I think we can all agree there has been a gaping hole in our lives since Andy Townsend’s Tactics Truck went the same way as Minidiscs, garage music and that dude off of Countdown. The analysis provided by those sinister men in dark shirts on MotD (apparently they used to play for Liverpool, who knew?) and Andy Gray with his fumbling on his f**ked up computer simply doesn’t cut it.
So, writing from the back of my father’s Daihatsu Hi-Jet and with the aid of the Guardian Chalkboards, I thought I could do better (quite why I thought this I am not sure but whatever) starting with tallest right winger in the world, Greg Halford.
For me Halford has been one of our outstanding players in our first two games. A lot of people were down on him when he first arrived given his failing at Sunderland and Reading. However, those who had seen him action for the Blades towards the end of last season will have noted his impact on their impressive, if unsuccessful, run.
Against West Ham he showed glimpses of his aerial prowess, some good touches and decent crosses and, of course, his enormous Andy Legg-style throw ins. However, it was against Wigan Athletic, despite missing a sitter, that he really came to the fore.
As the chalkboard shows not only did he very rarely give the ball away (the red lines are mainly throw ins) he was also playing quite deep offering excellent support to the central midfield and also to Stearman in his battle against Koumas.
Those who saw the game will testify Koumas was very effectively shackled by Stearman and Halford who were no doubt aided by the constant abuse the ex-Albion man received. Furthermore Halford’s presence in the air against the smaller Maynor Figueroa offered Hennessey and others an excellent outlet that we were able to continually exploit in the first half, helping to provide decent ball for Keogh and others to work with. Teams simply don’t expect to come up against 6ft4in wingers.
Looking forward to the Citeh game, providing he’s fit, Halford will have a big role to play if we are to have a hope of getting anything out of it. Again, he will be up against a much smaller man (if Wayne Bridge) plays and hopefully will be able to win some quality headers to provide Keogh (and Doyler) with some ball to work with high up the pitch and of course he’ll have an important role in supporting Stears against Robinho.
Top post Sam.
I’m looking forward to seeing more of your TacticsVan over the coming weeks and months.
This is spot on about Halford. It’s been a good while since I’ve seen a midfielder who wins as many headers and he just looks a very tidy player all round.
With him down one side and Jarvis down the other, there’s a nice balance to the midfield. He tucks in more and Matty offers the width. Particularly away from home, I think Halford could be a big player for us this season.
Quality edition to the blog sam I look forward to more offerings from your tactics van later in the season.
Halford to me is like delap is for stoke in more ways than just his throw ins, he’s not neccersarily everyones idea of a premiership player but for a club of our level he is invaluable. He can play effectively in a number of positions and you know that he will work hard for the team wherever he plays.
Might not have been the most glamorous of signings this summer but he already looks a good signing after just two games.
Now that, is great blogging. Would love a bit of Nenad analysis!
Is it true that if yoiu do the same for WBA midfielders, you just get horizontal lines drawn across the pitch ?
Nah Dazza, thats Brum midfielders. I’m also not sure it was a ‘sitter’, probably should have scored but looked a toch awkward to me.
I can’t wait for him and Elokobi to play on the same flank (I’m not calling for Elokobi to play, despite his cult status he’s deffo #2 in the LB pecking order), that would just look silly.
Maybe you could compare the Halford Tactic board to Delap’s (one dimensional) tactic board. I am a firm believer that Delap only gets in the team because he can chuck a ball the length of the pitch. So far all the commentries have compared Halford to Delap but as not being as effective, maybe the tactic board can show what we all know, that Delap couldn’t even shag my cat!
Man Citeh v Wolves is being screened in beeeeautiful HD this Saturday I conna bloody wait!
What’s the update from Molineux Hospital , can’t find much news on the injury front
Dazz I believe them back in Blighty are all tucked up in their beds – from what I understand, Doyle & Berra are fit to play on Saturday, SEB & Foley are not and won’t be for a while.
quality blog sam! i think halford can, and will offer far more than delap,who is defo in there for 1reason. i find something a bit inproper about pumping quortizone into his shoulder repeatedly 4the sake of a 30yd throw. seems a bit inhuman somehow. i digress…anyone remember when big ron scowled at andy gray after a sky game for playing with his fancy gadgets,before hurling his headset which hit the cameraman? i dont remember townsends tactic truck but it sounds marvellous!
Here you go Ben – a potted history of the Tactics Truck:
http://backofthenet.wikia.com/wiki/Tactics_Truck
Presumably ITV couldn’t afford to get Townsend a ticket to the games so just stuck him in a truck outside the gorunds.
The one thing I would say about Halford when compared to Delap – Halford’s throw if simply one part of his armoury whereas Delap’s throw seems to be primary reason for playing. Having said that if we got 9 goals from Halford’s throw ins I would take it!
I actually saw Townsend in his Tactics Truck outside the Molineux once. Another f***ing clown.
nico-presuming the tactics truck had a letterbox you could have posted a turd through it with a note addressed to townsend saying: ‘please explain the formation of my sweetcorn pieces. love nico’
thanks for the link sam. will look forward to enjoying that over a cuppa!
The fact that Andy Townsend was ITV sports tactical genius says everything about their piss poor coverage of football. How he still gets on TV I’ll never know.
Like how that link says the truck had to be given police protection – they obviously knew you were coming Nicko!!!
I’m pretty sure that your Dad drives Diahatsu Charade! My only quibble with an excellent article. Hope Halford plays versus City he looked like he was carrying a limp when he came off against Wigan.