Page
THE CHINA MAIL, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 1961.
TIME ENGLAND STOP MAKING WORLD CUP FOCUS
TEAM CHANGES
Now Pointer merits a real run in the middle
Why is there such a dearth of outstanding centre-forwards in English football today? Where is the modern counterpart of Lawton, Drake, or Dixie Dean?
This has become the great soccer mystery of our time.
For more than a decade. Eng.
land has faced the nagglug problem of Gnding the idea edry forward
The selectors have tried big men and Rule men, strong
ones
and subtle ones, the spearhead type ke Lofthouse and the deep-lying kind like Allen They have even at tempted au altack without any recognised centre-forward ali.
Since Tommy Taylor died in the Munich disaster nearly four years ago, the England alluck
has been ledd an arm by Derck No! Bobby Charlton, Kevan. Lofthouse, Brian Clough, Joc Baker, Bobby Smith, Gerry Hi- ches and Ray Politer
Wingers too
That's right cent-forwards in 35 matches. And if you think
a problein
this
pecuitar
ON THE BALL
with Stan Cullis
we still irad to goal matching cutre-forward to attua il The
chame
This
Titelly
i thai my long-held belief was Fugle Thete a ne yulettute for old fashioned. sjasarhead the centre forward who is ideally suthy to Engh-h Golball when
14363 DUMI playing A
England, I would point that West Germany tried 1 leaders R
utes walkenals belwryb 00 1954-1939
Fust-class ecutre folscards, with wingers clust servind, wat the players
I
consider
difficult to flog today
Apart from Nat Lofthus.se
have seen 71
approaching the
I
English
irader
greatiess
Lawion And 18 England vaders
have been tried Serve
ented as internatkira!
awton
Carrer
in 1948 -including Stan Morten-
Milbure, Jackie
P
Allen, Roy Bentley Fudey
To:
Such is the shortage of star centre-forwards that I belleve
a modern Lawton would prob- ably be the highest-paid play- er in English football. Certain- 13. an outstanding centre- forward should command as high a fee as a player in any other position.
Who should lead?
The lack of strong
challen-
gers fur the England centre-
forward
position is remarkable
when you compare the present with the tre- rivair among
competition
mendously keen
star leaders before the war.
In the 1930's, there was bost of brilliant centre-forwards available
England. They
lur
included giants of the game like
Tommy Lawton,
Frank
Broome
Steele.
Ted and
Drake,
Freddle
There was also George Cam- far sell who would have won more than vine international if he had not caps (1929-36)
been a contemporary of another centre-forward genius. record- breaking Dixie Dean,
Who should lead England tuddy?
There is still no outstanding choice despite all the years of Pointer experimenting. Ray
of Burnley has been the latest choice. and frankly I can't think of anyone who 16 ob- viously better at the moment.
No more changes
I feel there has been enough It is chopping and changing.
now
a question of picking the best from the material avai)- able.
In the circumstances I hope hat Pointer will be given a reus.rable chance to prove his worth and will not be judged on merely one or two perfor-
males.
Maxy experiments have been |
in recent years, and I believe that those 6-3 and 7-1 Hungarian virtories
the of 1953-54 season
partly For regonsible
Ikan y which
wele
the
centre-forward changes
fellowed.
In limitation of Nandor Hideg- kad, who wore the No. 9 shirt and operated behind the other forwards, we saw succession of withdrawn England centre- forwards.
But this meant that "leaders" like Revie and Allen were really inside-forwards and that some- une else, like Derek Kevan, was the spearhead.
Wolves' experiment
The important point, how- ever, was that Hidegküt) was an exceptional player. He had a great capitelty for initiating movements from the back and 11 beins in the spalmouth for the bish.
