Sunday 16 May 2021

Cup Final Special! - On Leadership

Well, that was quite satisfying, in several ways.  Seeing Lineker prancing around (not very satisfying) on the Beeb, it put me in mind of the famous 1991 final when Spurs beat Nottingham Forest in an incident-laden afternoon, one of which episodes has always struck me as being of lasting significance**. 

Another amusing incident - see footnote
The match (for younger readers) was tied 1-1 at full time and so extra time was played.  In the short interval, the old rogue Terry Venables gathered his Spurs team around him and was clearly dispensing Managerial Wisdom.  The sulky old git Brian Clough, by contrast, sat ostentatiously motionless, leaving his Forest team to their own devices.  (IIRC, their deputy coach tried a few words of encouragement.)   Spurs were clearly the better team in that final period, and prevailed.

Massive wasted opportunity from a man who was oddly but widely lauded as a master psychologist.  (Some say he was blind drunk at the time, which doesn't strike me as much of an excuse.)  But how effective are managerial harangues in the interval?

A very interesting piece in the DTel recently carried some genuine analysis (paywall).   It contrasts the second-half performances of Premiership sides, with their performances before the interval team talk.  They draw one stand-out conclusion, which is that Solskjaer is a great manager - because Man U would be ranked a mere 13th on first-half scores, but a very clear first based on second half scores.  There might, of course, be other factors besides his inspirational half-time addresses - perhaps Man U relies on truly superior 90-minute stamina, or fiendishly clever late substitutions - but it's a very revealing statistic.  (Incidentally, the standout bad actor against this metric is none other than the Chosen One - which doesn't surprise me in the least - did you ever see, post Clough, a surlier git than Mourinho?) 

I recall a BTL comment here, several years ago, that the captain of a rugby club contributes not much more than being responsible for organising the orange slices at half time.  Can't agree.  Leadership is leadership.  Ask the Labour Party.

ND

_________

** Here's another: from Wiki:    This game also saw the first appearance of the much longer 'baggy' style of shorts, sported as part of Tottenham Hotspur's new Umbro kit, which Terry Venables helped design. Though attracting some ridicule at first, the style swiftly became popular, being adopted during the early 1990s throughout English and world football by every team at every level (with no team anywhere having reverted to the 'short shorts' worn ubiquitously for some decades up to this match). 

And another: that hand-holding episode in the photo above was lovingly recounted by the deeply unwoke Venables on TV many years later.  Haha!

20 comments:

Elby the Beserk said...

52 years ago I was at Wembley watching Man City defeat Leicester City 1-0, Leicester's fourth defeat in four finals. A bad season for them, as they were relegated as well. They had a teenage Goalie, one Peter Shilton who earnt on to greater things. I was behind the goal, and knew the ball was in the net before our lanky inside left (positions of the past!) thundered the ball into the net. Happy days :-)

So congrats to Leicester, a well deserved victory.

Bill Quango MP said...

Long suspected the same was true of the soft spoken Sven Goran Eriksson. He had the ideas. But seemed to lack a way to pass the fire on.
Hence his very own catchphrase. First half good. Second half, not so good.

Meanwhile, the undisputed king of Premier League football, ( as long as one as being impartial to the Manchester’s) is Sir Alex Ferguson.
A person not unknown to physically put the boot in at half time. Everyone knew it was very unwise to think Man Utd would not mount a ferocious attack in the last five minutes of the game. And often, an even more ferocious one in the ten minutes after that.

On a historic level, Julius Caesar has many notable second half comebacks. Against the odds, unlikely victories, that a half time team talk, and a tactical reshuffle, have won.

dearieme said...

"I recall a BTL comment here, several years ago, that the captain of a rugby club contributes not much more than being responsible for organising the orange slices at half time. Can't agree."

How right you are. He also has to buy the jugs of beer for the opposition, having tried to get his team to pony up first.

My big decision as skipper was to appoint a good pack leader. Moi. I did chat to the half-backs from time to time. 'Kick the ball into the river' was one of my more successful instructions.

As for my cricket captaincy my only memory is of leaving an examination early so that I could drive back to my school in time to skipper my 'house' side.

Elby the Beserk said...

Bill Quango MP said...
Long suspected the same was true of the soft spoken Sven Goran Eriksson. He had the ideas. But seemed to lack a way to pass the fire on.
Hence his very own catchphrase. First half good. Second half, not so good.

