Alan Ball

I like his comments about being told he was too small.

My dad always made a point of us watching Southampton when they were on Match of the Day.

I was a 6 foot centre back, but when I was coaching at youth level, I got frustrated with other coaches who where obsessed with size and power.

I remain convinced Messi would never have been given a chance in England.

I like to look at ability on the ball as Alan says.

I always remember driving home the night his dad died in a car crash and listening to him on the radio. Very emotional.

Everton got the best out of that deal, he'd had a bad few months after coming back from the World Cup, he'd upset his teammates in training, argued the toss with Catterick. He did okay with Arsenal but he was as ever good for them as he was for us, they did the same as Everton did got a few good years out of him then sold him on to Southampton while he was still worth a good fee.

Business as Catterick saw it and possibly Alan did himself when he looked back at his career.

Best of all was the brilliant memories he left us Bluenoses with that linger long in the memory, fantastic skill, fought for every ball, argued with opponents, his own players, referees and we loved him for it, missed him when he went with loads of “ what might have beens”.

We'll ever know— He played for us, left his mark and will never be forgotten by those of us who had the privilege to see him in that Blue shirt and white boots.

Covering every blade of grass was inspired by his man of the match performance in England's world cup victory over the jerries in 1966.

Midfield dynamos became the mainstay of English clubs thereafter. The problem was runners and athletes could get by charging around like clockwork mice but without the technique and artistry of Ball.

The English game slowly abandoned skill preferring this athletic approach resulting in clubs having to import skill.

It also saw the national team morph from world leaders in to monstrous mountains of donkey shite.

I remember my Dad saying that a player can be too good for a team on watching Ball play. He was sold to Arsenal just after that.

Best of all was Len Shackleton of Sunderland who did it at Goodison and looked at an imaginary watch on his wrist at the same time, mind you it was a slower game then!!

There's nothing wrong with covering every blade of grass, and I'd argue with anyone who disagreed that this isn't a fantastic attribute, but like Ball explained, his father also wanted him to master the football, and not enough people must have known how to teach this?

Getting your coaching badges means you can become a football coach, but this doesn't necessarily mean that you suddenly understand football in great depth. Football is a very hard game, but I also adhere to the principle of it being a very simple game. Who isn't big on contradiction!!

Thanks for posting that, Don, and god bless Alan Ball.

Little curly Alan Ball.

Totally agree my point is the impetus for athleticism before technique came from the original midfield dynamo who happened to have both – Alan Ball.

I might add an old pro once said all the skilful players now come from poor countries where coaching as we know it doesn't exist. Look at sports coach central, USA, been at it for decades and haven't produced anything.

Different coaches have influenced the game throughout the ages. Especially those who won international tournaments. England had some very high quality wingers at the time, but Sir Alf just wasnt interested. His team dubbed "wingless wonders" was certainly innovative at the time. He knew how he wanted the game played and that involved hard graft and a narrow system. The player many people believe to be England's greatest ever finisher couldn't even get a game

Personally, I'm not sure individual players can influence the way the game is played - Although we will forever talk about memorable moments like "Cruyf turn" or that spine tingling 2/3 yards of electricity George Best used to use to put daylight between himself and the defender he has just gone past.

I personally believe it is coaches who changed the game. People like Rinus Michels. Cesar Menotti and Enzot Bearzot - to name a few. They all introduced something new. They all played completely different systems, but Bally would have walked into all of their sides.

Truly world class

I probably watched every home game he played as my dad and I had season tickets in the Upper Bullens all the years he was with us.

I definitely remember him siting on the ball at least once. From memory, it was against West Ham and directly in front of Bobby Moore, almost inviting him to come and challenge for it. As they were England teammates, I think it was good humoured and don't remember any reaction from the West Ham team.

On reflection,n it is 50+ years ago so I won't argue if other ToffeeWebbers tell me I'm completely wrong!

I got my badges and always joined in the training sessions with the lads before letting them have free time at the end.

I used the EDIP method I had picked up. Explain, demonstrate, imitate, practice.

But I also stood next to other "coaches" with badges who had never played and couldn't kick a ball. I think they had spent too much time watching Sky or playing Football Manager and deemed themselves experts.

Some players, like Rooney, probably never needed coaching, but most need developing.

Fitness is an important aspect, but ability on the ball, desire and decision-making, finding space are equally important. And hard work off the ball.

It is a simple game that many coaches complicate! "See it, play it" was something I always remember being taught.

Dave, talking of wingers, I played as a young kid in Germany. The coaches pulled me aside and asked why I was running towards the corner flag. They tied a rope around me to guide my positional play!!

I learned a lot playing there. Very different style but great pitches down to village level. We trained and mainly played on clay pitches apart from cup finals when we got to use the main pitch, which was like a bowling green.

Looking back, the clay was good for keeping you on your feet. No sliding tackles!! It was all about ball work. A hell of a culture shock when we moved back to Liverpool and I played on the mud-ridden sloped pitches somewhere in Wavertree. The pitches on Jericho land were decent.

Back to coaching, during the season, when walking the dogs in the nearby park, I often stand and watch the teams training or being coached. Often with dismay and I have to resist stepping in. It would be difficult with two Rhodesian Ridgebacks anyway!!

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Bally if you look is in it, really made me smile...

He had Ball's temperament, all go, no relaxing, usually smallest player on the ice but never backed down to anyone, no matter what size they were.

Coaching is a lot different to managing, and I'm convinced that Rooney, is a lot more suited to working on the training ground rather than having to do a lot of things that probably don't suit his personality.

I don't think I've seen anyone else do it during, before or since then.

I rather think I had it better as a schoolboy Blue than my present-day counterparts.

Stuff and nonsense to those who didn't see it, but my Dad swore it was true. And we had the honour of seeing Bally do what you describe. What a player.

The difficulty was that Bally also thought the same as your dad.

I think you have hit upon the crux there Brendan.

My greatest hero as a lad. And I never ripped up pictures of him when he moved to Arsenal, instead l used to go to Anfield to see him rip up them lot.

The only player I saw anywhere near the class of LCAB was George Best.

There is a big difference between coaching and managing.

There is also a big difference in coaching youth teams as apposed to adults in my opinion.

Colin was special because he could cover both.

With reference to Rooney and given his punditry work these days, it would be interesting to see Colin Harvey in the studio. I think he's too humble for that kind of limelight though.

He stole my autograph book, though (I wrote a bit about it on here), and I have never forgiven him.