A few Seasony
few seasons ago, circuin- stances prompted me to experi- ment at Molineux with three inside-forwards in the middle. I moved Peter Broadbent, Eng- land inside-forward, i the iniddle, with Colin Booth and Bol had immediate auc
Muson on each side.
cess. Crities said our centre. forward problem was solved.
than we lost matches. we should have won, It beckans evithunt that, while we were toskizig the openings well,
but
which
unentings
Specialist job
bring
taught
for br
When Mathews and Finney
12617 left the England
therm was a dramatic search lot
take ove:
Soon discarded
Players like Arthur Maton. George Robb and Brian Pilking- To were cascarded after one match Peter Harus and Gur- dem Astall had two chances Bill Peir Johnny Berry Funk Blunstone and Culin
were more like visines i Tic England wings.
were
Experience has also
the centre-forward me that
Perhaps the selectors position is strictly a iub
hoping for the miracle of find- the
Ing may specialist. I
another Matthews or Finney. Perhaps the shortage worthwhile converting a play
was the na of slar wingers er as a temporary expediency. bat such
Jong of tural experiments very
aftermath the rarely
long-term suc- Matthews Finney monopoly. But why
there still shortage prominent
centre- today? and wingers forwards Could it possibly be traced back
The schools? Eng-
to be At time, it used Terent
said that a schoolboys wanted to play in the forward June and from gools. Nowadays. talking to schoolmasters. I have
and impression that more
5 play in more brys 1
prefer Tom defence, especially in the half. well back line
In addition
thr forward shortage, these ha als been a dearth of substandang wingers in recent Years illed
JING! has
31 wingers since the war
I'
That may net appear markable tutai nut of approxi- ; mutely 140 post-war England players But it is a far man-
a hea ber
consider YOU Stanley
Malthews and Finces collectively made
100 appearances. gn that time
over
BY MADDOCKS
Score
w the! I wonder.
(All rights reserved)
COME NOW PRIMITIVE
Four D. Jones, MAN, IF YOU ARE TO
SUCCEED IN BEING THE
FIRST MAN INTO SPACE, WE MUST PROCEED
NOW!
1034
FERD'NAND
THE FLUTTERS
YOU'RE SURE THAT ALL DOCUMENTS RELEVANT TO MEBERS FLUTTER AND CERT ARE PADRING THROUGH
MISS NICKOLE P
kaut
THE 'PODLER'S DOGM/
BRICK BRADFORD
BUCE
"ANOTHER GRCESHIP!
ST MUST BE KUS KRao's
HIP WE Caddis
GOOD/I WILL FORM THE BOAZO!
JYNX,
John Reed talks Rugby
Will his switch
still pay
off for Johnnie?
He is one of Rugby's enigmas. A jinking genius, a "lone wolf." He is hailed as brilliant or erratic, unpredictable or selfish. He will agree to the "unpredictable.”
1 refer to Johnnie Williams, when Jim Ruberts went to Sale
during the 1959-60 season scrum-half extraordinary, whose .pngress to the top agam at 29-
h won eight England caps be-
1934 tween
and 1956 could ve the comeback story of the
Season
Whil-o'-the-WIED
Willians
led Old Boys' Rugby when quit Old Milihillians after 10 years to join Harlequins.
A minority of club members Th ught it was a selfish move wid that I was a bit of a so al-so, I feel rather sore about frir Barow altitude," he said. when we
his talked about wilch of allegiance.
"After all, I don't think 1 let Loyalty kept me them down. with the OMs all these years.
at the sometimes
expense andbition. Person
play 1
ished to
by for years
ol have top-class
Why he left
11 was a big decision, bul wanted the thrill of good Rugby not just every Saturday. occasionally with Middlesex
"Having made up my mund to who play apply to the 'Quins. the type of Rugby I like. I was!
change, whatever not going to The pressure
"I was not enjoying my old bays' Rugby The pace and
much slower is so game
times slower than the three 'Quins." No, I did not switch because I wanted to get into the England team again, idea of a cap was purely in- cident."
"E
ül
lobbied WAS
the cap- meson, but declined laincy because I was thinking et leaving, anyway," he explain e
Change ideas
"Old boys' clubs do Я tremendous amount of good for the game but, I feel, must revise their thinking. In time, ir a enough. young player is good they should feed him to first-class club and give him his chance. He can always go back afterwards."
