Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2016 i FourFourTwo UK

New season, new faces, new look. Just like the situation at clubs up and down the country, it’s all change at FourFourTwo , where we’re going into the new season with a new line-up. We’ve added a bit of flair up front with a new columnist in the award-winning journalist and writer Rory Smith, experience at the back with our Action Replay section dedicated to the game’s glorious past, and power and strength with a revamped Performance. We hope you like these changes and the new look. In features – the spine of this unit – we look ahead to the new campaign and set out the 81 things we want from the new campaign. From Neymar talking about Messi and Suarez to a host of young…

 DID FERGIE STOP HIM FROM JOINING THE ARMY? “I STRUGGLED FOR FOUR OR FIVE MONTHS WHEN I JOINED MANCHESTER UNITED. I COULDN’T STAY ON MY FEET IN TRAINING” COULD HE HAVE SIGNED FOR LIVERPOOL? HAS HE EVER ACTUALLY MURDERED SOMEONE? “People ask me what I do these days and I tell them I’m a full-time driver,” chuckles Nemanja Vidic as he sits down with FourFourTwo at his favourite Japanese restaurant in Milan’s fashionable bar-lined Via Carlo Ravizza, close to his home and barely a mile from the San Siro. “I drive for my three boys – to school, to football. It takes a lot of time.” The European Cup and five-time Premier League winner retired from football last December after a difficult spell with Inter, but…

Dear Mr Fox, A man from UKIP told me that unless I voted for Brexit, Brussels would make my goal 100ft high, force all keepers to wear curly Turkish shoes, and release psychiatric patients clutching vipers into the penalty area. Am I now safe? J. Hart, Manchester Dear Mr Hart, It can't be guaranteed, but we will be negotiating to avert this mooted uber-goal clown-shoe clusterf*ck. Sincerely, Liam Fox MP Dear Mr Gove, As a keen advocate of good nutrition, I’m concerned that fruit, vegetables and lean proteins might become more expensive. Can you reassure me? A. Wenger Enemy! My supporters – including John Barnes, Fearne Cotton and Gandhi – think that Britain has had enough of ‘nutritionists’ like you. Expect a consignment of proper bendy ‘Brit bananas’ by 2020.…

  You’re only 19 years old, but you’ve already become one of Brazil’s biggest stars. How has it happened? "BRAZIL MIGHT NOT BE IN OUR BEST MOMENT, WE ALL KNOW THAT, BUT I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO THIS NEW STAGE OF THE SELECAO" Yes, things have happened very quickly so far. I’ve been a professional footballer since I was 16 years old, imagine that... I didn’t have so many opportunities in the Santos first team in my first year, but when the chance came I proved myself with good performances. After my first goal for Santos, people started paying more attention to my qualities. I feel confident and happy to be established now. Are you a fan of your ‘Gabigol’ nickname? Of course I like it! It’s not bad for a forward…

It’s become the most controversial lavatory in football since Robbie Savage dropped an unwelcome gift into Graham Poll’s private Filbert Street boudoir. When Rochdale Town were relegated this summer due to a “bizarre toilet fiasco”, it looked like a headline writer’s dream. But one man not laughing is Angels chairman Mark Canning, angry that the club failed an FA grading because there were no toilets in the dressing room. “The toilet is two feet away from the dressing room,” Canning fumes. “It’s never been any trouble. It's ridiculous. "There have been some issues between myself and two members of the North West Counties Committee, and the club has been hit on a technicality.” Rochdale Town aim to fare well on the field this season and apply for promotion. Guys, just…

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE Andy Chapman Service delivery manager, 42 Gary Sawyer Club captain, 31 Q: Which former Plymouth player appeared at the 2010 World Cup? AC: Rory Fallon GS: Rory Fallon. 1-1 Q: Who is Plymouth’s all-time record appearance maker? AC: It’s Kevin Hodges. GS: Kevin Hodges. 2-2 Q: In what year did Plymouth reach the semi-finals of the FA Cup? AC: Can’t believe Watford beat us! It was 1984. GS: It was 1984, 100 per cent. 3-3 Q: Since 1992, how many former England players have managed the club? AC: Peter Shilton, Paul Mariner and Peter Reid. If you count caretakers it’s four as we had Russell Osman. GS: Two? Paul Mariner and Peter Reid? 4-3 Fan wins…

@WayneRoutledge Pokemon is taking over! Are you ready to be a kid again? @GalacticKeegan I remember when I quit the England job, I travelled to Buckingham Palace to resign to the Queen. I was tasered as I scaled the gates. Rude. @_Pedro17_ Nice experience today in @LoroParque with my family. Introducing my friend Chago! @alexiwobi Great shoot & interview with @FourFourTwo today! @JackHdixon Just as I finish the article in @FourFourTwo about Gibraltar, Lincoln Red Imps beat Celtic #FunnyOldGame @Yokhin Jhonnattann – that’s the name of Valletta’s striker. Must be best in the wworrlldd.…

The judgement that rained down upon them was Old Testament Biblical in its fury. England had been eliminated from Euro 2016 by Iceland, and the nation’s pundits – expert or otherwise – sharpened their tongues against all of the players involved. Radio rager Danny Baker went bananas about “useless, over-indulged, mollycoddled sh*ts”. Rent-a-gob Julia Hartley-Brewer, who should perhaps invest in a dictionary, fumed about them being “overpaid nonces”. (She later confirmed she meant ‘ponces’.) Of the ex-pros, Chris Waddle bizarrely said the players were “all just headphones”, while Ryan Giggs called them “robots” and Paul Scholes claimed they were “treated like world champions before being successful”. Jamie Carragher then dubbed today’s players “the academy generation”, adding that they are “soft physically and soft mentally”. The former Liverpool defender explained: “With…

WARHOL MEETS PELE When Pop Art pioneer Andy Warhol was commissioned in 1977 to make a series of prints of the world’s 10 biggest sports stars, including Muhammad Ali, Jack Nicklaus and OJ Simpson, there was only one option for ‘soccer’. Pele was lost, however, when the pair discussed the shoot. “I didn’t know Andy Warhol was that famous,” said the New York Cosmos striker. “But it’s one of the best things I did. He gave continuity to my life and my message in art.”…

Who? Sweden’s very own ‘baby-faced assassin’, whose star-studded post-Euro 92 career plunged into freefall after he joined Leeds in 1995. His excuses included: he was often played out of position; he hit an elk on his way to the airport; it was his dad’s birthday. He later washed up at Crystal Palace, where the director thought that he was Attilio Lombardo’s official translator. Oh dear. What did he do after retiring? He later became an entrepreneur with his own line of shoes, opened up an Italian restaurant that was fined for serving booze to minors, and then invested a huge wad of savings into a miracle vacuum cleaner nozzle – Twinner – that is yet to revolutionise the suction world. What’s he doing now? Going by Instagram, he’s dividing his…

