Indholdsfortegnelse for September 2015 i FourFourTwo UK

Well, we’re glad that’s over. Weekends just aren’t the same over the summer. If, like us at FourFourTwo Towers, you’ve been counting the days until the first game of the season, we have exactly what you need. Our cover feature looks at whether 2015-16 is the season of salvation for players, managers and clubs the world over. Chelsea may be Premier League champions but does Jose Mourinho need a big season in Europe? Another last-16 knockout in the Champions League certainly won’t do for Blues owner Roman Abramovich. The two big Manchester clubs need to convert money spent into trophies won. And is it the season of no excuses for Arsene Wenger? Also looking for redemption are Brendan Rodgers, Gareth Bale, Roy Hodgson, Pep Guardiola, Sepp…

1 Striker! Sweeper! Defender! Not a literary tribute to Luis Enrique’s versatility, but a trilogy of novels to rival Tolkien – at least if you’re a big Steve Bruce fan, as the three books are so rare they sell for north of £80. Each. Published in 2000 when Bruce was manager of Huddersfield Town, our hero is Steve Barnes (subtle), manager of Leddersfield Town (less so), who solves murders in his spare time. One Amazon review calls it “one of the most poorly written books I’ve ever read... yet hugely satisfying.” 2 Lasagne-gate in 1939 One of football’s first silver-screen forays, 1939’s The Arsenal Stadium Mystery pitted the Gunners against fictional amateurs the Trojans. When a Trojan drops dead, poisoned, Scotland Yard’s eccentric Detective Inspector Anthony Slade (Leslie…

FourFourTwo hasn’t spoken to too many footballers about the art of pasteurisation, but to the best of our knowledge, Wayne Rooney is yet to make his own ice cream rather than eat it. Former Barnsley striker Rory Fallon, then, is unique. “It takes three hours,” he says, grinning. “It makes me laugh how much time I’ve spent not doing anything as a footballer. Now it’s full-on.” Fallon has spent much of the past 12 months recovering from a cruciate knee injury and put his rehabilitation time to good use, setting up an ice cream business with his wife, Carly. The Cowlick Creamery has made waves in Yorkshire this summer. The Fallons have turned up at school fêtes, country parks and the odd festival to dish out tasty homemade…

Eddie Hearn or Dougie Freedman? I like Dougie, and think we can get promoted under him, but I love Eddie. It’d be fascinating to see how he would get on managing a football team. George Groves or Roy Keane? In a fight? Keano would do him, I reckon – especially in a street fight. I’m not being unnecessarily mean on George, because I wouldn’t mess with Roy, either! IBF/WBA Super Middleweight titles or European Cup glory? I’ve got to be selfish here because it’s my sport! I have to go with the titles. I’m hanging my head, Forest fans! Joe Kinnear in charge again or a post-knockout wet sponge? Definitely the sponge. You can slap it right across my face as Kinnear isn’t coming anywhere near Forest again. Muhammad Ali’s…

Every player has heroes. Every player wants inspiration. And every player loves, simply, to play. That’s what the Indesit National Mini Soccer Cup is all about. It’s a five-a-side tournament for juniors, which will both inspire and provide a memorable day out for all the family. We all know what five-a-side can do for your skills, team-work and fitness, but it also nurtures passion. Throw in a trip to Wembley and this is an irresistible combination. The National Mini Soccer Cup is… A mixed mini-soccer (five-a-side) tournament; teams can be made up of any combination of boys and girls. For under-8s and under-10s. It kicks off with 12 regional events across the UK in August, September and October. Regional winners then play for outright victory at Wembley Powerleague centre later…

“By the time the press conference had finished we were trending on Twitter,” George Francis, Partick Thistle’s communications chief, tells FFT . “The event started at 2pm and by the time I got back to my desk at 4pm I had requests from CNN, Time magazine, The Times, The Guardian and The Telegraph – not what I usually return to.” By the end of the day, the launch of Partick’s mascot, Kingsley – variously described as an angry sun or Lisa Simpson on your hallucinogen of choice – was the seventh-most tweeted story globally. In the following week’s Time magazine, Kingsley’s unveiling featured in the publication’s ‘Trending in the World’ section, nestled alongside the spying on French president Francois Hollande by the US security services and war…

It started with an email. Well, hundreds of emails, actually, but when 34-year-old Lisbonite Lourenco Cunha Ferreira sent for help to start his jazzy new Kampion project – for no money, naturally – it’s not like he was expecting much in return. But football has a habit of springing a surprise, as the Sporting fan will attest. Just a thoughtful side project at first, Kampion soon took off as illustrators from around the globe clamoured for a slice of the action. The game itself is nothing new – it’s essentially Top Trumps – but the mega-designs (and Pro Evo naming system) piqued FFT’s interest. From the cubist Vincent Kompany to an apocalyptic zombie Vinnie Jones via an Oliver Kahn inspired by Dragon Ball Z, each design – by a different…

SOME SECTIONS OF THE MEDIA SEEMED TO GET CARRIED AWAY WITH HOW BADLY CITY DID LAST SEASON. HOW WOULD YOU EVALUATE YOUR CLUB’S 2014-15? We finished second, so it was disappointing – we never want to be second-best. However, you have to look at how many teams have the ambition to be champions – there are quite a few now, and only Chelsea finished above us. What the media say doesn’t matter; when you reach this level, you don’t expect good things to be said when you underachieve. Was it out of proportion? Everything is always out of proportion at this level. If you do well, you’re the best in the world; if you get a few bad results then all of a sudden the whole team is bad. But…

REAWAKEN THE TIGER WITHIN Falcao wasn’t known as El Tigre in his prime for nothing. While the nickname dates from childhood, in his professional life it stuck due to his merciless, predatory efficiency. Sniffing out weaknesses and looking to react quicker than his rivals, the Colombian had unwavering faith in his ability, leading to flawless finishing in the narrowest period of time. Those instincts haven’t disappeared; they’re dormant, and need to be reactivated with confidence. Louis van Gaal is a distant coach who often lacks the soft touch necessary to repair damaged goods, but Jose Mourinho generally likes to have a closer relationship with his squad. The Portuguese knows first-hand how exceptional a talent Falcao really is, having failed to nullify his influence in more than one Madrid derby. He…

WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT ARSENAL FROM LAST SEASON, AND WHAT DO THEY HAVE TO DO NOW TO PUSH FURTHER? Consistency is key. Chelsea found that throughout last season, and in the end they were by far the best team. That’s what we need to do this season. The form we showed towards the end of last season is the form we need to show throughout the new season if we want to be challenging for the title. Hopefully we can get off to a flyer and maintain that throughout the campaign. Last season we started slowly, lost a few games and then suddenly we were playing catch-up. At the beginning we were struggling with a lot of injuries in key areas, which doesn’t help. It’s hard to build momentum…

