The Half-Time Quiz 2 - Football General Knowledge

Here's another quiz for you football folk to get your teeth into, ranging from football celebrations to FIFA front covers.

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. Who were Yaya Toure's previous two clubs before he signed for Manchester City?

2. Until Paolo Di Canio's recent sacking who was the last manager in the Premier League to be dismissed?

3. What nationality is John Carew?

4. Which two players missed Manchester United's Champions League winning final due to suspension?

5. Can you name five teams Obafami Martins has played for?

6. What is Joe Hart's actual first name?

7. Can you name the four different scorers in Spain's 4 - 0 Euro 2012 triumph against Italy?

8. Graham Taylor, Terry Venables, Glenn Hoddle...what comes next?

9. Who sponsored the iconic Napoli kit Diego Maradona played in?

10. Can you name the five African internationals currently on Chelsea's books?

11. When was the last time Wales qualified for a World Cup?

12. Who was Sir Alex Ferguson's last signing as Manchester United manager?

13. Which former PFA Premier League player of the year is currently assistant manager at Ajax?

14. What colours do Real Sociedad play in?

15. What are the three nationalities of the three different scorers in last season's Champions League final?

16. Which two Newcastle players famously fought on the football pitch?

17. In which major European league has Carlo Ancelotti not managed?

18. Who made famous the 'rocking the baby' celebration?

19. What do Steven Gerrard, Francesco Totti and Xavi have in common?

20. Where did Malky Mackay end his playing career? 

21. Which players graced the cover of the FIFA 12 UK edition?

22. Who is the chairman of Aston Villa?

1. Barcelona, Monaco 

2. Roberto Mancini

3. Norwegian 

4. Paul Scholes, Roy Keane

5. Any of - Inter Milan, Levante, Seattle Sounders, Newcastle, Birmingham, Rubin Kazan, Wolfsburg 

6. Charles 

7. Torres, Mata, Alba, Silva 

8. Kevin Keegan, next England manager 

9. Mars bars

10. Victor Moses, Mikel, Samuel Eto'o, Michael Essien, Demba Ba

11. 1958

12. Wilfred Zaha

13. Dennis Bergkamp 

14. White and blue

15. Croatian/Mario Mandzukic, Netherlands/Robben, German/Gundogan

16. Lee Bowyer and Kieron Dyer

17. Germany

18. Brazilian international Bebeto

19. They have all only played for one club

20. Watford

21. Wayne Rooney, Jack Wilshire 

22. Randy Lerner

Parma's Nearly Moment

It's May 1997 - Carlo Ancelotti, in his first managerial season at the club where his playing career first begun, has fallen three points short of delivering Parma their first Scudetto. 

Taking on a talented Juventus outfit at the top of Serie A, Parma's nearly moment had all the right ingredients. Bankrolled by Parmalat, the ambitious though ultimately fraudulent company owned by Calisto Tanzi, Ancelotti rebuilt an already successful Parma squad to suit his vision.

High profile names such as Fernando Couto and Hristo Stoichkov were sold to Barcelona to make way for new recruits - most notably the signing of a young Hernan Crespo from River Plate. Crespo would waste no time in showcasing his ability, chiming up a strong relationship with Enrico Chiesa in the absence of Gianfranco Zola, sold to Chelsea midway through the season. At the back Fabio Cannavaro and Lilian Thuram were showing signs that they would become two of the best central defenders in the world whilst in goal Gianluigi Buffon emerged as the latest in a string of fine Italian goalkeepers.

Parma would seldom have a better opportunity at the title; AC Milan were in disarray having seen influential manager Fabio Capello leave for Real Madrid, eventually finishing a lowly 11th, whilst Inter, who would sign Ronaldo the following summer as a gesture of their intent, were not yet capable of challenging at the very top. A 3-0 home win over Napoli on the opening day of the season set Parma's campaign in motion.

Hernan Crespo - Parma's skillful Argentine. 

What followed was a run of patchy results. Wins against the likes of Cagliari and Reggina were overshadowed by an inability to beat stronger opposition and defeats to Lazio and Inter Milan took the wind out of Parma's early season sails. But with the new signings starting to gel Parma secured back to back 1-0 wins against AC Milan and Juventus, highlighting their credentials as serious title contenders.

Chiesa would eventually finish up with 14 goals for the season, Crespo 12, but the rest of the side struggled to contribute goals; Mario Stanic was the next highest scorer on three. Juventus were hardly prolific themselves though they had a number of players spreading the goals around - Alessandro Del Piero, Michele Padavano and Christian Vieri all chipped in throughout the season with eight a piece. Juventus's strength in depth would prove to be the key factor over the course of the season.

Lilian Thuram and a fresh faced Gigi Buffon.

The sale of Zola in November hurt Parma in terms of attacking options at Ancelotti's disposal and the decision to sell Filippo Inzaghi the previous summer was a bad error of judgement. Sold to Atlanta he finished top scorer in Serie A that very season with 24 goals - goals that would have won Parma the title. Ancelotti would later come to value Inzaghi highly during his spells at Juventus and AC Milan.

But even the loan signing of Leeds flop Thomas Brolin in January could not derail Parma's surge towards the title. I Crociati overturned their early season defeats to Lazio and Inter Milan, 2-0 and 1-0 respectively, as their performances reached a peak. But a home loss to Udinese and failure to beat AC Milan meant Parma's end of season showdown with Juventus would be crucial in deciding where the title would end up.

Winning the UEFA CUP.

Parma welcomed Juventus to Il Tardini on the 18th of May 1997. Zinedine Zidane, a revelation since his move from Bordeaux, scored on own goal on 29 minutes and Parma dared to dream. But Juventus responded before half-time, Nicola Amoruso scoring a particularly dubious penalty, as he would five years later against Celtic in the Champions League. Parma needed the win whilst Juventus could afford to draw in the knowledge that anything but a loss against Atlanta the following week would be enough to win them the title. Parma won their following game 1-0 at home to Bologna but Juventus kept their side of the deal as the Old Lady secured title number 24.

Though the Scudetto alluded Parma, the 90s would be their most successful spell to date with the side going on to win the UEFA Cup and Coppa Italia in 1998. After which the Italian superpowers came calling and Parma's exciting young squad was disbanded in a short space of time; Juventus signed Buffon and Thuram, Inter Cannavaro whilst Lazio spend big on Crespo and Juan Sebastian Veron. Unable to bring Parma any closer to a Scudetto and anticipating the sale of key players Ancelotti moved on to Juventus in 1999.