TRACTOR BOYS, OOH ARR Bobby Robson turns Ipswich Town into one of English football’s finest sides – a unique blend of Dutch flair, with Frans Thijssen and Arnold Muhren, and British steel, thanks to John Wark and Terry Butcher – as the Tractor Boys defeat AZ 5-4 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup final. Seldom has Portman Road rocked as it does in the 3-0 first-leg victory and seldom has anyone rocked a glass of fizz better than a topless Wark after the second leg. ESCAPE TO VICTORY Saccharine-sweet, as Sylvester Stallone makes the most uncomfortable-looking penalty save in history, Escape to Victory is as good as football gets in Hollywood, with a group of allied POWs attempting to escape from a Nazi prison in the middle of a match.…

“I have to think more, playing in England: if you aren’t tall or strong, you must move earlier and try to find spaces” Hola, Juan. How does a small player such as yourself survive in a division as physical as the Premier League? It’s a good question! In England there are many big and strong players, which means that I have to think a bit more, because of the big difference in size between myself and a lot of players. If you’re not tall or strong you have to move earlier and try to find the spaces before your rival. The mental side of the game is really important for the smaller players – if you try to stand toe-to-toe with a bigger man, it’s very difficult to come out…

WASH AND GO G-Form shin pads are machine washable, so you can simply chuck them in with your muddy kit after every match. The embarrassment of smell coming from your sweat-ridden guards will soon be a thing of the past. SLIMLINE FIT At only .27in thick and weighing just 50g per pad, the low profile fit lets your feet do the talking. That means there’ll be no more shinning the ball straight into the goalkeeper’s arms when you’re planning to spank a 30-yard screamer into the top corner. NO MORE TAPE Traditional shin pads require straps or tape to stop them from moving around and slipping down your shins. G-Form’s pads, however, slip on like a sock to provide a natural fit and reduce distractions so you can focus on…

ATLAS WRISTBAND This band recognises exercises such as squats and bench presses, counting reps and monitoring muscle exertion. Cost £180 Buy atlaswearables.com FITBIT SURGE Run further and faster with a built-in GPS system that records pace set, distance covered and elevation climbed. Cost £199.99 Buy fitbit.com/uk JAWBONE UP3 Sensors monitor your quality of sleep by measuring your heart rate, respiration rate and body temperature at night. Cost £129.99 Buy jawbone.com/up…

So: you want to know what’s going to happen this season. Well, over the next 100 pages we’ll give you our best guess, based on detailed consultation with experts, bookmakers, pundits and fans up and down the UK. But then that’s what we did last season and, like pretty much everyone else, we got it horribly wrong. What’s going to happen? We’re not quite sure. But we do know it’s going to be good. Get involved. Tweet us using the hashtag #FFTPREVIEW…

This season will be different to last because... well, it won’t be. As long as the less-than-dynamic duo of Stan Kroenke and Arsene Wenger are at the club, nothing will change. Our most underrated player is Joel Campbell, one of our most hard-working players and unfairly ousted by Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Theo Walcott. We celebrated his 10th year at the club – apparently that’s now a rational cause for celebration – by handing him the captain’s armband, and we subsequently lost 1-0 at home. Keep an eye out for Alex Iwobi. We all saw what he is capable of last season. One player I secretly admire is Dele Alli – the way he has burst onto the scene is…

Sean Dyche will need more options on the bench than last time CAN ANDRE GRAY BE THE NEXT JAMIE VARDY? There was a time when any tricky winger was described as the new George Best; every rangy midfielder, the new Patrick Vieira. If you’re skilful and/or Argentine, you’re the new Leo Messi. If you like to chuck microphones in lakes, you’re the new Ronaldo. So, after 2015-16, English football is on the lookout for the new Jamie Vardy in any striker who has played even one game in non-league. If anyone is going to end up with that tag, though, Burnley’s Andre Gray is at the front of the queue. The similarities are hard to ignore. Unable to make it in the Football League as a youngster with Shrewsbury, having…

This season will be different to last because We have Antonio Conte. He is a proven leader with an unrivalled will to win and a proven track record. Our most underrated player is Kurt Zouma. He’s up there with the best centre-backs in the league and was hugely unfortunate to get injured. He’s out for a while longer, but will definitely be one to watch under Conte. The best away fans are Manchester United’s (right) – they always travel everywhere in great numbers and are consistently vocal. The opposition player I secretly admire is Juan Mata, although it’s not the biggest secret! Sergio Aguero is unbelievably good as well. The best away ground is Goodison Park. It’s one of the few grounds with a great home atmosphere. Keep an…

This season will be different to last because Steve Bruce has guided us back into the Premier League. Who knows what we could achieve if we sorted out the shambles that is our ownership situation? Hull fans should follow@DavidMeyler7. Oh, and ’80s pop star and Hull City fan @sinittaofficial, obviously... Our most underrated player is Sam Clucas. The winger signed for us last year from Chesterfield after stints in non-league football, and he didn’t look a bit out of place in the Championship, despite some fans getting on his back. I hope that he can make the step up once again this season and perform well for us in the Premier League. The opposition player I secretly admire is N’Golo Kante. He’s an unbelievable player, and the main reason Leicester…

At £34m, Sadio Mane can’t have a five-month goal drought as he did for Saints last season IS KLOPP READY FOR A TITLE CHALLENGE? It’s difficult to know what to make of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. At its best, their visceral assault on an opposition’s personal space is a thrilling representation of high-intensity pressing. Three-goal home and away wins against Manchester City, plus a 4-0 derby marmalising of Everton and two cup finals served notice of a side that is increasingly taking to their German coach’s methods. Particularly in those 4-1 and 3-0 wins over City, the scale of Liverpool’s sweeping counter-attacking bordered on breathtaking. The two-touch passing to get from back to front – frequently starting with a surging Emre Can and flowing through Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana and Roberto…

This season will be different to last because we finally have a top-class manager capable of realising our wildest ambitions and making our squad more than just the sum of its parts. Our most underrated player is Fernandinho. He was our player of the season and is genuinely world-class. Few outside the Etihad seem to have cottoned on to it, though. The opposition player I secretly admire is Anthony Martial, who might actually be the new Thierry Henry. But don’t tell anyone I said that. The best away fans are anyone who doesn’t boo Raheem Sterling for having the audacity to make a positive career move. It’s a very short list. Keep an eye out for Brahim Diaz (above, right), who has just turned 17. He has the potential to…

