SOCCER

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 146, 21 June 1924, Page 18

SOCCER

' ISY "WANGUARQ"] SELECTING A TEAM

"VANGUARD'S" ELEVEN CRITICISED

©PINIONS OF CORRESPONDENTS

The writer did not set out in the task of selecting a team last week without anticipating that his eleven would come in for a measure of criticism. That anticipation has been' justified, for two correspondents have written to "Vanguard,'1 giving their opinions as to the right men to represent Wellington in the match with the Chinese. One correspondent expresses himself in the following terms: —

"I read your selection to meet the Chinese with interest, likewise your 'reasoning for same. I will admit at once that no doubt the team you select would make a good showing against the visitors, hut I am quite confident that they would not be the best team Wellington could put in the field. I quite disagree with you when you say 'that if there is any weakness in the chosen team it will bo in the halves.' If there is a. weakness in Wellington football, that weakness is certainly in the forwards. The Brown Shield would be in Wellington now if the forwards at Auckland had been nearly as strong as the men behind them. The backs and halves, not forgetting the poor goalie, usually get the blame when a match is lost, but the fault more often lies with the forwards. With your permission I would like to select a team and give a few reasons for same. I agree that Ewing is the right man in the right, place, although closely shadowed by Porteous and Tarrant. The backs you select are all wrong, and would never do. Taylor is a very fine fellow, and has worthily represented Wellington on many occasions, but his sun is setting as a player, and he should make room for a yoitnger man, in Gibb. Tin's player was in the 'reps.' last season, and, althoi^gh lie has beeu mostly in the forwards this season, he is one of the, if not the, best back in the league. M'Girr should bo in the team, but not as full-back. I would replace him. with Rudolph, Hawkins, or Guest, the former for preference. The halves are easy picking, with M'Girr, Robinson, and Thomas. There would be no weakness in this half-line, and the Chinese forwards will certainly know they have been playing against the strongest trio they are likely to meet on the tour. The placing of your forwards puzzles me, as you have Campbell inside right and M'Leod inside left. No doubt they would do all right and play a good game, but is it the best forward line we can put in? Campbell was the centre-forward for the New Zealand team last season, and was a huge success in the position- He is also in the same position for his club, and is the best opportunist we have playiug. Ballard I would place next to him as inside-left; he is a versatile player, and very dangerous in front of goal. Logan is the man for the- outside-left position, and he would provide his centre and inside men with plenty of opportunities. I agree with you for Dick for the right wing, although there is Barton and Nicholl to be reckoned with. The inside-right is a bit hard, but I would pick Lothian, as I think he would combine well with the others, and is also a bnstline player with a good shot in his locker. The, selection which I would make and consider much stronger than yours would therefore be as follows:—Ewinsr, Gibb, Rudolph, M'Girr, Robinson, Thomas, Dick, Lothian. Campbell, Ballard, Logan." "Vanguard" cannot agree with the assertion of the correspondent that Taylor's sun is _ setting. Taylor has shown no signs this season of going back; in fact, if anything, his play has been better than was the case last season. He has played some remarkably sound games for Thistle, and with plenty of experience behind him should prove the right man in the right place against the Chinese. He is still as active as any man of twenty, and his kicking is sure and safe. "Vanguard' admits an admiration for Gibb, but doubts if it would be wise to play a man at full-back in a representative game after playing practically the whole season as a forward. The writer is not against changing positions of players in certain directions, but surely it is a little too much to put a forward back to full-back. There must be limits. Rudolph is the other candidate for the fullbr.ck position. "Vanguard" stated last week that in the event of M'Girr being called upon to play in the half-line, Rudolph should he given the chance to take part in the match, so on that point there is an agreement. M'Girr, however, is a solid full-back,, and should, if possible, bo retained in that position. He and Taylor would make an admirable pair, capable of stopping almost anything, The correspondent agrees as to the merits of Thomas and Robinson as half-backs, but makes no mention of Neil M'Arthur. Surely he is in error here. M'Arthur is a player of outstanding merit, and should certainly be giveu a place. The forward line chosen by the correspondent is a good one, but is not good enough, especially for a match of such importance as the fixture with the Chinese. Men of experience are needed, and those selected by "Vanguard" can all stand the test. Can those selected by the correspondent? The correspondent leaves out Stocks "altogether, yet this player has consistently proved his worth in big football, and is likely to do so again.

Another correspondent writes in the following strain:—

"I was interested, in your selected team to meet the Chinese, and no doubt your selection would do credit to Wellington. I am certain, however, that I have the great majority of players with me when I say that the mode of selection by the W.F.A. is most unfair to the players. I refer to the method of picking men to play in positions in which they do not piny during the season. In Rugby they rarely piik a man out of position, say, a club full-back as five-eighths, or "a scrum-half as a hooker. So why do it in Soccer? The argument in the past hns been that you cannot leave so and so out of the team, as they are siicl) good phiyei's. I maintain that ]tlayurs should'lie picked for positions in tlie 'rnps.' according to the positions they occupy in their club games. As it is, the W.F..A. aDßoreutJy pick out the best eleven in-

