From LiverpoolEcho:
There has been a renewed spate of managers complaining about
teams turning up and employing negative tactics.
It started about 18 months ago when Jose Mourinho moaned about
Spurs parking the team bus in front of goal. Recently Arsene Wenger
criticised Portsmouths approach and Rafael Benitez has complained
about Manchester City.
Post-match interviewers often pander to managers, almost inviting
that kind of criticism. They usually simper: Such and such a team
certainly came not to lose the game today Rafa/Arsene/Avram (delete
where applicable).
Well hello! Isnt that what every team tries to do, unless you are
blessed with the attacking options that Manchester United and
Arsenal possess?
All teams set out not to be beaten. How you go about that depends
on who you are playing, where you are playing and the players you
have to select from.
If you are Steve Bruce or Paul Jewell, you will have to set out
your team differently to Wenger or Ferguson.
I remember a time when managers of top teams simply accepted that
tactic and dealt with it. Manchester United certainly have done
over the years.
And I remember my first visit to Anfield as a playerwith Portsmouth
and Alan Ball sent us out with a plan to follow.
I was asked to play right-back and mark John Barnes, Billy Gilbert
was detailed to look after Ian Rush and Kenny Swain was assigned to
man-mark Peter Beardsley. The plan worked a treat.
John Barnes was substituted after an hour and I earned a man of the
match award, while Rushy and Peter Beardsley didnt get a
kick.
However Ray Houghton scored, Steve Nicol got two and one of their
centre-backs chipped in with a fourth.
Thats what good teams do find solutions to problems.