SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

NZ Truth, Issue 910, 5 May 1923, Page 9

SOCCER SIDELIGHTS

A Qaettion of Tactic* (By ' "Tynecastle.") . "Soccerite" -writes: "1 read with interest your. 'Hints to Players' as published in your column. There is one point upon which I would like a HtUe, enlightenment,, viz., you say It is an understood rule that the full-back marks the outside man and the half the Inside.' Now, sir, I would think that a reversal of this 'understood rule' would work out much better in actual: play. For instance, if a fullback has to run out almost to the edge of the field, which he must often do in order to stop the wing man, don't you think it is leaving too much ground open in the centre of the field? If the half, had been left to look after the wing and the back to watch the inside man, then the latter need not go very far away from the mffidle ot the field, unless,, say,' -the half were rbeaten, in which case he (the half) would " fall back to, cover the Tull-back. " ; "Again, in the case of the throwin, it stands to reason that the half is, going to see that the 'wing' man' does not get away, especially if the throw-in takes place well up the field arid too far for the full-back to come up with. safety. . (It was noticeable in the Australian team which recently toured New Zealand that the inside forward dropped back to assist his half-back in the thrown-in.) If, as you advise, the "wing man is left to the full-back, such a condition could

not exist in the .case I have shown. Then why vary things at all?- Better for the full-back to take the inside man and leave the outside for the half every time. "As a half-back player myself I am sjn«..ply seeking information, and not endeavoring to upset your writings in any way. I consider your hints and comments always most valuable to the young player, and read with interest your weekly treatise on the game." "Tynecastle" is strongly of opinion that his ,idoa as set out in his article, that the full-back plays the outside man, and the half the inside man, is the correct one, \and not vice versa. To illustrate the point, let us take the case of a forward line playing in what is known as tho W forwation, that is, with the two wing men and the centre forward well up. If "Soccerite" had his idea put into practice it would mean his wing.: halves would be well back on his defence, trying to intercept everything coming from the inside man, instead of their being up assisting their own forwards, turning defence into attack.' Then, again, if the back should be required to mark the inside man he would invariably be drawn well forward and out of position. In my plan of the back playing the outside man I do not wish It to bo understood that he wanders out of his proper position in the defence and takes up a ridiculous position out on the wing. This would be playing Into his opponents' hands. What X maintain la that, in the event of the halfback being beaten by a through pass, tho back must go out and play the outside man, so that if the back and half-back have a proper understanding, the half-back would automatically fall back and flu the back's position, With regard to the throw-in,, the half would mark the outside jnan, and the back is left to watch for/fcnythlnv coming * through between the wing man and the centre. Now, to give an instance of the back taking the outside man, are you aware that when a throw-In is awarded In the vicinity of your opponents' penalty area that ball should be thrown Into the penalty area, and the outside man should find a position well inside so that the back would be marking him whilst the half was employed looking* after the inside man? It was a scheme that had tho Aussies thinking badly in Wellington. "Tynecastle" will be only. too pleased to hear from enthusiasts of the Soccer game, and- will publish any item that will help the game along In any way or make clear points which have puzzled players.