I don't go to matches very often, but had been a Sky Sports subscriber since 2003, which I cancelled last month for a variety of reasons.
It would be interesting to see if time wasting has increased over the years (it does appear that way), but assuming it's been static I must have spent thousands watching nothing over almost 23 years.
I now get much better analysis and content from Substack, LFCTV and the odd YouTube video. Much better value and far less paying for dead time.
I think the ball in-play time is about the same as ever, but the time wasting is going up. So games last longer without any extra football being played.
I love the look at this through data, especially the referee's involved.
I wish there was a way to get more granular with time data. Goal celebrations (or the time between a goal and subsequent kickoff) might, but might not, provide too much noise. Man City winning 4-0 would have more time celebrating goals but the last two might not take much time. Wolves drawing 2-2 at home with a last minute equalizer that's given, goes to VAR and then upheld would see a huge difference between the goal scored and the subsequent kickoff.
The available data lists goal kicks, free kicks, throw ins, corners and then 'other' without specifying what is included. I assume celebrations are in there but no way to be certain. As I have to copy it all down manually, I just recorded the totals!
Is there a case for a game in play clock of, say 60 or 70 minutes, being brought into the game?
And I realise that's against my desire of keeping the officiating as simple as possible to maintain the connection between professional and amateur but it's a negative for enjoyment of the game as a spectator
It makes sense but people make the argument that the time wasting wouldn't change as it's partly about breaking up play, halting momentum etc. And with that who knows how long a game would last!
Any surprises here? Probably not.
Fascinating piece Beez.
I don't go to matches very often, but had been a Sky Sports subscriber since 2003, which I cancelled last month for a variety of reasons.
It would be interesting to see if time wasting has increased over the years (it does appear that way), but assuming it's been static I must have spent thousands watching nothing over almost 23 years.
I now get much better analysis and content from Substack, LFCTV and the odd YouTube video. Much better value and far less paying for dead time.
Thanks, mate.
I think the ball in-play time is about the same as ever, but the time wasting is going up. So games last longer without any extra football being played.
https://theanalyst.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/last-10-seasons-ball-in-play-premier-league-1.png
Blimey.
I wonder if Sky will be receptive to a retrospective partial refund? 😅
Good luck with that!
I love the look at this through data, especially the referee's involved.
I wish there was a way to get more granular with time data. Goal celebrations (or the time between a goal and subsequent kickoff) might, but might not, provide too much noise. Man City winning 4-0 would have more time celebrating goals but the last two might not take much time. Wolves drawing 2-2 at home with a last minute equalizer that's given, goes to VAR and then upheld would see a huge difference between the goal scored and the subsequent kickoff.
The available data lists goal kicks, free kicks, throw ins, corners and then 'other' without specifying what is included. I assume celebrations are in there but no way to be certain. As I have to copy it all down manually, I just recorded the totals!
Is there a case for a game in play clock of, say 60 or 70 minutes, being brought into the game?
And I realise that's against my desire of keeping the officiating as simple as possible to maintain the connection between professional and amateur but it's a negative for enjoyment of the game as a spectator
It makes sense but people make the argument that the time wasting wouldn't change as it's partly about breaking up play, halting momentum etc. And with that who knows how long a game would last!
American football, three and a half hours to play 60 minutes of football 😄