"They're quick, strong and comfortable on the ball."
That's how the commentator described Chelsea in the build up the game against Birmingham City on the weekend.
It was in reference to the qualities of a Chelsea team that is now undefeated in 64 home games.
It prompted me to think about the priorities required in football at the highest level especially in England.
Quick, strong and lastly comfortable on the ball.
For the purists amongst us it's surely must be a sad reflection of the 'hurry-up and get a result because we've got another game in midweek' style of football.
FIFA in its wisdom decided to quicken the game by abolishing the pass back to the keeper.
Keepers only have six seconds to get rid of the ball once it's in their hands. Forget waiting for the ball to be thrown back by the crowd. There are balls every 10 metres and a ball boy/girl ready and waiting to literally hand it to the player taking the throw-in.
Referees have ear pieces to communicate with assistant referees presumably to keep the game flowing. Players are booked for obstructing the quickly taken free kick. It seems the taking free kicks from the point of infringement it a thing of the past now it's near enough is good enough.
What happened to Law 15? The throw-in; both feet on the ground, delivering the ball from behind and over the head.
Sometimes I think that only part of this law left is the 'players must face the field of play.'
Gone are days when patience was an important part of the game. A case in point was the start of the English Premier League. Aston Villa v Liverpool, Chelsea v Birmingham City and Manchester United v Reading.
If the speed of the ball and players was relative to the length of the game it would have been over in five minutes.
The only time I didn't feel motion sickness was just before kick off. No doubt every player is keen to impress being the first game of the season. But how much impressing can you do if you're only in possession of the ball for a total of 15 seconds; one pass takes a second. I'll take it that if you can't pass the ball and run at 100 km/hr you probably won't make it.
There are very few players like French superstar Zinadine Zidane any more. A man who can slow a game down too make most of the precious commodity we call possession.
Maybe it's a sign of the times. If it is, our next generation of Socceroos had better get a speed trainer, quick smart.