Why Older Grounds Still Matter

In an age in which it's seemingly every clubs ambition to built a new state of the art stadium, this previous weekends fixtures served as a welcome reminder that older, more atmospheric grounds have their advantages.

Home wins at Anfield, Selhurst Park, and Carrow Road saw Liverpool record their best start to a Premier League season since 1994, Crystal Palace get their first points on the board and Norwich hit back after an uninspiring start to the campaign. Each clubs set of supporters played a huge part in these significant victories. 

Anfield's infrastructure is perhaps a little dated compared to the teams they're looking to mix it with this season but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. Whilst Arsenal secured an impressive win against Spurs at the Emirates on Sunday you could hear the substantial difference in noise on the TV sets between the two games. Anfield is intimate, its intimating, its the kind of ground which you rarely come across these days that can completely destabilise the opposition  and strike fear into the most accomplished of teams. You could see in the final ten minutes how Liverpool fed off the crowd - with their backs to the wall they cleared every United attack and never looked like conceding. Anfield makes its players feel invincible in the famous red shirt. The Emirates meanwhile is the loneliest of places when the chips are down - think Swansea at home last season. 

Selhurst Park has to be a fortress this season and the old fashioned, albeit weary looking ground suits Palace's needs perfectly. Sunderland didn't turn up in the first half and the Palace fans preyed on this, upping the noise, getting on top of every Mackem mistake and urging Palace on in the early stages. Demanding a response from Palace and encouraging the Eagles to press hard succeeded in producing a goal which helped settle the players' nerves after a return of no points from Palace's first two games and provided the platform for an impressive win. The wooden seats and rusty turnstiles are visually unappealing but when the steeply built Homesdale Road stand is in full swing its a hostile end for opposition to attack. 

Norwich City fans have been officially voted the best supporters in the Premier League two seasons in a row and part of the reason for this is Carrow Road. A ground of the old breed, it could certainly do with a lick of paint but you can't knock the relentless noise its supporters generate. With demand for tickets consistently high Carrow Road it crammed full every weekend and the Canary supporters are rarely out sung, willing Norwich on and helping to establish some momentous victories against Arsenal and Manchester United in recent years.

Fulham are a force to be reckoned with on home turf too, whilst often failing to deliver on the road. The idyllic setting by the Thames has been a source of inspiration for the Cottagers since their return to the Premier League and the smaller capacity ground means seats are filled regularly. For foreign players arriving in London a ground like Craven Cottage is immediately appealing. It's homely, close to the supporters and has a recognisable, welcoming DNA.

Now more than ever revenue is an integral part of a clubs immediate future. As a result it's a clubs identity which is at risk of being sacrificed. West Ham are still keen on a move to the Olympic Stadium for financial incentives among others, though you can understand why the die hard Hammers fans are reluctant to leave Upton Park. A host of teams view Upton Park as their 'bogey ground', including Manchester United. To wipe away this psychological advantage and move to a home which was never truly theirs in the first place could effect West Ham more than they expect.

Newer stadiums have a more neutral feel; anyone who says the Emirates comes even close to Highbury for atmosphere and character is deluding themselves. The Emirates has never been described as 'rocking' and though the Etihad has become a difficult place for visiting teams to go every City fan still longs for the gritty nights at Maine Road, where they could really get in the travelling fans faces. There have been a few notable examples of stadiums where home advantage has clearly lost its edge in the past. The Riverside, home to Middlesbrough, was a ghost town during their relegation season and the Reebok Arena and DW Stadium were too frequently half capacity when Bolton and Wigan needed them full. Coventry City meanwhile are now feeling the full force of administration, their move to the Ricoh Arena particularly unnecessary financially, with the days of Premier League football and a sell out Highfield Road a distant memory.

In modern football there are few more depressing sights than a half empty 40,000 seater stadium. It's the Anfield's of football that maintain English football's marvellous heritage and can celebrate Bill Shankly's 100th anniversary in style; enclosed stands reverberating the supporters' raw passion, a passion which is sometimes lost in the tidy modern stadiums lacking in history and memories.

Are England Really Prepared?

Prior to England's victory against Scotland at Wembley earlier this August a newspaper article pointed out that England would fail to make the top seeded sides for the upcoming World Cup if they failed to beat their oldest rivals and win their subsequent four qualifying matches.

This still remains a likely reality. What is of more significant concern is this - if England fail to win at least three of their four final matches they are in serious danger of failing to reach a World Cup for the first time since Graham Taylor's England in 1994.

England will most certainly see off Moldova but the results that follow are likely to see a tight finish in the scramble for qualification. Montenegro are currently in control, two points clear of England at the top of Group H having played one game more. Ukraine can leapfrog England when they meet if results beforehand go as expected whilst Poland are waiting in the wings should anyone slip up.

England will have a tough time navigating their way past a Ukraine side buoyed by home support, determined to claim some revenge for the defeat England inflicted at Euro 2012. Depending on how this result pans out Montenegro could come to Wembley willing to play for a draw. England have struggled in recent years with their possession play and could be easily frustrated by the table toppers if they are required to press and break down this resilient Montenegro side.

But England cannot afford anymore sloppy mistakes or inept attacking displays. They must be clinical in front of goal and tighten up a defence which rarely keeps a clean sheet against tougher opposition nowadays.

The recent friendly against Scotland was littered with ominous signs; signs of where it could all go wrong for England in the coming months. If Kenny Miller was allowed to turn Gary Cahill, set himself up and hammer a low drive to the right of Joe Hart without so much as a challenge you can be sure Robert Lewandowski and Marko Vucinic will do the same if given an invitation.

Man United's draw with Chelsea was hardly a spectacle but if one thing emerged it was that Rio Ferdinand and John Terry are still capable of operating at the top of their game. Phil Jagielka, the most likely candidate to pair up with Cahill, is no John Terry. But whilst alternative options are available Roy Hodgson seems intent on sticking with a partnership which will inevitably leak goals. Michael Dawson is severely underrated and a far better option then Jagielka. His absence from the recently announced squad is perplexing after two excellent clean sheets with Spurs.

Most concerning is Joe Hart's crisis of confidence, which has come at precisely the wrong time. Against Scotland the question marks surfaced once again and he did little to answer his critics against Cardiff on Sunday. Roy Hodgson would do well to sit his keeper down and play him a video of Scott Carson's disastrous mistake against Croatia which signalled the end of Steve McClaren's reign and England's Euro 2012 hopes. Then play Hart the highlights from Man City's Champions League showing against Borussia Dortmund last year to remind the Englishman of his quality and of what is expected from England's No.1.