You’ve known Eddie Howe since he signed you in 2010. What can you tell us about the gaffer that we don’t know already? He thinks a lot about the game, and that’s why he’s become such a fantastic manager. He’s into his motivational quotes – there’ll be some Nelson Mandela quotes around the dressing room – and he’s into his stats, and along with all that he’s a great coach. He’d be a top coach and manager in any league or competition in the world. You’ve been here for both of his spells. Did he return from Burnley a different manager? His philosophy was always the same, but one thing he may have learnt at Burnley was dealing with bigger characters in the dressing room. Before he left, he was…

WHAT’S NEW? For the first time in years, it won’t be Borussia Dortmund challenging Bayern Munich, but Wolfsburg. The latter’s fine season – the German Cup winners finished second – is seen as the beginning of a golden age rather than a one-off silver medal. They have access to the deep pockets of car-pushers Volkswagen and have added Gladbach’s Germany international Max Kruse to a frontline featuring the inimitable Lord Bendtner and the inglorious Bas Dost. So, all eyes are on the Wolves – including 18 hawk eyes. The Bundesliga’s new goal-line technology will be Britain’s Hawk-Eye, first used in cricket in 2001. THE GAFFERS It’s amazing what a well-timed sabbatical can do for your reputation. In 2014, when Thomas Tuchel had led Mainz to safety for the fifth season…

1 Anzhi are back! They tried to buy trophies, then plunged into the abyss of Russia’s second division when their owner hid the chequebook; now everyone’s favourite Dagestanis are back in the big(ish) time. There’s no Roberto Carlos, no Samuel Eto’o and no Europa League football this time – but they have plonked an 80ft-long model of a Lamborghini next to their stadium. Old habits die hard. 2 A new hope Aleksei Miranchuk played his first match for Lokomotiv Moscow at 17, won the league’s Hope of the Year under-21 award at 18 and made his Russia debut at 19, scoring the de facto winner as a substitute in June’s 4-2 victory over Belarus. Big things are expected of the teenage midfielder. 3 Spartak fans get their man Things are…

With the right training, could you masquerade as a world-class footballer steamrolling Sunday league opposition? OK, probably not, but if you’re willing to give it a go, we promise this guide will add another gear to your game. And with that extra few per cent you’ll be able to conquer the pitch, whatever level your league. We took three of the world’s best players – Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero – and dissected their game, then asked our leading experts to formulate a training plan based on their title-winning attributes. Follow the plan for six weeks and you’ll gain rock-solid strength, explosive power and fuel-injected speed and agility. With all that, you shouldn’t have too many problems terrorising the 16-stone donkey marking you. To help you train around…

PRE-TRAINING High-protein yoghurt with fruit Yoghurt contains casein protein, which coagulates in your stomach, slowing down the digestive process. Eating this before training will give your bloodstream a steady level of amino acids to help ease muscle soreness the day after a gruelling pre-season session. Partner the yoghurt with any fruit. Something sweet and fleshy will contain simple sugars, which will help fuel your body for an intense workout. Fruit also has important vitamins and minerals for improved immune function and energy production. POST-TRAINING Pork steaks with homemade sweet potato wedges Scoffing on some pork after training will pump your body with zinc to boost testosterone levels as well as giving you a protein hit, helping your weary legs to recharge. Vitamin B12 will fire up your energy levels so…

CRISTIANO RONALDO NATIONALITY Portuguese CLUB Real Madrid DATE OF BIRTH Feb 5, 1985 NICKNAME CR7 “I’ve made the most of my talent… when you want something, it can be achieved” 178 Number of games it took Ronaldo to score 200 top-flight goals in Spain 17 CR7’s goal tally in the 2013-14 Champions League – a record 27 Number of hat-tricks Ronaldo has scored in La Liga YOUR ESSENTIAL CARDIO WEEKS 5 & 6: Run 20m in 5 seconds. Complete 10 reps. Rest for 6 seconds in between reps. Do this twice a week Some players are master technicians. Others are supreme athletes. The rest run around a lot. Ronaldo is a hybrid of the three. He is football’s Terminator. Not only do those perfectly sculpted muscles cause an epidemic of…

Let the new boys know you mean business When your team’s latest addition struts onto the training pitch in his pink boots, resist the urge to wipe him out – greet him with a solid tackle and the offer of a pint. “Show everyone what a competitor you are on the pitch,” says Brentford’s peak performance coach Tom Bates, “then, after training, show your friendly side.” Build your own ice bath You don’t need a hi-tech cold pool to help your legs recover – a wheelie bin will do just fine. “Fill the bin with cold water and add 2-5kg of ice,” explains former Bolton physio Andy Mitchell. “Lower yourself in for seven minutes. This will reduce muscle soreness and lactic acid.” Beware shrinkage. Break in a new pair of…

Last season: Championship Winners FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Quarter-Final WILL THEY STILL PLAY ON THE FRONT FOOT? Eddie Howe has been planning the Cherries’ Premier League hurrah for some time – even when he had no right to. There’s no doubt his project has accelerated more quickly than he’d have ever imagined, but rest assured the affable 37-year-old has been gearing up for this moment since re-joining Bournemouth in League One in October 2012. Since Howe (right) masterminded an 18-game unbeaten run immediately after hoisting back the reins at Dean Court, Bournemouth fans have been treated to life in the fast lane. Despite having won just one of their first 11 games, the Cherries stormed to promotion, finishing as the third tier’s top scorers. It was a glimpse…

Last season: Premier League 11th FA Cup Third Round League Cup Third Round Europa League Last 16 IS IT TIME FOR LUKAKU TO JUSTIFY HIS PRICE TAG? Perception is important in football. When Romelu Lukaku joined Everton on loan in 2013, fans expected a line-leading forward whose progress would continue in the same manner it had at West Brom the previous year. By the season’s end he had scored 16 times in all competitions, averaging a goal every two games. It was a triumph. In 2014-15, the 22-year-old scored 20 times in all competitions; once every 2.4 games. It was a disaster. The difference? £28m, the record transfer fee Everton paid Chelsea for the Belgian between those campaigns. While the bare statistics may be similar, few would claim that Lukaku’s…

Last season: Premier League 2nd FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Fourth Round Champions League Last 16 HOW DO THEY BECOME LESS RELIANT ON AGUERO? Even as early as November last year, after Sergio Aguero had scored a hat-trick to defeat Bayern Munich in the Champions League, Manuel Pellegrini was forced to deny his team was too reliant on the Argentine. “I think he is a top player – a very important striker here in the Premier League – and we are very glad to have him in our team,” said the Manchester City manager. “But this team? We never rely on one striker.” In some respects, results prove the Chilean correct. Despite Aguero (left) finishing as the Premier League’s top scorer and his club’s top assist-maker, City were unbeaten…

