By Colin - 3 Feb 2014 8:11 PM
This is probably a stupid question (I am only a recent convert to the round ball game) but why don't the best players get "tagged" so it reduces their influence on games?
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By distantfan - 5 Feb 2014 10:14 PM
Man marking is less useful in football because of the way the defender wins the ball from the opposition.
When the marked player is about to receive a pass, the manmarker can either stand between him and the ball (hence losing sight of the marked player allowing him to get free) or get in a position where the manmarker can see both opponent and ball (making an intercept very difficult as the marker is further from the ball than the marked player). Either way a well struck pass will reach the marked player.
In the codes where you win the ball by manhandling the opponent it doesn't matter if the marked player receives the ball as you can grab any part of the person to stop them.
In football when the marked 'special' player gets the ball there is an immediate problem for a closely placed manmarker. the skilful player is now able to enter a duel of skill with the marker. The marker will nearly always lose unless he has a second defender to support him.
So, for effective man marking, you need two man markers on a single skilful opponent. Once you do that the gaps start appearing all over the pitch for the defensive team.
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