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People have talked about tactics but I think we won that game today by simply being more up for it
Bristol City couldn't deal with our physical side I thought ?
Thought we out played them.
I thought they were way more physical than us. I very surprised no yellows were shown. Mehmeti was a dirty sod. And Vyner put himself about. We were just the better team on the day. They can have no complaints.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but brute physicality in the Championship is in decline. Teams are more likely to keep their shape than dive in with tackles, and it's all about percentages. The days of a midfield enforcer are becoming a distant memory. In the Championship managers want midfielders who can keep hold of the ball above reckless tacklers who try and put themselves about.
Statistically players are less inclined to tackle than they were a decade ago and, in more recent times, that decline is growing more quickly. Teams would rather keep a shape than dive in with tackles. That is a definite.
Statisticians are at work in the Championship and elsewhere. Teams are less likely to shoot from outside the box as the rewards are generally so low. Teams are better off keeping possesion not blazing one over the bar aimlessly. The days of hoofing the ball forward at every opportunity are at an end. Long balls need to be calculated risks aimed at forcing an opening, not just lumped forward aimlessly.
Teams near the foot of the Championship are better passing sides than the top sides in the division 20 years ago. They're also less likely to dive in with needless challenges.
I'm guessing he read it on the Internet. But so what if he got if from a book? You don't like books now? Do you think books about football have become biased and politicized? Do you feel marginalized by facts?
When you said... "The perfect midfield player is one who can tackle well and distribute". - I thought you were going to conclude by saying "just like Willie Boland"!
NB: For those of you who don't know, Sludge idolised Boland, along with that other midfield colossus Mark Bonner.