Last season: Championship 3rd FA Cup Third Round League Cup Third Round IS ALEX NEIL READY FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE? We’ve been here before, haven’t we? A smart, young Scottish manager keen to prove himself ‘doon sooth’ guides plucky Norwich City back into the big league after a bad start, helping to secure the East Anglian club’s financial future and endear himself to the celebrity owners... but enough about Paul Lambert in 2010-11. Alex Neil has proved himself every bit as capable as the latest Scot to carry the baton for tactically astute gaffers from north of Hadrian’s Wall (and the only Scottish boss in the Premier League right now). He helped a stuttering Norwich build their own barricade in front of goal as they lost only three games from…

Last season: Premier League 16th FA Cup Fifth Round League Cup Third Round HOW DO THEY AVOID ANOTHER RELEGATION BATTLE? Will he, won’t he? In the end, he will. Dick Advocaat charmed many a supporter who saw the former Oranje boss wiping away tears of joy after the Black Cats secured Premier League survival via a tense 0-0 draw at the Emirates. And after a period of indecision the charismatic Dutchman has signed on for another year at the Stadium of Light, which can only be good news for a club in need of stability after five managers in five years. In fact, not since 2010-11 has a gaffer begun and ended a season with the Black Cats – and Steve Bruce only lasted until November the following season. That’s…

Last season: Championship 2nd FA Cup Third Round League Cup Second Round WHO THE HELL IS QUIQUE SANCHEZ FLORES? He loves honorary life president Elton John, doesn’t fear ruthless owner Gino Pozzo and intends to make Watford a new force in English football. Ladies and gentlemen: say hello to the Premier League’s Rocket Man (come on, you’d have made the same joke). Given the fact he’s the Hornets’ fifth new boss in the last year, you’d think Enrique ‘Quique’ Sanchez Flores would just be happy to see out the month, let alone the season. But the 50-year-old has no trepidation heading into the new season – just boundless ambition. “We don’t want to just stay in the Premier League; we have to look at something solid, and then to improve…

Picking a leader from the League Two promotion pack is akin to picking the winner of the Grand National, such is the unpredictable nature of the division. Case in point: 2014-15. Wycombe, who avoided relegation by the skin of their teeth in 2013-14, were seconds from promotion in the play-off final, while York battled against relegation one year after finishing in the play-off places. So what can we expect this season? Probably more of the unexpected. Portsmouth are promotion favourites once again, but they’ll need to improve under new boss Paul Cook after two disappointing seasons in the bottom tier. This is already the club’s longest spell in the Football League basement and the patience of the coastal club’s fans will be tested if Cook can’t turn this ship around.…

Gary Neville walks into a lift and presses a button marked ‘Heaven’. Old Trafford’s Hotel Football, into which Neville, brother Phil, Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt have invested time and money, overlooks Britain’s biggest club ground and ‘Heaven’ is its top floor, with views over the stadium forecourt to one side and the mini-Manhattan of Salford Quays to the other, as well as Neville’s home town of Bury further north. Heaven is also a football pitch, suited to four-a-side games. The man Jaap Stam once called ‘busy’ keeps himself just that. He’s up at five each morning to attack the day (the three words that make up his Twitter bio) through his work as England coach, successful television analyst, businessman, father of two and co-owner of Salford City.…

75 Premier League games without his protective cap; 258 with it 220 Clean sheets at Chelsea STRIKER He only switched to playing in goal after he broke his leg aged 10 TRIPLET Born a triplet with sister Sarka and brother Michal, who sadly died when they were two 5 LANGUAGES Czech, Spanish, English, French, Portuguese MISSED PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES ON TRANSFER DAY 10% Reading Chekhov’s A Reluctant Tragic Hero 10% Wearing a red and-white checked suit 10% Checking in at Heathrow’s Emirates Airways desk 70% Holding a giant cheque 50 How many stitches he needed, from his lip to his chin, after a 2008 training ground clash with Tal Ben Haim 13 Trophies won at Chelsea SEVEN Times Czech player of the year (2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013).…

1 Lucky Johnny Johnny Sherwood (H&S, £8.99) There are many reasons why today’s footballers might not play for England – but the outbreak of war isn’t one of them. Reading’s Johnny Sherwood heroically survived the horrific River Kwai death camps and then some, as told in these inspirational, often moving memoirs found in the family attic. Best quote “The ones who survived were the good thieves or their friends.” 2 Touching Distance Martin Hardy (deCoubertin, £18.99) Told through interviews with the players, directors, fans and the man himself, Kevin Keegan’s thrilling five-year spell as Newcastle boss from February 1992 is dissected, from near-relegation to the third tier to the Prem’s summit. It’s a jaunty read and a must for any Magpie. Best quote Sir John Hall: “Kevin, there’s only two…

Q: When did Rovers move into the Memorial Stadium? PS: 1997. No, scrap that – I think it was the year before. 1996. LM: You’re kidding me. What year? How long have I been here?! I’ll go for 1990. 1-0 Fan Q: From January until the end of last season, Rovers lost only once – against whom? PS: I was there and we just didn’t turn up. It was Eastleigh. A blip! LM: I know that! Boom! It was Eastleigh. To be fair, we were awful. 2-1 Fan Q: What was the name of the trophy Rovers lifted in 1972? PS: The Watney Cup – the only national cup we’ve won. Can’t believe they ditched it! LM: How old do you think I am?! Was it the Rumbelows Cup? 3-1…

Indesit’s new INNEX range of washing machines and washer dryers saves time and effort, whatever you’re washing. It eases the pressures of life, takes the hassle out of chores and gives you more time. PUSH & WASH Making your life easier, real ‘one touch’ washing for busy families. For great daily wash results – it’s everybody-proof! WATER BALANCE TECHNOLOGY Saves money by only using the water, energy and time the machine actually needs. FAST FORWARD FUNCTION Shorter wash cycles for an even quicker wash. SPORTS WASH Four dedicated sports wash cycles. Head-to-toe sports kit cleaning – it’ll even do your trainers.…

It took some 43 years for the members of England’s 1966 World Cup squad who didn’t play in the final – including Jimmy Greaves and Norman Hunter – to finally be presented with their much-deserved medals. But for a nation of dog-lovers, there has been an even bigger oversight. Pickles, the pooch without whom the Jules Rimet Trophy would have been lost forever in March 1966, has been left as a careless footnote. Until now. Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the black-and-white Collie unearthing world football’s greatest prize in a South London garden hedge, after it had been stolen from an exhibition in London just months before the tournament was due to start. “It’s about time, don’t you think? It’s a disgrace that we’ve had to wait this…