Higher up the pitch the signs are more encouraging. Wayne Rooney was superb against Chelsea whilst Daniel Sturridge and Danny Welbeck have started the season brightly. Rickie Lambert is a valuable asset coming off the bench too. England have a habit of choosing their starting eleven based on reputation rather than form. Hodgson needs to call it right this time and Sturridge deserves his chance from the outset. England need wins, not draws and so a positive approach is necessary. Playing two dynamic forwards like Sturridge and Welbeck side by side will produce goals. Rooney can take up a similar role to the one given him by Moyes's on Monday night.

The final qualifier against Poland on the 15th of October at Wembley could yet be crucial. England have an unfavourable record against Poland and have lost their nerve a number of times against the backdrop of an edgy Wembley crowd. It's here perhaps where the fearlessness of the Ross Barkley's and Andros Townsend's could go on to make the difference and sheds some light on Hodgson's recent selection choices.

England are in a more precarious position than any fan is willing to admit and Hodgson must rally his side for one final push, otherwise he'll be joining an exclusive list which no England manager wants to be on.

Few and Far Between - Italian's in the Premier League

Italian personnel are few and far between in the Premier League. 

Following Mario Balotelli's move to Milan in January and Roberto Mancini's departure at the end of the last campaign the thin slice of Italian presence has grown even smaller. 

Pablo Osvaldo has become the latest Italian arrival to try and maintain this presence, having finalised his transfer to Southampton on Monday. This comes on top of Paolo Di Canio's purchase of Emanuele Giaccherini from Juventus, an exciting winger who like Osvaldo has international pedigree.

But the fond memories of Gianfranco Zola, Fabrizio Ravanelli and Gianluca Vialli lighting up the league in the late 90s have been replaced by the perceived failures of Alberto Aquilani, Alessandro Diamanti and Fabio Borini in recent times - buying from Italy is now regarded as somewhat of a gamble. 

With no real success story in the last few years, save Balotelli depending on how you view his stint with Manchester City, Italian players' long standing reluctance to test their talents in the Premier League has continued. It's unlikely Osvaldo would have moved to the South coast had he not played under Mauricio Pochettino at Espanyol whilst Di Canio's influence was certainly key in Giaccherini's decision. 

Managers seem equally reluctant to move in for Italian player. Many might have expected Mancini to bring an influx of Italian's to the Etihad on his appointment but this never materialised. Managers want players who can adapt quickly, who can endure the harsh winter months when the games come thick and fast. Clearly the opinion is that Italian players cannot be relied upon to provide this anymore. 

Yet the quality is clearly there - Italy breezed past England last summer, showing far superior technical ability. What's more Aquilani has since revitalised his career with Fiorentina, as has Diamanti at Bologna whilst Giuseppe Rossi has been a success story across Europe. 

The culture change seems to be a determining factor. More must be done to successfully integrate Italian players into English football. The word from players going both ways is that training differs in style between Italian and English clubs. Italian clubs place emphasis on a strict fitness regime, which Di Canio has incorporated at Sunderland. But questions remain whether this is adequate preparation for the more physical demands of English football. Aquilani struggled with endless knocks, Diamanti rarely looked fit and Borini has picked up numerous injuries in his short spell with Liverpool too. 

With most of the major dealings having already been conducted this summer it might be worth Arsene Wenger considering a bid for Daniele De Rossi, one Italian player who certainly is tailor made for the English game. Though having lost out to Wolfsburg for Luis Gustavo it's unlikely Arsenal could tempt De Rossi, who is fiercely loyal to Roma, to the Emirates.    

Moving to a new country in a World Cup season is extremely brave on Osvaldo and Giaccherini's parts, what with the national set up rarely looking further then Serie A to fill the seats on the plane. Sooner or later another Italian import will come good and it's perhaps a case of appreciating the fleeting spells in English football which made the likes of Zola and Di Matteo so revered rather then expecting Italians to flock to our shores like the Spanish or French. 

Everybody Goes Home Happy - Adel Taarabt Loaned To Fulham

When QPR went on record last week in saying that Adel Taraabt’s recently agreed season long loan to fellow Londoners Fulham “suited both parties” no one was inclined to argue.

With the Hoops focused on a quick return to the top flight and Fulham lacking creative depth in midfield the move benefits all involved. Not least Moroccan Taarabt, who had stated a desire to further his career in the Premier League following QPR’s relegation.  A wish which has been duly granted by Harry Redknapp having grown tired of the 24-year-old star’s frequent acts of petulance. The signing of Karl Henry to support Joey Barton in central midfield and Charlie Austin upfront suggests Redknapp is favouring a more direct, hardworking style for the arduous Championship campaign ahead.

Not so long ago Taarabt was terrorising Championship defences on the way to being named Championship Player of The Year in QPR’s 2010/11 promotion season. But that was under Neil Warnock, a manager who loves a maverick and was willing to give Taarabt the captain’s armband if it meant a guaranteed performance every week. Whilst Taarabt’s mazy runs and at times exquisite technique are not in short supply, too often have they made a habit of deserting him on a cold November visit to Barnsley. Redknapp requires a reliable squad, pulling in the same direction; Taarabt has the potential to cause disruption.

A mercurial talent, Taarabt’s unpredictability is perhaps what Fulham need after a season of mediocrity.  Damien Duff, tireless in his approach, has lost a yard of pace in recent years whilst it remains to be seen if Kieran Richardson can consistently perform at the highest level.

Dimitar Berbatov’s body language approaching the end of last season demonstrated his growing frustration at a lack of quality service and Martin Jol, who bought Taarabt to Tottenham as a youngster, has earmarked the playmaker as the man to keep the Bulgarian’s interest levels at an optimum high. Two players who demand the ball, the partnership has the potential to be counter effective. Jol may be best utilising the pair alongside another flair player like Brian Ruiz for Fulham’s home games where the side traditionally pick up the majority of their points whilst using Taarabt sparingly in away fixtures.  

Handed a Premier League lifeline, Fulham supporters will be hoping Taarabt can mature into a long term replacement for Moussa Dembele. Though if Taarabt’s erratic attitude follows him across the Thames he will be about as popular as the Michael Jackson statue outside Craven Cottage. 

Romelu Lukaku: A Bright Future

"Lukaku, woah! Lukaku, woah! He comes from Stamford Bridge, he's bigger than a fridge."

