Towels in games should be banned

[Elite_Pie]

The use of towels to dry the ball for for a long throw has annoyed the hell out of me for a long time even when we did it, but tonight it was taken to a new level. The ball goes out, and one team gets the chance to throw it back in. So just throw it back in, even if it's a bit wet. We pay to watch 90 minutes of football, not 88 minutes of football and 2 minutes of watching a player dry the bloody ball with a towel.

[the_anticlough]

The use of towels to dry the ball for for a long throw has annoyed the hell out of me for a long time even when we did it, but tonight it was taken to a new level. The ball goes out, and one team gets the chance to throw it back in. So just throw it back in, even if it's a bit wet. We pay to watch 90 minutes of football, not 88 minutes of football and 2 minutes of watching a player dry the bloody ball with a towel.

Absolutely agree. Tonight, it just looked ridiculous. One of our coaches should have offered him soap, shower gap and a gown so he had a full bathing set

[Riverleeno]

The use of towels to dry the ball for for a long throw has annoyed the hell out of me for a long time even when we did it, but tonight it was taken to a new level. The ball goes out, and one team gets the chance to throw it back in. So just throw it back in, even if it's a bit wet. We pay to watch 90 minutes of football, not 88 minutes of football and 2 minutes of watching a player dry the bloody ball with a towel.

It was taking 25+ seconds per throw, and often more than 30, it's ridiculous why do the refs allow it?

[BigFatPie]

Completely agree Elite. I thought it had been banned tbh.

[Frigiliana Pie 1]

You’re right, it’s very annoying. But what went on tonight was nothing compared to what West Brom were doing in the televised game against Peterborough a couple of nights ago. Their long throw expert, Furlong, kept borrowing a hoodie top from a small girl in the crowd who appeared to be its owner and took great delight each time he walked (yes, walked) over to collect it. On one occasion he also walked over to hand it back to her. His average time to take a throw must have been double Tozer’s tonight.

Unless something is done to ban the practice, every club with a long throw expert will be handing out free seats in the front row to parents with small children on condition that the kids are supplied with kitchen towels to pass to players before they take throw ins.

Cricket has rules about ball tampering, why not football?

[crazyfists]

The use of towels to dry the ball for for a long throw has annoyed the hell out of me for a long time even when we did it, but tonight it was taken to a new level. The ball goes out, and one team gets the chance to throw it back in. So just throw it back in, even if it's a bit wet. We pay to watch 90 minutes of football, not 88 minutes of football and 2 minutes of watching a player dry the bloody ball with a towel.

This. It was really annoying by the end, should be banned.

[the_anticlough]

He's not the first Tozer to wipe his balls with a towel

[magpie_mania]

You’re right, it’s very annoying. But what went on tonight was nothing compared to what West Brom were doing in the televised game against Peterborough a couple of nights ago. Their long throw expert, Furlong, kept borrowing a hoodie top from a small girl in the crowd who appeared to be its owner and took great delight each time he walked (yes, walked) over to collect it. On one occasion he also walked over to hand it back to her. His average time to take a throw must have been double Tozer’s tonight.

Unless something is done to ban the practice, every club with a long throw expert will be handing out free seats in the front row to parents with small children on condition that the kids are supplied with kitchen towels to pass to players before they take throw ins.

Cricket has rules about ball tampering, why not football?

It's not tampering with the ball though, if anything, it's returning it to its original condition. But I think that something needs to be done.

[queenslandpie]

Agree with the sentiments and pardon the pun but it played into our hands tonight and wound the clock down a bit. He offered nothing from the throws. And probably wasted 3 or 4 minutes over the course of the game!

[Elite_Pie]

It's not tampering with the ball though, if anything, it's returning it to its original condition.

Maybe, but then the next step will be a towel brought on for every goal kick, corner or free kick. I suppose we could go to 'stoppage time + towel time'. Perhaps the best solution would be to make any player who feels the need to use a towel carry it around with him on the pitch at all times. I wonder how popular it would be then?

[hissingdwarf]

Agree totally. Just wrote this in another forum. The time it took out of the game probably worked in our favour, but in general, should be banned.

[magpie_mania]

Maybe, but then the next step will be a towel brought on for every goal kick, corner or free kick. I suppose we could go to 'stoppage time + towel time'. Perhaps the best solution would be to make any player who feels the need to use a towel carry it around with him on the pitch at all times. I wonder how popular it would be then?

I think it should be stopped too, just pointing out that it isn't tampering with the ball as in cricket where it damages the ball.

Rory Delap used to wear a shirt made of towelling under his shirt when he played for Stoke.

[Elite_Pie]

I think it should be stopped too, just pointing out that it isn't tampering with the ball as in cricket where it damages the ball.

I know what you're saying, but because of the break between deliveries in cricket a bit of a scratch or polish on the way back to the bowler doesn't waste time. In football my gripe isn't with the condition of the ball, more the time wasted drying it when it should be in play.

[uysapie]

I know what you're saying, but because of the break between deliveries in cricket a bit of a scratch or polish on the way back to the bowler doesn't waste time. In football my gripe isn't with the condition of the ball, more the time wasted drying it when it should be in play.

You could also argue that there should be a time limit on taking throw ins and that refs enforce the rule that the throw in is taken from the point where the ball went out of play. P!ssed of with 10 yards being gained.