1 Which Newcastle defender did Arsenal forward Dennis Bergkamp turn inside-out for his famous goal in March 2002? 2 Who was League One’s top scorer in 2014-15? 3 Who was caretaker boss of Blackburn Rovers on six separate occasions in the 1980s, ’90s and 2000s, but has never managed the club full-time? 4 Which current Premier League player has the best minutes-per-assist ratio since 1992-93 (minimum 40)? 5 What Serie A record do Virginio Rosetta, Giovanni Ferrari and Giuseppe Furino hold? 6 What is Mark Hughes’ first name? 7 Jose Mourinho has been the cover star of Rolling Stone magazine – true or false? 8 Which player commanded the biggest transfer fee from Gallic money-splashers Paris Saint-Germain: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, David Luiz or Edinson Cavani? 9 When was the last time…

REAL PLAYERS Jan Vertonghen @Jan_Vertonghen This coffee breath taxi driver asks me €65 for a 17min drive while playing with his phone & my life James Tomkins @TomkinsOfficial Enjoying a lovely bike ride with the lads... Jordan Stewart @JordanStewart74 Working in the city hospital cleaning dishes from 9-3, playing in the Europa League from 8-10 EVERYBODY LOVES PIRLO Michael Prior @__Michael_Prior Who wouldn’t want to have a bath with Pirlo? @FourFourTwo Tom Nuttall-Jones @TomNJones On the way to Rome with@Pirlo_official. Sorry @FourFourTwo, had to ‘holiday up’ your front cover a bit. Jamie Hunter @jamiehunter72 Wee Andrea sneaking in looking for a cuddle... @FourFourTwo #pirlo FOURFOURTWO Rob Stewart @RobStewart_ The new @FourFourTwo a must-read for North East footy aficionados with Juninho, Gazza + @JoeAllon7 all flying flag for region #nefollowers Jamie…

Not long after he arrived in Manchester, it was clear to Daley Blind there was no need to live in a luxurious mock-Tudor mansion in a leafy Cheshire village, like most players from the city’s Premier League clubs. He wanted to live in the city centre. “I’m often away from home,” he tells FourFourTwo. “If my girlfriend is here, she feels safer in an apartment than in a big house. If she feels safe while I’m away, it gives me a better feeling. Besides, we both wanted to live in the city, where you can get anywhere just by walking.” Blind may be happy to explore the city that has become his new home by foot, but he has also been known to hit the streets on the fixed-gear bicycle…

EVERTON DIDN’T PERFORM AS WELL AS EXPECTED LAST SEASON. WHAT WOULD YOU PUT THAT DOWN TO? Poor individual errors and not being clinical enough – they’re the two major areas where we weren’t good enough last season. We review every game and look at what we’ve done wrong. We know we’ve been individually poor in certain aspects of the game and we’re always trying to work on those things on the training pitch. WHAT ARE YOUR AIMS FOR THE NEW SEASON? We’ve got to get back to what we did the season before last. We showed glimpses last season but there are a few things we’ve got to improve on; just minor tweaks to our game, which will go a long way. I don’t think we should put too much…

The Premier League is watched by four billion people across 200 countries. Just how big is the achievement for this town? It’s massive. The club’s going to get a lot of exposure now, and I think we deserve to be in that position. I only came last year [from Coventry City] and obviously helped the team achieve something, but they’ve been like a steam train in the last six years. It’s something people didn’t think would happen. I bet there are a lot of people around the world who’d never heard of Bournemouth. Now they’ll get to know us! Any games you’re looking forward to in particular? You always enjoy watching the top six on Match of the Day, so it’ll be nice to play at their stadiums. And then…

What was your first job here? Tannoy announcer during the mid-’80s. We had some particularly dire times in the late ’90s and I got more involved by asking fans for donations. In 2001 I began running the club shop, which I combined with a full-time job for BT. Eventually I became club secretary. How’s your job changed with promotion to the Premier League? I’ve got a box full of contracts to prepare, as I would normally have, but it’s much bigger this year! When I first started, both our keepers were ill and I had to get sick notes so the Football League would allow us to bring someone else in on loan. What’s the current atmosphere like in Bournemouth? There’s a real buzz, the difference being that you walk…

WHAT’S NEW? After tossing aside the apparently incompetent Carlo Ancelotti, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez flicked to the last remaining name in his managerial Rolodex before he had to start rehiring his previous coaches and coaxing Carlos Queiroz back. Rafael Benitez has quite the to-do list. 1: Get the backing of players and fans who were rather fond of the Italian stallion. 2: Win literally everything. And 3: lose weight – well, according to scurrilous press reports claiming this was an order from his bosses. Meanwhile, Rafael van der Vaart has rocked up at Real Betis having been named the Bundesliga’s biggest flop by his fellow players, Gael Kakuta has joined Sevilla after eight enriching years at Chelsea and, speaking of dodgy deals, new Barcelona signing Aleix Vidal can have…

1 Goals, goals, goals! The Eredivisie’s 16 goalless draws in the whole of last season was only seven more than Sunderland managed. It also averaged the most goals per game in Europe’s top 42 leagues (believe us, we counted): a whopping 3.07, compared to, say, 2.49 in Ligue 1 and 2.09 in Albania. Don’t go to Albania. 2 Tractor Boys welcome Agriculturists will be pleased to know the 2015-16 campaign will feature not just The Farmers (PSV) and The Cheese Farmers (AZ), but promoted side De Graafschap – a.k.a. The Super Farmers. They triumphed in the play-offs (right) despite finishing sixth, 40 points behind first and 19 shy of runners-up FC Eindhoven. Super indeed. 3 Next off the Ajax youth conveyor belt… Future stars Viktor Fischer (21), Riechedly Bazoer (18),…

WHAT’S NEW? Having led last season’s championship at the winter break only to finish 14 points off the pace and out of the Champions League spots, Marcelo Bielsa’s Marseille squad has been brutally dismantled this summer. The Stade Velodrome faithful have waved a sad goodbye to their two top scorers (Andre-Pierre Gignac, 21 goals, and Andre Ayew, 10) and their chief creator (Dimitri Payet, seven goals and 17 assists), as well as reliable defender Jeremy Morel and more besides. So the main title challenge to PSG after their domestic clean sweep last term (below) will come from Lyon – if they can hang onto their brightest young stars. Elsewhere, the same Monaco that paid £110m for three players only two summers ago are now developing a reputation as the French…

