Rory 7
Full Member
Our decline came about through poor choices in management appointments. Do you think we'd have continued our success if they hadn't changed the rules ? I agree that our possession football must have been a ball-ache for opposition supporters, but the main aim of it wasn't to nullify games, it was to keep hold of the ball until such time an opportunity arose. So as much as you might have hated it, the general consensus of most people involved in the game back then was that Liverpool were very special.
No. There were clearly other problems at the club off the pitch.But football changed on the pitch in the early 90s too and Liverpool couldn't adapt. It was definitely a factor. Obviously it's dumb to say it's the only factor but I do think changes in the rules are often overlooked by fans who focus on spending power, managerial appointments and transfers. As I said at the outset the role of the back pass rule is underestimated.