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Post by leftwinger on Sept 26, 2023 12:36:19 GMT 1
I suppose somewhere along the line I gradually turned into my dad, with regards to his view of football. He used to talk fondly of the players and teams pre-1960s, whereas I fondly recall the 60s, 70s and early to mid 1980s as a ‘golden age’ of football (but not necessarily with regard to Guiseley as I don’t know how they were doing then.) True, the facilities at grounds were much more primitive and even less safe than compared to today’s stadia (by and large) but the way football was played back then, the players and the tactics used were more to my liking. Eg I liked the old attacking five-two wingers, two inside forwards and centre forward. Nowadays teams pack their midfields and one up front, is gradually becoming the norm. Yes, everything changes/nothing stays the same and we have to accept that but, I think, basically ‘not losing replaced trying to win’ as the ethos that guides most teams today which I feel is sad. (I do like the idea of the attacking full back or wingback as they are called today. But, as my nom de plume implies, ‘the winger’ is my favourite position and of course these can be a rarified species these days.
But, I came to be supporting the Lions eight years ago and have become an evangelist for Non-League football, (when meeting other ‘football folk’) as have some others who have turned their backs on top league football. I enjoy going to Nethermoor, now have a season ticket and see them as ‘my team’. Despite any moaning, complaining or criticism which might appear in my posts from time to time-well-I am probably a ‘dinosaur’ where younger football fans are concerned-I think there is a ‘spirit’ of the game which is being kept alive at Non-League level and I don’t have any regrets about no longer attending League games.
Hopefully, tonight, the Lions can put a smile on all our faces during and after the latest fixture. Here’s to it!
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Post by rallyman on Sept 26, 2023 14:18:38 GMT 1
Hopefully, tonight, the Lions can put a smile on all our faces during and after the latest fixture. Here’s to it! LW I hope you're right as tonight will be my first away game this season and a good performance would be good with possibly 3 points an added bonus. Rallyman |
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Post by Nik on Sept 26, 2023 14:20:17 GMT 1
I understand we all gradually become our dads (... my poor boys!). You've endured some dross to get here too - well done. I got lucky and came along the last time we got out of our current division. Aside from the tendencies that existed in Italian football already in the 90s I think what you've observed can partly be attributed to the runaway success of Jose Mourinho in the early 2000s. The season in which they only conceded 15 league goals in 38 matches changed a lot, and then once you add the structured possession play from Barcelona you have the perfect winning machine, Man City. It's only a select few like Klopp's Liverpool since who've been able to play attacking football *and actually win leagues*. Most are heroic nearlies, edged out by teams who hold onto the ball, concede hardly any chances and only need a few of their own to beat you. As a point of interest I just compared saves per season and save percentages in the Premiership/league between 1994-95 and 22-23 and made averages: 94-95: Average saves per season: 147 Save%: 74% 22-23: Average saves per season: 110 Save%: 69% Goalkeepers haven't become terrible at saving shots. It's that teams shoot less, and are more likely to save their attempts for chances that the keeper will have no chance with (something that Arsene Wenger's Arsenal took to a crazy degree at times). These are some of the reasons I enjoy non-league (and women's football for that matter)! It's not so polished. There are enough mistakes and forgotten instructions to keep it interesting. Thing is, I do enjoy it even more when Guiseley are actually winning a few... [Edit: data source - fbref.com/en/comps/9/1994-1995/1994-1995-Premier-League-Stats] |
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Post by bigj on Sept 26, 2023 15:11:20 GMT 1
Watching Man City, Arsenal and Brighton in full flow is impressive and you know how much work has gone into producing football of that quality and the technical prowess that is required to execute it. Then in comlete contrast we have Man United - or should that be Disunited - great manager but the club hierachy is an absolute shambles just like the £1bn debt.
Glad we're nowhere near that level and we can till swap ends at halftime and have some banter with opposition fans along the way. Long may it continue.
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Post by Nik on Sept 26, 2023 20:43:04 GMT 1
On the subject of the ‘front five’, I should mention Jonathan Wilson’s excellent book Inverting The Pyramid, the title of which obviously hints at what leftwinger has observed about the generational shift in football formations.
It’s on Audible too, though sadly for fans of the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, not read by the author.
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Post by MrP on Sept 26, 2023 22:28:13 GMT 1
On the subject of the ‘front five’, I should mention Jonathan Wilson’s excellent book Inverting The Pyramid, the title of which obviously hints at what leftwinger has observed about the generational shift in football formations. It’s on Audible too, though sadly for fans of the Guardian Football Weekly podcast, not read by the author. Excellent book Nik. Perhaps we should create another Chat re Books to read re Football, Non-League Football, Life etc I have to say there’s an excellent book currently available by Ashton Utd’s Co-Chairman and Owner which i would recommend Attachments:
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Post by andyhaines on Sept 27, 2023 7:56:13 GMT 1
I love Inverting the Pyramid. Another great one is The Mixer by Michael Cox. Very similar to Inverting the Pyramid but focused on shifts in tactics in the Premier League over it's 30 year duration. Some of it is really fascinating. He also did a good one called Zonal marking which talks about European tactics through the 80s, 90s and 00s. It is interesting because there is a great section on Serie A in the 90s.. I got misty eyed over talks of Batistuta and Vieri.
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Post by Nik on Sept 27, 2023 9:36:09 GMT 1
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Post by adambrid on Sept 29, 2023 21:15:17 GMT 1
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