I finished reading this book by Jonathan Wilson a few weeks ago. It's a top read - insightful, full of stats and dates but not too boring and quite analytical with some theories on where the game is headed. For example,
"The move away from out and out forwards, perhaps, is something new, although - at least towards the end of the 2007-08 season - it remains tentative. Perhaps the 4-6-0 will, in time, become just as much the orthodoxy as 4-4-2 was in England until the mid-nineties, or the libero was in Italy until the late-eighties; perhaps it will prove merely a passing fad."
This was written before Scotland tried something like the 4-6-0 in the European Championship qualifiers for the 2012 tournament. They were beaten by the Czechs but only by a goal to nil in Prague but it was a 'horses for courses' approach, as the Scots are quite weak these days. It seems if they'd had a good (or even average) striker fit, they would have played at least one up front. Probably.
The only issue with this edition of the book was the number of typos throughout the second half. Not enough to detract from the overall read, but irritating nonetheless.
All in all, a highly recommended way to learn more about 'the beautiful game'.
"The move away from out and out forwards, perhaps, is something new, although - at least towards the end of the 2007-08 season - it remains tentative. Perhaps the 4-6-0 will, in time, become just as much the orthodoxy as 4-4-2 was in England until the mid-nineties, or the libero was in Italy until the late-eighties; perhaps it will prove merely a passing fad."
This was written before Scotland tried something like the 4-6-0 in the European Championship qualifiers for the 2012 tournament. They were beaten by the Czechs but only by a goal to nil in Prague but it was a 'horses for courses' approach, as the Scots are quite weak these days. It seems if they'd had a good (or even average) striker fit, they would have played at least one up front. Probably.
The only issue with this edition of the book was the number of typos throughout the second half. Not enough to detract from the overall read, but irritating nonetheless.
All in all, a highly recommended way to learn more about 'the beautiful game'.
What's the world coming to? When I were a lad growing up in Glasgow, every team in Division 1 played 4-3-3. Left wing, right wing, centre forward. The position known as "striker" was continental devilry. God knows what names you'd give to the 6 midfielders these days.
ReplyDeleteHa. Sorry Steve. I guess centre forward is a better term. I reckon you'd get into that book. (Apparently that game against The Czech Republic saw more like a 4-2-4-0 played, which suggests two holding midfielders and 4 standard mids. But who the hell went forward??)
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