CONDITIONING Jamie Reynolds Elite conditioning coach Accustomed to working with the Premier League’s elite, the man they call ‘Jamie Velocity’ expects the same level of effort from you in the gym. FITNESS Michael Amoah Football League Academy coach Expect no mercy from the high-intensity interval training sessions that Leyton Orient’s sport scientist has devised for you. AGILITY Alan Pearson Maestro of movement Become as nimble as a ninja and wipe the floor with your opponents with dynamic on-pitch drills from SAQ International’s innovator. NUTRITION Ben Coomber Elite performance nutritionist Supplying you with the fuel to push through your workouts and the recovery power to go again, Ben even throws in a Cheeky Nando’s™.…

LIONEL MESSI NATIONALITY Argentine CLUB Barcelona DATE OF BIRTH June 24, 1987 NICKNAME The Flea 21 Goals scored in El Clasico – more than any other player in history 50 The number of goals Messi scored in the 2011-12 season – a La Liga record 286 The number of goals Messi has netted in La Liga, overtaking Telmo Zarra as the all-time top scorer YOUR ESSENTIAL CARDIO WEEKS 3 & 4: Run in 6 seconds. Complete 12 reps. Rest for 10 seconds in between reps. Do this twice a week So much praise has been heaped upon Barcelona’s Argentine magician over the last decade, ‘Messi’ might just become a superlative in its own right. He scores wonder-goals with such bewildering regularity that he’s almost downgraded them to the level of…

PRE-TRAINING Whey protein shake and bag of salted popcorn Whey protein is digested quickly so you won’t feel bloated during your session. The amino acids kick-start your recovery before a single bead of sweat drips down your face. Studies have found a pre-workout shake can be as effective, if not more, at aiding recovery than chugging one after. Popcorn provides slow release carbohydrates, drip-feeding energy into your system. The electrolytes in salt improve the uptake of water, keeping you hydrated and off the floor grimacing with cramp after the five-minute warm-up. POST-TRAINING Teriyaki chicken breast and pineapple burger Chicken remains one of the best sources of lean protein available to athletes, and coating it in teriyaki sauce gives you a nice hit of sodium to prevent cramping (plus it tastes…

GK NIGEL MARTYN Nigel was one of the senior pros I most looked up to when I was a youngster at Leeds. As a goalkeeper, he was reliable with the bread-and-butter stuff, but he pulled off some phenomenal saves, too. RB SERGIO RAMOS At 29, he has won the World Cup, the Euros twice and over 125 caps for Spain. He was in midfield when he joined Real Madrid aged 19; now he’s outstanding at right-back and in central defence. CB RIO FERDINAND Rio was so comfortable on the ball, able to step into midfield with no problem – and he could defend all day long. Nothing flustered him. He was the perfect calming influence in defence. CB LEDLEY KING If it wasn’t for Ledley’s injuries, we’d be talking about…

Last season: Premier League 3rd FA Cup Winners League Cup Third Round Champions League Last 16 DO THEY HAVE TO WIN THE TITLE THIS SEASON? That depends on who you ask. Pose the question to an ArsenalFanTV ‘analyst’ and they’ll tell you Arsene Wenger must deliver the title or face a public flogging. Ask a selfie-taking berk in a half-and-half scarf at the Emirates Cup and they’ll say Arsenal are the best, regardless of results. Reality lies somewhere between the two. The Gunners don’t have to win the league; they just need to challenge convincingly. In other words: no fading away after a strong start or finishing well once the pressure is off. Arsenal must perform from August to May. Since their last title in 2004, they have been runners-up…

Last season: Premier League Winners FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Winners Champions League Last 16 CAN HAZARD BECOME CHELSEA’S RONALDO? Chelsea may have been the last top-flight team to commence their 2014-15 campaign, but it took them less than 35 minutes to prove they’d probably be first past the post. Going into pre-season, Jose Mourinho knew what he needed to transform his nearly men into Premier League champions again, wasting no time in creating the formidable spine of custodian Thibaut Courtois, creator Cesc Fabregas and converter Diego Costa. By half-time at Burnley, Costa had scored one, Cesc had set up two, and the Blues had avoided making the type of mistake that saw their 2013-14 title tilt tail off against Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Sunderland. Chelsea’s deadly duo…

Last season: Premier League 14th FA Cup Fifth Round League Cup Second Round WHICH LEICESTER WILL SHOW UP? The summer looked to be shaping up so well for Leicester. With three new permanent signings in the bag before July and a feelgood aura throbbing gently around the King Power Stadium, the future seemed promising after the Foxes’ death-defying escapology last season. But then came the storm – and an almighty one at that. Just a week before the players returned to pre-season training, the club sacked Nigel Pearson, citing “fundamental differences in perspective” for their decision. Pearson’s son James, a defender at the club, had been cut loose in June for his involvement in a controversial sex tape filmed in Thailand. Leicester’s owners – from Thailand – weren’t impressed. After…

Last season: Premier League 4th FA Cup Quarter-Final League Cup Second Round HOW CAN DEPAY SUCCEED WHERE DI MARIA FAILED? To be clear: Angel Di Maria isn’t a failure. But less than a year after he landed in Manchester having won the Champions League, The Biggest Club In The World TM  have signed a 21-year-old who hasn’t even played in the Champions League proper to do what the Argentine couldn’t. Memphis Depay is a different player, offering goals (25 in 2014-15) rather than assists (five), and faces different challenges: improved opposition and high expectations at a young age. But he can learn from Di Maria’s first year in England. And, ironically, most important is that Depay (left) follows the 27-year-old’s lead in one respect: taking risks. An Angel sent…

Last season: Premier League 7th FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Quarter-Final WILL THE EUROPA LEAGUE BE TOO BIG A DISTRACTION? Looking at the downside of Southampton qualifying for Europe for the first time in 11 years may seem a tad fatalistic, but the added pressures of continental competition could prove problematic. Saints have been an industrious, high-pressing outfit since their return to the top flight. Their involvement in this season’s Europa League will be the biggest test yet of their lung-busting philosophy. Reaching the group stages of Europe’s secondary competition would mean an additional 10 matches this side of Christmas, and that’s sure to be a strain for a club who prioritise getting in opposition faces rapidly and repeatedly. There’s also the matter of their relatively small squad. On…

Last season: Premier League 8th FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Fourth Round TIME TO BREAK INTO THE TOP SEVEN? The punt has paid off in South Wales. Even suggesting Swansea could crack Europe in 2015-16 is testament to the progress Garry Monk has made in 12 months. Three wins in the final four games of the 2013-14 season had afforded the former Swans skipper a stay of execution, having initially taken the reins from Michael Laudrup but tasted relatively little success following debut derby delight against Cardiff. But talk of them tasting the drop last term was quickly quashed in a campaign that featured league doubles over Manchester United and Arsenal, a highest-ever Premier League finish and a best points haul – all despite selling top scorer Wilfried Bony…

