Innehållsförteckning för April 2016 från FourFourTwo UK

The night before Dele Alli scored his Goal of the Season contender against Crystal Palace, there was furtive talk at FourFourTwo Towers of putting the Spurs star on the cover. But while he’d been one of the best young players in the Premier League this season – oh, and scored on his first England start – the consensus was that he hadn’t quite done enough yet. He needed a defining moment. Sure enough, that moment arrived 24 hours later at Selhurst Park; a touch, turn and hit which gave Spurs three points and led manager Mauricio Pochettino, normally understated in everything he does, to claim the goal would be ‘shown on every TV around the world’. Dele Alli had arrived and it was time to tell…

There’s a good reason why people question the sanity of referees. Anyone who gives up their weekends in order to get dog’s abuse from 22 blokes and their vocal onlookers must be some kind of weirdo, right? Ex-footballers, especially, just don’t do reffing – except Jason Jarrett. Jarrett, who made more than 300 Football League appearances, called time on his playing career last year after helping the Class of 92’s Salford City win promotion to the seventh tier. But a career with whistle in hand has long been in the pipeline for the 36-year-old – since 2012, in fact. At that time, the midfielder was enjoying a low-key return to football with FC Halifax Town following an 18-month break away from the game battling depression. “Refereeing…

“It only takes 15 minutes for a Premier League player to get a mask” The job Managing director, Cavendish Imaging Name Veronique Sauret-Jackson Players at a lot of clubs, such as Chelsea [below], have been using protective masks so they can play sooner after facial injuries. With so many different faces, how do you make the mask fit? We use 3D photography to digitise the face. The 3D photos are the result of two normal photos taken simultaneously from different angles, and 3D photo software creates the photo’s depth. This way, we capture a face’s contours accurately in three dimensions. How do you actually make the mask? Each one is printed individually from white nylon powder using selective laser sintering technology [3D printing]: the laser merges powder particles together and,…

THE REAL PLAYERS Sam Allardyce (yes, the real one) @OfficialBigSam Remember to get your @Beyonce tickets tomorrow! She is live at the @StadiumOfLight on Jun 28 & I hear she is a secret @SunderlandAFC fan too Memphis Depay @Memphis The most important news of the past transfer deadline, lucky me. Chris Waddle @chriswaddle93 Come on om [Olympique Marseille] who the f##k is PSG THE FAKES Arsene Wenger @wengerknowsbest Has Mr Kroenke bought a ranch in Texas for £500m? I believe yes. Can it chip in little bit with goals from midfield? Not especially. Kevin Keegan @GalacticKeegan I’m also feeling blue about turning 70. People say that age is just a number, but if you write it like ‘seventy’ then, for me, it’s a word. YOU @FOURFOURTWO Chris Daddow @Chris_Daddow The…

PSG have charged into a huge lead at the top of Ligue 1 this season: you were 24 points clear after only 23 games, going into February. What’s it like to be so far ahead? Let’s say it’s... different. I’ve never experienced it before. I don’t even remember another team that had such a huge gap at the top. It’s a bit weird. But it’s a consequence of our hard work. Our squad was meant to win the league – we can’t even think of not being Ligue 1 champions. Should PSG be competing to win the Champions League soon? I think it’s a matter of time before PSG win the Champions League. We’re on the right path. Every year we are more respected and getting more experience. We are…

DUCK! IT’S DIEGO! Diego Maradona is as good at menacing reporters as he is at playing keepy-uppy with an orange. Last year he unleashed war at a ‘Match For Peace’ in Bogota, whacking a phone out of an interviewer’s hand, and in 2014 he slapped a writer across the chops at a theatre (after the slapee had winked at his partner, admittedly). But his Sistine Chapel of journo-jostling came in 1994, when he started shooting reporters with an air rifle, injuring four and getting a suspended sentence in return. We’re saying nothing. FROM HERO TO ZERO IN TWO DAYS “How was your week, Miguel?” you imagine Señor Herrera’s mother might have innocently enquired in July 2015, getting a muttered reply about taking the kids swimming. In reality, the Mexico gaffer…

