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All Our Yesterdays

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1974, a complaining Bradford fan.:)

DJrHFk0W0AEjVT1
 

Football formations since the nineteenth century.

http://backpagefootball.com/the-evolution-of-football-formations/35028/

The evolution of football formations.

Naturally, the modern day footballer is evolving. Pace, agility and power are being displayed at astonishingly high levels by players around the globe, and in unison with these advancements, the tactics and flow of a football game will inevitably change as well.

The very first international game was contested by England and Scotland on the 30th of November 1872, a game in which the English wore caps, and the Scottish wore red cowls. The starting XI of these teams, combined, featured a remarkable fourteen forwards, and merely four out-and-out defenders. Immediately we ask ourselves how on earth two defenders were able to cover the seven or 8 forwards they were faced with, and that is where it becomes interesting. In the early years of the sport, passing was a concept that was not seen as an essential part of the game, nor was it admired by journalists or fans alike (not a single account of a passing manoeuvre was printed in the match report), rather, dribbling and trickery were seen as the signs of an adept football team. And it is for this reason that a two man defence was able to cope against six forwards, as the exclusive path to goal was through dribbling, and dribbling only, and thus, the ball was won back through a simple challenge from one of the defenders.

The formation that pioneered a balance between attack and defence was the 2-3-5, known as the pyramid. This formation was first recorded in 1880, however, in ‘Association Football’ published by Caxton in 1960, it is revealed that “Wrexham, the first winner of the Welsh Cup in 1877, for the first time certainly in Wales and probably in Britain, a team played three half backs and five forwards.’

The two fullbacks in this formation would watch and cover the opponents wingers, who were the widest of the opposing attacking line, whilst the midfielders (halfbacks) would concern themselves with the duty of watching the other three forwards, as well as acting as the link between defence and attack.

But it was the centre halfback who’s role is one that is still instilled in our minds over a century later, as he was the man with the assignment of tracking the centre forward (considered the most creative player), as well as being the person who received the ball out of the back, and distributed it to the forwards. We can observe world-class players today who’s niche is just that of the centre halfback, to curtail the influence of the centre forward who drifts into midfield and dictates the opponents attacking play, a position that takes an intricate reading of the game, along with guile and poise playing out from midfield.

Over a century later, a Roma side devoid of a traditional target man up front implemented a formation that many footballing minds believe to be the way forward in terms of formations, the 4-6-0. Although Spalletti’s side was revolutionary, this formation was not a new one. It was used the Austria side of the 30’s, dubbed the ‘Wunderteam’, but, most famously, it was used by Hungary when they beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953. England’s centre-half of the day, Harry Johnston, expressed his experience of the game as a ‘tragedy’, explaining his ‘utter helplessness… not being able to do anything about it’. If Johnston tracked the runs of Hidegkuti, he would leave a gaping hole behind him, and if he sat deep, Hidegkuti would roam free.

Roma’s captain, Francesco Totti, was, as Hidegkuti was, deployed between the lines, with Mirko Vucinic and Mancini flanking him, whilst Perrotta, Pizzaro and De Rossi formed a midfield diamond behind them. This system worked with such aplomb that even when Roma’s fit forwards returned, Totti continued to be chosen as the furthest forward, with Vucinic, a striker anywhere else, still marauding down the left.

Attacking fluency aside, the six midfielders in Roma’s 4-6-0 were not only able to attack, but to get behind the ball, and this is where the system excels. The players in this arrangement had to be universal; fit, creative and defensively able, therein they were all required to make the attacking play, as well as defend. Perhaps Roma lacked the quality throughout the team to make this work as frequently as they’d liked, but nevertheless, in full flight, this side was a nightmare to play against.

Manchester United’s European glory in 2008 was based around a revised version of the one Spalletti brought back into modern football. Ferguson’s use of two holding players (Scholes and Carrick) instead of Spalletti’s one (De Rossi) added structure to the system, the perennial front three was where the dramatic improvements were made. Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Carlos Tevez were a legendary triumvirate; each was able to play all across the front three and could contribute to all aspects of the game.