Last season: Premier League 13th FA Cup Quarter-Final League Cup Fourth Round DO THEY NEED TO BE THE CLUB THEY WERE TWO YEARS AGO? It’s been a busy close-season in West Bromwich. And that’s just in the boardroom. Technical director Terry Burton and head of recruitment Mervyn Day were both relieved of their duties in July, six months after Keith Downing, Dean Kiely and Rob Kelly suffered similar fates. Burton and Day were supposed to avert the problems of 2013-14, when West Brom only narrowly escaped relegation, one season after finishing eighth. Yet last term was no different: Tony Pulis (left) replaced Alan Irvine, just as Pepe Mel had succeeded Steve Clarke the season before. The turnover of staff, even behind the scenes, must slow down. Then in early July,…

1 Ain’t no mountain (or tower block) high enough Whether it’s the pernickety layout of a busy city or the muddy tracks of the English countryside, the Fiat 500X crossover is built to deal with the terrain. Nothing will stand between you and kick-off. 2 Make some noise The touchscreen Uconnect™ radio system features Bluetooth and music streaming*, so you can blast out your pre-match tunes on the optional Beats sound system. 3 Look the part The Fiat 500X’s chic, Italian-designed interior boasts soft-touch dashboard materials, acoustic deflectors and even floor-mats showing a map of its birthplace – making it more stylish than Andrea Pirlo’s luscious beard. Fuel consumption figures for Fiat 500X Range in mpg (l/100km): Urban 32.5 (8.7) – 60.1 (4.7); Extra Urban 49.6 (5.7) – 74.3 (3.8);…

The surreal 5-5 draw between Swindon and Sheffield United remains the enduring memory of the 2014-15 campaign. The nerve-shredding setting of a play-off semi-final second leg triggered a meltdown on both sides, the repercussions of which have rippled into the outlook for this term. The lack of resolve that nearly cost Swindon progression from a 5-1 aggregate lead carried over into the final as they were mauled 4-0 by Preston. Meanwhile the Blades’ hierarchy, having sat on their hands for two weeks, sacked Nigel Clough and only turned to Nigel Adkins after a lengthy pursuit of Bradford’s Phil Parkinson. That stoked up emotion in both camps and the Yorkshire rivals being the division’s best-supported sides only makes their title battle feistier. Swindon had to cope with interference from the other…

“KEEP IT IN, ELLIOT!” Beneath a picturesque Pyrenean sunset, 20-year-old West Ham striker Elliot Lee – son of ex-Newcastle midfielder Rob – not only kept the ball in play but, more importantly, scored his first senior goal to confirm the Hammers’ safe passage past Andorrans Lusitanos and into the Europa League second qualifying round. Strike partner Diafra Sakho spoiled things with a 15th-minute red card, but isn’t the landscape pretty? THE MIDFIELD BULLDOZER Quite why you would go eye-to-eye with a bull in full flight is anyone’s guess, but that’s what the fearless folk at Sanfermines – the running of the bull festival in Pamplona, northern Spain – do every July. In welcoming the last bull into the arena this year, one Atletico Madrid fan (right, appropriately wearing a Pamplona-born…

DAVID LUIZ “I’d give Luiz a Peaky Blinders [TV show starring Cillian Murphy]. Imagine getting the clippers on his hair!” JAMES MILNER “He needs to shed that ‘boring’ tag, so why not go for a nice quiff like Niall from One Direction? The girls will love it!” CHRIS WADDLE “Waddle’s mullet could easily be transformed into Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air high-top. Magnificent.” JASON LEE “Ah, ‘He has a pineapple on his head!’ Maybe I could add four more to make up his five-a-day! I can be healthy, too.” BOBBY CHARLTON “You could get the few hairs he has up in a topknot, which is all the fashion at the moment. Better than that comb-over.” GERVINHO “It’s got to be all off for him. He’d look better with a…

WEST ALLOTMENT CELTIC Team-talks in a potting shed? Beanpoles for goalposts? Kicking off with a cabbage? The mind must boggle when you’re drawn against West Allotment Celtic. In fact, West Allotment is a proper Tyneside village and Celtic is the team of the now-closed coal pit, so they’ve seen some drama. Well, they do share a ground with Newcastle reserves. BILLINGHAM SYNTHONIA “This is BBC Radio 3, and you’re listening to the Billingham Synthonia.” It may sound like a grand classical combo but this Durham outfit have much earthier roots: They were originally linked with chemical giant ICI. Synthonia is short for synthetic ammonia, an agricultural fertiliser. PENISTONE CHURCH FFT is proudly non-partisan, but we’re praying that Penistone Church make it to the tournament’s televised stages – just imagine Messrs…

Crystal Palace’s eponymous structure of wonder, Chesterfield and its wonky church spire, Wigan Pier: there is surely no link closer than the one between a city and its most iconic landmark. So when Portsmouth fans opened the morning paper to find that the south coast’s tallest landmark, proudly towering over their city, was being rebranded in red and white hues (left), you could forgive them for choking on their cereal. Those up the M27, meanwhile, couldn’t hide their elation that the Spinnaker Tower was going to get a makeover in Southampton colours after a mega-bucks deal with Emirates. “It looks like Dr Barry Gale’s Player Integrated Stripe Strategy has been reaching beyond Southampton,” laughs Saints season ticket holder Kevin Baker. Gale is really Yank comedian Tom Davis, who in May…

Hi Salomon. You grew up with two brothers and eight sisters. What was the queue for the toilet like on a Monday morning? It was crazy! There was no queue, though – if you needed the bathroom you just went outside into a bush. There were people everywhere, and I liked that. You shared everything with your brothers and sisters: your clothes, your food... the lot. Did you ever find yourself wearing a dress to school? Hah! No, we left the dresses for my sisters. But everything else belonged to everyone. I loved it because you were never alone. If you wanted time on your own, you had to go out to that bush again. You recently tweeted: “Cleanse your mind of all bad vibes and let the good vibes…

Season One of The Wire, David Simon’s masterpiece of race and redemption on the broken streets of Baltimore, ends with everything in the balance. The Barksdale gang are bloodied but unbowed. The cops are riven by infighting and ill-luck. Good people are demeaned, demoted, shot, jailed. Bad people live large at the head of drug cartels and police departments. You can’t wait to see what comes next. And then Season Two arrives 10 months later and Detective Jimmy McNulty is on a tugboat and an elderly captain is kvetching that the local union has stiffed him over the donation of a stained-glass window and you wonder: “What the hell happened to my show?” Though it has its moments and its supporters, Season Two of The Wire is not widely loved.…