Meanwhile, the undisputed king of Premier League football, ( as long as one as being impartial to the Manchester’s) is Sir Alex Ferguson.
======================================================================

Maybe. I'd say that in the modern game, which is hugely different to that Ferguson came into in 1985, shows that Pep is on his tail. Yes he's spent loads of money - but Ferguson spent a fortune in relative terms to achieve what he wanted; in the first 6 seasons of his managership, United made huge losses as he bought up every good British player (2 furriners max back then I think), and then won everything. So good the club left him to his own devices and he left them with a mess when he went. Given the amount of money Solksjaer has spent for no silverware at all, United's "success" this season is as much a reflection on poor competition, especially Liverpool who thought they were so good they had no need for new players to increase competition. Not to mention that Klopp's teams play in one mode and one mode only - no plan B - and sooner or later he exhausts his players. He near as dammit relegated Dortmund after 4 or 5 years of success. And his teeth mean he should never be seen on TV either.

Good as Fergie was, many clubs have won the EC/CL and such as United more than once.

Only one cub has ever done the domestic treble in as many years. Which implies it's a damn sight harder to win than the Chumnp's League...

Sez I.

MrMC said...

We could always go the Itaian way, dont give a goal away, tastless but perfect, a bit like their food

Elby the Beserk said...

"Catennacio" it was called. The "door bolt". Made everyone crazy back in the day, but by God it was effective.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catenaccio

"Catenaccio (Italian pronunciation: [kateˈnattʃo]) or The Chain is a tactical system in football with a strong emphasis on defence. In Italian, catenaccio means "door-bolt", which implies a highly organised and effective backline defence focused on nullifying opponents' attacks and preventing goal-scoring opportunities."

MrMC said...

I do admire a restaurant that can charge £50 for a plate of wallpaper paste and abuse you as you consume

MrMC said...

I remember Liverpool vs Newcastle back in the day was always an occasion, and quite a few others Arsenal vs Man United. tribalism now called racism

Elby the Beserk said...

"MrMC said...
I remember Liverpool vs Newcastle back in the day was always an occasion, and quite a few others Arsenal vs Man United. tribalism now called racism

4:34 pm"

Ha ha. Loved a real old school brawl. If witnessed on TV, the commentator would intone sanctimoniously "The fans don't want to see this", and the cameras would turn away. Oh yes we do! We love 'em! Keane v Vieira. Keown all over Van FellOverALotForAREALLYBigBloke, and co. Off the field trouble as well - despite being at many grounds in the true hoolie heyday of the late 60s and early 70s, the best riot I ever saw was at a Bristol Derby at Ashton Gate, fans of both sides all over each other on the pitch.

Has to be better to do tribal that way than stabbing each other for the hell of it, surely?

My worst experience? Long-haired, and chased all the way from Highfield Road to the station (some way) with any copys in sight larfing their heads off. Fortunately I am 6'6" with 36" legs so could leg it some back in the day. Couple of punch ups when we won at Old Trafford as well...

MrMC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
dearieme said...

"the true hoolie heyday of the late 60s and early 70s": yeah, what prompted that? I know the Guardian will tell you Thatcher dunnit, but there is a logical objection to that proposition.

lilith said...

"the true hoolie heyday of the late 60s and early 70s": yeah, what prompted that? I know the Guardian will tell you Thatcher dunnit, but there is a logical objection to that proposition.

Probably access to amphetamines....

Elby the Beserk said...

"dearieme said...
"the true hoolie heyday of the late 60s and early 70s": yeah, what prompted that? I know the Guardian will tell you Thatcher dunnit, but there is a logical objection to that proposition.

9:50 pm"

A lot of young blokes like a rumble. Witness that clashes between "firms" of various clubs would be pre-arranged. See you outside the "George & Lion", 2pm, for a right royal set to. Tribal, and what Homo Sapiens, male of the species, has enjoyed since time immemorial. Just read of the accounts of Apprentice's riots in 16th & 17th century London and you'll get the gist.

Here there used to be regular pub brawls between gangs from other villages. A lovely neighbour of ours, her ever so gentle husband to be was thrown through the front window of the Talbot, losing a front tooth on the way, and there are still regular pub brawls down the road in Coleford.

lilith said...

Daughter's Godfather was in Leeds Firm in the early 80s. He says they fought for kicks. I find it difficult to imagine because he's a teddy bear these days.

Anonymous said...

teddy boy?

lilith said...

Teddy Boy to Teddy Bear.....:)

Timbo614 said...

Football...yawn :)

E-K said...

Nice distraction from Vindaflu.

Red team vs Blue team.

Yay !

E-K said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
E-K said...

Can't deny it. A great analysis. Even if you don't follow football.