John Beck’s Cambridge United revolutionized pitch tactics in the early 90s by letting grass grow long in corners, making it easier for wingers to launch attacks.
Beck's manipulation of pitch conditions included intense warming of the away dressing room and soaking warm-up balls, all aimed at gaining marginal tactical advantages.
Narrowing the pitch for tactical advantage has deep roots, with instances like Graeme Souness's Rangers against Dynamo Kyiv in 1987-88, though not always successful.
Despite being a tactical innovator, John Beck’s practices, such as unsavory tactics involving sugar in tea and soggy balls, blurred the lines of sportsmanship.
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