Top scorer in the Belgian Pro League at age 16, a national call-up and double against Russia soon after and 17 Premier League goals to his name last season - Romelu Lukaku has a bright future ahead of him.

West Bromich Albion fans could be heard chanting their appreciation for the Belgian forward like he was their very own throughout the course of last season, as loanee Lukaku helped guide Steve Clarke's side towards their best Premier League finish to date. The chant doesn't lie either, Lukaku is quite a presence, modelled on former Blues legend Didier Drogba and now ready to take on the mantel as Chelsea's star striker.

Signed from Belgian giants Anderlecht by the Blues for a reported £20 million in August 2011, Lukaku struggled to make an immediate impact. Chelsea, desperate to get Fernando Torres back to his best, showed little desire to accommodate for the youngster and looked to another club to take on the task of breaking Lukaku into English football. Having served as assistant manager under Jose Mourinho at Chelsea, Steve Clarke used his contacts accordingly to snap up Lukaku on a season long loan and aptly let the frustrated Belgian loose.

And Lukaku could have been forgiven for venting his frustrations - sent out on loan whilst Torres's form continued to evade him and, until Demba Ba's arrival, Chelsea suffered from limited attacking options to call upon from the bench. What's more, youngsters such as Victor Moses, Nathan Ake and Oscar were all welcomed into the fold without having to prove themselves elsewhere. This, one can imagine, is all going to change next season. In the meantime Lukaku has gone about his business in a highly professional manner.

Scoring 17 goals last season he passed his trial with flying colours, helping propel the Baggies to the upper echelons of the league. Tall, physical he surprised a few of the league's most intimidating defenders during the course of the season. And Lukaku might feel unfortunate not to have finished with a higher tally to his name. Reminiscent of Drogba he gets himself in and among the action and but for the occasional, youthful lack of composure he might have had Robin Van Persie glancing over his shoulder. A nuisance in the box, he has the predatory instinct and the technique to back it up, as displayed against United on the final game of last season when Lukaku netted an impressive hat-trick. Capable of scoring a range of goals, he's a threat from anywhere in the opposition half if you allow him the space.

Now Lukaku looks set to play a significant role in Mourinho's long term plans, whose forward play revolved around the supremely gifted Drogba during his first stint with the club. The Portuguese manager has shown he's unafraid to make bold decisions regarding his starting eleven; Iker Casillas the most high profile victim. Besides, Mourinho isn't the type to play Torres on reputation alone if he believes Lukaku would suit Chelsea's system better. Defenders dreaded marking Drogba because he provided so many different attacking threats. Lethal in the air, a powerful shot, efficient hold-up play, good on the turn and deceptively fast Lukaku ticks all the boxes of his predecessor. If there is one beneficial difference, Lukaku appears to have a sound temperament in place. 

Up until the current pre-season Lukaku had played eight games for Chelsea scoring no goals, albeit these appearances came during the difficult settling in stage after his arrival in England. Still, the Belgian will be eager to get off the mark competitively as soon as possible at the start of the new season. For all a striker's endeavour it's the goals he scores which endears him to the fans, as Torres knows only too well. 17 league goals for the Baggies is impressive but at Chelsea it's arguably the bare minimum.

Chelsea can be brutally impatient when their strikers don't deliver consistently; Daniel Sturridge the most recent example. The Blues supporters will expect and demand even more next season having witnessed Lukaku's talents from afar. Yet the comments coming out of the Chelsea camp suggest that there is a belief Lukaku can and will deliver at the highest level and that patience will be granted for a player who looks certain to live up to his price tag.

Part of Belgium's 'Golden Generation', Lukaku could well outshine some of the national side's most valuable stars this season and at just 19-years-old he's not yet unleashed his full potential - a bright future indeed. 

10 Tasks For David Moyes

1. Win the fans over - There has been strong support from the majority of United supporters following Moyes's appointment. But each and every one of them will point towards the nagging statistic that Moyes is yet to win any silverware. Anywhere but Old Trafford and this would not be an issue. Ferguson has topped up United's trophy cabinet year in year out and its got used to being greedy. Moyes has to keep feeding the beast and whilst people claiming he'll last just one season will be proved wrong, regardless of United's performance next season, he'll need something to show by at least the half way mark in his six year contract. 

2. Who's coming, who's going - Moyes will have a difference of opinion when it comes to certain players  and he won't be afraid to act on this. Marouane Fellaini must be the most likely candidate to make the move with his manager and having seen Anderson's lethargic performance against Chelsea it would be no surprise if Moyes decided to cut United's losses on a man who, albeit unlucky with injuries, has not lived up to his potential. Nani's situation needs resolving, as of course does Wayne Rooney's. 

3. Phil Jones's best position - Phil Jones has been put in more positions this season then a Karma Sutra expert on a lazy Sunday morning. Though it's useful for United that Jones can be utilised in numerous positions, England would benefit from him nailing down a particular position next season and his most assured performances this campaign have come at centre-half. Whatever Moyes's decision, it is important for Jones's long term growth that he plays regularly in the same position next season. 

4. Backroom staff - It it ain't broke don't fix it goes the saying. Mike Phelan has been an excellent assistant under Fergie these last few seasons and if Moyes is comfortable with keeping the majority of the backroom staff unchanged then it saves a lot of time and money. Still, if he feels the need to bring his own men in then he has to do so with confidence; he's the boss and must show he has the character to make big calls. 

5. The enigma that is Wayne Rooney - How do you solve a problem like Wayne? If one man can it's Moyes. He knows what makes Rooney tick and if the Scot considers Rooney central to his plans then we can expect another hasty u-turn on the striker's part.Their relationship has been reported by sections of the media as 'strained' however and if Moyes's has guarantees that he can use the funds from a Rooney transfer he might just do so. 

6. The old guard - Paul Scholes is likely to hang his boots up for good at the end of this season but Ryan Giggs has stated his desire to play on. Whether he was made aware of Ferguson's impending retirement is anyone's guess but he might be forced to consider his United future in the wake of Moyes's appointment. Moyes would surely be grateful for a few more years of the Welshman's services but Giggs might find it difficult to embrace a fresh approach at his age. 

7. Wilfred Zaha's immediate future - Ferguson's last major signing  at United, Zaha will be wondering where he stands in the grand scheme of things after Ferguson's retirement. If Moyes rates Zaha as highly as Ferguson did then he could yet feature for the first team next season. But Moyes might see it wise to sent him out on loan to a lesser Premier League side, perhaps Everton, to give him some vital experience. 