1
الله
Williams was first capped for | England in 1954 against France in Paris-without even a trial.
and 1955 wem
South Africs, but it was his chief rival. 1ickle
partnered Jeeps, who Welshman Clim Morgan in the four Tests of that memorable
"A big disappointment i for me," says Johnnie
MOTION.
He agreed that his loyalty to his club probably cost him his seven years in the internationa! earned wilderness. ulhoigh he
Dialy England
bv his Maddlesex form in 1958
13717
often His zig-zag wanderings battle his own side as much as the opposing defence. He wins catches. He loses them. He is
There's no | A success or a flop. half-way with independent i Johnnie.
1s he no individualistic for "I take chances. If Egiana?
comes off you are regarded as marvellous. If it doesn't you are awful. That's how It goes. But H s when 1 rati
play sate necessary,
CZECHS' BRILLIANT FORM BODES ILL FOR SCOTS' HOPES OF REACHING FINALS
By IVOR YORKE
The brilliant form of Czechoslovakia in 3-1 and 7-1 trouncings of Eire in World Cup preliminaries bodes ill for Scotland's chances of reaching the finals in Chile next June.
In Bratislava last May, the clever, ball-playing Czechs ran rings round a weak Scottish side to win 4-0. The victory would have been even bigger if key forward Jan Kvasnak had not been sent off with Scot- tish right-half Pat Crerand.
Bringing pack master-unind Scotland they also have a thor- Denis Law from Torino for the ough approach to this football return match in Glasgow 11 business September, the Sents were able To win 3-2 But one th official commented huntly
"Scotland didn't beat us did
Czechs favoured
So both
countries
For three weeks' First Division football was suspended so that the fusm could have lengthy Law tactical preparation for the
Scottish return match.
have bralen Eire (wice, lost once to each other and are level with six points apiece at the Lop European Group Eight. Now
the stage is set for u grandstand play-ull in a neutral country later this month.
My money is on the Czechs tu reach Chile with goals to spare. More formidable i defence than
CHESS
by LEONARD BARDEN
(6136)
Here is a problem by F. V. Wilson (Cincinnati Enquirer,
1936+ The
White to play and mate In two moves.
Solution No. 6135: 1 R--QAI, and &-KR8 mate
London tipines Service
over Jolinule toolt Lauky of the id
The
cap- Miturillions
GOOD MAN, COUNT
THREE AND JUMP.
KEEP A COOL HEAD
AND HAVE NO FEAR
FOR I AM WITH
YOU IN SPIRIT
OKA HERG!
CHIN
NOW
THE PRIMITIVE MAN JUMPS
INTO THE LAUNCHING PIT...
LA LE-AR
I CAN HELP SOMEBODY MY LIVING NILL NOT
STRA LA
By Mik
MISS NIGGA, MIDO NIGALE/ MESBACH
|JUST BIEN-HANDED
IN AT THE MAIN
DOOR/
By Paul Norris
WE DON'T HING TO WORRY
ABOUT LANDING EITHER 10: THIS SHIPPED WOW! ASHERS
SHEAFFERS
IMPERIAL BIZ
Sheaffer quality features a
moderate
prices
at
SWISSAIR
Europe in a day by SWISSAIR Convair Jet
HAVE A BREAK
HAVE A Kit Ket
You can be SURE
if it's
The outstanding Czech player is left-back and skipper Ladislav Novak, who jed his club Dukla (Prague) to a magnificent vic- tory in the 1961 United States Internationa! Soccer League, and Who has already been capped nearly 60 times.
Novak, 30, was Czecho- slovakia's Sportsman of 1867, and is regarded by sunny ex- perks as the best defender to come from Central Europe in the past ten years.
Fitting climax
i
Selection for
Spals would be a fitting climax to one of soccer's most romantic storlek. Puskas was
reported killed during the Hungarian up- prising of 1956. His "obitur- ary" appeared บท several newspapers.