dividual players, and then arrange them into a team. It is not very encouraging to a player, who, say, is playing good football all the season at right-half, to find the position filled in a 'rep.' game by a centre-half or a full-back. If players knew that the selection was to be_ made from positions, it would give this right-half a bigger incentive to improve his play, and he would not be disgusted by seeing his position filled by probably an inside-left. There are some who will say that we cortld. not field a really good team if we followed that rule, but that is absurd, as you will see by the following team, which could probably be improved :—Ewing, Guest, H. Rudolph, M'Arthur, Thomas, A. Rudolph, Dick, Daniels, Campbell. Gilbertson, Ballard. The above team i 5 selected from men who play regularly for their clnbs in the same positions that they would be asked to occupy in the 'reps.' Some of the cracks are missing, no doubt, but when "Wellington had. five of their best players away in Australia last season, a team good enough to beat Canterbury 8-0 was still left behind."

As stated above, "Vanguard" thinks there should be some limits in changing the positions of players, but when the very best team is required then changes are absolutely necessary. Surely it is better to play a man out of position than to deprive a team of his services altogether. Take M'Girr, for instance. He is a man who can fill various positions with equal brilliancy. Is he to be left out of the team? Other similar cases could be quoted in plenty in order to show that changes are at times desirable, even necessary, and the Wellington selectors should not hesitate to change men round if by so doing they are going to improve a team. Surely the selectors have a wider duty than to cater for the personal ambitions of certain players. NOTES. ' The Hospital-Karori game last Saturday was a splendid example of age and experience versus youthful impetuosity and inexperience. There were too many old heads in the home team and feet that had not lost their cunning for the boys from Karori. They made a splendid fight of it in the first spell, and also well into the second, but when the first goal came there was a remarkable collapse. The second spell had gone twenty minutes when Gibb beat Dean with a fast ground shot. In the next twelve minutes five more goals had been put on, and Karori were hopelessly beaten. It seems strange, and shows the uncertainty of the game, that Karori could hold Hospital all through the first spell and half way through the second and_ then suddenly have six goals put against them in such a short time, and then again hold their own until the finish. Karori is a team that should be doing a lot better than they are, and the fact that they have not scored a single point in League matches is not a true reflex of tho merits of the play- j ere. The team, to my mind, badly requires the services of a good, strong coacli—one that the players will take notice of and obey. The main fault in Saturday's play was that ball control was sacrificed for speed. Time and time again the forwards would break away with the ball and then over-run it or kick too haifi ahead for Thompson or Ferguson to boot back to the waiting Hospital forwards. They were simply beating themselves. In M'lntyro and Wilkins the club has two good wingers, fast and able to put a centre across, but the shooting generally was very wild and erratic. Tho material is in tho forwards all right, but they must settle down and play football if they wish to. keep in the A division. In Henderson and Prince the club has two good backs, and they were the main reason why Hospital could not open the scoring until so late in the game. Both sides had a penalty kick, both for hands, but whereas Karori sent in a weak shot for Trewick to save, Hospital, per B. Ferguson, gave Dean no chance with a fast ground shot. Hospital forwards played a very in-and-out game, and their supporters were beginning to look a bit worried, and wondered whether Karori were going to open their scoring account against them. There were many sighs of. relief and smiles when at last they rattled on the goals in machine-like fashion, and there were also many "I told you so's" ! The game was also rather noticeable for the number of freekicks awarded against both teams for illegally throwing the ball in, which is quite inexcusable. Robinson played a fine game for Hospital in the halves, and was ably assisted by Case, who was making his first appearance for the club. Ferguson and Thompson hril a fairly busy time at back in stopping rushes, and gave Trewick little to do.

A cross-field gale of wind made anything resembling football entirely out of the question at Association Park* on Sat-, urday, when Thistle met Institute, and Waterside, drew with Diamonds. In the former match Thistle won by four goals to'nil, and though it was anticipated that this game would result in a win for them, Institute's showing was somewhat disappointing. Thistle played with the wind —that is, with what little advantage it offered—in the first half, and though Institute broke through on several occasions, when unfortunately likely movements were checked through off-side play or some such, similar reason, the back defence of Taylor and his associate was too strons for Institute's fast forwards. After holding the team for almost a spell, Thistle registered four goals in quick succession, and this .lead Institute never drew equal with. The second half was devoted to Institute's continued advances on the Thistle goal, but Ewinr; again demonstrated himself as a first-class goalkeeper, and when tho final whistle blew, Thistle found themselves victors by a substantial margin. Tho Diamond-Waterside match, played, on Xo. 1 was a battling game from start to finish. The match was frequently intomipted by the ball'coing into touch, which was another result of the weather, and though Diamonds had' a slightly better advantage in the first spell, they were subject to hard attacks in the'

second half by Waterside, who gave them many anxious moments. Dickinson went very near to scoring for Waterside within the last few moments of play, when he took a lucky shot at goal, tiie ball rebounding off the cross-bar. It is to be regretted that the weather was so unfavourable, as given a flue day both these games_ would have been well worth watching.

