Ever wondered why your son is locked up in his room infront of his TV on Saturday nights and refusing to go out for family get togethers? Ever wondered why your husband has cancelled a date with you on a weekend? Ever wondered why your brother is not available to take you shopping during weekend nights? The answer lies right here. Read on..
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| The trophy every team plays for |
Come 16th August almost all boys (and alot of girls too) will not want to come out on weekends with family. Although we do not suggest it is the right thing to do, knowing the reason behind this behavior is a must. Your kid has been attacked by what is known as 'Football Mania'- a craze which has taken the nation by storm. Once infected, there is no cure to it. So it is rather pointless trying to maneuver his interest somewhere. Now the question arises is why the date 16th August?
The very answer to that is that it is the inaugural day of the Barclays Premier League (English football's top flight League). No football fan wants to miss the starting day of the League as his heart is thumping with excitement and he is ready and raring to support his favorite team. So, instead of forcing them to come out with you on this special day, we, the team of 18 Yard Box have decided to enlighten you with the basic concepts of the game and the top five teams to look out for so that you too can enjoy his passion the way he does.
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| A game that united millions |
League Format
The League format is not very much different from the IPL (Indian Premier League). What follows in the IPL is a concept adopted from the English League (widely known as EPL). Where IPL consists of 8 teams, there are 20 teams in the EPL each having their own football stadium and owners. Each team will face the other 19 teams precisely twice, once at their home ground and once at the opponents' home ground, creating a football festival which spans over 9 months. However, the EPL format differs from the IPL one in many ways. Some basic differences are listed below :
- Each match is of 90 minutes divided into two halves of 45 minutes each. There is an interval of 15 minutes between the two. Each team consists of 11 players (10 outfield players + 1 goalkeeper).
- The team who scores the maximum goals in the match wins it.
- Each win gives you 3 points and not 2.
- Each draw gives you 1 point unlike IPL in which you have no draws.
- There are no play-off games or semi finals or finals. The team which finishes at the top wins the title for that season.
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| Its not just a game. Its passion |
Ok. So, now you are well equipped with the format. It is time to look at some basic rules of the game.
Rules
- None of the 10 outfield players can touch the ball with his hand. If he does that then the opposition team gets to take free kick.
- ONLY the goalkeeper can touch the ball with his hand but only when he is inside the D AREA marked near his goal. Outside it he cannot handle the ball.
- If a player DELIBERATELY pulls down the opposition player it is a 'FOUL' and results in a yellow card which means a warning. If he does it once more it results in red card which means he will have to leave the field of play and that team, to which the player belongs to, will have to play with 10 players instead of 11. In rare cases, where the fouls are very bad, the player gets a straight red card without a warning.
- A goal is counted only if the ball crosses the goal line (in air or physically).
- Each team can use 3 substitutes, meaning by which it can replace 3 players playing with 3 new players should an injury take place or the player feels tired.
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| The most dreaded card |
Alright. Now your are acquainted with the basic format and rules. I hope there is no confusion. If there is, then your son or your daughter will be more than happy to clear it out.
Once you have understood this, you must realise that just like IPL, EPL teams too have fans. Almost 90% of fans follow the 'TOP 5' clubs (as they are known as). We will introduce you to each of these teams and also let you know their most famous player to look out for.
Teams to look out for
1. Manchester United (Nickname: Red Devils)
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| Manchester United crest |
Football fans' favorite and England's most successful club, Manchester United was established in the year 1878 in the city of Manchester. The team has won a total of 20 League titles since its inception. Having had a disastrous season last year, Manchester United have appointed Louis van Gaal as their manager (the team coach) to bring the glory days back to the club. The club saw 24 terrific years under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, who ultimately retired at the then of the 2012-13 season.
United, also called as the 'Red Devils' (nickname), have plenty of stars in their team but one person who has been with the team through most of their glory days has been their newly appointed captain Wayne Rooney. He plays as a striker (a term which denotes that he is the player responsible for scoring goals) in this famous club. He is the one player every team fears and one you must look out for.
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| Wayne Rooney |
2. Liverpool (Nickname: The Reds)
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| Liverpool crest |
English football's second most successful club and bitter rivals of Manchester United, Liverpool, have a splendid history of their own. Established in 1892 in the city of Liverpool, Liverpool have won the League 18 times. Many these titles came under the managerial reign of the Liverpool great Kenny Dalglish. Intense competition followed between Liverpool's Dalglish and United's Sir Alex, where Sir Alex came out on tops every single time, hence making the rivalry all the more bitter. The current Liverpool manager is Brendan Rodgers who is a shrewd tactician and sets his team to play an attacking style of the game.
Having lost their best player, Luis Suarez, to Barcelona (just like IPL players change teams in EPL too. These are known as transfers.), one player to look out for is their captain Steven Gerrard. Leading from the front Gerrard plays in the middle of the field, thereby, controlling his team's play with his clever passes.
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| Steven Gerrard |
3. Arsenal (Nickname: Gunners)
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| Arsenal crest |
The third most successful team in the English League are the Arsenal football club. Established in 1886 in the north of London, Arsenal saw two famous eras, one, under their former manager George Graham and another, under their current manager Arsene Wenger ( No. The club is not named after the manager's name). The club have won the League 13 times.
Arsenal's player to look out for is the German Mesut Ozil. Playing in an attacking goals, his passes are a key to create goal scoring chances for the strikers.
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| Mesut Ozil |
Fun Fact: Arsene Wenger has a majors (degree) in economics and Manuel Pellegrini is an engineer by education
4. Chelsea (Nickname: The Blues)
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| Chelsea crest |
A relatively new entrant into the fray has been the London based club, Chelsea. Chelsea were not a force to reckon with until 2003 when Jose Mourinho took over and the ownership changed hands to land into a Russian Billionaire's (Roman Abramovich) hands. With lots of money given to them by their owner, Chelsea have bought some extraordinary talents in the past decade. Established in the year 1905, Chelsea have won just the League 4 times, twice under Jose Mourinho.
There are plenty of star players in Chelsea's team but one to look out for is Eden Hazard. The Beligan plays as an attacker, scoring goals and creating plenty for his team mates too.
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| Eden Hazard |
5. Manchester City (Nickname: The Sky Blues)
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| Manchester City crest |
Established in 1880 but coming into the competitive game since 2008, when Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan took the ownership of this club, Manchester City are the cross-town rivals of Manchester United. They are the defending champions of the League and are currently coached by Manuel Pellegrini. They, too, have won the League 4 times.
Their famous is the Ivory Coast international Yaya Toure. The midfield powerhouse brings a significant amount of strength to City side as he contributes not only with goals but also is responsible of winning the ball from the opposition players.
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| Yaya Toure |
Now you all are equipped with sufficient knowledge to start watching the game. Its time for you to grab a bowl of popcorn and sit with you sons/daughters and enjoy with them their passion in their own way. We are very sure that by doing this, the bond between you and your son/daughter/husband will grow stronger. Enjoy the game.
Written By,
Rishabh Ghai
Rishabh is a writer for Goal.com India, International, contributor for Starsports India and a writer and editor for 18 Yard Box.
Follow Rishabh Ghai on Twitter @rish2610
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