New book "The prince of centre halves" Tommy TG Jones

[Major Gowen]

A few precious, fleeting glimpses of the Welsh maestro, first posted in the Watch Classic Matches Again thread, before he went off injured in a war-time international friendly-cum-fundraiser in Dublin:



In his prime, Jones had, according to Gowen Snr., who worshipped him and let this slip only a couple of weeks ago, a distinctive and much-imitated (by younger Blues) flick of the foot as he walked. By sheer coincidence, you understand, so, too, does Gowen the Elder.

Jones remained as stylish and gentlemanly in his post-Everton years as he had been at his peak, as Gowen Snr discovered first-hand after bagging a hat-trick against him in a friendly against Pwllheli. TG asked him after the match if he'd ever thought of going for trials at Everton. Have done, Snr replied, and ended up playing at bloody wing-half. In its small way, the incident rather summed up Everton in the post-war years.

Many thanks for drawing my attention to this book, Zippy, as my Dad, assuming he survives Whiston Hospital next week, will assuredly love it, just as he did the man himself.

 

[JordanianEmbassy]

Yet another Everton great who lost the bulk of his career serving his country during WW2 (along with joe Mercer and Tomjy Lawton) my grandad told me he was very similar in style to Bekenbuer, except Jones could snap you in half if required! Very calm in posession, he would have been the first ever English player in Italy if something hadnt gone south during the transfer to Roma! Thats how good he was as a defender, the Italiand wanted him!

Was he a defender?? I thought "centre half" meant centre midfielder in todays speak? ie the player who played between the right half and the left half.

Always a bit confusing because people always said centre half when they meant centre back when I was a kid.

Just asking really ???

 

[Bluebonic]

Was he a defender?? I thought "centre half" meant centre midfielder in todays speak? ie the player who played between the right half and the left half.

Always a bit confusing because people always said centre half when they meant centre back when I was a kid.

Just asking really ???

Similar in style to Bekenbauer as in he was as comfortable defending as he was going forward! Yes the old positions could become confusing, but not as much as a false number nine lol!

 

[Bluebonic]

A few precious, fleeting glimpses of the Welsh maestro, first posted in the Watch Classic Matches Again thread, before he went off injured in a war-time international friendly-cum-fundraiser in Dublin:



In his prime, Jones had, according to Gowen Snr., who worshipped him and let this slip only a couple of weeks ago, a distinctive and much-imitated (by younger Blues) flick of the foot as he walked. By sheer coincidence, you understand, so, too, does Gowen the Elder.

Jones remained as stylish and gentlemanly in his post-Everton years as he had been at his peak, as Gowen Snr discovered first-hand after bagging a hat-trick against him in a friendly against Pwllheli. TG asked him after the match if he'd ever thought of going for trials at Everton. Have done, Snr replied, and ended up playing at bloody wing-half. In its small way, the incident rather summed up Everton in the post-war years.

Many thanks for drawing my attention to this book, Zippy, as my Dad, assuming he survives Whiston Hospital next week, will assuredly love it, just as he did the man himself.

Best of luck to your dad mate, whatever his ailment, i hope he had a full and speedy recovery

 

[JordanianEmbassy]

Similar in style to Bekenbauer as in he was as comfortable defending as he was going forward! Yes the old positions could become confusing, but not as much as a false number nine lol!

So what formation did they play back then?

 

[Joey66]

Just purchased the book via the GOT link coming on the 20th of June

 

[Bluebonic]

So what formation did they play back then?

Back in his day is way before my time, but the basic set up when i was a kid was GK, two full backs, two centre backs, a right and a left half and a centre half, then an outside right or outside left (wingers) inside forward (number 10) and a centre forward. God life was so much easier then!

 

[JordanianEmbassy]

Back in his day is way before my time, but the basic set up when i was a kid was GK, two full backs, two centre backs, a right and a left half and a centre half, then an outside right or outside left (wingers) inside forward (number 10) and a centre forward. God life was so much easier then!

Funnily enough its actually quite similar to the way Koeman sets us up now isn't it? Its just we call the positions by different names

Now we call the right half, left half and centre half the "midfield 3" (Morgan, Gana and Davies). And we'll often have a lopsided front 3 of Rom, Kev, and Ross, where Rom is the centre forward, Ross is more like the inside forward (number 10) and Kev is the outside right or left.

 

[degsy]

So what formation did they play back then?

It was around then that the 2;3;5 (hence Fullbacks R & L being numbered 2 & 3) turned into 3 at the back with the Centre Half dropping in between the full backs...nothing's new really. This was, iirc, caused in part by the change in the offside law just before the war.
Everton won the league in 62-63 with a back line of Parker, Labone, Meegan.
But by 1966 it was Wright, Labone Harris, Wilson
Different teams in different countries and it had to be said continents were more advanced than the staid English and various formations came and went and adapted.
e.g.
A sweeper behind a 3
A sweeper behind a 4 - Sheff Wed lined up like this for the 2nd half of the 66 cup final
A sweeper in front of a 3 or 4.
It's a whole book on it's own.

 

[JordanianEmbassy]

It was around then that the 2;3;5 (hence Fullbacks R & L being numbered 2 & 3) turned into 3 at the back with the Centre Half dropping in between the full backs...nothing's new really. This was, iirc, caused in part by the change in the offside law just before the war.
Everton won the league in 62-63 with a back line of Parker, Labone, Meegan.
But by 1966 it was Wright, Labone Harris, Wilson
Different teams in different countries and it had to be said continents were more advanced than the staid English and various formations came and went and adapted.
e.g.
A sweeper behind a 3
A sweeper behind a 4 - Sheff Wed lined up like this for the 2nd half of the 66 cup final
A sweeper in front of a 3 or 4.
It's a whole book on it's own.

Or at least a whole thread on its own. I might start one

Actually someone recommended the book "Inverting the Pyramid" to me a while back - I haven't got round to reading it though.

 

[Joey66]

The book has just arrived via the GOT link via Amazon - looks a great read - took three weeks to arrive nice fathers day present from my son - some great old pictures in it too

 

[Major Gowen]

Rob Sawyer writes briefly but pointedly on the death of Everton's double-hopes in the 1938-39 season on a specially-prepared quagmire at Molyneux in the 6th round of the FA Cup. To my delight, I've stumbled across highlights. TG can be seen heading clear at 38 seconds in:



A ticket stub from the game:

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0065/lot-0253949e-0556-400c-bdc1-a62400b54b6b

 

[JordanianEmbassy]

Rob Sawyer writes briefly but pointedly on the death of Everton's double-hopes in the 1938-39 season on a specially-prepared quagmire at Molyneux in the 6th round of the FA Cup. To my delight, I've stumbled across highlights. TG can be seen heading clear at 38 seconds in:



A ticket stub from the game:

https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/...0065/lot-0253949e-0556-400c-bdc1-a62400b54b6b

check out the crowd in that game!

 

[Joey66]

3/4 the way from this great book wow how we crapped on such a star even turned him down as a manager for the inexperienced disastrous Ian Buchan the tactician unproven - a fantastic read on how my late father described him as a player ahead of his time - Dixie Dean Quote the best all round footballer in his era better than John Charles - and yes we ditched him and treated him like dirt!

 

[allezlesbleus]

My late dad raved about him. Said is party piece was to let forwards near him have a look at the ball and think they could get it off him. He would then do a quick drag back to leave them kicking fresh air!!