Changing too much, too soon could disrupt what makes Boro tick CAN KARANKA GET EVERYONE PULLING IN THE SAME DIRECTION? Aitor Karanka is an emotional guy. When Boro went up in May, the boss said he’d like to “go to bed and cry for 24 hours”. After the year he’d had, the Spaniard could be forgiven a little sob. Just two months earlier, the 42-year-old had stormed out of Rockcliffe Park Training Ground in a Friday afternoon huff, having argued with his players about their 1-0 loss to Rotherham in midweek. He yelled that he didn’t want to manage them again; they responded that he was damaging a still-healthy team morale. The next morning, before a coach trip to Charlton, Karanka was sent home by Boro executives for being disruptive,…

This season will be different to last because we’ll have a brand new team yet again, and a proper European campaign to enjoy. Our pantomime villain is Ronald Koeman (right) this season. Our most underrated player is James Ward-Prowse. He is going to be a superstar given the time. The players I’d happily drive to another club were Maarten Stekelenburg and Juanmi, but we’ve binned them now. Saints fans should follow Kent Messenger reporter @IvesonKM for some intelligent Southampton chat. Keep an eye out for young midfielder Harrison Reed – he’s already Premier League quality. The best away ground is Anfield. I love it. The opposition player I secretly admire is N’Golo Kante. He would make any football team on the planet infinitely better. One change I’d make at…

Sunderland concede more shots per game than any other team CAN THEY AVOID THE RELEGATION SCRAP? Every season Sunderland ask: can we escape relegation this season? The question they should instead ask is: can we escape a relegation battle altogether? With Premier League TV deals gaining another zero every year, survival has long been the club’s main goal – perhaps its only goal. When Sam Allardyce was appointed last autumn, he was their fourth ripcord manager in succession. Allardyce, though, has loftier ambitions, even if they’re no longer to manage Real Madrid and “win the double every time”. As FFT goes to press, the 61-year-old is in talks with the FA about managing England – there’s a sentence we never thought we’d say – but if he stays at Sunderland,…

This season will be different to last because we will carry on our promising end-of-season form under Guidolin, I hope. Our most underrated player is Neil Taylor (right). He’s a very good defender and rarely lets you down. The best away ground is Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium. The opposition player I secretly admire is Sergio Aguero He scores a lot of goals for Manchester City. Keep an eye out for young defender Stephen Kingsley. He did well towards the end of last season and will be looking to get more minutes this term. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Bafetimbi Gomis, if he’s still around after pre-season. Our pantomime villain is Andy Carroll, although he loves the stick he gets from opposition fans. One change I’d make at…

This season will be different to last because Rondon will become the player he has looked like being, firing us to a cup final and a mid-table finish. Save the date for the FA Cup third round in January, when the journey to Wembley commences. This is the first time in my life there hasn’t been a local derby in the league, after all. Our pantomime villain is Ashley Young: ex-Aston Villa and partial to a bit of diving. The best away ground is Bournemouth’s – a trip to the seaside, hopefully with some sun. Our most underrated player is Jonny Evans. He’s a tireless worker and a key part of the team. One change I’d make at our club is to move the away fans at The Hawthorns from…

Reading’s Jaap Stam is one of many managers who could be either brilliant or calamitous Neil Warnock has always called the Championship a “muck and nettles” division, but this season it promises to feature a little more glamour. Remarkably, there will be as many Champions League-winning managers in the second tier as there are in the Premier League, with Rafa Benitez taking charge of Newcastle and Roberto Di Matteo joining Aston Villa. Of course, success in club football’s glitziest arena doesn’t necessarily point to promotion from a division that grinds even the hardiest soul into the dust. However, there’s still going to be plenty of attention focused on the Championship throughout 2016-17. Newcastle are the clearest title favourites in years, and while Di Matteo’s Villa might think that consolidation might…

Anthony Moore: Our Geordie art editor has been driven to the edge of reason in producing our new, redesigned issue. “Genuine blood (scalpel injury), sweat and tears have been shed to get this mag done, so enjoy it. Oh, and... howay, Rafa!” Stanley Chow: Manchester-based illustrator and avid United fan Stan is responsible for this month’s cover stars: the gaffers. “Steve Bruce nearly had me throwing my Mac out of the window. I spent longer on him than most of them put together” Kenny Millar: We tasked the Glasgow-based writer with pinning down one of football’s most sought-after interviewees: Partick Thistle mascot Kingsley. “He never ducks a question – but don’t ask about his monobrow. That drew a chilling stare.”…

1 SENT OFF FOR FARTING Sodertalje Left-back Adam Ljungkvist found a novel way to earn a red card during an appearance for Pershagens, picking up a second booking for farting. “I was standing a good distance away, but I heard the fart loud and clear – it’s the strangest thing I’ve seen on a pitch,” opponent Kristoffer Linde said. “I had a bad stomach so I simply let go,” Ljungkvist protested. “I asked the referee, ‘What, am I not allowed to break wind a little?’ I don’t get it. Maybe he thought I farted in my hand and threw the fart at him. But I did not.” 2 IS THE BOSS ALWAYS THIS QUIET? Germany Hamburg St Pauli boss Ewald Lienen couldn’t make it to the photocall announcing the signing…

It’s the start of the new season and Cinderford Town are getting ready for life at a higher level. They must be pretty happy, right? Nope, they’re furious, after their romp to the Southern League Division One South & West title mutated into the stuff of nightmares. Owing £10,000 to the taxman, the Gloucestershire club turned down their elevation to the Southern Premier League, leading to the resignation of a host of senior figures at the club. Evesham had to switch from the Southern League to the Northern Premier League as a result – but they complained it would cost them £25,000 in travel and won an appeal, meaning Cinderford were forced to take promotion after all. “We had to either resign from the league or take promotion,” new club…

Yeovil defender Nathan Smith didn’t fancy partying the summer away in Ibiza – no, he had something a little quieter in mind. While his fellow Glovers headed to the beach, the 29-year-old went to India for 10 days of silent meditation. “It was all about self-discovery, and to irradiate impurities,” Smith explains to FFT. Laptops and phones were banned - as were reading and conversation. “The day started at 4am and finished at 9pm, and you stayed silent the whole time,” Smith says. Some elements of the retreat were less relaxing, though. “I slept on a metal bed with no mattress or pillows,” he says. “It was 28 degrees at night and there was no air conditioning.” Not the greatest TripAdvisor review, but Smith says: “I’d be interested in going…

