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 PortsmouthÂ’s 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! IsnÂ’t 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 didnÂ’t get a kick.
However Ray Houghton scored, Steve Nicol got two and one of their centre-backs chipped in with a fourth.
That’s what good teams do – find solutions to problems.