Injuries. They just happen. Arsene Wenger could tell you that much – bad luck is to blame and there’s nothing you can do to prevent them. Right? Wrong. The way you kick, run and jump places unique stresses on parts of the body (and not just your arse when you land on it). Learn precisely where your body is buckling and you can adjust. That’s where Kitman Labs come in. Jump around on camera for 90 seconds and their motion-capture tech grabs vital biomechanical information, without the need for those table tennis balls they stick on players making FIFA promos. It’s not dissimilar to Xbox Kinect, but instead of embarrassing yourself to Just Dance: Disney Party, you can spot and correct a body imbalance or adapt training before injury strikes.…

“I’ve been promoted to the first team from the academy at a semi-pro club. As a young player, how can I establish myself in the team?”Adam Fieldhouse, via Facebook “Patience is really important, at a big club especially. It’s impossible to make it if you’re not patient. You may think you’re ready to play at 18 or 19 because you’re training with the first team and doing well, but you still have a lot to learn. Do the basics right: work hard, be punctual, listen, look after your body. Train to the very best of your ability every day. It’s a good habit. You should speak to senior players – it’d be stupid not to. I spoke a lot with [Carles] Puyol. I still do, even though he’s not at…

“For a morning kick-off, your pre-match meal should contain food that’s easy to digest. Don’t eat anything that’s deep-fried or full of fat, such as pastries. An omelette, protein porridge or Greek yoghurt with berries and granola is ideal. If you’re playing in the afternoon, have a similar breakfast, then a small meal two to three hours before kick-off. I’d recommend a chicken and hummus wrap, a protein bar or a homemade smoothie. These meals include good carbohydrates for sustained energy, small amounts of healthy fats to improve your concentration and decision-making, and protein to kick-start recovery. Immediately after the game, have a recovery shake, followed by a solid meal with vegetables and some starchy carbs, such as jerk chicken, rice and peas. Your evening meal should contain healthy fats…

EXPERT Paul G Johnson is a registered sports podiatrist for both Burnley and Notts County sportspodiatry.co.uk “Footballers know the importance of strength and conditioning training, but foot and ankle strength is overlooked,” podiatrist Paul Johnson tells FFT . “Your body weighs three times more than usual when you’re running and this puts huge stress on the feet and lower limbs. The foot has to be a flexible shock absorber and a rigid lever to propel you forward. In order to do this effectively without injury, foot muscles and tendons need to be strong.” For strength training, Johnson highlights how muscles are split into ‘posterior’ and ‘anterior’ groups. He says: “Together, they slow the foot down at heel strike to aid in shock absorbency. Along with the joints…

“Sir Alex spoke at length to Teddy at half-time, not me. I thought: ‘I’m going to prove you wrong’” FACT FILE Full name Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Date of birth 26/02/1973 Height 5ft 10in Position Striker Place of birth Kristiansund, Norway Clubs 1990-95 Clausenengen 109 games (115 goals); 1995-96 Molde 42 (33); 1996-2007 Manchester United 366 (126) International 1995-2007 Norway 67 (23) Clubs managed 2010-14 Molde; 2014 Cardiff City; 2015- Molde Playing honours Premier League 1996-97, 1998-99, 1999-2000, 2000-01, 2002-03, 2006-07; FA Cup 1998-99, 2003-04; UEFA Champions League 1998-99; Intercontinental Cup 1999 Managerial honours Norwegian Premier League 2011, 2012; Norwegian Cup 2013 “We have a saying in Norway: there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing,” Ole Gunnar Solskjaer chuckles as FFT shivers pitchside at Molde’s smart Aker Stadion,…

JAMIE VARDY’S HAVING A PARTY. WHAT DO YOU BRING? Bacardi 20% Blue WKD 20% Pizza and cocktail sausages 10% Banter 50% POT NOODLE A versatile ‘cook’, he’s also a dab hand at Super Noodles. D’OH! He originally arranged his wedding for June 11 – the date England play Russia in their first match at Euro 2016. 11 Consecutive matches scored in, beating Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Prem record The Secret Santa present he once gave a team-mate CANNON Vardy’s nickname at Fleetwood Town £30 Weekly wage in 2007 ZAC EFRON Who he reckons will play him in his life story #CHATS**TGETBANGED Jamie’s special way of dealing with Twitter trolls, which he first used in 2011 CARBON FIBRE TECHNICIAN While at Stocksbridge and Halifax Town, Vardy had a job making medical splints…

1 The Busby Babes Richard Skinner (Urbane, £8.99) It’s still hard to separate the events of February 6, 1958 at Munich-Riem airport with the rise of one of British football’s most thrilling sides, but Skinner does a good job of outlining how Matt Busby bent the rules to bring the kids together before the tragic crash. Informative stuff. Best quote “Johnny Berry said: ‘We’re all gonna get friggin’ killed here.’ Liam Whelan just said: ‘Well, I’m ready.’” 2 What I Hate About Football Richard Foster (Amberley, £7.99) Every football fan loves a good moan, and this A-Z collection of the beautiful game’s problems (according to Foster) contains plenty of them. It’s at its best lambasting inexplicable bugbears, not easy targets such as FIFA or the rise of corporate hospitality. Good…

Do you remember that game when Fenerbahce’s stadium bent in on itself, leaving Robin van Persie running vertically into the sky? You don’t? That’s because it didn’t happen (more’s the pity), but one Turkish snapper has shown what it would look like if it did. Aydin Buyuktas has unveiled a series of artworks portraying Istanbul landmarks looking as if they’ve come straight out of Christopher Nolan’s Inception. He’s a proud Fenerbahce fan, so while there’s an image of the 50,000-capacity Sukru Saracoglu Stadium folding inwards (on the opposite page), naturally there are none of Galatasaray’s Turk Telecom Arena or Besiktas’ new Vodafone Arena. “I live in the Kadikoy area, quite near Fenerbahce’s stadium,” Buyuktas tells FFT. “My favourite moment there was our 2-1 win against Chelsea in the Champions League…

SYMPATHY FOR IL DIAVOLO Lewis Cassidy’s letter about Francesco Totti [FFT 261] led me to think of my own Italian love affair: AC Milan. Upon visiting the historic stadium that is the San Siro for the first time in October, I was struck by the place’s romanticism. From the UFO-style design to the gigantic ‘Baresi 6’ flag flying on the famous Curva Sud, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the Rossoneri. What I witnessed was a tactical, turgid, 1-0 victory over Chievo. The stadium was less than half-full; Derby County attract higher home attendances. But seeing the ultras congregated together on the stairwells and the open-air concourse ignited my passion. Antonelli, Inzaghi and Kaka light up my dreams as much as Quinn or Phillips of my beloved Sunderland.…

There are few people in China who rank among the gods. Mao Tse-tung. Confucius. And Elkeson, nicknamed Ai shen, or ‘Elkeson the god’. A Brazilian forward who has been top scorer in the Chinese Super League for two of the previous three seasons, Elkeson has established himself as a household name in the world’s most populous country since his arrival in 2013. Elkeson’s 72 appearances in the league have brought no fewer than 59 goals. “If anyone in China doesn’t know his name, they’re not a football fan,” one supporter explains. “When I came to China, a lot of people didn’t know me,” Elkeson tells FFT. “Today, my name is said a lot in China and I take great pride in that. It’s really cool to see how passionate Chinese…

 “Someone who had just seen Oguzhan Ozyakup for the first time could be forgiven for saying: ‘Did he come from outer space? He dribbles like Zinedine Zidane’.” “Robin van Persie helped me a lot at Arsenal. He’s like a big brother to me” Ozyakup had just helped Besiktas secure a 5-2 win on the opening day of the Super Lig season and even Ridvan Dilmen, a former player of rivals Fenerbahce, was impressed. Ask most people across Europe to name Turkey’s biggest star and Arda Turan is the most likely response. Next might come Hakan Calhanoglu or Burak Yilmaz. Not too many would pick Ozyakup, or ‘Ozzy’. But his recent appearance as the cover star of FourFourTwo’s Turkish edition – posing as an orchestral maestro, symbolic of his role in…

33 Goals scored in his three seasons with Sao Paulo, before leaving aged 20 44.3 Millions of pounds reportedly paid by PSG to bring him to Europe 9 Trophies won since his arrival at PSG in 2012, including three league titles 19 Goals scored by Brazil in the four games in which he has netted (zero conceded) Argentina A total of 15 players were banned after a match between Estudiantes and Gimnasia La Plata descended into a mass brawl – and it was only a friendly. Yikes Greece Dimitar Berbatov decided to interview himself on Facebook after receiving a red card for PAOK. DB: “How are you feeling?” DB: “I’m fine, but disappointed.” Weird...…

Why all the fuss? They’re in different leagues and at opposite ends of the country – yet this hasn’t been labelled Macedonia’s eternal derby for nothing. Skopje side Vardar are reigning champs; Bitola-based Pelister are one of the country’s most popular sides, even though they were relegated last term. Reasons for aggro Pelister fans actually travelled to Skopje to cheer on compatriots Vardar against Red Star Belgrade in the 1989-90 season, but supporters of the two Macedonian clubs ended up fighting and the rivalry grew from there. A season later, their match-up had to be abandoned. Maddest moments Pelister’s stadium was ablaze in a 1993 derby as their own fans set fire to seats and injured a dozen policemen while trying to reach Vardar’s Komiti ultras (200 Ckembari ultras were…

MASTERCLASS Fernando Manchester City’s Brazilian enforcer The title challengers’ defensive midfielder outlines how to win the ball back and use it in the best way. FITNESS Paul G Johnson Sports podiatrist to Football League clubs Learn how to test and intensify the muscles in your feet so you can add some extra wallop in front of goal. PRO TIPS Gylfi Sigurdsson Swansea City’s set-piece specialist Take your team’s free-kicks just like the Iceman with five top tips from the Premier League’s long-range ace. PSYCHOLOGY Tom Bates Elite performance psychologist Brentford’s brain trainer explains exactly how your grey matter gets to work when you’re on the pitch.…

“Timing runs is the best way to get the better of a defender. Start making your move just as the person passing to you receives the ball. I’d always run just as Dennis Bergkamp was looking down to control the ball. That is your chance to get past someone. Hitting the ball early inside the box is a great way to score more. The higher up the leagues you go, the less time you will get, so it’s crucial. In a drill, have the ball rolled to you from different positions and focus on keeping your first touch really close or hitting it first time. Get your shot off, no matter how unbalanced you may be. Work hard on getting the best contact possible in a short amount of time.…

RED LENTILS “Red lentils are high in fibre, keeping you fuller for longer. Serve with these low-calorie, nutrient-dense vegetables, plus garlic and spices. A dal is perfect for keeping energy levels up and weight down. Chicken adds lean protein.” GREEN PEAS “You want something lower in fibre pre-match, as beans and pulses can... ‘affect’ your stomach. Peas are high in vitamin C; sweet potatoes provide sustained energy; cottage cheese will reduce muscle breakdown.” CHICKPEAS “Chickpeas are high in carbs, calories and protein – perfect for building muscle mass. Steak and eggs provide high-quality protein and fats, and the couscous’ carbs support lean muscle development.” EDAMAME BEANS “High-protein edamames aid muscle recovery, while jasmine rice replenishes energy stores and teriyaki replaces electrolytes. The protein in salmon supports muscle repair; the omega-3…

“AFTER HIM! HE’S NICKED OUR BALL!” The Royal Shrovetide Football Match between Ashbourne’s Up’Ards and Down’Ards has had the Derbyshire town gripped from 2pm to 10pm every Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday since at least the 16th century. They transport the ball by any means necessary back to their own goal, a millstone at either end of the town. This year’s game finished 1-1. Isn’t that handball? HEEEEEERE’S DANNY! Ten months is a long time in football. Spend it injured and it’s an absolute eternity. So it was with more than a little frustration that Danny Welbeck rose highest to meet Mesut Özil’s injury-time free-kick against table-toppers Leicester to secure a vital victory. Cue bedlam – and a renewed title hope. BETTER TOGETHER Italian fandom’s battle with a racist minority…

We know what you’re thinking. What if Ledley King and Burger King partnered up? And would Rolo ever sponsor Kolo Toure? OK, maybe you weren’t, but there’s no escaping the increasing hold that advertising has over football. That’s why graphic designer Dan Leydon has merged brands with players, managers and more in a series of spin-offs. “We might as well enjoy it,” says Dan. “We’ll be those old curmudgeons soon enough, moaning about players with the stock prices of their teams updating live on their backs. Luis Suarez’s Apple logo is inspired, as is Zlatan Ibrahimovic as flat-pack peddlers Ikea. “I was happy that a Swedish institution linked up with an even bigger Swedish institution,” laughs Dan. “I’m sure Zlatan would agree.” But while the subjects of Dan’s collection make…

“When I scored, a paper called me ‘The Polo Kid’. That does n’t even make sense” Hi Scott. You used to present Revista de la Liga on Sky from what looked like some kind of tapas bar in Valencia. What did it look like from behind the camera? I get asked this a lot, and the answer is it’s in a studio in Isleworth, west London. I worked on Revista for four years and during that whole time I only went to Spain once. The set is a convincing illusion, although occasionally a Spanish guest will tell us we need updated pictures. Did anyone ever drink from the carafe of wine on the table, or was it just Ribena? For a couple of months, it was…

AWAY 1994-95 “It was a fairly boring season – we came 16th in Division One after winning once in the last 10 games – so the ‘barcode’ away kit got more attention than our football. I think the club made it, and it shows. We did win 4-2 at Watford while wearing it, though. Every cloud…” STYLE RATING AWAY 2015-16 “Some would call it plain but I think it looks rather smart on the players, and there’s not a barcode in sight! It’s nice not to have an EasyJet logo splashed across the front – that helps it secure a better style rating. I just wish the players could play a bit better while wearing it.” STYLE RATING…

Chris Harvey’s letter about replacing a penalty and red card punishment with two penalties (instead of the sending off) was really interesting [ FFT 261]. But isn’t it harder to come back from two goals down than to play with 10? Maybe it’s time for football to follow tennis, basketball and even volleyball’s lead and adapt their rules to improve the spectacle. Instead of the red card and penalty punishment, why not incorporate an orange card? If the foul is not violent but prevents a clear-cut chance, then the penalty is given and the offender is sin-binned for 15 minutes. Or, let us look to basketball, where once a player is sent off, the coach can make an immediate substitution. It’s unlikely FIFA will consider these changes,…

GARETH BALE Southampton, 2007 Weeks after picking up the award aged 17, Bale joined Tottenham Hotspur for £7 million. The Welsh wizard was an occasional left-back until early 2010, but after being given a chance further forward he’s never looked back, becoming one of the game’s elite players, joining Real Madrid for a world record transfer fee and winning the Champions League. FABIAN DELPH Leeds United, 2009 Like Bale, Delph moved immediately after picking up his gong, only for injury to blight his first two seasons with Aston Villa. He was subsequently made captain and voted 2013-14 Player of the Year. An accomplished all-round midfielder, Delph completed a protracted move to Manchester City in the summer of 2015 and has made nine appearances for England. NATHANIEL CLYNE Crystal Palace, 2010…