[LaxtonLad]

Most players when taking a throw-in would just wipe it on the inside of their shirt, why didn't Wrexham? Because it was an obvious ploy to intimidate Notts players into dreading what happens next, after their fearsome "specialist" has thrown his bomb to explode among panicking defenders, all that was missing from the stage-work was a fanfare. It didn't work last night but with more practise and against greener teams it just might.

[laddo]

It annoyed me but more because at times we defended well and did the right thing by putting the ball into row X as you are told to do on and occasions and boom! Tozer's off to find his towel, to lean on the advertising hoarding and hurl another ball into our 6 yard box. I lost count how many times it happened.

Thankfully we were clearly well prepared for it and surprised many I'm sure by handling it well all night long with little fuss.

[LaxtonLad]

It annoyed me but more because at times we defended well and did the right thing by putting the ball into row X as you are told to do on and occasions and boom! Tozer's off to find his towel, to lean on the advertising hoarding and hurl another ball into our 6 yard box. I lost count how many times it happened.

Thankfully we were clearly well prepared for it and surprised many I'm sure by handling it well all night long with little fuss.

I wonder why Parky allowed him to carry on doing this, was his dream team having a nightmare? No, not really but his was the team expected to win and they were still dawdling while chasing the game. Methinks Parky didn't have a plan "B". The Stars of The Silver Screen might not know what they're watching but somebody will surely put them in the picture (see what I did there?)

[BigFatPie]

I think if I were a Wrexham fan I’d be concerned that despite having seemingly unlimited resources for non league, one of the new manager’s favourite tactics was the long throw.

Doesn’t scream to me ‘exciting football’.

[Stan Marshall]

Totally agree with the banning of towels.

On a broader note, the powers that be should be addressing the whole issue of time wasting. Players feigning injury (or cramp), goalkeepers keeping hold of the ball for much longer than permitted, delaying play for substitutions - usually from the furthest point on the pitch, to name just a few!

The most pointless law change in relatively recent times is that which allows a keeper to take a goal kick from either side of the goal, regardless of where the ball goes out. Perfect for wasting time, as Kyle Wootton will testify!!

It’s impossible for a team to build up any momentum when they’re chasing a game, these days. Fortunately, wiping towels probably worked in our favour last night.

[Oldstripy]

[/QUOTE] Thankfully we were clearly well prepared for it and surprised many I'm sure by handling it well all night long with little fuss.[/QUOTE]

I think we should cedit our new first team coach for that.

[deadyoyomagpie]

I would have liked to see, perhaps after each time Tozer used the towel, on our next throw, we go for a towel, dry up the ball, then proceed to take a 'normal' short throw. Would have highlighted how ridiculous it was.

[ThaiPie]

Hey, this is Hollee-wood. If the stars want a towel, they get a towel. Dressing rooms need to have Eau de Colognes, talcum powder and nail clippers

[i961pie]

Would we feel the same if we had a Delap in our team?

[LaxtonLad]

Would we feel the same if we had a Delap in our team?

What have car tyres got to do with throw-ins? :?

[forwardmagpie]

The use of towels to dry the ball for for a long throw has annoyed the hell out of me for a long time even when we did it, but tonight it was taken to a new level. The ball goes out, and one team gets the chance to throw it back in. So just throw it back in, even if it's a bit wet. We pay to watch 90 minutes of football, not 88 minutes of football and 2 minutes of watching a player dry the bloody ball with a towel.

Absolutely agree, it’s a farce.

[Big Bob]

Absolutely agree. Tonight, it just looked ridiculous. One of our coaches should have offered him soap, shower gap and a gown so he had a full bathing set

That's unfair. You left the sponge out

[upthemaggies]

I would have liked to see, perhaps after each time Tozer used the towel, on our next throw, we go for a towel, dry up the ball, then proceed to take a 'normal' short throw. Would have highlighted how ridiculous it was.

That would have been funny. We should do it at our place in the return match, even better if it's bone dry and the sun is out. Take the the bl00dy pee out of them.

[Pembo222]

Totally agree with the banning of towels.

On a broader note, the powers that be should be addressing the whole issue of time wasting. Players feigning injury (or cramp), goalkeepers keeping hold of the ball for much longer than permitted, delaying play for substitutions - usually from the furthest point on the pitch, to name just a few!

The most pointless law change in relatively recent times is that which allows a keeper to take a goal kick from either side of the goal, regardless of where the ball goes out. Perfect for wasting time, as Kyle Wootton will testify!!

It’s impossible for a team to build up any momentum when they’re chasing a game, these days. Fortunately, wiping towels probably worked in our favour last night.
The rule was brought in so the keeper could take a goal kick quicker but it just means they use the opposite side if they are drawing/winning.

[Elite_Pie]

Would we feel the same if we had a Delap in our team?

I for one would definitely feel the same.

[countygump]

Hey, this is Hollee-wood. If the stars want a towel, they get a towel. Dressing rooms need to have Eau de Colognes, talcum powder and nail clippers

This ^^^

Plus pitchside shower cubicles with gold plated fittings and a footman, at least.

[the_anticlough]

That's unfair. You left the sponge out

Haven't seen that since the days of Loofah Blissett

[MancMagpie]

Everyone knows that Covid was invented by Ryan Reynolds just so that Wrexham could employ a long throw specialist and wipe the ball for every throw to be Covid compliant.