VALUE £21m FOOT L HEIGHT 1.81m NATION FRA AGE 22 TECHNICAL A ball-playing centre back who reads the game well. Confident and assured in possession. Over the past three seasons with Lyon, he has broadened his distribution skills and now boasts an excellent range of passing. Plays good crossfield balls and clever balls through the lines, and also chooses the right moments to carry the ball into midfield. Has scored only five goals during his club career so far, but one of them was a technically excellent half-volley against Spurs in the Europa League at White Hart Lane. Much more confident on his left foot than right foot, which is a weakness. MENTAL A calming influence at the back. A quiet and understated leader but naturally commands respect from those…

“THEIR STADIUM IS NAMED AFTER A RAT AND THEY USED TO BE MANAGED BY BEN AFFLECK” Acronyms are for wimps. Think you know all about Dutch football? Go on then, what does the NAC actually stand for in NAC Breda? What’s that? You don’t know? Let FourFourTwo explain, and listen very carefully. The second division side were formed in 1912 as part of a merger between NOAD and ADVENDO. NOAD stood for Nooit Opgeven, Altijd Doorzetten (‘never give up, always persevere’), while ADVENDO was an abbreviation of Aangenaam Door Vermaak En Nuttig Door Ontspanning. Sadly that’s not something about nutting a door – it means ‘pleasant for its entertainment and useful for its relaxation’. How quaint. When the two clubs merged, they became NAC, or ‘Nooit opgeven altijd doorzetten, Aangenaam…

01 A TACTICAL REVOLUTION There has never before been such a gathering of managerial talent in English football – perhaps never before in any country. An extraordinary sequence of events means that managerial giants Pep Guardola, Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte are new appointments at top clubs, just as Liverpool’s Jurgen Klopp is set to start his first full campaign in the country. That quartet boasts a combined 19 top-flight league titles. That figure swells to 23 once you chuck in Everton’s Ronald Koeman and Southampton’s Claude Puel, and includes Premier League, Serie A, La Liga, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, Eredivisie and Primeira Liga titles. Europe’s greatest managers are gathering together in the Premier League – and this doesn’t include those in their current jobs at the start of last…

Down the back of Deansgate, where Manchester stares at Salford, Crazy Pedro’s Part-Time Pizza Parlour serves late-night cuisine to the overserved of both cities. It’s here you will come if, at around 3am, you feel the need to eat nachos off the lid of a rubbish bin or try a Dirty Northerner – cheese, chips and gravy on a pizza base. It’s a bit hard to believe, then, that nearly five decades ago its site on Bridge Street was the epicentre of cool. It was here in 1967 that Manchester United’s George Best, in partnership with City rival Mike Summerbee, opened a boutique. Short on lifespan but long on influence, Edwardia gave a start in the fashion world to a young window dresser from Nottingham named Paul Smith and suggested…

1 CHRIS WADDLE MARSEILLE, ’90 Kids today will think it’s the work of a Photoshop prankster, but no. The Waddler had football’s most memorable mullet, including a dyed lower section that billowed majestically as he scampered down the wing. 2 JASON LEE NOTTINGHAM FOREST, ’96 The journeyman striker achieved instant and lasting celebrity for hoisting his dreadlocks into an early topknot, being accused of having “a pineapple on his head”. Hurt, he soon shaved it off. Oh well. 3 RENE HIGUITA COLOMBIA, ’90 El Loco gave precisely zero figs about most things – he took cocaine and hung out with Pablo Escobar, after all – but plenty of care and attention went into those tight, lavish curls, reminiscent of Diana Ross in her pomp. Twinned with a seriously shady moustache,…

Tea Health kick You can’t beat a good old-fashioned cuppa ahead of a game. But tea does more than warm your insides as you take to a muddy pitch in the Sunday morning cold; it helps to keep you in tip-top shape. A Harvard School of Health study revealed the substances called polyphenols that are found in tea can contribute to lowering your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. However, if you value your CR7-esque gleaming white smile, drink plenty of water with your Earl Grey. Pigments from dark drinks can become embedded in your tooth enamel, causing discolouration – not what you want when you’re smiling with the man-of-the-match trophy. 1 “White and green tea have health benefits as their anti-oxidants prevent cell damage,” explains elite sports nutritionist…

HE ANSWERS Ben Davies Tottenham and Wales defender “At Spurs we do a lot of single leg squats and single leg lunges, which are probably the most important exercises you can do for football. In my career I’ve often had different levels of strength in each leg, so it’s something I’ve always had to work on. Aside from building strength, the purpose of the single leg exercises is to make sure your sprint technique is as good as possible, which will help you run faster and also avoid any injuries.”…

Get your kettle on Bored of the bench press and sick of the squat rack? Give kettlebells a go to kick-start your training regime, torch fat and build muscle fast. The American Council on Exercise have found that a 15-minute workout with those odd-looking metal objects sat in the corner of your local gym can burn as many as 300 calories. That’s all well and good if you want to be Slimmer of the Year, but how will it help you to be a better footballer? “Kettlebells provide uneven weight distribution, which will challenge and strengthen your core,” says strength and conditioning coach Karl Halabi. “Try some exercises like kettlebell deadlifts and swings. These will use multiple muscle groups, which boosts your testosterone levels and builds muscle, and therefore make…

Mourinho and Klopp will both have Guardiola in their sights “Leicester City enter a period of uncertainty following their great escape.” Every so-called ‘expert’ was forced to eat their words after the Foxes stunned the football world last season, and these were FourFourTwo’s exactly a year ago. And thank goodness. Who wants to be right, when you can be thrilled, shocked and rocked to your very core by the way that Claudio Ranieri’s miracle men won the Premier League title? But even if the Italian is still jigging with delight when the new campaign begins, he won’t be the headline act this time around. Not even close. Because no matter who follows Zlatan Ibrahimovic to the Premier League this summer, there can be little doubt that it’s all about the…

Instead of going defensive, Howe stuck to his guns and the Cherries climbed the table SECOND SEASON SYNDROME OR THIS YEAR’S LEICESTER? “We want to be part of an amazing era,” said Matt Ritchie after Bournemouth came 16th in their first ever top-flight season. The winger then set sail for Newcastle, but it remains a salient point. The Cherries have no intention of being a flash in the plan, nor even a yo-yo club. But establishing yourselves in the Premier League isn’t easy, particularly given the freakish, transitional nature of last season. “I think it’s going to be much tougher next season,” said manager Eddie Howe (although he would say that, wouldn’t he?). “You only have to look at the calibre of managers coming into the Premier League. We’ll have…

