Probably one for Softie the Stat to explain , but with the season one quarter completed I am memerised by the amount of deflected goals one gets to see in the Premiership . This has been on the increase for a couple of years but so far this season they are heading for record proportions. I have my own views on this but I would like others to explain what they consider to be the main reasons, discuss

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

Answers

Aim-Pot

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

It's the lighter ball. It used to be that the medicine ball we used to play with would stop dead when striking anyone foolish enough to get in the way and snap one of their limbs off which would be sent arcing into the net with a fine spray of blood jetting from the stump.

Now people are either less afraid to get in the way or the unpredictable and quicker flight of the ball is catching them out.

-- Anonymous, October 27, 2001

I think that one of the main reasons is that the box is packed with som many players, and with the keeper often unsighted, more inn-offs are inevitable. It's not like the old days, Buff. When I played centre forward for Bedlington G.S. even when corner kicks were taken I would be standing on the half way line -- usually with some mountainous centre half like Bob Mathewson of Heaton G. S towering menacingly over me. (Bob went on, I think to play for Bolton and became a well respected referee.) Now, everyone seems to be in the six yard area except the other goalkeeper,pushing, pulling, tugging shirts except the other goalie, unless, that is, his name is Schmeichel.

-- Anonymous, October 28, 2001