Manchester United’s adaptation has set the standard of what is needed to pull off the 4-6-0, or 4-2-4-0, as each player was universally capable. Even one player who does not pull his weight in this complex system can halter it.

Having a truly talented trequartista in this formation is paramount. A Messi. A Ronaldo. A Totti. He drops deep, into ‘the hole’ and from here the defence are helpless. Follow him and and a gap opens up, stay put and he has all the time in the world to make something happen, this is the man that makes the tactic tick. In a perfect scenario he picks up the ball in that whole and has the two wide players cutting into the box and his two central midfielders overlapping him and getting into the box. He needs to be able to pass, to dribble, to shoot. He needs to be able to hit long passes out wide as well as delicate one through the middle. He is everything in this formation.

A European Cup winning side playing without a striker, who’d have thought it back in 1872?

The 4-6-0 has been improved again by Barcelona, in a system that I won’t discuss, as it is very well documented.

The striker may be dead, and the striker-less formation may well dominate the current era of football, and Barca may have perfected it, but what’s next? A manager will pioneer the next radical formation, and people will doubt him, but this is how football works, great minds will be remembered, and great footballing philosophies will live on.
 
summerisle said:
Football formations since the nineteenth century.

http://backpagefootball.com/the-evolution-of-football-formations/35028/

The evolution of football formations.

Naturally, the modern day footballer is evolving. Pace, agility and power are being displayed at astonishingly high levels by players around the globe, and in unison with these advancements, the tactics and flow of a football game will inevitably change as well.

The very first international game was contested by England and Scotland on the 30th of November 1872, a game in which the English wore caps, and the Scottish wore red cowls. The starting XI of these teams, combined, featured a remarkable fourteen forwards, and merely four out-and-out defenders. Immediately we ask ourselves how on earth two defenders were able to cover the seven or 8 forwards they were faced with, and that is where it becomes interesting. In the early years of the sport, passing was a concept that was not seen as an essential part of the game, nor was it admired by journalists or fans alike (not a single account of a passing manoeuvre was printed in the match report), rather, dribbling and trickery were seen as the signs of an adept football team. And it is for this reason that a two man defence was able to cope against six forwards, as the exclusive path to goal was through dribbling, and dribbling only, and thus, the ball was won back through a simple challenge from one of the defenders.

The formation that pioneered a balance between attack and defence was the 2-3-5, known as the pyramid. This formation was first recorded in 1880, however, in ‘Association Football’ published by Caxton in 1960, it is revealed that “Wrexham, the first winner of the Welsh Cup in 1877, for the first time certainly in Wales and probably in Britain, a team played three half backs and five forwards.’

The two fullbacks in this formation would watch and cover the opponents wingers, who were the widest of the opposing attacking line, whilst the midfielders (halfbacks) would concern themselves with the duty of watching the other three forwards, as well as acting as the link between defence and attack.

But it was the centre halfback who’s role is one that is still instilled in our minds over a century later, as he was the man with the assignment of tracking the centre forward (considered the most creative player), as well as being the person who received the ball out of the back, and distributed it to the forwards. We can observe world-class players today who’s niche is just that of the centre halfback, to curtail the influence of the centre forward who drifts into midfield and dictates the opponents attacking play, a position that takes an intricate reading of the game, along with guile and poise playing out from midfield.

Over a century later, a Roma side devoid of a traditional target man up front implemented a formation that many footballing minds believe to be the way forward in terms of formations, the 4-6-0. Although Spalletti’s side was revolutionary, this formation was not a new one. It was used the Austria side of the 30’s, dubbed the ‘Wunderteam’, but, most famously, it was used by Hungary when they beat England 6-3 at Wembley in 1953. England’s centre-half of the day, Harry Johnston, expressed his experience of the game as a ‘tragedy’, explaining his ‘utter helplessness… not being able to do anything about it’. If Johnston tracked the runs of Hidegkuti, he would leave a gaping hole behind him, and if he sat deep, Hidegkuti would roam free.

