From Ian Byrne : Jonathan Wilson – Inverting the Pyramid
Hi Myles,
Great match report from Upton Park (when did it start being referred to as the “Boleyn”?). When I was a kid in the 80’s, used to go to there when Arsenal were in the far north – loved it.
I’ve been reading Jonathan Wilson’s book on the history of tactics, I’m sure you have too and I’ve been struck by how, back when Wenger was on fire as a coach, he was a mixture of two Soviet coaches, Kiev’s Valeryi Lobonovskyi and Minsk’s Eduard Malofeev.
Spiritually, he was closer to the freedom of the latter, but also stole the former’s fascination with and devotion to early cybernetics.
Shame he has neglected to stay loyal to both, while at the same time failing to adapt to the changes and developments in the game.
The other interesting perspective in the book relating to our island is how the tactical innovators were English: Chapman, Rowe, Ramsey and Graham Taylor (!)
Whereas the most saluted managers were Scots: Busby, Stein, Shankly and Ferguson.
All of whom developed successful sides through exceptional man management, but very little tactical variation.
All the very best as ever.
Myles says:
Brian Clough & Peter Taylor brought success to Nottingham Forest by making decisions.
Clough was a brilliant man-manager, Taylor had an eye for a great player.
And Clough always owned up when he made a mistake.
He signed Asa Hartford to replace the great Archie Gemmill but sold him three weeks later. He realised that Asa only lends you the ball.
Dynamo Kiev had a good goal disallowed against Arsenal at Wembley and Shevchenko, a powerhouse, knocked Martin Keown on his arse, which nobody else ever did
I watched Kiev train at Wembley the night before the game.
And watched the legendary Lobanovsky from a distance.
He said nothing to his assistants and made no gestures but my impression was that he saw everything.
Back in 2008 I reviewed Jonathan’s book here