This season will be different to last because we are in the Premier League! Last season teams saw us as a scalp, having just come down; now it’s all about us causing upsets for Jose Mourinho, Pep Guardiola & Co. Clarets fans should follow fan page @NoNayNeverNet or the club’s media manager, Darren Bentley (@IdleandWild). Both of them are always insightful. Our most underrated player is probably Ben Mee – he hasn’t had much recognition from anywhere outside Burnley. He defended exceptionally well last season. There are cases, too, for Tom Heaton, Stephen Ward and Sam Vokes. Our pantomime villain is Diego Costa. His game wouldn’t be the same if he didn’t have the knack of winding up defenders every week. The best away ground is Old Trafford (below left).…

Andros Townsend arrives to address clear problems that exist in the squad CAN PARDS ARREST THE 2016 DECLINE? Alan Pardew, December 2015: “We are on the fringes of contesting a Champions League place. Our dream isn’t 10th again as we are good enough to finish in the top six.” Alan Pardew, February 2016: “Of course we are [in a relegation battle]. We keep losing. There is no talk of Europe at this football club. We are fully focused on what Crystal Palace need to deliver over the next 10 games.” It’s rather a lot to ask of one of the Premier League’s gobbiest gaffers, but sometimes ‘Pardiola’ just needs to keep his mouth shut. In truth, Palace last season were neither Champions League material nor relegation fodder, so why talk…

This season will be different to last because for the first time in the Premier League we have investment. It’s been long overdue. Keep an eye out for Kieran Dowell: he has great technique and scored some cracking goals for the under-21s. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Oumar Niasse, who makes Arouna Kone look like a top-level striker. What was Martinez thinking?! The best away fans are Bournemouth’s. They give great support and encouragement to their players. The best away ground is the Emirates (above). We never get a result, but it’s the best stadium and a top trip. One change I’d make at our club is to get our own ground move sorted now the investment is in place. Our most underrated player is Leighton…

Fearlessness will make up for the starting XI’s lack of Champions League nous CAN KING CLAUDIO BALANCE THE LEAGUE AND EUROPE? The downside to being able to pull off one of football’s greatest ever surprise achievements is that it is a pretty tough act to follow. But if Leicester’s jaw-dropping title win wasn’t surreal enough, they now have to hold their own amid a big-club backlash and wised-up opponents, all while those Champions League strings hum in the background. As rewards go, it’s rather special for a club who this time eight years ago were preparing for their first ever season in the third tier. Those days are long gone, however, and Claudio Ranieri’s side have only the biggest fish to fry. Leicester achieved their magnificent success in 2015-16 with…

Save the date for Manchester United at home on October 15. Louis van Gaal won four from four against us in the league – it’s time for that to change. This season will be different to last because Klopp has had a full pre-season and now has a chance to mould the squad in his own image, plus a lighter schedule should see us improve in the league. Liverpool fans should follow @TheAnfieldWrap, always first on the scene. Their coverage of the Hillsborough verdict was superb. The opposition player I secretly admire is David de The player I’d happily drive to another club is regrettably Albi Moreno. He has been unreliable on the big occasions too often. This season we’ll finish in the top four, I hope, although I’d…

Rashford’s pace and goal threat makes it likely that Mourinho will give him a chance ARE THE CLUB’S YOUNGSTERS GOOD ENOUGH FOR JOSE? Much like the man himself, the answer is complex. Straightaway, though, Mourinho’s tradition of building sides around a core of players with vast European experience looks all set to continue, with the signing of 34-year-old Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Talent alone isn’t enough to earn the new manager’s trust, which spells danger for at least two of Manchester United’s youngsters. At Chelsea, Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne were billed as two of Europe’s hottest prospects, but both were sold before they were able to make an impact, Mourinho questioning the duo’s character after their exits. If the Belgian pair weren’t able to convince him they were worthy of…

This season will be different to last because we are in our rightful place: back in the big time! Our most underrated player is Emilio Nsue, who was overlooked in the 2015 play-off final with Dean Whitehead playing at right-back instead, but got his chance last season and has been superb. Keep an eye out for Ben Gibson. Premier League fans may not be too familiar with him, but with England lacking good left-footed centre-backs, he’ll get a call-up soon enough. Our pantomime villain is Lee Cattermole: ex-Boro, now playing for Sunderland, and he kicks lumps out of people to make up for a lack of ability. The best away ground is the Stadium of Light or West Ham’s new Olympic Stadium. The opposition player I secretly admire is Olivier…

Shaqiri and Arnautovic are both trying to rebuild their reputations at Stoke JUSTIFIED IS IT TIME THE SHAQIRI HYPE? It’s easy to forget Xherdan Shaqiri is only 24. He has already lived several players’ careers, enjoying three title-winning seasons with Basel, two title-winning but stifling seasons with Bayern, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract with Inter only to leave after the half, and moving to Stoke for a club record fee, all while earning 57 Switzerland caps and appearing in three major tournaments. No wonder some people are beginning to wonder what the fuss is all about. There’s no doubt his star has fallen. Potters supporters were flabbergasted when they were first linked with Shaqiri, then of Bayern Munich, in January 2015. This was one of Europe’s hottest talents. Now he’s seen…

This season will be different to last because after Sam Allardyce’s good work, the feeling around the club and the town is the best it has been for years. Keep an eye out for Jordan Pickford. Tipped by many to be a future England keeper, his distribution is outstanding. Our pantomime villain is Diego Costa (right): his petulance makes him a vastly unpopular figure. One change I’d make at our club is to stop being reliant on loan signings that we have little chance of signing permanently – it just means we have to search for their replacement 12 months down the line. The best away ground is Turf Moor, because we always get a big allocation and it’s a relatively short journey so we generate a great atmosphere down…

Tottenham still have one of the Premier League’s most exciting squads, and it will only improve HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO RECOVER FROM LAST TERM’S LATE COLLAPSE? “You’d have taken that at the start of the season.” Every Spurs fan has heard this over the summer. It’ll have been no consolation. It says a lot about the north Londoners’ fine performances between September and April that their best-ever Premier League finish of third was largely viewed as a disappointment. They started slowly, but in the middle 30 matches, Tottenham won 20 and lost three. It was title-winning form and, for the first time in the Premier League era, Spurs were contenders. With Mauricio Pochettino working wonders, Hugo Lloris (left) consistent in goal, Toby Alderweireld bringing much-needed calm to the…

This season will be different to last because as the first game of last season kicked off, we all thought that we had what it took to survive comfortably, but this year we actually know we can do it. The best away fans are Crystal Palace’s (right) – they always create good noise and a lot of colour. Hornets fans should follow@WatfordTalk. The opposition player I secretly admire is Callum Wilson. It seems unfashionable for Watford fans to say anything positive about Bournemouth, but he’s annoyingly fantastic for them. One change I’d make at our club is to move the team coach from the top of Occupation Road at full-time. It’s a nightmare to get out of the ground after the game. Our most underrated player is Troy Deeney, in…

