The ball through the channels

The channels are naturally occurring phenomena which can be found between opposition full-backs and the touchline in a standard 4-4-2 formation. They are exploited by speedy wingers, who enjoy nothing more than chasing long hopeful balls into the area. The name derives from Booby Robson’s decision to build a moat down the sides of the pitch at Portman Road in 1979 to stop eager teenage girls from getting onto the pitch and mobbing their heroes John Wark and Mick Mills.

The forgetful Robbo left the tap running when filling his moats before a big European tie with St Eitienne (the French football team, not the fey indie band) and the visitors compared getting onto the pitch to crossing the channel to get into England. With 10 minutes left and Ipswich looking to hold onto a precious lead over two legs, Robson instructed his fullbacks to “get the ball into the channels” as a timewasting ploy. The tactic went on to find favour with managers across the UK, who hoped that like Robson they would find favour with FA chief and amateur geographer Bert Millichip.

On occasion, especially intelligent frontmen (notably Teddy Sheringham and Paul Peschisolido, who has a football IQ of 149) can also be found running into the estuaries, which are found between the three centre backs in a 3-5-2 formation. In a 5-3-2 formation, the gaps become rivulets, while Everton’s Howard Kendall accidentally created an oxbow lake behind Andy Hinchcliffe several times during the 1993/94 season when experimenting with wing-backs.

Although use of the channels has waned over the years, their tactical impact is still runs deep. In the Premier League young Derby manager Paul Jewell has regularly utilised an ocean between centre-backs Alan Stubbs and Darren Moore this season.

The ball through the channels

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