I think the two are mutually exclusive but football fans should at least know the game before commenting. It's embarrasing when you meet some who don't understand the away goal rule, offside rule, formations, etc. Worse when you cannot even identify players from your own team or are generally clueless when it comes to the history of the game or their team.

---

Added on April 20, 2010, 11:50 amWell I'm a living example of someone who doesn't play and I'd hate to think that my postings are any less relevant. I've never been made to feel handicapped at least. The only time I played football is back in secondary school.

This post has been edited by Duke Red: Apr 20 2010, 11:50 AM

Maybe it isn't as common as we would like to think but you'd be surprised how much common sense can help one to understand the game even if they don't play it. I play basketball, I go to the gym and I've played Futsal competitively, once facing our national team. Does this make me better at judging fitness levels than say a person who only plays football for fun?

Is it any wonder that a lot of the good posters here don't play? What you see one the pitch is just one aspect of the game. Technique and fitness are important aspects of a player but what about other stuff like club management? One doesn't need to be a player to understand that.