 He would generally man @-@ mark the opposition 's playmaker or major goalscoring threat . He was a highly effective tackler , able to either flatten opposition players or to quickly take the ball off their toes . After the tackle from behind was outlawed he adapted to the rule change by making hard challenges from the side . Manager Tony Waddington said that " His qualities were his tackling strength and his courage . On the ball he just did what he could do , but he also had a tremendous ability to read the game . " 