MANAGER-TO-MAN MARKING Leganes manager Enrique Martin lived La Vida Loca one legendary evening in 1999. His side led Segunda Division rivals Badajoz 1-0, but their lead looked in peril when their opponents broke forward late in the game. The quick-thinking gaffer just couldn’t help himself. As Badajoz forward Sabino Santos hurtled down the touchline, Martin nicked the ball nonchalantly off his toe. Badajoz went bananas; Martin got a 10-game ban. THE ORIGINAL CHEATERS This early case of foul play in football occurred more than 20 years before the Laws of the Game were properly drawn up, and is arguably the first ever instance of cheating in the game. It was Christmas Day 1841, and brilliantly-named Lancashire pub teams The Body Guards and The Fearnoughts were playing a 12-a-side match by…

Does promotion make you wish you were still at the club as a player rather than head of recruitment? Of course – I’m very envious! I played here for 20 years but never higher than League One, so to then see the club in the Championship for only the second time in our history and now in the Premier League is surreal. But I feel like I played my small part along the way. It’s safe to say you played quite a large part, isn’t it? Your goal in 2009 saved the club from extinction... Well, yeah, it’s nice when people say I played a big part, but I’ll always play it down. And it’s fantastic to have a stand named after me, of course. I’m so proud and honoured…

This summer marks 50 years since Maxwell Woosnam passed away. According to one of his daughters, his cremation was a “horrible, dismal little affair”. Woosnam’s life, however, was anything but. In the early part of the 20th century, Woosnam was a popular captain for his club and country at football while also excelling at tennis, golf, cricket and snooker, even finding the time to humiliate a popular silent comedian using only cutlery. Unlike that other great British polymath, CB Fry, who nearly 60 years after his death is still celebrated for representing England at cricket and football as well as equalling the world-record distance for the long jump, we know little about Woosnam. Perhaps it’s because he never received a penny for his endeavours. Or maybe it’s due to the…

1 There’ll be a tasty title race Three questions are being asked from Porto’s plazas to Algarve beachfronts. Porto have lost their three best players (Jackson Martinez, Danilo and Oliver Torres) after two trophyless seasons, so is their 30-year domestic dominance well and truly over? Benfica won back-to-back titles for the first time since that dominance began, but how much of that was down to their defecting manager Jorge Jesus? And having captured Jesus from their fierce city rivals, will the fearless ambition of Sporting’s young president Bruno de Carvalho be rewarded with a first championship for 15 years? No wonder the 2015-16 campaign is so keenly anticipated in Portugal. 2 Jesus walks Speaking of Jorge Jesus, the brilliant, bonkers, bouffanted coach must prove his point having left the champs…

WHAT’S NEW? Juventus have swapped Boca-bound Carlos Tevez with the nomadic Mario Mandzukic (at his fourth club in five years since leaving Croatia) in their search for a record-equalling fifth consecutive Scudetto. It won’t be quite so easy in 2015-16, though. Both Milan clubs are trying to show they’re no longer jokes by finding billionaires to bankroll them – early purchases include midfielder Geoffrey Kondogbia and centre-back Miranda for Inter, and strikers Carlos Bacca and Luiz Adriano for Milan – while Roma and Lazio both have title ambitions and so do Napoli now they’ve shaken off Rafa Benitez, who needed just two seasons to take the Partenopei from second to fifth while spending £100m. THE GAFFERS Of the league’s 20 managers, 17 are Italian – the joint-highest homegrown ratio in…

Where to begin? Do you recall Drazen Medic (right), the NK Zagreb chairman who needed a stooge as manager [FFT 245] because he couldn’t officially appoint himself? Well, the patsy left to be a real manager, so Medic hired a fourth-division boss as the monkey to his organ grinder. Elsewhere in Croatia, loans between two top-flight clubs are now limited to ‘just’ six, so Dinamo Zagreb, who had 16 loanees at Lokomotiva at one point, released five players… who turned up at Lokomotiva an hour later with buy-back clauses. Hmm. In Israel, Maccabi Tel Aviv are after a fourth consecutive title with four different coaches. This year’s schmuck? Slavisa Jokanovic, dumped by Watford after taking them up. Similarly in Switzerland, Basel are onto their fifth manager in six years despite…

SERGIO AGUERO NATIONALITY Argentine CLUB Manchester City DATE OF BIRTH June 2, 1988 NICKNAME Kun 78 The number of goals Aguero has scored in the Premier League 102 The number of Premier League goals in which Aguero has had a direct involvement, including 24 assists 26 Aguero’s highest single season goals tally, in 2014-15 YOUR ESSENTIAL CARDIO WEEKS 1 & 2: Run 50 in 10 seconds. Complete 10 reps. Rest for 10 seconds in between reps. Do this twice a week “Aggggguuueerrrrooooo!!!” Cue pandemonium. Bodies topple over one another in the stands. Manchester City’s staff storm the pitch like a swarm of angry bees. Joe Hart is so excited, his head is ready to pop off like the cork on a champagne bottle. While this is happening, the hero of…

PRE-TRAINING Can of mackerel in olive oil with crispbreads Mackerel is a fantastic source of muscle-building protein and omega-3 fatty acids. Armed with powerful anti-inflammatory powers, this oily fish will ensure you don’t need to call 999 to revive your flat-lining legs. Your heart will welcome the olive oil to help you stave off an energy slump. The crispbreads are light, easy to digest and serve up a healthy slice of complex carbohydrates and B vitamins. You’ll be so full of beans that you might even get called in for a random drugs test... POST-TRAINING Nando’s half-chicken, spicy rice and macho peas Of course, you can’t call yourself a footballer until you’ve chowed down a cheeky Nando’s. Cheeky or not, order correctly and it’s a great meal for recovery. This…

Nike Hypervenom Phantom II FG £230 Agility is the name of the game with Neymar’s boot. Flywire cables and a NikeSkin upper create a glove-like fi ensuring maximum control and touch. Mizuno Morelia Neo MD £140 Enjoy the look and feel of the finest kangaroo leather. The stitch lines on the quilted upper exude elegance and provide an enhanced sense of touch. Adidas X 15.1 FG/AG £150 Part of Adidas’ new range that suits different types of players, this one is for the risk-taking attackers, with the X-Claw stud layout providing the platform for unpredictable movement. Under Armour Speedform Hybrid SG £170 Incredible traction and explosive acceleration are achieved through a lightweight flexible sole plate and single-piece, foot-hugging upper. Puma evoSPEED 1.4 FG £120 There’s nothing like the feel of…

