Just to get away from the nightmare that is supporting Everton these days, I came across an online article re Villa winning the European Cup in 1982.
It stated that, in that complete season, they used 14 players: 42 league games (it didn’t say how many League Cup and FA Cup matches), plus however many to win the biggie.
It got me thinking about how complicated the modern game has become. Weird and wonderful tactics, xG (still unsure of that), 5 subs, bloody VAR – I hate that.
I well remember games being played on ploughed fields with most teams having at least 2 or 3 serial cloggers. Seeing the goalie go off injured or sent off and an outfield player donning the green jersey. Fun times.
Every team had proper characters. They were hardly ever injured, certainly never I expect were rested because they were tired. Lots of referees were characters in their own right as well, and had decent rapport with the fans. Except that one from ’77, can’t recall his name… Welsh bastard.
Of course there was the hooliganism, and it was bad at times… Heysel anyone?
The days of a winger skinning the full-back, sending in a cross for the centre-forward to thump in a header.
I also remember Alan Ball doing Rabonas before it ever became a thing.
Yes, I do long for those times again. Players went down only after being tackled or kicked so hard they didn’t know what had hit them — not after being breathed on too heavily. No feigning facial injuries when knee tapped, no rolling around and thumping their hands on the ground as if they were in their death throes. Also, why do they do that face in the turf thing when players have been gobbing and snotting all over the place?
No histrionics. Yes, times have changed, the game is virtually unrecognisable now and will probably become even worse.
Oh for the good old days. I feel a bit better now… Ah shit, 1, 2, 3 and I’m back in the room.