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Gareth Fullerton

Ex-Linfield star offers hilarious response to modern day defending

Pat McShane loved a tackle.

The former Linfield defender played in an era when your opponent ended up in the air more times than the ball.

It was a time when you took no prisoners on the pitch.

Read more: Former Ballymena defender wants to achieve ‘great things’ at League Two side

There has been a significant shift in the modern day game, where tough tackling has virtually been outlawed. It has become a little more diluted, let's just say.

McShane indulged in some comical nostalgia when responding to a Twitter post from Coleraine under age coach Gary Devenney about the 'art of defending'.

Experienced UEFA A Licence coach Gary shared a video where the key points included a player adjusting their position "based on ball carrier and potential passing option", the defender having a "low centre of gravity to change direction quickly, and practising "patience to wait for the right moment to steal the ball".

All brilliant advice for any young player to take on board.

Ex-Linfield full-back is cut from a different cloth, however.

Linfield's Pat McShane with Donegal Celtic's Paul McDonald in 2007 (INPHO/Press Eye/William Cherry)

A tough-tackling defender, he spent 14 years at Linfield, claiming a total of 21 winners’ medals, including six Irish League titles and four Irish Cup victories.

He joked: "Used to be so much simpler. If it moves kick it, and if it doesn't, then kick it until it does, my big mate use to tell me this every week lol @W5Murphy."

McShane tagged former teammate William 'Winkie' Murphy in the post, another no-nonsense defender from years gone by, who is currently part of Oran Kearney's backroom team at Coleraine.

Pat then jokingly added: "Only jokin by the way. We would never do that or encourage it."

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