lue cup-tie replay between Marist and Y.JU.U.A. at me juuoin iteserve last (Saturday provided one oi Uie most tunning encounters seen locally for some tune. The win registered by JUanst, altuough only by a margin of one goal, went to show very conclusively that by persistence and dogged determination Ma'rist have developed - into a first- class team, every, member of which is willing to exert himself to the utmost in order that his team might achieve success. -Marist also proved on Saturday that they are capable of adapting themselves to any conditions. What could have been more disheartening than the fierce southerly wind which raged during the progress of the match? Marist rose to the occasion, however,-and adopted tactics suitable to the conditions. Their victory was due to that fact. V.M.C.A. signally failed to master the heavy wind, both in the first and second spells, and their work" altogether lacked the finish necessary in order to achieve results. The outstanding players on the winning side were Thomas (centre-half) and Barton (outsideright). Thomas, tthe Marist captain, was ever a thorn in the V.M.C.A. side, dodging everywhere and sparing himself not at all in an endeavour to keep the Young Men goal-getters in check. He was always in the thick of the fray, and ill the second spell he paid the penalty of his enthusiasm, receiving an injury which necessitated his retirement from the field for some twelve minutes. Barton, was always in the limelight on the right wing, and his two goals—the result of shots which curled in with the wind—were a pleasing feature of the match. His goal in the first spell came as a surprise to Tarrant:- Barton travelled cleverly down Uie -ight wing, and instead of passing he tuck full advantage of the wind, and had a shot himself. Tarrant saw it coming, but the ball completely deceived him. In the second spell, Barton was nearer his objective, and the opposing custodian saved his first shots. Barton, however, anticipated where Tarrant would place the baH, and lie made no mistake with his second shot. Another Marist forward who distinguished himself was M'Elligott (inside right). This player is apparently trained right up to the minute, for he worked hard all the time, and showed no signs of tiring. In defence H. Rudolf was an outstanding figure, and Hickey was very satisfactory in goal.

The play of tlio- V.M.C.A. team was generally disappointing, and all appeared to be more or less off colour. Ballard had forsaken his old position of left-wing, and went over to' the right: He had little work to do, however, and there was therefore little opportunity of judging whether the change was advantageous or not. Stark, a junior player, took Ballard's place on the left wing, and made a very satisfactory debut.

Players on the winning sides in the F.A. Cup ties receive bonuses of £2 in all the rounds up to the semi-final, when the amount is raised to £4, with £8 for the final.

There is a story that Steve Bloomer always wore two pairs of boots; one for the_ first half and one for the second. On a certain occasion as the players filed in for the interval, the trainer remarked to the famous forward: "You haven't played very well this half, Steve." "How could I?" Bloomer is alleged to have retorted, "when you gave me the second-half boots to wear?" A DISTURBANCE IN AUSTRALIA.

Rumours have reached New Zealand from time to time that those in charge of Association football in Australia are not altogether a happy family. Foundation for these rumours is provided in a recent issue of " Fairplay," which gives an account of an unpleasant incident that arose in connection with the Canadian tour. " Fairplay " states: "For a long time now things have been only so-so with a few of those in control of the round ball" game, and matters were brought to a head recently. As a result cf being told by the Showgrounds authorities that lie was not recognised in the matter of the arrangements for the Canada v. Metropolitan game, Mr. George Martin, secretary of the Metropolitan Association, moved a motion:

" That Mr. S. Storey (hon. secretary of the New South Wales Association) be instructed not to usurp the duties of the metropolitan secretary, and that the Management Committee be censured." The motion was seconded, but received no votes, and Martin walked out of the room, stating he was finished with the association. It might be mentioned that the instructions re the non-recognition of Mr. Martin were given by Mr. S. Storey, despite the fact that the latter ■wrote Mr. Martin that he (Martin) was one cf the four in charge of arrangements. Mr. Lincoln (chairman) stated that the arrangements in connection with the Canadians were in the hands of a coeamittee of which Martin was a member, but as the latter had not attended_ a meeting it was taken he had no desire to take part in the functions. Mr. Martin admits he did not attend the first two meetings of this committee, and could not attend the third as ho iiad no knowledge of it. As a matter of courtesy, even though he failed to attend the' meetings, Martin should have been asked his intentions, and in my opinion the whole matter looks as if the ' Metropolitan secretary was frozen out. A new secretary, in the person of Mr. S. Stack, has been elected pro tern., • and Mi. Martin has been asked for his resignation. I understand the latter will be duly forwarded, and so Soccer will lose one of its very best workers, ond, what is more to the point, one of its officials. Mr. Martin has been assistant secretary and secretary for the past ten years, and has had the dra-w----ing-up of the rules forming the two associations—viz., the Metropolitan and the New South Wales. He has always feen the willing horse, and has had to take all the hard knocks that were coming. He has never yet been . offered one of the _' cushy ' jobs, such as manager of an interstate touring team, etc and in- the whole of his ten years' service was given the management of but one team—i.e., the Chinese to Harden last season—no such thing as a trip to New Zealand, Queensland, or Victoria at the expense of the association, for him. Martin was ono of the very few loading Soccer officials who did not put his cash into the syndicate that controlled the Chinese tour. He may have been very foolish, because he lost the opportunity of picking up a nice pro-