'Galloping Major"
But the Galloping Major was his club touring abroad with Honved when the uprising caus- ed disintegration of Europe's most outstanding side since Hugo Meisl's Austrian "Wonder team" of the 1930's.
Rather than return to his re- volution-torn homeland, Puskas followed the example of former colleague Zoltan Czibor Sandor Kosels. and Spain Madrid.
and went to He finally joined Real
Puskas's playing days were thought to be numbered. Instead,
One of Novak's colleagues in the Dukla and national sides is he has since enhanced his re- msale-left Rudolph Kucera.
who scored 17 goals in thegral-laker.
putation as a goal-maker and while Spanish
Top scorer in the League on three
American tournament, centre-forward Kvasnak (Spar- occasions. he has struck up a can deadly left-wing partnership with
Francisco Gento.
Lak Sokolovu
Prague)
play either the striker or link role
in attack.
(-1)
Though Seolush performances In the secund Czech match und in the British International Cham- !pionship
agaist Ireland have been hailed as their best for years, I thurk England will be Britain's only representatives in Chile
Swiss surprise
Sweden, runners-up in 1958,
urrded only u
Real's Puskas, Gento and Di- stefano combination hat" been much too good for practically all club sides, and now these three could continue the association in the
alde which, barring Spanish accidents
in the
two matches against little Morocco, has al- ready qualified for Chile.
And if Puskas does play he stands a great chance of winning what he missed as captain of Hungary World Cup winner's medal
draw in RESEARCH FIRM
their final qualifying
match against Switzer- TO FIND OUT
land in Berne--but crash-
ed 3-2. This merns Ú
One
play-off
Group against the same oppon- ents
REASON OF
in West Berlin on SOCCER SLUMP
November 12.
were naturally
London, Nov. 15.
The Swiss
delighted with their per- An international research firm formance especially is to carry
out a nationwide since results had been survey of England and Wales to
the
disappointing up until try to find the reason for
in attendances at
English Football League games,
This was announced here lo
day by the League Management Committee
after
♫ Яve-hour
meeting to discuss the state of the League game as a whole.
It was announced that since the begining of last season there has been a drop in attendances at games of five and a half 'mil-
last year.
It is just 12 big slump months since they began their international revival with a smashing 6-2 de- feat of France in Basie France's biggest defeat since Holland beat them 5-1 in 1936. Switzerland's success can be traced back to the recull of their former team chief, Karl Rappan. It was Rappan who decided to bring back some of the discarded veterans. One of them, Josef Hugi (Basle), notched five of the six against France.
Hungary prepare
Hungary
recent
lion.
The League secretary, Mp Alan Hardaker, said the League wanted to find out if possible why gates had slumped and the most important reasons for the fall in attendances if there were
more than one-Reuter.
New Zealanders
in a run-spree
- whose
Krugersdorp, Nov. 15. Dick Motz the New Zealand victory over Austria
pace-bowler, took eight wickets stamps them as a team for 40 runs in helping to dismiss to watch in Chile-intend | Transvaal Country Districts for going to South America 115 when the tourists started a
two-day match here. well prepared.
By the clőse the
New
While the domestic programame Zealanders had replied with 326 is closed down next month the for six, John Gay hitting 122, Hungarian squad-under team including 13" fours and a six, in
130 montes manager Larjos BARON-goes off to South America for full Internationals
Реги against Ecuador and Colombia, and 115 the highest part-
Guy and John Sparling shared
an opening stand of 120 runs in
nership for any wicket on the
representative matches against two Chilean club sides. La tour, so far Sparling made 01: The round trip something The New Zealanders 825 runs over 20,000 miles. And that's not came in only 180 minutes. the extent of Hungary'e World China Mali Special Cup preparation. Austria, Tus- Rey and Elre will of be-enter- trined in Budapest before the end of next spring.
World star
Koly-poly Ferotio» Purkas, ona-Rise Major, in the Hon. Marlan' Athiyaid pine of the world's Iruly gross footballers, fmay appear In Chlowfor Dusid.
Busiras, dominant personality “the fuse-Hungaridh. team of
Chirtier.
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