I can just imagine the conversation

"I want three across the middle with two more quite wide pushing up, but not so far that you can't track back and help the fullback out"

"Ah, sorry gaffer, can't do three across the middle. Got to have four, you see. Could maybe do you a four and then an extra one, only we'd have to classify him as a striker"

"Well.....OK, just as long as I end up with a line like I described I don't care what they're called"

"Ah no, we can't do that, cos a striker's got to go further forward and more towards the middle. Strikers can't go out wide. Ever. We could try getting a centreback to come forward instead?"

"Whatever - just line up like I said..."

"Ah no, that doesn't work either, the system won't allow it. "

"For f**k's sake..."

"...hang on gaffer, we could do it by having a sweeper but getting him to rush forward all the time, pushing the other midfielders out a bit when he goes"

"Forget it. Just give me the ball a minute"

"Ball? What ball?"

Posted By: Old Man, Jan 20, 17:31:39