Things I still don't understand about soccer and soccer wagering

[Penguinfan]

For the record, I've only followed soccer since my son started playing for the high school team and only followed EPL for about two years now, but I'm struggling to understand the following:

1. Team is down by a goal or two with 15 minutes to play. I know goals are hard to come by, but there seems to be little sense of urgency by the team down by a goal to get things moving or get the ball forward. It's probably not fair to compare it to hockey, but I know when a hockey team is down by a goal late in the game shots on goal and keeping the puck in the offensive zone are the focus. I see soccer teams playing the ball a bit forward, then back to mid field, then back to their keeper, wash, rinse, repeat. I know the offensive attack starts with the keeper in a lot of cases, but with time running down it seems like getting the ball forward and getting shots would be at more of a premium.

2. I understand teams who are ahead or happy with a draw changing players at the 85th minute and taking their time doing so, but I see trailing teams do this as well? Why? If strategically you need a change then so be it, but the player coming off should be in a dead sprint to get off the field, not wasting 20 seconds walking like he's heading down the sidewalk to get the morning paper.

3. When wagering on a game I will often see the three-way line look like this:

Team A +220
Team B +120
Draw +240

But then see the goal line at:

Team A +.5 -140
Team B -.5 +110

What is the difference between betting on Team B in the three-way line or the goal line to justify the 10 cent difference. I'm thinking in both cases you lose if the game ends in a draw so there really is no reason to take the goal line, right? Shouldn't the vig be the same on each, aren't you really betting on the exact same thing?

Thanks for the education.

 

[BobbyBlueChip]

-They're usually trying to score but they're usually the worst team and have been chasing the ball. Those teams aren't going back to the keeper to restart but to send a ball long over the midfield and hope to get lucky.

-referees clock stops on substitutions, but they should be running because that doesn't seem like a real clock

-you're betting the same thing like you said. no difference in betting one team in a three way line or taking that team -0.5. Odds are usually better on the three way line.

 

[BASON]

Penguin, I get your first point. It is a very "American" way at looking at the game and used to drive me nuts. Just never seems like there is a sense of urgency you would expect. To expand on Bobby's explanation, many times the team that is behind is already exhausted. A focused attack is always better than simply playing long balls and hoping. They are trying to work into set positions (corners and free kicks) which offer the best way to score but require more structured play. Also, in league play, many teams are concerned about yielding counter goals as goal differential can be a key factor in determining relegation, etc. I also think you simply do not see the emotion as you tend to see in many "american" sports, but they are trying to score.

You will see many ML and GL differences especially in the less bet leagues as they have much less money coming in. I will often get MLs of +110 and GL of +125 in the Bundesliga 2.

 

[PittsburghKid]

Bason and Bobby have said this pretty good


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk