Most liked posts in thread: Old Avenue v City football programme

So did the "Yorkshire Ripper" .

 

Mellor Goalkeeper
Campbell Right full back, Left full back Boocock,
Right Half Hampton, Centre Half Torrance, Left half McDonald,
Left Wing Thompson, Inside Left Devine, Centre Forward O'Rourke, Inside Right Logan, Right Wing Bond,

In the day it was anything but mental, that's the way most teams lined up, until the likes of Don Revie introduced formations of 4-3-3 Sprake
Cooper, Charlton, Hunter, Reaney,
Gray Giles Bremner
Clarke Jones Lorimer

and Sir Alf Ramsey@s wingless wonders, 4-1-2-1-2.
Banks
Cohen J Charlton Moore Wilson
Stiles
Ball Peters
R Charlton
Hurst Hunt

 

I've often thought that the old formation could be adapted pretty effectively to the modern game. You'd have a back three of a big and mobile centre half and two full backs. Then two defensive midfielders (halfbacks) whose remit would be to support when attacking, but not get too involved, and get back to win the ball back or support the centre half to make a back five when defending. One on each side of the field. Two attacking midfielders would do the same but in reverse and would ideally be creative ball players (inside forwards) with an eye for goal and with a remit to get forward whenever possible to support the centre forward. Up front a big and mobile centre forward and two speedy wingers. Effectively 3-2-2-3. That was how the old formation worked and I'd love to see someone try it again.
Harking back again to the infamous 6-0 home defeat to Bristol City all those years ago, that was a wonderful example how an unorthodox formation can work. They had a giant centre half and two fullbacks, five in midfield and two up front. So ostensibly 3-5-2, but to complicate it further the two fullbacks played like wingbacks and it became 1-7-2 at times. In fact, I think the two fullbacks scored three of the goals. The five in midfield were very fluid and we had no idea who to mark or where any of them were playing. They absolutely ripped us to pieces.

 

Jim and his family ?.