Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
Tickle Tackle - Some Things Never Change
Tickle Tackle - Some Things Never Change
Tuesday, 18th Aug 2009 09:36 by Steve Tickle

Well, another season is upon us and at first sight it seems not much has changed – the Rams still can't defend, match oficials still seem to struggle recognising when the ball hits the back of the net and Neil Warnock is still complaining.

First the Rams: a hard fought, well earned and encouraging opening day win over newly promoted Peterborough United. It was top billing, due in no small part to it being Clough vs Ferguson and it delivered. Opening day games can be difficult to predict and not always a good indication of how clubs will go on to perform over the rest of the season so let's hope in that case that the following two games prove to be the exception rather than the rule.

I do think Cloughie will get it right eventually though. If I have but one thing in common with Nigel it's that our formative football years were dominated by Clough senior. Brian built his teams from the fundamentals – strikers who could score, midfielders who could create and defenders who could defend – and it's probably the latter that matters most of all.

Clough senior would say that games are won in defence but it seems the recent fashion in the game has been to laud defenders for their attacking prowess rather than their defensive skills. Skilfull, talented players they may be but in my mind at least, if you call yourself a defender in any shape or form, whether it be a wingback or whatever, then your prime responsibility is to defend well. Anything on top of that is a bonus. After all, you wouldn't buy a striker for how many goals he's headed off his own line.

I believe Nigel has the same outlook. It's all about knowing your responsibilities. If a defender or midfielder scores then that's a bonus but having scored, his responsibility is to ensure that his team then doesn't concede.

Those of us old enough to have experienced Cloughie senior's teams will remember the lovely flowing football they played but they were built on firm foundations with a rock solid defence. It didn't come overnight though and neither has it with Nigel's Derby County but I do believe that it will.

Football is essentially a simple game, made only as difficult as you want it to be, it's about players knowing their jobs, being capable of doing them and being disciplined. At the moment with the Rams, maybe it's the latter that we're still searching for and lets hope that in tonight's game at Bloomfield Road, the Rams will perform as we all want them to.

Now about those match officials and Mr Warnock: seems the officials are also struggling with the fundamentals - like seeing the ball hit the back of the net – and wouldn't you know, they have to do it in a game involving Neil Warnock? Well on this occasion, I think he has a point, it's just that as usual, he doesn't make it very well. Maybe if he cut out the 'they're all out to get us' stuff, people might actually listen to what he has to say once in a while.

It's not that they're all out to get you or your club Mr Warnock, it's just that some officials aren't actually all that good and they're hampered further by the attitude of the FA. Personally, I'm not 100% in favour of bringing in 'technology'. Cricket has it but it hasn't stopped the occasional inexplicable decision being given. Then of course you have the argument about technology not being available at all levels of the game.

I don't think match officials are properly coached or selected so that they have a real feel for the game and can make decisions with proper regard for the context of the game and without being restricted by the 'one size fit's all' directives concocted by a bunch of people whose only real connection with the game is the corporate hospitality they're so ready to accept.

There are always going to be contentious decisions in the game, that's part of the beauty of it and even the best official can't please everyone all the time. What would I believe make those contentious decisions more palatable would be if everyone had confidence that the match officials were knowldgeable and competent and confident.

All too often, I think match officials, especially the less experienced ones, are too busy worrying about what they must or mustn't do in the eyes of the FA and lose a bit of focus. I'd much rather see an official relaxed and with the freedom to be flexible. You may not get the 'consistency' that the football authorities call for but I believe the number and quality of decisions would improve and that the mistakes would be fewer and more acceptable. Mind you... whether any of this is acceptable for not seeing the ball hit the back of the net I'm not so sure.

I don't expect everyone will agree with me about officials and in any event, I fear it's going to take a sea-change for the football authorities to change their views. Even then, Neil Warnock will likely still be wailing that everyone is out to get him and his team.


Catch you soon.

 

© 2009 Steve Tickle

Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.


You need to login in order to post your comments

Derby County Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© FansNetwork 2024