In The Mixer: The Story of Premier League Tactics

Otto42

Well-known member
Started this a while a go and just gone back to it, interesting observations of how tactically football has evolved (rather than how money has ruined the game!). A chapter on playing between the lines interesting as a Boro fan, as Juninho is one of the many examples cited. Writer suggests that Robbo tried lots of different formations to fit Juninho with the rest of the team, but ultimately the opposition manager's realised 'stop Juninho stop Boro' (particularly O'Neill in the League Cup Final). That and fatigue ultimately cost us. The three points and porous defence is mentioned in passing....

It got me wondering whether a more tactically astute and experienced manager than Robbo might have got more from the squad, and whether the three points, late signing of Festa and Schwarzer and injuries were as significant as many in Boro world think? For example if Juninho's man marked surely that should free Higgy or Barmby (if we had kept him) and whether we could have sacrificed one of the cups for the league....for example I'm sure we played virtually the full team against Hednesford (?)
 
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