8. Find an effective equivalent to the 'hairdryer' - Most of United's squad will have experienced the hairdryer in some form and nothing really comes close in terms of producing a reaction. Moyes has the steely eyed glare down to a tee; perfected during his time at Everton where he had to suffer the woeful performances of Andy Van Der Meyde and Diniyar Bilyaletdinov. But when United need firing up he'll need to find something a little more stirring. 

9. Ignore the press - Even if United win 3-0 on the opening day of the season the newspapers are going to find faults in their performance. Ferguson would have done this, Ferguson would have done that. Moyes is a strong character and he has to stay strong when his back is against the wall, which it inevitably will be at some stage next season. 

10. Set himself a target - One trophy next year would be suffice for anyone following in Ferguson's footsteps. Moyes has no Champions League experience and will likely learn some painful lessons playing against the elite of Europe next season. His target should be to retain the Premier League at all costs and fans will be desperate for him to oversee a smooth domestic transition, especially in the league. If he can do this the rest will follow. 

Brazil: Defence Is The New Attack

For perhaps the first time in Brazilian footballing history a case can be made that the national side's defensive talents are overshadowing those of their attack. Most within Brazil will take little joy from this; a nation demands and expects flourishing forward play come 2014.

But Phil Scolari's confidence in Brazil's back four, which have been questioned numerous times during previous World Cup failures, must be high, having seen some stirring displays from Dante and Thiago Silva in the Champions League this calender year.

29-years-old, Dante is at the peak of his career. A towering presence in Bayern's romp to the Bundesliga title and imminent place in the Champions League final, he has all the quality's of his Brazilian predecessor Lucio and more. There is little in terms of weaknesses; he reads the game well, is an expert tackler of the ball and has enough pace to keep the best strikers within his reach. Thiago Silva continues to discredit Joey Barton's accusations that he is an 'overweight ladyboy'. A certainty for 2014, his leadership and talent will be crucial if Brazil are to win in front of their own fans.

The highly rated Dede.

Lesser known to European fans is Dede. Having recently become Cruzeiro's record signing he's held in high acclaim; a cult idol for former employees Vasco De Gama, Dede was recently voted as one of the 100 greatest Brazilians of all time on a television network. Scolari could pair Dede with Silva and leave Dante in reserve if Dede's irresistible form continues.

Dani Alves and Marcelo are the likely candidates at full back and with balls like the one Alves played to Messi against PSG they'll be expected to exert an influence on games. The pressure to mirror the successes of Cafu and Roberto Carlos is ever present 

David Luiz has thrown his name into the hat too; an ideal candidate to serve as Scolari's new enforcer in front of the defence, just as Edmilson did for Scolari so efficiently in 2002. To restrict Luiz to central defence takes too much away from his game. Pairing him with Ramires as one of two holding midfielders, Luiz can roam forward as well as defend. Both need to add more discipline to their game, with the habit to neglect defensive duties a common trend in both their games. The pair can improve their chemistry at Chelsea next season.

Neymar - Brazil's golden hope.

It's higher up the pitch where things aren't so rosy. Brazil are yet to work out their best form of attack, though it will most definitely by built around Santos's Neymar. Lucas looks a player and showed strength and vision well beyond his years against Barcelona. Oscar continues to develop at Chelsea and next season he will be accustomed to the Premier League's physicality. His technical ability is beyond question; lost among a disappointing defence of their Champions League trophy his goal for Chelsea against Juventus was sublime. Himself and Lucas are the likely candidates to accompany Neymar, in what could be a three man attack, with another flair player in behind.

The rest of Brazil's elite are fighting for the remaining places. Kaka and Ronaldinho would both relish one final swansong, which in itself is a sad thought considering the way their careers in Europe have stagnated. If it is to be one or the other Ronaldinho looks like the likely option, having captained the side in their latest friendly against Chile on April 24th. Scolari still has a soft spot for the man who helped take Brazil all the way in 2002.

Alexander Pato has returned home to catch Scolari's eye, but he has never quite done the business for Brazil. Luis Fabiano wasted his big chance at the 2010 World Cup and at 32-years-of-age may well be considered old news by 2014, likewise Fred. Robinho, who was one of the stand out performers in South Africa, has struggled for consistency since, falling well out of favour with the national side.
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Dunga's boys - Robinho and Luis Fabiano, currently out in the cold. 

Hulk has a taste for the spectacular  but is missing the goal threat of the legendary Ronaldo and his ambition has to be questioned; testing himself against Russian defences is not the most difficult of challenges.  Long term Tottenham target Leandro Damiao is another option Scolari will consider.

In short Brazil's attacking positions are up for grabs and whichever striker can find form next season is the one most likely to pair up with Neymar on home soil. It's a case of stick or twist; will players move abroad to impress Scolari at a major European side or stay at home where a prolific season is more likely.

It remains to be seen whether having their players scattered around the globe benefits Brazil's overall game. One thing is certain, the jigsaw is far from completion and Scolari is running out of time to find the missing pieces.

Pundits and Presenters: Getting The Right Chemisty

ITV's football coverage has really started to grate on me of late - not least because of its presenter, the undesirable Adrian Chiles. Ever since switching allegiances to ITV Chiles has become an insufferable, slightly chubbier irritant on our screens. Chiles appears desperate to make 'folks' a fashionable way to address the viewers and puts most of us in a coma of boredom with his brummie drool. The dreadful puns are never too far around the corner and his confused 'why can't England beat their main rivals in a competitive game' act is growing tiresome.

The recent acquisition of Lee Dixon has done little to improve the atmosphere; he's got less character than Roy Keane's dog Triggs. Though having spend most of the 90s playing with a back four that included Tony Adams, Steve Bould and Nigel Winterburn, you'd expect Dixon to have a bit of backbone. He doesn't. Instead he looks on, says something completely unoriginal and that's your lot. On rolls the Heineken advert - the 'modern man' making it to Wembley in dramatic fashion. At least someone had a good time.

The steely glare of Roy Keane.

Half-time discussions are completely dominated by the overly hostile Roy Keane, whose views it appears override all others. Keane makes it patently clear that he has no time for Dixon, disagreeing on anything the ex-Arsenal defender says. Though this isn't such a bad thing, it is the way Keane conducts himself that makes for uncomfortable viewing. He's still got the bully in the playground attitude which he should have left on the pitch, an attitude which contributed to his failure as a manager.

On the other spectrum you have Gareth Southgate. Admittedly Southgate lacks charisma, but unlike Dixon he actually contributes a number of informative observations. He's an intelligent individual and it shows in his analysis. Like all good pundits Southgate actually talks tactics and playing style, rather then simply focusing on players performances. It is no surprise he was offered  the FA Technical Director role and in due time he'll take it.

