For aficionados of half back lines and unequalled glory, The Rangers Iron Curtain.

[fitalspark 72]

2 hours ago, Blumhoilann said:

Surely it's 2-3-5,seem to remember that as a lad. RB,LB,RH,CH,LH,OR,IR,CF,IL,OL.

I remember reading a coaching book from the '50s (decade I was born in) that referred to the 'classic WM' formation.

I read this over 50 years ago, so can't recall the exact wording , but it went along the following lines;

the W would give you 3 (defenders as in the opening post) then 2 (halfbacks?)

the M would give 2 (inside forwards?) then 3 (2 wingers and the centre forward).  

Happy to add to the general confusion on tactics from 60- 70 years ago..... 

 

[bigblueyonder 11,156]

2 hours ago, Blumhoilann said:

Surely it's 2-3-5,seem to remember that as a lad. RB,LB,RH,CH,LH,OR,IR,CF,IL,OL.

The full backs were more like centre backs not modern full backs. 

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

12 minutes ago, fitalspark said:

I remember reading a coaching book from the '50s (decade I was born in) that referred to the 'classic WM' formation.

I read this over 50 years ago, so can't recall the exact wording , but it went along the following lines;

the W would give you 3 (defenders as in the opening post) then 2 (halfbacks?)

the M would give 2 (inside forwards?) then 3 (2 wingers and the centre forward).  

Happy to add to the general confusion on tactics from 60- 70 years ago..... 

 

The W-M

[backup 4,724]

back in the day The Rangers forward line charging forward at speed was indeed a thing of beauty, one of my favourite forward lines was Scott, McMillan Miller Brand and Wilson, a sight to behold !

[fitalspark 72]

7 minutes ago, siddiqi_drinker said:

The W-M

OK, I can sort of follow the codes and they mostly make sense - but I'm struggling to see what MC stands for.  

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

Just now, fitalspark said:

OK, I can sort of follow the codes and they mostly make sense - but I'm struggling to see what MC stands for.  

Everything seems backwards FC for Centre Forward so only assume Midfield Central 

[backup 4,724]

20 minutes ago, siddiqi_drinker said:

Everything seems backwards FC for Centre Forward so only assume Midfield Central 

Iniesta was oft described as MC or as you say Mid Central.

It was Charlie Reep an RAF officer that started the number crunching that started to change how teams used tactics, the mantra was that three passes or less ended up with more goals scored.....and he was right.

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

13 minutes ago, backup said:

Iniesta was oft described as MC or as you say Mid Central.

It was Charlie Reep an RAF officer that started the number crunching that started to change how teams used tactics, the mantra was that three passes or less ended up with more goals scored.....and he was right.

yeah he gets a mention in that earlier article  I posted 

[Del 667]

8 hours ago, backup said:

Twat of humongous proportions, and you don't even try✌

Never mind half back...half wit is appropriate for you...would probably be for the best if your carer limited the time you spent on here now...

[fitalspark 72]

1 hour ago, siddiqi_drinker said:

Everything seems backwards FC for Centre Forward so only assume Midfield Central 

Cheers, makes sense now.

[siddiqi_drinker 14,635]

1 minute ago, fitalspark said:

Cheers, makes sense now.

read the article  posted earlier -- pretty interesting stuff. 

[backup 4,724]

2 hours ago, Del said:

Never mind half back...half wit is appropriate for you...would probably be for the best if your carer limited the time you spent on here now...

opinions are like arseholes, everybody has one although you appear to have two.

I was going to insult you, but realising you would think it a compliment, I will refrain from doing so 👍

[thedarvelmarvel 796]

20 hours ago, backup said:

back in the day The Rangers forward line charging forward at speed was indeed a thing of beauty, one of my favourite forward lines was Scott, McMillan Miller Brand and Wilson, a sight to behold !

i think when willie henderson came in he was a better fit than alec scott and he grew up watching ian mcmillan play at airdrie ,was he not a ball boy ?

[backup 4,724]

Alex was a 12 stone battering ram of a winger, wee WIllie was a different mould altogether.

Denis Law said ''He came up the best in the world, and defeated them with skill, ability and class. That's why he was a great player.'' 

George Best: ''My Dad's a great judge and he said Willie was one of the greats. If he said it, you believed it. I know Willie really was a genius.'' 

The Benfica Chairman after a friendly: '' Henderson is an outstanding player who enhances Scotland's prestige''

[Blumhoilann 6,712]

21 hours ago, bigblueyonder said:

The full backs were more like centre backs not modern full backs. 

Don't think the old FBs crossed the halfway line,lol

[tannerall 25,935]

22 hours ago, fitalspark said:

I remember reading a coaching book from the '50s (decade I was born in) that referred to the 'classic WM' formation.

I read this over 50 years ago, so can't recall the exact wording , but it went along the following lines;

the W would give you 3 (defenders as in the opening post) then 2 (halfbacks?)

the M would give 2 (inside forwards?) then 3 (2 wingers and the centre forward).  

Happy to add to the general confusion on tactics from 60- 70 years ago..... 

 

Game was harder, and tougher then, less athletic, much heavier ball.

Watching games before the mid sixties my impression is it took more time to work the ball from one end to the other, so less need to pack the midfields. Obviously the reason fast wingers thrived and were the best football players. You seldom see old fashioned defenders overlapping with the wingers, or playing one/twos either. More long ball tactics then too. 

Nowadays it's all about defending, controlling and building from a busy midfield.

[fitalspark 72]

29 minutes ago, tannerall said:

Game was harder, and tougher then, less athletic, much heavier ball.

Watching games before the mid sixties my impression is it took more time to work the ball from one end to the other, so less need to pack the midfields. Obviously the reason fast wingers thrived and were the best football players. You seldom see old fashioned defenders overlapping with the wingers, or playing one/twos either. More long ball tactics then too. 

Nowadays it's all about defending, controlling and building from a busy midfield.

Think I first became aware of 'overlapping fullbacks' in the mid-60s but the midfield was still pretty much long ball, or at least get it straight down the park -  none of this retain possession in midfield and recycling from one side to the other. 

  

[tannerall 25,935]

23 hours ago, fitalspark said:

OK, I can sort of follow the codes and they mostly make sense - but I'm struggling to see what MC stands for.  

Master of Ceremonies. That was the Jim Baxter role...............

[fitalspark 72]

11 minutes ago, tannerall said:

Master of Ceremonies. That was the Jim Baxter role...............

He was Master of the Universe in my opinion......