Jonathan Wilson: The origin of pragmatism in soccer

[Jonathan Wilson]

For around three decades after the foundation of the Football League in 1888, the game remained unchanged. Teams played with two backs, three halves and five forwards, and soccer was all about getting the ball out to the winger so he could cross for the center forward. Pattern-weaving -- working the ball in neat triangles between midfield and attack - was seen as the ideal and soccer was largely formulaic.

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