Roma’s captain, Francesco Totti, was, as Hidegkuti was, deployed between the lines, with Mirko Vucinic and Mancini flanking him, whilst Perrotta, Pizzaro and De Rossi formed a midfield diamond behind them. This system worked with such aplomb that even when Roma’s fit forwards returned, Totti continued to be chosen as the furthest forward, with Vucinic, a striker anywhere else, still marauding down the left.

Attacking fluency aside, the six midfielders in Roma’s 4-6-0 were not only able to attack, but to get behind the ball, and this is where the system excels. The players in this arrangement had to be universal; fit, creative and defensively able, therein they were all required to make the attacking play, as well as defend. Perhaps Roma lacked the quality throughout the team to make this work as frequently as they’d liked, but nevertheless, in full flight, this side was a nightmare to play against.

Manchester United’s European glory in 2008 was based around a revised version of the one Spalletti brought back into modern football. Ferguson’s use of two holding players (Scholes and Carrick) instead of Spalletti’s one (De Rossi) added structure to the system, the perennial front three was where the dramatic improvements were made. Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, and Carlos Tevez were a legendary triumvirate; each was able to play all across the front three and could contribute to all aspects of the game.

Manchester United’s adaptation has set the standard of what is needed to pull off the 4-6-0, or 4-2-4-0, as each player was universally capable. Even one player who does not pull his weight in this complex system can halter it.

Having a truly talented trequartista in this formation is paramount. A Messi. A Ronaldo. A Totti. He drops deep, into ‘the hole’ and from here the defence are helpless. Follow him and and a gap opens up, stay put and he has all the time in the world to make something happen, this is the man that makes the tactic tick. In a perfect scenario he picks up the ball in that whole and has the two wide players cutting into the box and his two central midfielders overlapping him and getting into the box. He needs to be able to pass, to dribble, to shoot. He needs to be able to hit long passes out wide as well as delicate one through the middle. He is everything in this formation.

A European Cup winning side playing without a striker, who’d have thought it back in 1872?

The 4-6-0 has been improved again by Barcelona, in a system that I won’t discuss, as it is very well documented.

The striker may be dead, and the striker-less formation may well dominate the current era of football, and Barca may have perfected it, but what’s next? A manager will pioneer the next radical formation, and people will doubt him, but this is how football works, great minds will be remembered, and great footballing philosophies will live on.
Click to expand...
4-6-0? No striker? Hmmm sounds very familiar.....
 

http://www.goalpostbooks.co.uk/an-interview-with-england-captain-go-smith/

INTERVIEW WITH AN ENGLAND CAPTAIN

Mr. G. O. Smith Talks about the Great Game,
By C. Duncan Lewis, 1896

gosmith.jpg


Now that the Football season has commenced, readers will naturally be expecting some hints on the winter pastime — hints as to how they may save their goal and their shins at the same time. No authority is better qualified to give advice on this subject than Mr. G. O. Smith, the famous International Association footballer.

Mr. Smith is an ideal athlete. A brilliant footballer, a fine cricketer, the old Oxonian is equally at home when he is playing a winning game or working like a Trojan to save his side from defeat. If everyone else in the team fails and pulls a face as long as the Monument, Mr. G. O. Smith can always be depended upon to shatter the rising hopes of the opposing side. It is very cruel, no doubt, but he can’t help it; it is in his nature to!

When I wrote to Mr. Smith the other day and told him that readers were anxious to make his acquaintance, he very kindly offered to answer any questions I might put to him.

I asked Mr. Smith his opinion of compulsory football — whether he thinks a boy ought to be made to learn football for his health’s sake, just as he has to fill his head with algebraical solutions for his brain’s sake.

“In compulsory games, as a whole, I do not believe,” he replied. “Football, in my opinion, is best enjoyed and best played at schools where it is not nominally compulsory, but where public opinion practically makes everyone keen to play. In such a case football loses all sense of a task which must be undergone, and becomes a game at which it is the desire of all to excel.”

Do you consider it a very healthy game?