But Southgate allows himself to be intimidated by Keane too. The former Man United captain ensures he has the last say on every matter addressed and takes a confrontational stance when he hears something he doesn't like. Meanwhile Andy Townsend must have made at least three idiotic comments during the Chelsea Basle game last Thursday. Comments which would make their way into the latest addition of Colmanballs, if his gaffes were not so tediously frequent.

No description necessary.

Still, Colin Murray is doing his best to make MOTD2 a painful experience. It's enough to watch your side lose to a dubious penalty in the 90th minute. But when Murray, in a less than fashionable cardigan,  kicks off some irrelevant banter with Robbie Savage, your reaching straight for the remote, reminding yourself why you steer clear of MOTD2 most weekends. As for Steve Claridge, lets just say it's a shame he hung up his boots.

Having Sky Sports is not the be and end all. But then Jeff Stelling's presenting of Gillette Soccer Saturday is a treat not to be missed. For passion and knowledge he's up their with the best and he handles his guests, including the clueless yet brilliant Paul Merson and easily aggravated Phil Thomson, brilliantly. And the extra subscription money seems well spend when your no longer listening to Garth Crooks explain a goal in 100 words plus.

The new boys -  Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp with Graeme Souness.

It's now safe to say that Monday Night Football is better off without Richard Keys and Andy Gray too. After a tentative start Ed Chamberlain is now the choice leading anchor and his genuine relationship with Gary Neville helps the two bounce off each other well. Neville could yet go into management; his punditry is insightful and you can tell he really does his homework before going on air. His ability to stay unbiased and tell it like it is has won many sceptical viewers over. Sadly bitter sourpuss Graeme Souness still manages to make it onto the Champions League punditry team every year.

If you want to hear some superb lesser known opinions, visit James Richardson's page on The Guardian website. The king of good puns, he gets the right mix of seriousness and playfulness with his guests and covers a lot of European football's larger issues.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/jamesrichardson

The One That Got Away: Adriano

The production line of has been Brazilian superstars is a long and illustrious one; Ronaldinho, Nilmar, Kerlon, Denilson and Kleberson to name a few.

Added to which is Adriano, the man who briefly threatened to become one of Europe's most prolific strikers during his time at Inter Milan before settling for a few too many taco's. A free agent after the termination of his contract at Flamengo, Adriano is yet to surface with a new club and indeed attitude in 2013.

At the height of his fame Adriano graced the cover of Pro Evolution Soccer 6 as he terrorised all defenders in his path; his record for Brazil is astonishing - 27 goals in 48 appearances. Strong, technically astute and hungry for goals he was once hailed as Ronaldo's long term successor. Such hopes have not come to fruition and it serves as a depressing tale of riches to rags that one of Brazil's brightest stars appears to have called it a day at just 31 years-of-age. 

Football can be a particularly precarious sport for those with fluctuating body weight. The off-field distractions can see certain players gain weight at an alarming speed and whilst most run this off pre-season others struggle or show little desire to. Adriano has ballooned in recent years, just as Ronaldo allowed himself to. The difference is that Ronaldo gave much more to football before his knees and his weight pushed him towards retirement. 

It' rumored that Roberto Mancini used the example of Adriano to warn Mario Balotelli of the pitfalls within the game and he could not have picked a better case study. Balotelli is unlikely to ever suffer the weight problems Adriano has had. But he has the potential to become a frequent club hopper, incapable of settling until no manager will want to go near him. 

For Adriano it looks all but over. As Brazil continue to uncover unrecognised gems like Bayern Munich's Dante perhaps they should be monitoring more carefully the players who have the limelight placed upon their shoulders at ludicrously young ages. Neymar's arrogance needs to be quelled considerably if he hopes to emulate Brazil's finest. Though you can't blame him for sticking with Santos, having seen the vast majority of his childhood heroes return from Europe somewhat bloated. 

QPR 1 - 1 Wigan

Loic Remy's stunning breakaway strike looked to have secured a precious three points for 10 - man QPR but for a last gasp Shaun Maloney free-kick which ensured a subdued Wigan came away from Loftus Road with an unlikely point.

A closely matched first half turned in Wigan's favour when Bobby Zamora was dismissed for a needlessly reckless challenge on Jordi Gomez. Yet the 11 men of Wigan struggled to break down a disciplined QPR side whose defence was much improved from the one which capitulated away to Fulham a week ago.

Remy's outstanding effort breathed life into an uneventful second half and looked like being the winner until Stephane Mbia's foul gave Maloney the invitation he needed to score a magnificent equaliser with almost the last kick of the game.

The draw deepens QPR's relegation worries, with Harry Redknapp's side now seven points adrift of safety with just six games left to play. Wigan stay in the bottom three after an unconvincing display against a side who played the majority of the game with ten men, lacking in invention and a cutting edge. Roberto Martinez will take comfort in the knowledge that his side still have a game in hand on their fellow relegation rivals as Wigan stretched their unbeaten run to four games.

QPR started brightly, Andros Townsend's penetrating runs down the right flank getting in behind  Wigan back four and Remy's clever movement in the box nearly resulted in an early goal, peeling away from his marker only to scuff his effort having got on the end of the Tottenham loanee's delivery.

Both sides showed clear intent to the opening exchanges, QPR edging a back and forth period as they pressed high up the pitch and came forward at pace.The closest to an opening goal came after some neat play between the excellent Townsend and Junior Hoilett, whose knockdown fell to Remy on the edge of the box, his long range shot hitting the outside of the post. Wigan gradually grew into the game, the composed passing of James McCarthy bringing Maloney and Aruna Kone into the game whilst the Irishman made a number of well timed interceptions in front of his defence.

The task ahead of QPR was made none the easier in the 18th minute when Zamora's dangerously high boot caught the side of Gomez's face. After consulting with his linesman Scott Ledger referee Phil Dowd was left with little alternative but to brandish a red card, much to the disbelief of Zamora and the home crowd. Fuelled by their numerical advantage Wigan dominated possession for the remainder of the half and should have taken the lead, Callum McManaman twice firing wide from good positions.

Redknapp reshuffled his side at half time, Nedum Onuoha replacing Armand Traore in defence and QPR matched Wigan throughout the second half, posing a greater threat from set pieces. Wigan endeavoured to find an opening but were left frustrated by a well marshaled back four, Clint Hill making a number of important blocks as Franco Di Santo and Kone were forced out wide in their search for a goal.

