3 ms·
I imagine the discount on a lopsided game is because the teams stop really playing. After 3 goals or so it's generally a done deal. So you start to see players
by ohashi 12y ago
I imagine the discount on a lopsided game is because the teams stop really playing. After 3 goals or so it's generally a done deal. So you start to see players pulled, playing very differently (conservatively).
- SamReidHughes 12y agoAlso, it's in the losing team's best interest to play for high variance, low expected value.
- zimpenfish 12y agoThat might apply in a league where you can amortise that loss over a whole bunch of games but in a single-shot knockout game, I'd expect a professional team to keep fighting even at 5-0 down - much as the Brazilians did in the second half. If it weren't for Neuer's outstanding saves, they could have had 3+ goals in the first 15 minutes. (Although the league sometimes doesn't work like that either - I remember listening to Spurs vs Man Utd when Man Utd went in at half-time 3-0 down and ended up winning 5-3 in what is possibly the most epic half of football I've heard in 30+ years.)
- coriny 12y agoArsenal coming back from 4-1 down against Reading to win 7-5 was pretty epic as well. Also, goal difference is important in leagues, so teams tend to play to the end even if the gap is large. Though I think this could be improved by changing to 2 points for a win, with a bonus point for scoring 3+ goals.