Rousseau

Jimmy Hogan is a fascinating figure: 'Hogan believed that possession-based football was the answer, but that it must be founded upon constant passing and movement, and added versatility in his players and increased fitness that would allow them to bamboozle an opponent with the fluidity of their attacking moves. 'In 2012, Spanish magazine Panenka published a pedigree of several influential managers and teams from the 1910s to the 2010s—such as the Brazil national team of the 1950s and Pep Guardiola—placing Hogan as its progenitor; Hogan created a direct lineage for modern football tactics. Influenced by Burnley-born manager Harry Bradshaw and his adoption of the Scottish combination game, Hogan was directly responsible for the coaching foundations of two of the most influential footballing sides in history – Austria's Wunderteam and Hungary's Golden Team. 'Hogan is credited with the revolution in European football that saw Hungary defeat England 6–3 at Wembley in 1953, ushering a new football era. After the match, Sándor Barcs, then president of the Hungarian Football Federation, said to the press: "Jimmy Hogan taught us everything we know about football." 'Helmut Schön, 1974 FIFA World Cup-winning manager, whom Hogan lectured in Germany, stated: "I greatly admired Jimmy and always regarded him as a shining example of the coaching profession. In my lectures to coaches today I still mention his name frequently". 'Gusztáv Sebes stated: "We played football as Jimmy Hogan taught us. When our football history is told, his name should be written in gold letters". After his death in 1974, the head of the German Football Association labelled Hogan as "the father of football in modern Germany".' It's crazy to think that the Scottish passing and combination game of that time was virtually the basis of the Mighty Magyars, Dutch Total Football and Cruff, to Barcelona and Guardiola. And yet we're still stuck with an out-dated game. In his book, Jonathan Wilson compares the way in which football was discussed in Budapest and Britain: In Britain, football was discussed in pubs by men standing up with a pint in their hand. In the coffee house, customers sat down at a table, and so it became possible to illustrate tactical arguments using simple props, like a cup, a spoon or sugar bowl. It's a short step from that level of abstract thought to drawing diagrams and formations - something that would have seemed preposterous in Britain. Herbert Chapman found that push back when he organised tactical discussions. I believe there's still a lot of that push back today - 'Laptop manager'? Sure, criticise results, but engage with the ideas.

I've been reading Jonathan Wilson's book, The Names Heard Long Ago. The history of modern football was born in the coffee houses of Budapest. It was inspired by the short passing game in Scotland, which was brought to MTK Budapest by Englishman Jimmy Hogan and Scot John Tait Robertson (who played for Rangers). Hungarian coaches like Imre Hirschl, Árpád Weisz, Bela Guttmann and Gusztáv Sebes took their tactical ideas to Italy, Germany, Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, across Europe and the Americas. The greatest example of these tactical ideas was the golden team, but what many thought was the beginning of an era was actually the end of over 50 years of development.

Taking the huff.

Hearts 2 - 3 Rangers FGS Silva

Hearts vs Rangers

Beale!!!

I missed that - what did he say?

I thought Raskin and Diomande had a few issues playing together, but hopefully it'll come good the more they play together.

Not one month ago you voted to renew his contract.

*Cough*

I thought Silva had a good game, but I still think he's wasted out wide. He's not quite suited to it and our general play suffers when there's not a winger hugging the touchline; especially with our FBs inverting.

What are your thoughts, folks?

More points gained than I expected. Correct Result (1 pt): Everyone who entered (except compo). Correct Number of Rangers Goals (1pt): Lenny and SBG. FGS (2 pts): SBG Correct Score (3 pts): - Two games to go... Latest Standings:

Clement: ‘I was angry at HT. I cannot keep being angry before they do both parts of the game. If they want to play for a lesser team they can do one moment good, one moment bad. But here, if they want to play for Rangers they need to do both parts of the game all the time.’

He didn't look out of place at all. I'm surprised he's not had a few more games this season, especially since Yilmaz has been injured and Barisic is done.

The youngsters were good.

That's done me out of a point in the GPL. Pr*ck...

Lovely.

Oh, stop it, Rangers! This is absolute filth.

Dowell is a wonderful player. Shame he's made of weetabix.

I don't want to see those three! Bring on Yfeko and Lowry!

He has played over... *checks clock* ... 76 minutes this season.

Tavernier at centre-half.

Dessers has skied it from 3 yards out.