Jaap Stam being unveilled
They used to serenade visiting strikers at Old Trafford with a refrain about a rugged centre back who would soon remove the hubris from their swagger.
"Yip Jaap Stam is a big Dutchman, Get past him if you jolly well can, Try a little trick and he'll make you look thick, Yip yap, Jaap Stam,” the Stretford End would chime, more or less, and Manchester United's opponents would invariably fade to anonymous".
Jaap Stam Reading's Stadium
Stam took over as manager at the Madejski last month,parachuted in from his duties as a specialist defensive coach at Ajax, and that famous shaven head is coming to a touchline near you in the SkyBet Championship soon.
Like many purists, he laments the dying art of the no-nonsense defender, and he recalls his three years in the Premier League fondly.
"I always enjoyed the games when United played against Arsenal. You relished the contest, they never lacked intensity," said Stam, now 43.
"We won the Treble but Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Martin Keown were quite good as well. They were real defenders - they did not mess around with us and we did not mess around with them. I also liked Marcel Desailly at Chelsea, who was always strong and capable".
"And in Italy, I was fortunate to play with Paulo Maldini and Alessandro Nesta, two of the best players of their era".
If Stam wishes to compare notes on rugged defending with Keown, he need only pull the Gunners legend's son aside at training: Niall Keown, a Republic of Ireland Under-21 international, is on the Royals' books.
Jaap Stam having a talk with Reading players
Reading, featuring Wales Euro 2016 heroes Chris Gunter and Hal Robson Kanu, finished a mediocre 17th in the Championship last season, but under Stam they will be expected to mount a play-off challenge.
At the very least, he is worth a listen on the lost art of defending.
"In Holland, we think it's also a problem like you do in England, and maybe it's true that modern football does not pay so much attention to the specifics of defending," said Stam.
"A lot of clubs put more emphasis on attacking, playing with flair and creating chances".
"I've always thought it was very important to give young players at the back one-on-one coaching to make sure they know their jobs".
"Nowadays, in certain countries, we expect a lot more from defenders. They are expected not only to block crosses, be strong in the air and firm in the tackle, but in many cases they are asked to bring the ball out from the back, to dribble and to pass with authority".
"In England there has been a lot of talk about John Stone in this regard and, to be fair, I like to see those attributes in a centre back myself".
"But the real art of being the complete defender is knowing when to play, and when to settle for doing the basics".
"A defender needs to know when he can be artistic or when he needs to win the tackles and headers".
"Bravery is a big part of defending – I watched a lot of games in the Premier League and the Championship last season, and I believe the standard of tackling here is still quite good".
"I love it when I see players going into 50-50 challenges without any fear. You need to be brave, you need to be prepared to collect a few stitches".
"In my time, I probably let a few strikers know I was there, but I got kicked a few times as well".
"You have to be fully committed, and put your mind to it, because if you go into any challenge with doubts, you are going to come out of it second best anyway and the striker will win his personal battle".
"Nowadays, in certain countries, we expect a lot more from defenders. They are expected not only to block crosses, be strong in the air and firm in the tackle, but in many cases they are asked to bring the ball out from the back, to dribble and to pass with authority".
"In England there has been a lot of talk about John Stone in this regard and, to be fair, I like to see those attributes in a centre back myself".
"But the real art of being the complete defender is knowing when to play, and when to settle for doing the basics".
"A defender needs to know when he can be artistic or when he needs to win the tackles and headers".
"Bravery is a big part of defending – I watched a lot of games in the Premier League and the Championship last season, and I believe the standard of tackling here is still quite good".
"I love it when I see players going into 50-50 challenges without any fear. You need to be brave, you need to be prepared to collect a few stitches".
"In my time, I probably let a few strikers know I was there, but I got kicked a few times as well".
"You have to be fully committed, and put your mind to it, because if you go into any challenge with doubts, you are going to come out of it second best anyway and the striker will win his personal battle".
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