The introduction of Adel Taarabt gave QPR a refreshed attacking impetus but the inconsistent winger was typically aggravating, wasting a number of set pieces and failing to put the ball into the box after a tenacious run down the left.

The breakthrough came from a poorly taken Wigan free-kick inside the QPR half, deflected into the path of M'bia who bombarded forward at pace. With a sea of Wigan players closing in around him M'bia delicately laid the ball off to the on running Remy who got his just rewards for a determined display, powerfully side footing a stunning strike well beyond the reach of Joel Blazquez.

Looking to close the game out Redknapp replaced Remy with the industrious Jamie Mackie and the points looked secure until M'bia's poorly timed foul on the edge of the box gave Wigan a final opportunity to find an equaliser. Having seen Gomez waste a free-kick moments earlier Maloney stepped up and hit a sublime, swerving freekick over the QPR wall. Replays show that Taarabt's decision to turn his back on the ball was costly and will no doubt incense Redknapp, who now knows that his side are all but down.

The Eagle Has Landed

“I had half-an-hour to make a decision, and it felt like being run over by a lorry.”

 

Attilio Lombardo’s brief stint with Crystal Palace had its difficult moments; holding no previous managerial experience Lombardo was abruptly appointed player-coach in 1998, prised with the task of keeping Palace in the Premiership.  To make matters worse the Palace board chose to appoint the plump and ineffective Swedish has been Thomas Brolin as Lombardo’s translator.

Limited to only 48 appearances in a Palace shirt, a result of injuries and Palace’s administrative demands to cut their losses on a player earning 15,000-a-week, Lombardo moved on to Sven Goran Eriksson’s Lazio in January 1999. Yet the Italian is still regarded amongst Palace fans as a club legend for his willingness to fight the cause and technical ability which was often lost on a squad destined for relegation.

With Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Vialli, a fellow teammate during his time at Sampdoria, already part of the Italian insurgency at Chelsea Lombardo opted for South London in August 1997. He had been released by a strong Juventus side that was reluctant to gamble on an ageing and injury prone player with the likes of Antonio Conte and Zinedine Zidane at their disposal.

Lombardo’s arrival sparked mass excitement at the newly promoted club who were desperate to secure a star signing; the red Ferrari lighting up Selhurst Park’s not so attractive car park, an instant, convenient nickname in the ‘Bald Eagle’ and the No. 7 shirt ready to boost shop sales.  With Lombardo’s arrival pre-season hopes of survival gathered momentum.

Pace was not Lombardo’s forte but the finesse and vision which he offered Palace was on show throughout his short stay. Lombardo’s league debut against Everton sufficed the hype surrounding his arrival, his goal setting Palace on their way to an opening day victory away to Everton. A second away win followed, with Lombardo’s goal wrapping up an impressive 2 – 0 victory against Leeds.

A calm head, it wasn’t long before he started dictating matches in the Premier League and another vital goal came in a 1-0 win against Wimbledon. His presence installed a confidence in the side and everybody wanted to come and watch him play. Palace’s record attendance at home that season came against Chelsea with the Eagles flying high in September, a sell out crowd of 26,186. Had Lombardo stayed fit, Palace’s season could have taken a very different path.

An injury sustained whilst on international duty with Italy in November sidelined Lombardo for a substantial period of time. Palace never recovered from the loss of their influential playmaker; the likes of Sasa Curcic and Simon Rodgers were defensively astute but lacked the creativity going forward at the highest level. Palace dropped from 10^th at the time of his injury into the relegation zone after a dire January.

Ron Noades’s sale of the club to make Mark Goldberg was finalised in the New Year and Steve Coppell was removed from his position as manager. Despite his lack of English Lombardo was offered the player-manager role by Goldberg at short notice, famously declaring that it was like being hit by a lorry. Lombardo still took the role and worked hard but to no avail to change Palace’s fortunes.

In an interview with the Palace Echo in 2001 Lombardo said ‘for two months I was manager and we were already certain of relegation. However in England they’re not stressed, Sacchi would’ve had no problems’; a far cry from the cut throat managerial world of now. Indeed not much was ever expected of Lombardo and as Palace’s worrying form continued Ron Noades was placed as caretaker-manager until the end of the season. Able to focus on his football Lombardo scored a couple more goals during the campaign, including a unusual burst of pace and naturally composed finish to put Palace 3-1 up against West Ham, a game they still went on to draw.

Enthused by his first season in English football Lombardo stayed on with the administration stricken Eagles for a second season, a testament of his affection for the club. But Mark Goldberg’s decision to bring Terry Venables back to the Palace helm didn’t pay off and Lombardo was reluctantly forced to leave for financial reasons.

Lombardo’s presence during a dark period in the club's history was a small but welcome relief and his brilliance had a great enough impact on the fans for them to vote him into the Palace Centenary XI.  Now reserve team coach at Manchester City, Lombardo’s expertise is being put to good use.    

Just One More Pack: Remembering the Sticker Album

The sticker album is a bygone trend, replaced by those flashy cardboard numbers which don't quite compare. But at a certain age they were the next best thing to Pokemon and Sunny Delight.

Flicking through the 02/03 edition which I managed to complete, the 'kits section' and all, never gets tiring. From Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's beaming smile to wondering what an earth happened to the likes of Liverpool's Igor Biscan.

Tough decisions had to be made. You'd reach the newsagents still undecided on whether to spend £2 on jawbreakers or as many packs of stickers as you could afford. Usually it was the stickers and there was always that initial disappointment when you got a 'spare'.

But this would always be undone if you were to acquire a new 'shiny'. Whilst most of the players made into a 'shiny' for the 02/03 album warrant their place, Gerrard at Liverpool, Beckham at Man United, one has to wonder how soon it was before Lee Hendrie went so spectacularly off the rails having being given such acclaimed 'shiny' status - http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21790728

The album's were informative - goalscoring charts, all-time F.A Premier League records in the middle section of the album and even the contact number for each club. It was money well spent and an extremely addictive habit once you found yourself needing just Tugay to complete the Blackburn squad.

So who was where in the 02/03 season? Kevin Keegan looks rather frustrated to be in charge of Man City - if only he'd hung around. Man United are yet to realise that Luke Chadwick won't cut the mustard and in his picture portrait West Ham's Tomas Repka looks as if he just served a five year prison sentence. Francis Jeffers looks as awkward as he should be, considering he is sandwiched between Bergkamp, Henry and Wiltord.