Newcastle United’s 1995-96 season, as the cliché goes, had everything. It had great moments (“I will love it if we beat them”), great games (that 4-3 defeat at Anfield), great stats (12 points clear in early February) and great myths. Our memories tell us that Kevin Keegan’s side scored for fun that season, and conceded just as easily. In fact, they found the net just 66 times, one fewer than in the previous campaign, and conceded 37, only two more than eventual champions Manchester United. But why let the truth get in the way of a great story? And what a story it was. “The trouble is,” says left-back John Beresford, “we were having such a good time that it flew by, and we didn’t get a chance to take…

DIEGO MAURICIO Nicknamed Drogbinha (presumably because of his similarity to Kerry Dixon), Flamengo’s exciting powerhouse went to Russia, Portugal, Saudi Arabia and now Thailand. Oh. BRUNO UVINI Things looked good for the centre-back when he joined Tottenham on loan at 20, but he didn’t make an appearance. He’s played only twice in four years at Napoli and is now temping at Twente. ROMARIO This Romario hasn’t lived up to his namesake: after failing to cut it at Internacional, he went to Maritimo in Portugal, where sadly he’s not partnering a new Bebeto in defence. We did check… WILLIAN JOSE We’d suggest his parents were Chelsea fans, if he hadn’t been born in 1991. Maybe they could predict the future. The striker is with La Liga’s Las Palmas, after a brief…

If you think watching your team home and away all season is pretty impressive, that’s nothing on Alexey Glazunov’s commitment. Despite cerebral palsy forcing him to travel everywhere on crutches, the football fanatic is ready for another season of ground-hopping in Estonia after taking in no fewer than 135 matches during 2015. That’s 17 per month across the whole season. Yikes. In a country where the temperature sometimes drops below zero, this represents serious dedication – particularly as he often travels by train, then makes the arduous walk to the stadium when unable to get a lift. Glazunov isn’t exactly picking out the glamour ties, either. Yes, the 35-year-old follows the Estonian national team, but he’s just as likely to pitch up at a sixth-tier fixture. There was a 200km…

As then-president of D.C. United, Kevin Payne was one of MLS’ founders in 1996. Things were different back then, with razzmatazz galore, a whole day devoted to Carlos Valderrama’s hair, and draws settled by an ice hockey-inspired variant on the shootout, in which forwards dribbled from 35 yards out before trying to beat the goalkeeper. Over to Payne... “The league misread the market at the start. They looked at what had gone on before with the J-League in Japan and thought that we were in need of the same hypermodern team colours and logos. We had the MetroStars, the Kansas City Wizards, the Tampa Bay Mutiny, the San Jose Clash... none of those names are around any more. Culturally they just didn’t resonate. There were a lot of soccer fans…

When you’ve been deducted 76 points in one season, you know things probably aren’t going particularly well. FC Caransebes began the 2015-16 season with three early wins, taking them to nine points from five games, but things soon turned sour. They picked up only one win and one draw from a long run of fixtures while debts piled up and 12 unpaid former players took their complaints to the Romanian FA. And when the investigations into the club were concluded, Caransebes were deducted 52 points. Fifty-two. “There were a lot of points deducted from Caransebes in every meeting, so we decided to make the entire sanction official together, when all of them were summed up,” the FA’s Aurel Ionescu explained. The deduction left Caransebes’ hopes of avoiding relegation from the…

TEAM BONDING BOOSTS WELL-BEING Taking part in training and playing in matches aren’t the only ways football can improve your general health. Researchers in the US have discovered that team camaraderie can also have a positive impact on blood pressure, diabetes and inflammation. SIZE MATTERS Junior players should be slowly introduced to full-size pitches to reduce the risk of burnout, say Spanish experts. Analysts found that under-12 and under-13 players respond best to full-size pitches when the dimensions are increased gradually. STUDY FOR KEEPS Goalkeepers save more shots when they are taught to look for clues in an opponent’s body language in one-on-one situations. Observers learned that shot-stoppers who focused more on the attacker’s body position than their own were more successful at blocking the ball. MICE MOVES Scientists seeking…

