False 9 - City were pioneers in the English game.

The Revie Plan

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Pep deployed Phil Foden as a False 9 at Anfield on Sunday.
In the mid ‘50s City pioneered the original False 9 system within the English game built around future Leeds and England manager Don Revie.
Tactics across the English game in the early ‘50s were quite standard. 2/

The WM formation (3-2-2-3) had been introduced by Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman in 1925 in response to a change in the offside rule reducing the number of opposition players required to play an attacker onside from 3 to 2. Into the ‘50s it was still the prevailing formation
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The formation was spearheaded by a centre forward supported by two, often pacy, wingers in front a 3. The inside forwards supported attacks from deep.
The half backs operated as box to box midfielders ahead of a back 3 able to deal with opposition counters, often a long ball
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In 1953 England’s WM formation was taken apart by the Mighty Magyars of Hungary.
The Hungarians played a 3-2–3-2 formation with the centre forward, Hidegkuti, dropping deeper into midfield - the original False 9.
The wingers would also drop deeper when necessary
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Left half Zakariás played deep, effectively creating a back 4 out of possession in a nod to the flat back 4 that would prevail in the following 2 decades.
The team attacked and defended as one with defenders supporting attacks and the frontline helping out the defence 6/

England’s defence couldn’t cope with Hidegkuti, as he dragged them into midfield opening up gaps for Puskas and Kocsis to exploit. Hungary ran out 6-3 winners and are considered one of the greatest teams of all time 7/

Whilst the English game was shaken to its core by the result, the tactical set up of the national team and major clubs remained unchanged. The Hungarians were viewed as superior athletes and their formation thought unsuited to English players 8/

But in Manchester, City’s reserve team centre forward Jonny Williamson and half back Ken Barnes were determined to ape the Hungarian’s deep lying centre forward. In ‘53/54 the reserves went unbeaten in the final 26 matches of the season with Williamson sitting deep 9/

Williamson was convinced the position would be perfectly suited for City’s first team centre forward Don Revie. Revie was an intelligent, imaginative player who Williamson thought could put his technical skills to best use in a deeper role 10/

City had been big spending in the early 50s and were considered to be a talented team who couldn’t find success, despite stars like goalkeeper Bert Trautmann.
Revie himself was quoted as saying ‘We were a team of 2 units but there was nothing to link us together properly’ 11/

After witnessing the reserves unbeaten run, first team manager Les McDowell began the ‘54/55 season with Revie as the False 9.
It didn’t get off to a great start, City losing the opening match of the season 5-0 to a Tom Finney inspired Preston North End 12/

But the following week City themselves put 5 past Sheffield United and never looked back.
The Revie Plan was born.
In a thrilling season City beat United 3 times including a 2-0 win at Maine Road in front of a 75,000 strong crowd in the 4th round of the FA Cup. 13/

City went on to reach the Final against Jackie Milburn’s Newcastle United.
Revie’s deep lying role in City’s set up consequently led to inside forwards Bobby Johnstone and Joe Hayes playing higher up the pitch, making runs into gaps in that appeared in the opposition defence 14/

An early Newcastle goal was a set back for City and when Jimmy Meadows had to go off injured mid way through the first half City’s hopes were left in tatters. It was a career ending injury for Meadows and pre substitutes City played the remainder of the match with 10 men 15/

An excellent Johnstone diving header from a Hayes cross made it 1-1.
Revie, nominally the centre forward, isn’t even in shot due to his deeper role.
Ultimately the 10 men were beaten 3-1 16/

But it had a been a good season for City, Cup runners up and finishing just 6pts behind Champions Chelsea. Revie was named Football Writers Player of the Year and had become a regular for England. But the 6 caps he won would prove to be his last 17/

A fall out with McDowell over unauthorised holiday at the start of the 55/56 season saw Revie dropped by City. Johnstone moved back into Revie’s False 9 role. The team went on to have a great season finishing 4th and again reaching the Cup Final with Revie on the fringes 18/

As fate would have it right winger Bill Spurdle was hit with a bout of boils in the week of the Cup Final and ruled out. Johnstone was moved to the right wing and Revie was recalled.
The Revie plan was back 19/

Opponents Birmingham set out to attack, committing men forward and often leaving Revie unmarked in midfield 20/

The first goal illustrates Revie’s role. A B’ham attack breaks down after a brave header from Ewing. Full back Leavers picks out Revie deep in his own half and he sets off on a marauding run - note the amount of space he’s in. He plays a diagonal to Clark on the left wing 21/

Revie doesn’t admire his pass, calling for the return as he enters the area. The ball comes from Clark and Revie produces a beautiful backheel to set up a Hayes goal.
This is top football from Revie. Even in the modern game the goal would be revered 22/

Revie was superb as City won 3-1 thanks to goals from Jack Dyson and Johnstone (becoming the 1st man to score in consecutive Wembley Cup Finals). The Final is made famous by City keeper Trautmann breaking his neck and bravely playing on but in many ways this was Revie’s final 23/

Revie was sold in late ‘56 and with him went tactical innovation in the English game. It wasn’t until the ‘60’s that teams moved on from the WM.
A flat back 4, made popular by the Brazilian national team, eventually led to World Cup victory in ‘66 with the wingless wonders 24/

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Watching the ‘55 Cup Final and highlights from other matches I was surprised how quick the matches were. We always hear about how slow games were back then and I expected something very stodgy but the matches generally kept a decent pace 1/

A word for Trautmann as well whose handling was exquisite, so impressive. His bravery and distribution was also top notch. Hope you enjoy the thread and thanks for reading 2//