Looks like tactics are creeping in already when refs enforce this new 'advance 10 yards' rule. Apparently the makkems deliberately fannied around at a free kick so that the ref advanced it ten yards, the object being that the shorter distance made it more difficult for Beckham to let fly one of his specials.

Didn't take long for gamesmanship to rear it's ugly head did it, if that was the case ?

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

Answers

Tactics didn't do them much good for the other three goals though did it? In fact it hasn't done them much good all season.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

It might be tactical but it looks like desperation tactics to me. I mean, all you need to do to counter it is make it look like it would be ,say, a Solano special but let AS take it once the ten yards had been 'won' I wouldn't have thought anybody would be daft enough to give AS a chance ten yards closer to the goal.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000

However, Newton Heath haven't got AS to whack it. They have got Jaap Stam and his celebrated "Elevationary Right Leg", rumoured to be wanted by the Americans as their latest anti-aircraft weapon.

-- Anonymous, September 11, 2000