The managerial merry-go-round has been in full swing over the summer with nine of the 24 clubs appointing a new gaffer, in three cases poaching directly from a rival League One club. Phil Parkinson’s decision to quit Bradford after five years and embark upon a fresh challenge at Bolton has raised most eyebrows, mainly because the job prospects appear no different. Presumably, a change of ownership at both clubs has forced his hand: better to be the chosen one of a new regime than part of the existing furniture for another. With the rumour mill suggesting that the Bantams’ new German owners had been eyeing Uwe Rosler as part of their long-term vision, it was a surprise when they subsequently turned to Stuart McCall to fill the void. McCall is…

It’s the day of Grimsby Town’s first pre-season friendly on home soil, and groundsman Mike Phillips is hard at work. The Mariners are back in the Football League for the first time since 2010, so there’s an extra spring in his step as he marks out the Blundell Park pitch for the new League Two campaign. “You get your tape measure out, make sure the lines are precise and put your set square down so everything’s square,” he explains. “I’ve been working here for 36 years. It’s a privilege to look after the pitch at the club I’ve always supported.”…

Leicester vs Man United August 7 The Community Shield at Wembley sees champions Leicester face Jose Mourinho’s mob Real Madrid vs Sevilla August 9 The UEFA Super Cup’s random tour of Europe chuffs into Trondheim (it’s in Norway) Arsenal vs Liverpool August 14 It’s not a bad fixture for the opening weekend of the new Premier League season, is it? Sevilla vs Barcelona August 14 & 17 In the two-legged Supercopa de Espana: Copa del Rey finalists Sevilla and double-winners Barça Olympic gold medal match August 20 The men’s Olympic final is a match that hosts Brazil will be desperate to be in – and win New York City v LA Galaxy August 20 Lamps vs Ashley Cole, Pirlo vs Stevie G and David Villa vs Nigel de Jong: this…

"WHILE I WAS DOING IT, ONLOOKERS BEEPED HORNS, SUNG SONGS › SOME EVEN BROUGHT ME TEA AND SNACKS" Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola may be the most high-profile managers in the Premier League this season, but do they have their faces on the side of a pub? No, they do not. It’s advantage to Burnley boss Sean Dyche then, after the 45-year-old’s feats at Turf Moor were honoured by a huge mural of the manager’s noggin. Dyche has guided the club into the Premier League for a second time, and Burnley’s answer to Banksy knew how to mark it. Influenced by Barack Obama’s famous 2008 ‘Hope’ campaign poster, graffiti artist Paul Jones grabbed his spray paint and took to the streets. “I’d been looking around town for not only…

Ever sat at home playing Football Manager and thought you’ve got what it takes in real life? Well, thanks to United London FC, you finally have a chance to prove it. As the world’s first manager-less football club, the Essex Alliance side are looking for armchair Mourinhos to lead them to success by voting on team selection online, based on match highlights and player stats. “The Eureka Moment came while I was watching X- Factor,” chairman Mark North tells FFT, which would no doubt have Simon Cowell bristling with pride. "The plan is to build a membership of thousands. We hope to do what AFC Wimbledon have done and go through the leagues." If things do go wrong, though, FFT doesn’t envy the HR team having…

And The Sun Shines Now Adrian Tempany Faber & Faber, £14.99 Twenty minutes before the start of the FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest on April 15, 1989, Adrian Tempany took his place in Pen Three at the Leppings Lane End, and watched as the unimaginable horror of the Hillsborough disaster unfolded. His description of events is harrowing. Tempany also turns his attention to how, in the wake of the Taylor Report that followed the Hillsborough disaster, the era of the all-seater stadium TV money caused a growing disconnect between clubs and their increasingly disenfranchised fan bases. The post-1989 football landscape was shaped by that fateful afternoon at Hillsborough – it was the ultimate game-changer. It’s a powerful and poignant book.…

PUNDITS Ex-pros-turned-pundits do my head in. Why are people like Robbie Savage on my screen talking utter nonsense? Patrick Moore EXTRA OFFICIALS Can we get rid of the assistant referees behind the goal? Why not just employ four linesmen, with two in each half? Alex Lewis RUSSELL BRAND Instead of yet another cliché manager, England should hire a celeb with inspirational qualities. Russell Brand, maybe? Dave Hampson UNFAIR CRITICISM England’s players will get abuse this season but don’t give them too much of a hard time, as they can win something. Daniel Eddies-Davies COMMENTATORS ‘Only say, something if it needs to be said,’ was Richie Benaud policy. Football commentators should take note of that. Jonathan Earle LAST MONTH’S SPINE LINE: ‘London, Birmingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Sunderland’ refers to the…

“OVER A FEW WEEKS, SOME FELLOW FANS AND I CREATED ARTICLES FOR EVERY MANCHESTER UNITED PLAYER EVER” TOM PARRY-JONES TV production co-ordinator/researcher Supports Manchester United “My first edit was on the Manchester United article, to correct Adam Eckersley’s position from just ‘defender’ to ‘left-back’! I am a United fan through and through, so when I found there was a way I could make the club’s Wikipedia page a little better through my own knowledge, I jumped at the chance. I think I do OK at maintaining impartiality when it comes to my editing. Obviously my focus is primarily Man United, but I think the key is remembering to stick to the facts. A few years ago, I banded together with a few fellow United fans, and over the course of…

MY BUSTER Denis Law relegated Manchester United in 1974 Nope. United would’ve gone down even if their former player hadn’t backheeled in a late derby winner for City Items supplied by the National Football Museum Images courtesy of the National Football Museum, the Football Association and the Priory Collection…

LIKE PIGS IN… Some of Arsenal’s early pitches weren’t ideal. Their first ever game was reportedly played on an Isle of Dogs wasteland that included “an open sewer”, before they moved to Plumstead and an old pig farm. Pity the poor kitman. BIG IN ICELAND During the Second World War, Arsenal signed Iceland’s first professional footballer. Albert Gudmundsson later joined Racing Paris, Milan, and ran for Icelandic president. DOING TIME The Gunners’ most infamous ex-player? Sixties’ hatchet man Peter Storey, who was jailed in 1980 for counterfeiting coins. He also ran a brothel while on bail and was caught smuggling porn videos past customs in a car tyre. BIN TO HIGHBURY Osama bin Laden regularly attended Highbury during the 1993-94 Cup Winners’ Cup run. “OI, WRIGHTY!” Lee Dixon’s 1999 testimonial…

