I agree soccer is a real sport, but they need some changes to make the game more exciting. My son played from the time he was five through high school. Now, he won't watch soccer if it's not the World Cup ... too boring. Typically if a professional team gets a 2-0 lead, the game is over.
Some good changes would be additional substitutions. It's dumb to carry 22 players and only allow about four substitutions. The game would be much more exciting if there were rested players on the field more of the time.
Also, given modern scoreboards, why not keep official time on the field? It's dumb when only one man actually knows how much time is left.
The coaches keep time on the sideline, and let the players know when it's time to start pressing. The duration of injury time is announced to all, and it's been that way for years.
"Also, given modern scoreboards, why not keep official time on the field? It's dumb when only one man actually knows how much time is left."
You generally know within a few seconds either way. I personally think it makes things exciting in the last minute or two to not be sure when the last possesion is coming.
"Typically if a professional team gets a 2-0 lead, the game is over. "
While the sport is fairly low scoring, this isn't true. One thing that makes the sport good to watch is that you end up with a lot of games where a team is only one goal up with say five minutes to go. Makes the end more fun than say in the average football or basketball game where you very often know for sure who will win with five minutes to go.