1 Get the balance right Don’t let yourself be sucked out of position “A defensive midfielder must be in the right position all the time. Where’s that? It can depend on the situation but, crucially, you have to be able to read the game. Your main duties are without the ball – how you stop the opposition. When your team is attacking, be ready to support your team-mates, but you must also be aware of a possible counter-attack so you can be there to break it up. The balance of the team depends on you.” 2 Suss out your opponent Come up with a plan of attack “It’s important to do your job before the game. You’ve got to know the playing style of your main opponent – it should…

Lean chicken “Protein is fantastic for the mind, increasing dopamine and the amino acid tryptophan, while helps to balance your mood and sharpen your actions. Lean white meat or fish is perfect. Have an early meal, high in protein and low in carbs, to feel right for a game.” Salmon “Omega-3s are superb brain food, and there’s all kinds of proof on how they positively affect cells: saturated fats can make them less sensitive, but polyunsaturated fats such as this help brain function and memory. Salmon or mackerel is great, and there are pills if you hate fish.” Steak “A balanced diet is best for both brain function and physical health. You shouldn’t have too much red meat, but it is a great source of the vitamins B2, B6 and…

Approach “Sigurdsson has a relatively short three-step approach. This makes developing momentum slightly more difficult, but it helps produce consistent and accurate swings. It’s harder with a longer run-up to keep the rhythm of steps identical, so precision is likely to suffer.” Body angle “It’s a common misconception that the body, and knee in particular, should be kept over the ball. Sigurdsson correctly keeps his body away from it, allowing for a greater range and power on his swing. His relatively wide angle of approach is key in achieving this.” Contact “Players and coaches frequently think a shot with the inside of the foot should be soft, considering placement only and not power. But it’s possible to achieve both. Sigurdsson’s swing develops good pace and emphasises the contact phase well,…

“What’s not to like about beans and pulses for a footballer? They are a high-fibre source of protein and full of vitamins and minerals. They can be pretty bland on their own, but this means they’re great at taking on strong flavours and are very versatile, from kidney beans or black-eyed peas in a chilli, to green puy lentils used in herby French and Italian country dishes, or Indian dals spiced with anti-inflammatory spices such as turmeric. Chickpeas and white beans such as cannellinis and haricots, meanwhile, are great with Mediterranean flavours such as tomatoes, garlic and olive oil, and are also great in soups. Beans and pulses even count towards one of your five a day – so what are you waiting for?” Follow Sharmain at @TheDietConsulta…

1 The opposition Having your own place to change is a luxury at this level. And as if things weren’t already awkward enough, especially post-match, you may have to share with the ref, too. 2 iPod speakers Behold the chief accessory of the footballer who doesn’t have his priorities straight. He turns up with a hangover and without a towel, but never forgets his ‘choons’, however terrible they are. 3 Old mud Piles of it, all over the floor, having had so long to harden that you could break a window with it – which is just as well... 4 A locked window If anywhere on Earth is in need of fresh air, it’s a confined space where 22 sweaty men (plus subs) get undressed and fart a lot. Yet…

GK NIGEL MARTYN Nige was a proper goalkeeper, with fine positioning, distribution and awareness. Away from the football pitch, he was humble, a true gentlemen and was always willing to learn and to teach. RB GARY NEVILLE Gary had an impressive engine, getting up and down the flank with ease due to his stamina, and a great mind for defending: he knew instinctively when to make a run and when to cover back. CB SOL CAMPBELL He was strong, vocal, a good organiser and renowned for his strength in the air, and his impressive physique made him one of the best. He prolonged his playing career by taking good care of his body. CB JOHN TERRY I once swapped shirts with him. He was a very confident youngster then, who…