“This is will definitely be our year.” “Almost certainly.” “I can feel it.” It’s what every fan is thinking on the eve of the season – the one time in the year when your side is capable of anything. But that’s why we all love the moment before the big kick-off: it’s our chance to dream of league wins, cup triumphs and relegations avoided – all with a last-minute goal. The next 95 pages will help you to determine if this is a real possibility or wishful thinking. Whatever happens, we wish you luck. FOLLOW THE WORLD GAME WITH FOUR FOUR TWO FourFourTwo.com Stats Zone Twitter.com/ FourFourTwo Facebook.com/ FourFourTwo…

Last season: Premier League 17th FA Cup Runners-up League Cup Second Round IS TIM SHERWOOD THE REAL DEAL? If nothing else, Villa manager Tim Sherwood (right) knows how to keep people entertained. His press-room high jinks and touchline shenanigans during the five months he was at the helm at White Hart Lane, and the three months of last season he spent at Villa, certainly got people talking – on the back pages and on social media. But his banter-heavy disposition shouldn’t detract from what has, so far, been a decent record in the dugout. He won half of his 28 matches in charge of Spurs, giving him a better win percentage in N17 than Harry Redknapp or Double-winning Bill Nicholson (you may have heard him mention it). Then, at Villa,…

Last season: Premier League 10th FA Cup Fifth Round League Cup Third Round CAN PARDEW HELP ZAHA TO REACH HIS POTENTIAL? “I’d never have dreamt it,” admitted Alan Pardew, having overseen Crystal Palace’s transformation from drop-dodgers to top-10 finishers in double-quick time. Tony Pulis had performed similar heroics in 2013-14, succeeding Ian Holloway and steering the South Londoners to 11th in the table. But his shock exit 48 hours before the season-opener pooh-poohed any hopes – or fears – Palace had of becoming ‘the new Stoke’. Enter Pards. Whereas Neil Warnock and caretaker Keith Millen toiled to four wins in five months, the Selhurst Park hero strolled in, won his opening four matches and was celebrating 12 wins by the close of the campaign, eight of them coming away from…

Last season: Premier League 6th FA Cup Semi-Final League Cup Semi-Final Champions League Group Stage Europa League Last 32 ARE THEY READY FOR LIFE AFTER GERRARD? The timing was right. Steven Gerrard knew it. Liverpool knew it. The totemic No.8 didn’t want to become a squad player and boss Brendan Rodgers couldn’t guarantee a 35-year-old Gerrard a place in his starting XI. An association lasting 28 years, 710 games and 186 goals had come to an end. Rodgers’ problem isn’t necessarily filling the midfield void. Gerrard may have been the Reds’ top scorer last season, but five of his 13 goals in all competitions were penalties and he provided just one assist, having registered 14 in 2013-14. The real issue is the former captain’s influence in the dressing room and…

Last season: Premier League 15th FA Cup Third Round League Cup Quarter-Final CAN NEWCASTLE BE UNITED? Few clubs have been so fervently supported by so many people for so long with such little success as Newcastle United. True, ‘success’ is a relative concept – miserablist Magpies will get little local sympathy from fourth-tier Hartlepool or non-league phoenix club Darlington 1883 – but the Geordie Nation has long expected more than its club has delivered. It probably isn’t controversial to say it’s been a bad eight years since Mike Ashley took over. Long seen by smirking outsiders as a comedy club, Newcastle have turned into a pantomime, with Ashley the villain – a target of regular protests and constant derision. Bullish as ever, he shows few signs of changing his fundamental…

Last season: Premier League 9th FA Cup Fifth Round League Cup Fourth Round 6-1: A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME? “I think most teams would have struggled to cope with the quality and intensity of our play today,” purred Mark Hughes. “It is a great performance against a very good team with great individual talents, and we have been able to get the level of performance that I think a lot of people sensed we were capable of.” While the Potters did reach their highest Premier League points total with a clinical performance in Steven Gerrard’s last Premier League game for Liverpool, Hughes’ men didn’t become masters of total football overnight. They benefitted, in particular, from 23 mad first-half minutes in which embarrassing defending from the visitors contributed to four…

Last season: Premier League 5th FA Cup Fourth Round League Cup Runners-up Europa League Last 32 CAN HARRY KANE DO IT AGAIN? At the start of last season, Harry Kane was 250-1 to finish Premier League top scorer. That’s right: the Spurs academy graduate who finished with 21 Premier League goals (31 in all competitions), scored 79 seconds into his England debut and was crowned PFA Young Player of the Year was, according to the bookies, as likely to be the league’s top marksman as Jason Puncheon is this season. These odds were reflective of general opinion amongst the White Hart Lane faithful: Kane (right) was merely a squad player who might be useful in cup competitions. How things have changed. Now the Chingford-born forward’s chances of topping the goalscoring…

Last season: Premier League 12th FA Cup Fifth Round League Cup Second Round WILL THE PRESSURE OF THE LAST SEASON AT UPTON PARK BE TOO MUCH? And so we’ve arrived at West Ham’s final season at their beloved Boleyn Ground. Dipped in a barrel of misery and angst from Labour politicians, taxpayers and Barry Hearn, the club’s much-maligned move to the Olympic Stadium is now just a year away. And what a move it is. The new facility is stellar, but it brings with it an absolute truth for everyone involved at the club: Premier League football is the minimum requirement for the start of the 2016-17 season and beyond. That kind of no-nonsense target can bring its own particular type of primal fear; the type that turns capable players…

ALDERSHOT TOWN Ex-Dundee and Alloa boss Barry Smith takes charge as the Shots look to build a new squad and make the top half. FFT verdict: 14th Key man: Matthew Barnes-Homer ALTRINCHAM Damian Reeves has signed a new deal after his 18 goals kept Alty clear of danger last term. Michael Rankine and Josh O’Keefe arrive to provide back-up. FFT verdict: 18th Key man: James Lawrie BARROW The champions of the North are aiming to return to the Football League for the first time since 1972 under ambitious Dallas businessman Paul Casson. FFT verdict: 7th Key man: David Mellor BOREHAM WOOD Promoted via the play-offs, the Wood may struggle to replace the 25 goals scored by on-loan talisman Lee Angol. FFT verdict: 22nd Key man: Scott Doe BRAINTREE TOWN Ex-Concord…

By now you will have checked out our predictions for the Premier League, Championship, League One and League Two, and the chances are you will have scoffed at least once. We’ve grown accustomed to readers contacting us to say our predictions are poppycock, occasionally with good reason. Last season we foolishly tipped Swansea City to struggle (they didn’t), Brentford to be relegated (they got to the play-offs) and Wigan Athletic to win the Championship (they went down). Oof, Wigan. We lost sleep over that one. But it wasn’t all wildly inaccurate. This time last year many, many Cheltenham supporters were furious we predicted their side to be relegated from League Two. Unfortunately for Robins fans, we got that right. It was the same with our gloomy outlook for Orient in…