Leicester Chronicle March 10, 1888 “During the match at Aston Lower Grounds between Aston Villa and West Bromwich Albion, playing for the Birmingham Cup, a tiny white terrier appeared on the field. He was evidently an enthusiastic devotee of the game. Where the ball went, the little terrier followed helter-skelter, biting its smooth sides, while the thousands of spectators roared with merriment. At last Burton captured it and rushed towards the dressing rooms. He had not gone many yards when he met Woodhall coming down the right wing with the ball. Burton bravely tried to tackle the Albion player, and was obliged to drop the dog. One of the Albion backs, meeting it on the way to the ball, gave it a brutal kick, and poor little doggie turned up…

Slaven Bilic Is there anything he can’t do? Good manager, top TV pundit. We’ll forgive the council haircut. Treadmills A US study’s shown that treadmill work boosts memory and increases levels of protein in the blood. Athleisure At last it’s fashionable to don sportswear at work, down the pub and on the bus. Yes! Altitude training masks They’re expensive, look ridiculous and don’t work, especially when you are only using the bench press. Put ’em away. Sports drinks Research has shown that 89 per cent of 12-14 year-old Welsh children are currently guzzling them, but they’re full of sugar. Ripe and ready avocados Yes, they’re healthy. But when they are ready, we’re not, and by the time we are, it’s too late.…

HOW THE TECH WORKS STAGE 1 Clunky, uncomfortable shin pads are no more, thanks to G-Form’s cutting-edge Reaction Protection Technology (RPT). Theirs are the first soft, fully flexible shin guards to pass European safety standards. The molecules in the pad repel each other for a malleable fit – you’ll barely notice you’ve got them on. STAGE 2 They’re not lightweight in the tackle, either. When you go in for a crunching 50-50 challenge, the guard’s molecules absorb the impact and redistribute the energy by huddling together like you and your team-mates in a defensive wall. The opposition’s hatchet man will have to look for another victim. STAGE 3 Football is a fast game and just as you need to think quickly on the pitch, so does your gear. After winning…

If you thought football managers are just an angry bunch of middle-aged men taking their mid-life crises out on referees, you’re mistaken. It turns out the men who stalk touchlines and kick water bottles for a living have hidden depths. Well, Sam Allardyce certainly does, anyway. Big Sam has revealed he is a big fan of Transcendental Meditation – an ancient technique used to reduce stress and promote inner peace. Before you write it off as a load of new-age hippie nonsense, remember he isn’t one to be fooled by fitness fads. The 61-year-old is a long-time advocate of sports science and psychology and has now been meditating for 12 years (although he has probably taken the occasional break in that time). “It helps you cope with the pressure of…

IKER CASILLAS “I could not get past him at Real Madrid, which was understandable because he was the very best goalkeeper in the world at the time, and busy winning the European Championship and World Cup! Even so, Fabio Cannavaro still liked to wind him up and tell him Gianluigi Buffon, his Italy team-mate, was better. He once said loudly in the dressing room: “Iker is a fantastic goalkeeper, but Buffon is from a different galaxy.” CRISTIANO RONALDO “I faced him when he was at Manchester United, so I was delighted when he arrived at Madrid in 2009. I used to love watching him in training and in games. He was the model professional, always trying to get better. Cristiano loved being the main man, the star of the team,…

Arsenal promised so much but imploded yet again, and they have to work out why IS GRANIT XHAKA THE FINAL PIECE OF THE ARSENAL JIGSAW? In short: no. The Swiss midfielder is one part of a puzzle missing multiple pieces. But do not panic, Arsenal fans: that ‘WENGER OUT’ banner can go back under your seat for now because there’s plenty to like about Xhaka. Firstly, he loves close-quarter combat – perhaps a bit too much, judging by his disciplinary record. The 23-year-old has been sent off eight times in his brief career and averages a booking every four games. At least he can look forward to more lenient refereeing in the muck and nettles of the Premier League, and the sight of Xhaka scrapping ferociously for the cause could…

This season will be different to last because it is our second season in the Premier League: we now know what to expect, but so do the opposition and that can often bring second season syndrome. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Tokelo Rantie. He came with all the raw ingredients to be a success, but due to injury and the club’s rapid rise he never fulfilled his potential. Now he just sits on the fringes, unable to impress for the move he needs to kick-start his career. One change I’d make at our club is to make the ground bigger. We could easily sell out a much larger stadium in the Premier League. Even raising the capacity by just a few thousand to 16,000-18,000 would be…

Conte isn’t averse to putting his faith in an ageing defender; look at Andrea Barzagli IS IT GOOD OR BAD THAT JOHN TERRY’S STILL AT CHELSEA? In a word, John Terry staying is good – although from a purely footballing point of view, nobody knows quite what they are going to get any more from the most decorated player in the Blues’ history. Terry began last season with a draw, a loss and a red card, and ended it with defeat to Sunderland and another early bath. In between – like most of his team-mates – he hardly covered himself in glory. So perhaps it wasn’t surprising the club’s hierarchy dragged their heels in giving their captain a new contract. The 35-year-old called their bluff, however. “It’s not going to…

This season will be different to last because Pardew has to prove he can get results consistently over an entire season. Our most underrated player is James McArthur – it was no coincidence that things went pear-shaped when he got injured. One change I’d make at our club is to put stripes back on the home kit! The best away ground is White Hart Lane: that ‘on top of the pitch’ feeling that’s hard to find now. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Zeki Fryers, and I had to check our retained list to see if he’s still here. What a pointless signing he was. Our pantomime villain is Jose Mourinho, now he’s back. Let’s see what he has got up his sleeve. The opposition player I…

Uncertainty over Hull’s ownership has led Bruce to consider quitting CAN THE TIGERS PUT INTERNAL STRIFE BEHIND THEM? As far as celebrations go, Hull City’s promotion party was a strange one. When Mo Diame fired home a stunning winner in May’s play-off final at Wembley, it was in front of swathes of empty seats in the Hull end. Minutes after the final whistle, gaffer Steve Bruce was hinting he might resign. Everything went to plan against Sheffield Wednesday, Hull going straight back up, but it was clear that off the field, all was not well. The Tigers’ 27,000 travelling supporters were outnumbered and outsung by a 39,000-strong Wednesday faithful that day. True, Hull had been at Wembley twice two years earlier for an FA Cup semi-final and final, but the…

This season will be different to last because we’ll be defending the Premier League title and playing Champions League football for the first time (below). Keep an eye out for Demarai Gray, 20. He appeared a few times last season and looks like a great piece of business. The best away fans are Manchester United’s – they made lots of noise at the King Power. Our most underrated player is Christian Fuchs. He often goes under the radar, but always gives 100 per cent. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Jeffrey Schlupp. His technique is outrageously poor. Save the date for September 13 or 14, when the Foxes make their Champions League debut. The opposition player I secretly admire is Dimitri Payet – he was a class…

