Trying to develop a live blog has been something that I've been thinking about for a while. The concept is hardly new and as a Spurs supporter I often check out a couple of live blogs on fan websites while watching a game on TV. However, as far as I'm aware no one has attempted to run a football (soccer) live blog on the Scorum platform as of yet (@Mikey has run an American Football version here) and I thought it high time that someone has a go!
What made me actually take action to develop the idea further was how much football chat there has been on the Scorum writers telegram group of late. As a football fan, it's great to see and I love to talk about games and talking points from around the world. However, I also thought, why are we having these discussions off-chain when they could be happening on a platform that is specifically designed for such interaction?
Why create a live blog?
The obvious reason behind putting such chat onto Scorum is to gain rewards. Not just for myself and our group (see below) but also for the many people who are clearly looking to engage on the subject of football and who can earn rewards via their comments.
However, beyond that I also believe that bringing the discussion onto the blockchain will help Scorum as a whole. I've read plenty of articles about how to create blogs, what to write about and where to seek inspiration and the one obvious thing that seems to be missing from those articles is that no one ever talks about looking within the Socrum platform for ideas! I assume that if you are reading this article that you (like me) have a vested interest in trying to make Scorum the premier sports blogging platform on the internet. If we are going to achieve that then we as bloggers need to start taking the lead in regards producing content that is formed organically from our own ideas (not just what you can find elsewhere online) and the discussions that we are having on this platform with our peers. Let's make Scorum a place that other bloggers go to look for great debate and articles written with the kind of passion that only true fans can produce! As such, I hope that this live blog can create the kind of environment, full of interaction and talking points, where the seeds of inspiration can begin to grow and then be turned into full posts that add further value to this great platform.
The Format of the Blogs
The Team
The first thing to say is that I won't be doing this alone. I have recruited a crack team of 3 other football enthusiasts to lend their superb commentary and analysis on the best the English Premier League has to offer. These 3 excellent contributors to Scorum will be participating in the live blog and responding to comments on those blogs as the action on each game unfolds. If you haven't read their work yet then I strongly suggest you do and you will see why I'm so excited to have them agree to participate in this project.
The account used to host our blogs will be rotated around the 4 of us but will start with myself on Sunday afternoon (4pm BST) for the Liverpool v Man City game.
However, even at these early stages, we as a group have discussed and are very keen on the idea of getting other people involved in taking part in creating content for the blog itself. That could be on a permanent basis or even as a guest blogger - keep an eye out for these opportunities!
What do you actually mean by a live blog?
Quite simply it means that during some of the biggest Premier League matches this year, the team above will be working away in the background to create content based on the action as and when it happens on the pitch. As a reader you will see 1 blog that is constantly being updated and added to with opinions and analysis from the 4 guys above for about 2 hours, spanning the time just before kick off right the way through to the final whistle. We anticipate a single blog having anywhere between 10-20 updates from the above team during that time, all of which will be aimed at stimulating discussion in the comments section below. The team will then be jumping into that comment section to add further views and upvote the comments there that are adding to the ongoing debate. Of course, that debate can rumble on for as long is as necessary or until you, the reader, thinks screw this I'm gonna write an impassioned and fiery post that encapsulates all my views on the game. On that basis, we'll also be providing a section at the end of each blog where we'd be happy to add any articles that those who are following and commenting on the blog have written about the game in question - in other words, free promotion for your efforts on the platform.
The games involved
As these are early days, this is a very provisional list but the plan is to blog on the following big fixtures that are taking place over the next couple of months and then hopefully beyond.
Again, if you are a supporter of one the clubs above and you fancy becoming involved in actually producing content for the blog then hit me up on telegram @magister9
Pre-Match Preview - Liverpool v Man City
Game Time : 4:30pm (BST), Sunday
Perhaps in the context of the season thus far, the match we've chosen to start with couldn't be any bigger. This game presents the 2 favourites for the EPL a chance to show off their championship credentials in what is sure to be a fantastic encounter.
Reigning champions, Manchester City, swept all before them last season, cruising to a comfortable win in the league and in the process taking the standard of Premier League football to previously unseen highs. Guardiola's City team play with a pace and precision that makes them irresistible at times. They have already clocked up 21 goals this season at an average of 3 a game, having conceded just 3 goals in 7 matches themselves. Most teams that turn up against them are happy to get away without receiving an absolute drubbing but will that be the case on Sunday when they visit Anfield?
Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool were a little hit and miss last season. They often performed brilliantly in the big games, particularly at home, only to lose concentration and drop points against lesser clubs. Such inconsistency cost them a shot at the title in 17/18 but this year there seems to be an added hunger as well as a smattering of new players that have strengthed the look of this Liverpool side and left many pundits believing they can go all the way!
One team that they were particularly successful against last year was the all-conquering Man City side. Having picked up a 5-0 spanking at the Etihad after a controversial Mane red card, Liverpool went on to win both the return PL fixture as well as both legs of the 2 side's CL QF. Perhaps a Pep Guardiola aficionado can put me straight on this point but I'd be surprised if he has lost 3 straight matches let alone 4 to any individual manager in his career to date. In that sense perhaps these are uncharted waters for Guardiola. He is under the boot of this Liverpool and Klopp team and it will be very interesting to see what tactical tweeks he makes to his side to reverse his team's poor run.
In the 3 matches that Liverpool won last year against City, it is noticeable that at most they had 34% of the possession (it was as low as 31% in the 2nd leg of the CL). Liverpool were happy to sit and wait for City to come at them before applying their press and then releasing the pace of Mane, Salah, et al to devastating effect. There is no doubt that City's initial instinct is to attack but could we potentially see a tactical shift whereby they sit a little deeper in this game and look to give Liverpool a taste of their own medicine? Liverpool are afterall the home side and the fans will be expecting them to make some of the early running.
One thing that we will all certainly be hoping for is goals! There were 18 in total across the 4 competitive matches that were played last season and it goes without saying that the atmosphere at Anfield on Sunday will be absolutely electric. Football fan or not, I would strongly recommend that you tune in to the early stages of the match just to get a feel for the sort of home support that Liverpool get on such occasions. On that note, it's worth mentioning that we will have a man in the stands for this game, with avid Liverpool fan Phil Newton attending the match in person. Look out for some photos and videos of the ground and fans in general that will be added to the blog as when possible.
We look forward to seeing you on the live blog at 4:00pm (BST) this Sunday!
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