I HAVE MENTIONED before in these ravings, my belief that today's top end footballers are now so technically-proficient that the long-held fundamentals of the game now hold it back. To explain:
If Football ever reached perfection, every game would end as a 0-0 draw. Every pass would reach its recipient, but, similarly, every tackle would be successful. Every shot would be on-target, however, every attempted save by the goalkeeper would be successful.
At the top end, we are, I believe, rapidly reaching that stage – at least in some aspects of the game, which is making the spectacle boring at times. For instance, we are now in the age of “Keepball” - where the side in possession can string together lengthy periods of passes, often without making a reasonable effort to get the ball into the box and give the spectators the goalmouth action they crave.
If Wing Commander Charles Reep turned up at an FA Coaching Course, at St George's Park these days, he'd probably be burned at the stake as a heretic. Who he? I hear you ask. Well the Wing Commander was perhaps the first football data analyst, the father of Route One Football. He's the guy who suggested, the faster you got the ball into what we now call the opposition's “Rex Zone” - the more-likely your team was to score.
That view is unfashionable these days, perhaps with a nod to Barcelona, the plan appears to be to pass the opposition to death. The trouble is, so much of this passing is done in midfield, often in a team's own half, former operators in that area, who were at the time castigated for playing “square balls” - legends such as Ray Wilkins or Barry Ferguson might be roundly abused as being “too attack-minded.”
As for masters of the cross-field, defence-splitting pass, icons such as Jim Baxter or Glenn Hoddle, they would struggle to be selected today, where the crowd gives a standing ovation when a ten-yard square pass reaches its intended target.
Here's a thought or two, notions which have been bouncing around in my head for years, since I covered Basketball. In that game, the team in possession has a limited period of time in which to get the ball out of their own half of the court and into their opponents'. Once they have crossed half way, that team cannot retain possession and go back into their own half. They have 30 seconds of possession to get the ball up the court and take a shot – or they lose possession.
OK, 30 seconds may not be long enough in a football context, but, if a team only had a limited period in which to shoot, then I think we would see more-exciting games. The tactical options too would be good for the game.
Defending sides could opt for a full-court or half-court press in an effort to regain control of the ball. Attacking sides would have to come up with fast break attacking ploys to defeat the press, inventive coaches would have a ball in working out new tactics.
The above would be a good place perhaps to start in sorting out football's problems. For all the money splashing around in the game, particularly in England, the game today is far from beautiful and needs reform.
JINGS CRIVVENS, HELP MA BOAB but, the noisy neighbours, in spite of handing us oor erses on a plate, goat a wee bit aerated at apparently not being respected by us upstart Jocks on Tuesday night.
Even proud Scots but, such as Ally McCoist, who now have to sook-up to the decision-makers down in that there Lunnin, if they want to have a media career took umbrage at “England's anthem” God Save The King was roundly booed – going on about respect and all that pish. Here, I am with the dissident regiments of The Tartan Army. We are told, booing GSTK showed a “lack of respect.”
Well, since at least 1707, indeed, for longer than that, The English Establishment has consistently disrespected Scotland. That King whom the English ask God to save is also King of Scots; however, he resolutely refuses to take the Scottish Coronation Oath, far less be crowned King of Scots – that's a distinct lack of respect for the people of Scotland – who are, weshould never forget, Sovereign.
So, when it comes to not respecting people, look in the mirror England. I have heard Flower of Scotland being booed by English fans at Hampden, Wembley, Murrayfield and Twickenham.
Another person unhappy at getting some stick on Tuesday night was Harry Maguire. Now, the Manchester United defender may have inherited Tony Adams' old position as “The Donkey's Donkey.” He certainly did nothing to rid himself of this dubious honour by scoring an own goal, but, for all that, I like Harry – he has made much of his limited talent.
I also like the way he is holding-out in the face of United's desperate efforts to unload him. He has a sense of his own value and until United, or some other club, meets that value, he is quite happy to sit tight and enjoy his lucrative United contract.
Bobo Baldé famously held out for what he considered an acceptable deal to leave Celtic, I reckon Maguire is quite justified in apparently doing the same. Good luck big man.
AS THE FATHER of four daughters, and with a grand-daughter who was the first lassie to play for the village's Primary football team, I am all for female equality in all areas, including fitba. So, I am delighted at he outbreak of peace in the dispute between the SFA and Scotland's Women's National Team – as represented in the dispute by captain Rachel Corsie.
The details of the settlement have not been made public, but, since you can never win an argument with a group of determined Scotswomen, the “blazers” were probably quite right to look for an out of court settlement.
Onward and upward ladies.
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