glass half empty

[SimonNo7]

Of course - just enough time to miss the internationals but be back for the Villa game at Old Toilet in 2 weekends' time...

well something tells me he will be back for the villa game and out for the international games

Of course, keep forgetting about the bloody internationals!

[Guest]

Oh I really think that's wrong. I take your point about the lack of time but some players had simply appalling technique. Think of some relatively recent England players - Carlton Palmer, Geoff Thomas, etc.

IMO Liverpool haven't always played a continental game - I take the view that was brought in by Paisley. Our subsequent European success under him was not a coincidence.

Every country has had its fair share of limited players. Palmer and Thomas didn't have a long England career I think. Even then, the English national side haven't always been renowned for producing sexy football, more because of the fact that they never looked outside the Isles as to how a football team should be built.

It started with Sven, who IMO was a relative success throughout his tenure there. It is just the style of football and the retrograde tactics which were their undoing for so long, but they did produce some exceptional players during that time, namely the much maligned Paul Gascoigne and some others such as Glen Hoddle and some whose name escape me, who would have graced any team. IMO.

[Guest]

Nobody will ever win arguing with Craig_H. He should have been a reformed character but his natural instincts are flowing back like Gareth Southgate's flocks.

[Redspin]

Oh I really think that's wrong. I take your point about the lack of time but some players had simply appalling technique. Think of some relatively recent England players - Carlton Palmer, Geoff Thomas, etc.

IMO Liverpool haven't always played a continental game - I take the view that was brought in by Paisley. Our subsequent European success under him was not a coincidence.

Our more European approach of keeping the ball and building up from the back started immediately after we lost to Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup in late 1973. Although we lost both legs only 2-1, so 4-2 on aggregate, we were totally and utterly outplayed in two embarrassingly one-sided games. If we'd lost both games by 4 or 5 goals it wouldn't have flattered them. My one abiding memory of the home leg which summed up both teams' approach was Ian Callaghan running at top speed trying to close down their players as 3 of them, almost mockingly, passed the ball in neat triangles around him while standing still.

[Neil Young]

Our more European approach of keeping the ball and building up from the back started immediately after we lost to Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup in late 1973. Although we lost both legs only 2-1, so 4-2 on aggregate, we were totally and utterly outplayed in two embarrassingly one-sided games. If we'd lost both games by 4 or 5 goals it wouldn't have flattered them. My one abiding memory of the home leg which summed up both teams' approach was Ian Callaghan running at top speed trying to close down their players as 3 of them, almost mockingly, passed the ball in neat triangles around him while standing still.

That's a very interesting observation.

Was that Shanks's innovation or Paisley's?

It even makes me wonder whether Shanks might have had an idea his tactics weren't suited for the next step forward (the famed/clichéd "next level") and whether that had an impact on his decision to resign...

Probably not.

[Guest]

Our more European approach of keeping the ball and building up from the back started immediately after we lost to Red Star Belgrade in the European Cup in late 1973. Although we lost both legs only 2-1, so 4-2 on aggregate, we were totally and utterly outplayed in two embarrassingly one-sided games. If we'd lost both games by 4 or 5 goals it wouldn't have flattered them. My one abiding memory of the home leg which summed up both teams' approach was Ian Callaghan running at top speed trying to close down their players as 3 of them, almost mockingly, passed the ball in neat triangles around him while standing still.

I wasn't even born then but this adds fuel to my theory that with proper coaching we managed to change our game and play a more continental approach.

[wiw]

So 'pass and move' is actually the Red Star Belgrade 'groove' then?

[Warren]

I wasn't even born then

Really? I had you down as at least 45

[Neil Young]

I wasn't even born then but this adds fuel to my theory that with proper coaching we managed to change our game and play a more continental approach.

Hmm, what about the "Liverpool have always played a continental game" comment? It was the 'always' I was disputing.

We also signed players who could play that way - i.e. players with good technique. There weren't that many - look at our centre back partnerships under Paisley and compare them with those of our rivals. Our centre backs, whether homegrown or transfers, could actually play as well as kick the sh*t out of opponents (yes, I am thinking of Tommy Smith).

[Guest]

Really? I had you down as at least 45

I'm 35 and looking more 29 than 45. Maybe you mixed me up with that old dawg.

[Neil Young]

Really? I had you down as at least 45

He is, in cat years.

That makes him about six and a half in human years.

[Guest]

Hmm, what about the "Liverpool have always played a continental game" comment? It was the 'always' I was disputing.

We also signed players who could play that way - i.e. players with good technique. There weren't that many - look at our centre back partnerships under Paisley and compare them with those of our rivals. Our centre backs, whether homegrown or transfers, could actually play as well as kick the sh*t out of opponents (yes, I am thinking of Tommy Smith).

Tommy Smith wasn't a particularly good player if I remember correctly (I base that assumption on seeing footage of our European cup win of 1977). He was a scary sight to many a player though with his rough approach.

Anyway, let's not go off tangent; yes you have a point with my 'always played a continental game' statement. But this is understandable because I was born in 1973, just at the time we Shankly changed our approach.

[Neil Young]

Tommy Smith wasn't a particularly good player if I remember correctly (I base that assumption on seeing footage of our European cup win of 1977). He was a scary sight to many a player though with his rough approach.

Anyway, let's not go off tangent; yes you have a point with my 'always played a continental game' statement. But this is understandable because I was born in 1973, just at the time we Shankly changed our approach.

Sure, I can see that. Perhaps it was Paisley though.

I think you're wrong about Tommy Smith. Perhaps now he wouldn't qualify as having especially good technique but for a defender then he was really rather good on the ball.

[Reece]

Sure, I can see that. Perhaps it was Paisley though.

http://spoilurpets.com/images/Dog%20Cozy%20Cape.JPG

I think you're wrong about Tommy Smith. Perhaps now he wouldn't qualify as having especially good technique but for a defender then he was really rather good on the ball.

You don't say.