Wednesday, September 3, 2008
I Blame Bryan Robson
When I was growing up and getting to know football names like Ray Wilkins, Liam Brady, Glenn Hoddle were gods in our pantheon. Especially the mecurial Brady. These players who controlled games. They imposed their authority and the pitch was their canvas, spreading passes near and far.
They were the playmaker and rather like The Diddymen and Brotherhood of Man aging old gits like myself wonder whatever happened to them. Are they victims of global warming, did Thatcher deregulate the midfield or were they eased out by workhorses in the same way as craftsmen were replaced by production lines and automation.
I blame Robbo for many things and not just the death of the playmaker. He may not have started the bubble perm craze that afflicted many footballers back then, don't ask, but he certainly encouraged it. And on the field he was a new type of midfielder.
He was an engine. A box to box player who ran lots and scored goals. The late Brian Moore creamed himself over the Captain Marvelous while the rest of us, locked out of the dressing room banter and backstage of the Big Match wondered what all the fuss was about. Brady - Robson, Robson? For many it was a no brainer but the media, gaining in prominence told us Robbo was the milkman's silver top and we obediently followed suit.
In Robson's wake came the likes of Michael Thomas, Roy Keane and more latterly Frank Lampard who defies any post war definition of a midfield player. The workhorses were taking over.
We have produced a couple of playmakers recently. David Beckham and David Bentley. But instead of sticking them in the middle and allowing them to conduct the whole field we ashamedly stick 'em wide right and have them launch balls in 'for the big man.' It's like buying an Aston Martin for a 10 minute commute.
They were the playmaker and rather like The Diddymen and Brotherhood of Man aging old gits like myself wonder whatever happened to them. Are they victims of global warming, did Thatcher deregulate the midfield or were they eased out by workhorses in the same way as craftsmen were replaced by production lines and automation.
I blame Robbo for many things and not just the death of the playmaker. He may not have started the bubble perm craze that afflicted many footballers back then, don't ask, but he certainly encouraged it. And on the field he was a new type of midfielder.
He was an engine. A box to box player who ran lots and scored goals. The late Brian Moore creamed himself over the Captain Marvelous while the rest of us, locked out of the dressing room banter and backstage of the Big Match wondered what all the fuss was about. Brady - Robson, Robson? For many it was a no brainer but the media, gaining in prominence told us Robbo was the milkman's silver top and we obediently followed suit.
In Robson's wake came the likes of Michael Thomas, Roy Keane and more latterly Frank Lampard who defies any post war definition of a midfield player. The workhorses were taking over.
We have produced a couple of playmakers recently. David Beckham and David Bentley. But instead of sticking them in the middle and allowing them to conduct the whole field we ashamedly stick 'em wide right and have them launch balls in 'for the big man.' It's like buying an Aston Martin for a 10 minute commute.
# posted by Me @ 3:54 PM 
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