Guardiola will surely make allowances for De Bruyne, as he did with a young Messi FORGET PEP: IS DE BRUYNE THE KEY MAN FOR CITY? The hyperbole surrounding Pep Guardiola’s arrival is understandable. The Catalan is box office globally, and an elite manager who’ll bring tactical nuance to a nation that still primarily prizes physical attributes over intellectual ones. The ex-Barcelona and Bayern boss may be the most important man in this year’s Premier League. He isn’t the most important man at Manchester City, however. Step forward, Kevin De Bruyne. First off, the bare statistics. Seven goals and nine assists from 25 Premier League outings is a solid return after a £58 million transfer from Wolfsburg last season, though some commentators have suggested more is expected following such a substantial…

This season will be different to last because the injury list won’t be as long again and the young players have more experience. Oh, and we’ve got Zlatan. Our most underrated player is Michael Carrick, a real conductor. We look far worse when he’s not there. Keep an eye out for Timothy Fosu-Mensah (18). Strong, quick and loves a tackle – he’s a real Mourinho powerhouse of a player. One change I’d make at our club is to go stronger in the transfer market. Some great players who could have improved us have gone to other clubs during this window. The opposition player I secretly admire is Kevin De Bruyne. City’s season dropped when he got injured. The best away fans are Everton’s: they always bring big numbers and provide…

It’s hard to see them coming sixth again, but Saints love to prove everyone wrong CAN PUEL MANAGE A THIRD SAINTS REGENERATION? Amid the fanfare surrounding Leicester, it is easy to overlook the smaller but still deeply unlikely feat that’s been performed on the South Coast over the past two years. In the summer of 2014 Southampton were something of a laughing stock after being mercilessly asset-stripped by bullying bigger boys. Even new gaffer Ronald Koeman joined the gallows humour, tweeting a photo of an empty pitch, captioned: “Ready for training!” But despite losing Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, Calum Chambers, Dejan Lovren and Mauricio Pochettino, Saints confounded gloomy expectations to finish up in seventh, a one-place improvement on what they had achieved under Poch, while serving up helpings…

This season will be different to last because we’ll shake off the injury jinx that blighted last season. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Geoff Cameron. He can play in a number of different positions, but not especially well in any of them. One change I’d make at our club is to change the name of the stadium from the Bet365 back to the Britannia Stadium, or the Stanley Matthews Stadium, or the Kyle Lightbourne Arena, or pretty much anything else. The opposition player I secretly admire is Dele Alli. He has got incredible energy. Keep an eye out for our young left-back, Joel Taylor, who scooped Under-21 Player of the Season. The best away ground is Swansea’s Liberty Stadium – that’s always a great day out.…

The Swans have signed QPR midfielder Leroy Fer after his recent loan spell CAN GUIDOLIN GET GOOD RESULTS OVER A FULL SEASON? Following the strong conclusion to the Swans’ fifth Premier League campaign, all eyes are on Francesco Guidolin to see if the 60-year-old can maintain that impressive form in the longer term. The Welsh side were one point above the drop zone when Guidolin took charge of his first match. But, starting with a 2-1 win at Everton, he led them to seven wins in his 16 matches and a 12th-placed finish which, while matching the Swans’ lowest final position to date in the Premier League, was more than respectable given where they were sat upon his arrival. The Italian unfussily overcame the departure of Jonjo Shelvey, inclement local…

This season will be different to last because the traditional top four has been broken. Is it now a top eight? One change I’d make at our club is to drop the infuriating StubHub partnership. They have been screwing football supporters across the country for many years. Our pantomime villain is Arsene Wenger. Just quit already. Keep an eye out for Josh Onomah, a wily young English No.10. The best away ground is Anfield. It is still an absolutely beautiful football stadium. The best away fans are Swansea’s. They are always passionate and always really noisy. Tottenham fans should follow @Simply_Spurs. Our most underrated player is Mousa Dembele. The midfield looks so much more composed when he plays. The player I’d happily drive to another club is midfielder Tom…

Salomon Rondon cut a lone, if willing, figure in attack for the Baggies last season HOW FAR CAN PRAGMATISM REALLY TAKE THEM? If West Bromwich Albion just want to survive in the Premier League, then Tony Pulis is their man and a restricted approach should be their plan. If they want to emulate Stoke and climb the Premier League table by adding a little more silk to their steel, then... well, Tony Pulis could still be their man. If neither thought fills the Baggies’ faithful with joy, perhaps they should remember who the Welshman managed in between those two teams. Crystal Palace became good to watch during Pulis’ eight months in charge. The man himself, of course, will always refute implications that his Albion team are boring. “That has been…

This season will be different to last because we have a new stadium to move into, European football and, it would appear, heavy investment. Our most underrated player is James Collins. He’s ageing like a fine wine and hasn’t lost an aerial duel since 1997. The best away fans are Leicester’s, for chanting “We are staying up” in April. Keep an eye out for Sam Byram, who had an injury-hit first six months with the club but then showed glimpses of why he has been touted as a future England right-back. The player I’d happily drive to another club is Enner Valencia, the only player who truly underperformed for the club last season. One change I’d make at our club is maybe to change the ground name to the Dimitri…

Attacking football was back on the menu in League Two last season, following a two-year cycle in which the division had been dominated by defensive, counter-attacking teams. The 2015-16 campaign produced an extra 155 goals compared to 2014-15 and 181 goals more than 2013-14. It was the highest-scoring season for five years, with four different players (Bristol Rovers’ Matty Taylor, Leyton Orient’s Jay Simpson, Barnet’s John Akinde and AFC Wimbledon’s Lyle Taylor) hitting 20 goals – as many as in the previous four years combined. And yet only one of that quartet – Rovers’ Taylor – secured automatic promotion. It’s reasonable to assume the trends will continue, and Orient will be in the mix again. Portsmouth, though, are the clear favourites, having added Carl Baker, Danny Rose, Curtis Main Michael…

Getting a football team’s prediction monumentally wrong usually results in endless stick on social media. But when the bad call was such a gargantuan shock, you just about get away with it. That’s why we’re barely even embarrassed to admit we tipped Leicester for relegation last season, or that Chelsea would win the league title and not be left more humiliated than a damp-trousered schoolboy. Nope. Mercifully, our ever-ready critics let it lie. The same can’t be said, however, for our prediction that Brighton would be relegated from the second tier. Seagulls fans reminded us at every opportunity – and why not? – that their heroes were in fact pushing for promotion. Oops. The point, simply, is that accurately predicting where 92 teams will finish isn’t easy – so we…