier League. For many, they focus on keeping things tight in defence and not conceding, however, it is often the case that when this happens, they can’t score.
Why This Might Not Be Popular
For the last two years in the Premier League, we have seen every promoted club go straight back down; the gulf in quality is there for all to see.
Whether this season will change things, remains to be seen, though, for many promoted clubs in the future, implementing this rule change could result in them going straight back down on single-digit points. We might even see a new record.
The fact is that promoted clubs cannot compete financially with established Premier League sides, unless they get lucky and are able to attract the right players at the right price.
It would, obviously force these promoted sides into playing more attacking football, though against quality Premier League defenders and attackers, they could find themselves considerably exposed on the counter-attack, like Leeds United at times under Marcelo Bielsa.
Of course, we might see clubs adopting the tactic of scoring early and trying to see the rest of the game out, though realistically thinking that if their opponents do score and it finishes 1-1 then at least, they’ll get a point from it (as opposed to zero for a goalless draw)
A Money Spinner For Clubs?
Arguably, every football fan, neutral or otherwise likes to see attacking football and this is why audiences tune into games and buy tickets. If attacking football suddenly became a major advent, because of a zero point for zero goals rule being implemented, then this could generate even more money in the sport.
Television companies would likely bid more, due to a likely increased demand, which would mean an even larger share of the pie for clubs. The obvious knock-on effect could be clubs changing their transfer policy to buying more (and better) attackers, because they have the budget to afford them.
We may even see defenders suddenly being trained with more technical attacking traits, a la Ajax and Netherlands of the 1970s when their ‘Total Football’ philosophy dictated that virtually every footballer should be capable of playing effectively in every position.
An Interesting Idea But Probably Not Realistic
While this would undoubtedly have its upsides, it is probably too radical to be introduced at the minute, during a time where there has been a lot of change in football over the last few years, which includes the controversial introduction of VAR amongst other things.
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It would also probably make it impossible for promoted clubs to stay in their respective divisions as well, due to the gulf in quality and being able to attract the right kind of players that can score enough goals to keep them there.