So Nemec is a classic #10? Maybe that explains a lot.
Help With Soccer Lingo
- Thread starter FootyLovin
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I was reading that book Christopher Jee mentioned (Inverting the Pyramid) for the last few weeks as it happened. Bearing in mind it was written by an Englishman, it was ruthless in its references to the English mindset behind football development since the very earliest days - English football has always had a "players should attack at all times" mindset, the only thing that changes is the reasoning behind the argument.
First it was about instilling virtues of strength, speed, etc because public schools (where the game developed) were seen as the training grounds for officers of the army. Then it became about the virtues of amateur sportsmanship over "unprincipled and greedy" professionals, then about how we, as inventors of the sport were divinely appointed to be the best in the world and did not need tactics (also why England refused to enter the first World Cups, as it was "below our dignity").
Around WW2 the fascist and communist countries actively advertised that their ideologies demanded the subordination of the individual to the system, so it became a serious political statement that as the guardians of centrist politics and liberty that it was morally indefensible for us to promote the use of tactics over improvisation. Finally, English football was ruined first by over-adherence to 4-4-2 and then in the late 1980s to 90s by a small number of clubs who perfected the art of "hoof-ball" (i.e. punting balls from defence straight to a striker for the entire game), combined with physical intimidation and injury to discourage their opponents from going forward. Think Vinnie Jones and his career total of 12 red cards, and world record for a booking after just three seconds.
Simply put, our mindset of all-out-attack and favouring of power over technique is intrinsically wrapped up in our social conservatism and values, as the book highlights several times. In all likelihood, it's something we'll never really be able to properly change, which is another major reason the Premier League is becoming such a hotbed of foreign talent. I've always maintained that despite the fact that I'm only in my 20s, I have no doubt that I will never see England win another major competition. The 1966 World Cup will, I am certain, be the only trophy England will ever win.
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Wow. That is quite the breakdown, Cliff.
Wow. That is quite the breakdown, Cliff.
I actually reduced the length of that post several times before reaching the final product :/
Reminded me more of a #2.
Shitty joke, man.
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