At the back are the advertisements for the 'Swap Shop', also known as the 'Cheat Shop' for those who couldn't complete their album through sheer persistence. But it just goes to show how popular the albums were - shops ran in Belfast, Manchester, Leeds and even at Stamford Bridge in London. For that particular year Ian Rush even decided to make some easy money and appear at every 'Swap Shop' for a 'penalty shoot-out competition'.

I'm as proud as you can be of a sticker album that I didn't need the assistance of a 'Swap Shop'. Though it's alarming to think how much one has to spent to complete an entire album. It was in the primary school playground that I got my final elusive sticker. The Birmingham home kit, sponsored by Phones 4u for those interested.

The best part is looking back a decade later. Hindsight is a wonderful thing but one has to wonder how then Villa manager Graham Taylor was anywhere near a job just ten years ago. Remembering the forgotten gems - the successful ones and the dismal failures. Bolton's Jay-Jay Okocha, Middlesbrough's Juninho and Newcastle's Nobby Solano. Then there was Southampton's Agustin Delgado, Fulham's Junichi Inamoto and the forgettable Li Tie of Everton...

And what has happened to all the strange and amusing names? Middlesbrough had them in abundance - Joseph-Desire Job, Ugo Ehiogu, Massimo Maccarone, Szilard Nemeth; Colin Cooper added some normality.

There were always a number of entertaining 'couples' in the sticker albums too. As if the makers knew what they were doing when they had Thomas Gravesen and Duncan Ferguson opposite each other, both looking ready to kill. Stephane Henchoz and Sami Hypia look like twins and Richard Dunne can't seem to contain his excitement at how strongly his partner Steve Howey resembles Ray Winestone.

Sticker albums ruled our football childhoods once upon a time, but they are still enjoyable to flick through even now. Go dig yours out from under the bed.

Football Books You Really Should Own

Good football books are easy to come by; first class football books are a rarer commodity. Having read the majority of this collection it's easy to see why they are so highly acclaim. If you don't own at least one of these books head onto Amazon and pick one up on the cheap.


Full Time: The Secret Life of Tony Cascarino - Paul Kimmage

As far as autobiographies go Irishman Tony Cascarino's is certainly amongst the best. A modest 197 pages, his story still manages to reveal more about the world of football than Ashley Cole's, David Beckham's and Wayne Rooney's rolled into one. Grappling with the difficulties of adapting to the life and playing style of France as well as the aftereffects of a troubled divorce, Cascarino's story is an insightful and brutally honest read.  The Irish have a habit of turning their football careers into captivating autobiographies - Roy Keane's and Niall Quinn's are both excellent too.

Provided You Don't Kiss Me: 20 Years with Brian Clough - Duncan Hamilton

Winner of the 'William Hill Sports Book Of The Year' award in 2007, Duncan Hamilton's unrestricted account gets closer than any other in its hilarious yet poignant portrayal of Brian Clough, English football's most eccentric manager. The genius behind the man is uncovered radiantly, with anecdotes detailing Clough's influential man management and his overt confidence in what he was doing and where he was going. The relationship between himself and sidekick Peter Taylor is affectionately told throughout and the pivotal moments of Clough's career - his ill-fated spell at Leeds and stunning success at Nottingham Forest, are refreshingly recalled.

The Book of Football Quotations - Phil Shaw

A thoroughly entertaining compilation of quotes, divided into sections ranging from 'past' and 'present players' to 'famous last words', which is definitely the pick of the bunch. Ideal for whittling away the hours on a rainy day or to test one and others knowledge in a group, its also handy when you need a quick quote for an article. Sir Alex Ferguson, Brian Clough and George Best are constant reminders of the brilliant individuals to have graced the game with their words and presence.


Foul!: The Secret World of Fifa: Bribes, Vote Rigging and Ticket Scandals - Andrew Jennings

If ever there was the epitome of a persistent and dogged journalist it is Andrew Jennings. His dedication to revealing the corruption rife within FIFA is well founded and this book published in 2006 makes a strong case for the foul play which it's suspected has been going on within FIFA's ranks for decades. Jennings's investigative style is gripping and his exposure of Sepp Blatter's activities is particularly informative. In light of FIFA's choice of both Russia and Qatar to host the upcoming World Cup's, this book is a compelling and necessary read for anyone interested in the politics of football.

Jellyman's Thrown A Wobbly: Saturday Afternoons in Front of the Telly - Jeff Stelling

Jeff Stelling can do no wrong; host of Gillette Soccer Saturday he provides us with weekly entertainment and the all important scores on the board. This book is a behind the scenes look at the show, its origins and the amusing stories in between. The perfect choice for sitting by the pool, the Chris Kamara anecdotes aren't to be missed.

The Perfect 10: Football's Dreamers, Schemers, Playmakers and Playboys - Richard Williams

I eventually got round to reading this book at a festival last summer and really enjoyed it. Williams covers Zidane, Maradona and Bergkamp amongst others in a sort of mini biography of the No.10 and its continued development. The book looks at the defining moments of each players career and examines what constitutes a No.10, often in both playing style and personality. It's a book which is ideal for dipping in and out of when your interested to find out a little more about each player; Maradona's chapter is especially interesting.

Inverting the Pyramid: The History of Football Tactics - Jonathan Wilson
One of the most insightful football books you will come across, 'Inverting the Pyramid' looks at the complicated world of football tactics. It charts the progression of different formations down the years, analyses the likes of the infamous 'Christmas Pudding' and looks at some of the cleverest and indeed unintelligent brains to have made an influence on football tactics.

Dribble: The Unbelievable Encyclopedia of Football - Harry Pearson

An A to Z of all things football, Pearson incorporates both humour and knowledge effortlessly. Starting at A and 'Animals', which involves the story of Norwegian side named Tromso, who fighting relegation contemplated allowing a crazed fan to slaughter a goat in the centre circle to exorcise the clubs demons. It's well written and speaks a lot of honest truths about the game; dictionary style definitions of the words such as 'bung' are both funny and accurate.

I'm Not Really Here: A Life of Two Halves - Paul Lake

The only book in this list which I am yet to read, 'Im Not Really Here' is soon to be in my Amazon shopping basket. Not many people have heard of or recall Paul Lake, a former Manchester City player and captain who ruptured his cruciate ligament only shortly after missing out on England's Italia '90 squad. Unable to ever truly recover from his injury Lake slipped into football oblivion and this autobiography looks at the darker side of the game. Striking parallels can be drawn to Michael Johnson, the young midfielder tipped as a future England captain who was released by City this January.