“I don’t think there can be a doubt that football is good for the health. For a strong boy an hour and a half’s exercise or violent exercise is not at all a bad thing, and I can remember playing three hours on end and never feeling the worse, though I fancy that was rather too much. Of course, where a weak boy is concerned it may be overdone, but in an ordinary case the exercise to be obtained at football cannot, I think, be considered detrimental to health.”

But what about the boy, Mr. Smith, who would be much better for a sound, healthy game, but who wraps himself up in shawls and mustard plaisters and takes snuff to assist him in shamming a cold, then gets the doctor to certify that he is unfit to play? Does this kind of youth as a rule grow up weaker than the boy who regularly dons his jersey and goes through the game like a trump?

“As far as my experience goes, the boy who enters keenly and heartily into the game will necessarily prove a better and stronger fellow than the one who shams to avoid it. The former will almost certainly be energetic in other things as well as football, while the latter will probably shirk his other duties as he has shirked his games.”

Since most of us are eager to shine on the football field, can you give me some useful recipe for the making of a first-rate footballer?

“It is hard to recommend any particular course to a boy who wishes to become a good football player. The saying nascitur, non fit applies, I think, to football as well as other things: a boy must have it born in him to become really great at the game. Of course, perseverance will succeed, as a rule, in turning out a moderate player, but unless perseverance is aided by an innate skill it will not produce a first-class performer.”

How should one practise to become a first-class forward?

“The qualifications for a forward vary somewhat according to his position. Every forward, however, must have some dribbling powers, and must also be able to pass well. It is essential for an outside forward to be fast, as he gets many opportunities of using his pace; an inside forward need not be so fast, as combination is his chief concern.

“To be able to dribble well is a great advantage, but good passing is of the utmost importance. If a boy is selfish, no matter how good a dribbler he is, he will spoil the team; forwards to be perfect should work like a machine, each being dependent on his companions.”

Now, what of the ‘funk’, Mr. Smith? — that most estimable of gentleman who would like to pad himself with pillows and mattresses and that sort of thing, and who, whenever one of the opposing side approaches with the ball, clenches his fists and assumes a ferocious let-me-kill you sort of expression, and when the moment for business arrives—quietly ties up his boot-laces.

“There is, I am sorry to say, a good deal of ‘funking’ at football, and in my opinion it is impossible of cure; a boy if he ‘funks’ will probably go on ‘funking’ when he becomes bigger. Oddly enough, the people who ‘funk’ are generally the ones to get hurt, which fact may perhaps be of use in persuading boys not to adopt such tactics.”

Ah, that reminds me. The public is treated from time to time with a football butcher’s bill. We read of awful slaughter and the breaking of thousands of limbs on the field of play; but is football really as dangerous as it is made out to be?

“I do not thing that the dangers of football are at any time great, and amongst prominent players they are very slight indeed. One hardly ever hears of a bad accident in a good match. The dangers of football arise generally from the inability or rashness of the player. The wild kicking of an unskilful player who doesn’t care a nit whether he kicks the ball or an opponent is a great source of danger; but fortunately this sort of player is not often met with. It is the player that creates danger, not the game. On the whole, I believe football to be a safe game. As far as my own experience goes I have never been hurt, and hardly ever seen an accident, and certainly not a very serious one.”

Complaints are sometimes made against the professional footballer, Mr. Smith. The man who makes his bread and cheese out of the game is surely not the double-distilled monster he is occasionally claimed to be?

“I have been lucky enough to play against nearly all the League teams, and have, therefore, met many professionals. They are a very nice set of men, not only to meet on the football field, but off it. It is quite an exceptional thing to find foul play amongst the leading professional clubs. When you meet second-class professional the case may be different; but the first-class professional rarely descends to shady tricks, and plays the game in the spirit in which it ought to be played.”

Do you think football is growing more popular every year?

“As far as I know, football, not only amongst men but also amongst boys, is largely on the increase, and growing more popular every year.”

This is an edited extract from Goal-Post, the Victorian football anthology.
 

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