IMMORTAL HOWDEN ENDER

England 2 Scotland 3 - Wembley 1967 : It was a day when Scotland showed the Auld Enemy how the game should be played. The truth, though, is far less inspirational. In a game played at times at walking pace and in relative silence, with not one booking, Scotland beat an England side who played the majority of the game effectively with 10 men. Lanky stopper Jack Charlton was injured after only 15 minutes in a challenge with Lennox and with no substitutes allowed in those days, he was thrown up front simply for nuisance value, hobbling around in comical fashion for the rest of the afternoon. Indeed, in his autobiography, Greaves claims England had only nine fit men after Ray Wilson was caught by Bremner but although that can be put down to sour grapes by the Spurs legend, there can be no doubt that Charlton's injury changed the whole complexion of the game. Had Scotland been organised enough to play any sort of offside trap then Charlton would have been a hindrance. He could barely walk. As it was, from a static position the former Leeds United defender scored once and was unlucky not to notch at least one other. In Tommy Gemmell's autobiography, he claimed England were "massively outclassed" and that "Baxter was the main man. I can't remember him misplacing a pass all day." Nonsense. Baxter had an indifferent game to say the least, missing the target with passes as often as he found them and indeed he might have been sent off in the first half for twice handling the ball, had the modern application of rules applied back then. Although far from his best, it was Bobby Charlton who was head and shoulders above everyone on the park, especially in the first half. The Manchester United star showed he had it all; power, strength, change of pace, comfortable on either foot, a full range of passing, and carrying a goal threat every time he moved forward. Baxter was not even the best Scottish player on the day, Wallace, McCalliog, McKinnon and Greig all performing better. Indeed, in his book, Bobby Charlton agreed that Baxter had played better four years previously when 10-man Scotland had won 2-1. Gemmell's claim that there were no tactics as such is much more credible. Aside from the lack of offside nous on show, the match is so far removed from the modern game as to be almost unrecognisable. Play is stretched from the first minute until the last. Seconds after kick-off there are three Scotland players in front of Law, who attempts to go straight at the England defence. Nowadays it takes an hour for three Scotland players to get ahead of the ball. Both teams lined up 4-3-3 but players roamed around the park at will. Law, ostensibly centre forward, plays wide on the right, wide on the left, left-back, right back and all over midfield, sometimes, it seems, in the same move. There was no real thought given to defending, even by England when they had to reshuffle after the early injury to Charlton senior. Stiles simply dropped back to help out Bobby Moore. For all his reputation as a dour tactician, Sir Alf Ramsay's side went all out to get the win. Players have acres of space and plenty of time, often allowed to amble over the halfway line untroubled which suited Baxter. There was no 'pressing game,' no tight marking, no hugging and tugging which led to among other things, plenty of free headers in the box.

What a fecking depressing thought.

And here was me thinking that Renegade may be Terry Butcher and it has been Oddquine all the time. Goalkeepers playing as sweepers, overlapping full backs, interchanging centre backs, three at the back, wide interchanging midfielders, defensive midfielders "in the hole" between defence and midfield, creative midfielders, two defensive midfielders allowing width, interchanging wingers, the old fashioned holding centre forward with a pacy sidekick or somebody "in the hole" between midfield and attack etc., etc. Oswell is pretty much a number 9 at the moment but not in the traditional role. If he beefs up he could well be but I suspect that his pace will make him a sidekick. Sounds like Nick Ross was played more in the style of the inside right of yesteryear. I would prefer him to be a right half or a combination of a right half/right winger.

The official match programme had Joe Allen down as being English !! They showed respect by standing feckin still and not singing in Welsh.

It was just that I was hoping that he would be played wide rite as a "trial" for the more premanent position. It sounds like he was being used more in the proposed Andy Shinnie role.

What a feckin good idea - will put some work in to that and you can proof read from a legal perspective !!

Out of interest where was Nick Ross played at Wick ? And you can watch the Brora Rangers match - from the Bridge.

Loved all the Welshmen zipping their lips whilst God Save the Queen was being sung !!

Therefore there is no code :lol: Stay in the John Moore as my train gets in just after 11.

How is the Decision Making course going ?

Capital Caley - can the Weegie "Chapter" hold a sub group meeting in the Central Station Bar at 11ish ? Can I also suggest that the name should be "Rite enuff - Feckin ICT Away mun" Oh and will there be a code of discipline ?

Are you Butcher in disguise ?

Well he will fit in at Accrington with that name - a feckin circus full of wild animals and clowns called "Ultras". :lol:

Reads the game well but doesn't react quick enough when turned on his right side. Also, a bit slow when trying to make up ground. When you are playing as a sweeper your experience, positioning and anticipation can counter that - especially when you do have speed off the mark and/or over ten yards - and his covering at Brechin was mainly for Cooper on his right side. Have to admit that he really surprised me but I was in a poosition behind the goal where i got a real good view of what really was a master class.

Mahonio and I could form a North Chapter of the Away Fans club/group. I'm sure I could get into Latheronwheel in time to jump on the back of the hired tandem he will pedal from Thurso..and continue pedalling to Inverness as I sit behind him, feet on the handlebars, rehearsing my regal wave..as in bags me as heid bummer. But seriously........think that is a really good idea. Shame there aren't enough of us up North (as far as I know) to take part at some level in the same kind of thing. The ICT NORTH CHAPTER

Becos Wayne Rooney's dad had a bet on it happening.

The last one

Looking forward to a Smileymometer from Oddquine.

The saving grace is that most of the defenders can interchange. Laing played as a rite back at Brechin but didn't look confident defensively and allowed a lot of crosses to come in from the left which led to the second goal. I am really pleased that the yoof have been given a chance. I don't actually think that is anything to do with their enthusiasm, pace, movement or skill as Polworth, Pepper and Oswell have that in abundance. They are merely children in a mans world. They are simply not strong enuff to play in certain positions such as midfield or centre forward as they don't have the physique to deal with some of the brutes who will be out to noise them up. Pepper out wide could be an option in the absence of Doran. Oswell will be a good sub and let's get him down to the gym and wait till he grows another few inches. I would rather have the yoof than short term loanees or some unknowns from the bowels of Englandshire.

Where the feck do we play him and what the feck do we do if he is absent ? I concede that it was a midweek pre-season friendly at Brechin but he got very close to being faultless last nite and looked like he had been playing as a libero in Spaghetti land fer years. Yet we missed his influence in midfield which led to a frustrated Andy Shinnie dropping back to pick up the ball as a "playmaker" type that Foran can also provide. Then we have Shane trying to be transformed in to a Richie clone and poor wee McKay struggling against two defenders bot at least a foot taller and two stone heavier than him without a partners who wins the ball in the air, acts as a holder of the ball and utilises McKay's pace and ensures that he isn't just chasing hoofs or speculative lobs - as a certain Richie Foran can provide. And there was nobody close enuff to Doran to give him a wake up slap on his napper. So we basically need four Richie Forans - who the feck WAS Ross Tokely

You are learning Luke Skywalker !! That is what I would have gone for except Warren may not be match fit and Richie was immense at Brechin at the back. I also hope that the role of Andrew Shinnie is sorted out and that would be dependent on playing somebody with more passing skill in the middle. I also suspect that TB may well adhere to his Sutherland theory,

That cut back was from either Ross or Laird as Doran was glued to the left or does he suffer from Hedgophobia ?

Esson Cooper Foran. Meekings. G.Shinnie Ross. Draper. A.Shinnie. Doran McKay. Oswell

And I though that I was the master of wind ups !!

Did Terry Butcher play with Ray Wilkins ??