He could do it, although you do need that dynamism to break trhough from the back.
That doesn't happen anymore
- Thread starter Ryan
- Start date
- Latest activity Latest activity:
- Status
I saw him play CM for Stockport about 8 years ago. Got talking to a Stockport fan in the bookies before the game and he recommended Lambert @ 16/1 for first goalscorer as he take most of the free kicks. I put £10 on him and he duly obliged with a free kick in the first half.
I've seen loads of Premier League players (past & present) when they were in the lower divisions including Lambert, MacAuley, Whitehead, Holt, Delph, Bradley Johnson, Puncheon, Kyle's Walker & Naughton, Hart, Williamson etc, etc.
There's so much talent down there and so many of them would have been top division players if the we had the same zeitgeist as the 1970's i.e. very few foreigners.
The top clubs would be much better off leaving the 15-16-17 year old prodigies to develop in the lower leagues and focus on the hugely talented 20-21-22 year olds.
Gerrard still possesses that dynamism although he is playing a new role well within himself for the benefit of the team.
V.good question. Ditto students with mortarboards on graduation day, though those were probably hired so maybe it didn't matter.
Loads of reasons, but mostly it started to die out once full-backs started becoming attackers. That just about ended the straight line back 4, so was harder to play offside along a line.
The other was the advent of goalkeepers as players playing out from the back. It brought the two centre backs closer to the keeper, positioned usually at the corner of each box as an option. The closer the defender to the keeper obviously the less space in between to play offside.
Another reason is that rarely will a team allow the deepest man to be the man in possession. There's nearly always someone behind him somewhere who can receive possession.
Another one is that most forwards come and receive as opposed to playing on the shoulder of the defender. Off the top of my head, Darren Bent and Chichartot are about the only forwards who hang on the last man these days, that's why they don't get picked. No manager wants a forward who can't come and get the fucking ball.
Defenders have gotten quicker, even centre backs. The Steve Bould days are over.
And the onset of pressing teams really. Your chances of winning the ball back by pressing earlier and in numbers quickly are greater than they are by playing for offside as a tactic.
And finally, teams use more of the pitch than they ever did, and are less 'shape' orientated. 4-4-2 teams used to move in a block around the pitch. Nowadays sides are strung out all over the ground, so getting unity for something disciplined like playing for offside is nigh on impossible.
There's other reasons too, but that's the bulk of it.
All bar Souness, who, even if he just drilled a 20 yarder, still had the air of a man who has just discovered semen on his chips.
I'm not.
Men on posts is a supporter thing.
It's far far more prudent to have players picking up designated opponents more crucial areas than having them stuck on posts. Players on posts is something from the 80s.
I'm glad you reminded me of this one actually. I can add it to the first post.
I try not to. I actually really do.
But I cannot abide his stupidity. It makes my fucking teeth itch.
@Ryan
Just thinking about the CL game against Barca a few years ago when Arbeloa very successfully marked out (well, kind of. obviously had a job to do as a fullback) Messi.
Messi now works centrally and drifts around everywhere. But I'd still personally feel more comfortable if a midfielder was constantly on him to not give him any space.
I'm guessing you'd be more comfortable with guys in specific zones dealing with him whenever he gets in any given area. Or would you prefer someone on him at all times?
Does anyone watching La Liga know how teams try to deal with him? Obviously they've been shit at it considering he scores 50 goals a season, but I'm interested to know how teams shape against him.
Just thinking about the CL game against Barca a few years ago when Arbeloa very successfully marked out (well, kind of. obviously had a job to do as a fullback) Messi.
Messi now works centrally and drifts around everywhere. But I'd still personally feel more comfortable if a midfielder was constantly on him to not give him any space.
I'm guessing you'd be more comfortable with guys in specific zones dealing with him whenever he gets in any given area. Or would you prefer someone on him at all times?
Does anyone watching La Liga know how teams try to deal with him? Obviously they've been shit at it considering he scores 50 goals a season, but I'm interested to know how teams shape against him.
Yeah we rarely see man marking or shadowing these days. I presume we are now in an era where player's cover the space they are occupying and swap player's onto each other.
I can however think of two off the top of my head of the old style 'man marking'. One is a job Essien did on Gerrard a good few years ago. Didn't give him a inch and followed him around the pitch. The second was a Bolton player who basically shadowed Gerrard all over the pitch. Gerrard was quiet as a result as space was limited to express himself. The Bolton player was subbed with about 15 mins to go and Gerrard scored. Arbeloa is another decent exception to the rule.
Any remember the thug from Stoke (Wilkinson) tried to man mark Ronaldo? He snapped at him all game, breathing down his throat etc. Ronaldo went on to destroy him and Wilkinson was eventually sent off.
I can however think of two off the top of my head of the old style 'man marking'. One is a job Essien did on Gerrard a good few years ago. Didn't give him a inch and followed him around the pitch. The second was a Bolton player who basically shadowed Gerrard all over the pitch. Gerrard was quiet as a result as space was limited to express himself. The Bolton player was subbed with about 15 mins to go and Gerrard scored. Arbeloa is another decent exception to the rule.
Any remember the thug from Stoke (Wilkinson) tried to man mark Ronaldo? He snapped at him all game, breathing down his throat etc. Ronaldo went on to destroy him and Wilkinson was eventually sent off.
T
the_khl
Guest
Not sure a few managers in the premier league would agree with that!!
T
the_khl
Guest
Maybe a few of your points are valid in terms of Premiership alone but there's a lot of man-marking, offside traps and focus on good crossers around the European main land in general.
- Status
Similar threads
-
- Locked
