West Ham Online

"Do you agree? (Brian Clough, by the way.)"

"It’s remarkable that football evolves and clubs have to move with the times to match new styles of play, new tactics and the skills and intensity of the modern game and we have a manager who’s the antithesis of that."

"Superb goalkeeper, superb midfield player & captain, superb striker. All other players knowing their job."

"I think the biggest change in football now is wing backs or inverted wing backs, whatever they are called today. As well as the spine to be a good side having two good wing backs seems to help now as well and an awful lot of chances come via them with the demise of the traditional winger who got to the by-line and crossed it into the box like Dev di for the 1980 Cup Final goal."

"Goalkeeper and back four is 45 per cent of a team, so its hardly stunning analysis ."

"Or you are fortunate to have naturally gifted players and you tell them to just go out and play.......Brooking, Devo, Di Canio, Berkovic, Gazza etc"

Good sides are built on multiple facets. Playing players in preferred positions and to their strengths is a good start. A good example is Thilo Kehrer who was played as a backs to the wall defender for us which is not and has never been his game. Play him in a team who attempt to control possession and he’ll have an impact. Scamacca was another example of a player not used to and unable to play the ‘Antonio’ role. I’m using those two examples because it’s relevant to the manager we have and his weaknesses

"Good sides are all built with a strong spine to the team. A keeper, strong defender who is usually a leader, a midfield lynchpin and a striker who scores. You can build around that."

Liverpool’s decline during the 90’s seemed to coincide with the new back pass rule. I remember them on many occasions passing back to their keeper from the half-way line in order to waste time or to keep it away from the opposition.

It is obvious that you start with getting the defence in order to be successful.

"Didn’t Clough also concentrate on making the spine of the team better, as a priority? Keeper, central defence, centre midfield, striker. Years ago since I read his biography, but pretty sure he said that as well."

"Shilton saved Cloughie a lot of goals. It's no surprise either that one our most successful periods was when Lyall bought Parkes and had Stewart, Bonds, Martin, Lampard ahead of him and in 89 when we went down Martin, Gale and Stewart all had long injuries so defence certainly matters. Not sure the likes of Parkesie and Shilton would have been as good after the back pass rule came in, don't seem to remember Phil being great with his feet bar walloping it up the pitch!"

It certainly contributed. That and a over reliance on a No9 and a refusal too move away from the Old Boot Room Way. You bring up Clough. Who managed his last game over 30 years ago. Then say Old.! What’s it to be Whippersnapper.?

I just looked up when the back ass rule was introduced - 1992. I'd thought it was around 1980. Memory plays tricks on you.

"RBshorty old fella, I don't think the back pass rule stopped Liverpool from winning a title!"

Cloughie knew his Onions. But we are going back forty odd years.! Sure the basics stay the same. But certain aspects change. Why do you think the moment the back pass rule comes in. It take Liverpool 30 years to win a title.?

"100%. A really good goalkeeper can win you ten points a season, and a really good back four/defence allows you to do so much more with the rest of the team and in going forward. Gives you so much flexibility and options. Also the confidence of the whole team starts from the back."

Football forum But yes he is right