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.

Learning From His Mistakes: The Second Coming of Andre Villas Boas

Next Monday marks a year since Andre Villas Boas was dismissed as Chelsea manager - not that he'll be too bothered. Tottenham are in fine form and preparations for the crucial derby showdown against Arsenal this Sunday will be his most immediate task.

Gareth Bale could turn water into wine, the current form he is on. But Villas Boas should be given credit for the way he has quietly gone about developing a squad which now look like posing a serious threat to Manchester City's second place spot.

Gone is the stubborn attitude he stood by at Chelsea. Michael Dawson was considered surplus to requirements at the beginning of the season; he's now back at the heart of the Tottenham defence. Villas Boas made hasty, bold decisions with regards to his player policy at Chelsea under the illusion this would earn him respect.

Villas Boas's willingness to restore Dawson to his starting line up is a sign of change and for a highly competitive squad such as Tottenham's it's important to know that your manager won't turn his back on you. Villas Boas needs to utilise the large and talented squad at his disposal, with Tottenham now serious contenders in the Europa League. Keeping everyone pulling in the right direction is crucial. He's started to realise this during his time at Tottenham; Hugo Lloris had to rightly wait his turn before claiming the No.1 goalkeeping jersey.

Villas Boas's playing style is working far better than it did at Chelsea too. At Chelsea he had the unfortunate problem of accommodating and trying to revive the fortunes of Fernando Torres. Jermain Defoe is more to Villas Boas's liking; fast, quick on the turn and lethal in front of goal. Villas Boas's enthusiasm can be seen from the touchline and this rubs off on his players. Defoe looks revitalised this season; Villas Boas has implemented a steely motivation that hasn't been there in the last few years.

Villas Boas was a sound replacement for Harry Redknapp. Redknapp built solid foundations but there was a sense at the end of last season that Tottenham were going backwards. They needed to be more daring, more innovative. Villas Boas wants attacking football, with an emphasis on flair which starts at the back. The players at Tottenham, like those during his time at Porto, are perfectly suited to such a style.

Kyle Walker and Jan Vertonghen are talented with the ball at their feet and Tottenham look more comfortable in possession this season then they did the last. Villas Boas knows that his team pose a big enough threat with with a 4-5-1 formation that includes Gareth Bale. The extra midfield position goes to Moussa Dembele who adds finesse and vision to the pace in front of him.

Villas Boas, true to the mould of a modern manager, works hard on the fitness of his players and this is paying dividends. Gareth Bale and Aaron Lennon have steered clear of injury and are showing no signs of wear coming off the back of the Christmas period.

Villas Boas's has taken things in his stride far better this season too. He's remained philosophical after loses to Man City and Chelsea, from positions where Tottenham could have gone on to win. He's not being asked to justify his selection policy constantly or why he can't get the best out of a £50 million pound striker. At Chelsea he got caught up in club politics.

Keeping characters like Emmanuel Adebayor happy is no easy feat either. It's clear that behind the scenes he is taking a more relaxed, pacifying approach. Failing to address the ego's of Didier Drogba and co. at Chelsea seems to have served as a painful but useful lesson for Villas Boas. At Tottenham he's spending more time on the training ground, adding his fresh approach to an already strong side.

The way Villas Boas has been handling Gareth Bale's situation is particularly refreshing. Rather than becoming increasingly paranoid like Arsene Wenger Villas Boas is unashamedly singing Bale's praises - most recently calling him an inspiration. He is not entertaining the thought that he may lose his star man. Their relationship appears strong; Bale went over to embrace his manager after his winning goal at Upton Park. Villas Boas is taking the right approach, encouraging Bale and letting him do the business on the pitch. What will be will be in the summer and Villas Boas is learning to accept and work around this.

The Half-Time Quiz: Football General Knowledge

 

 

See how many of these you can get right. There are twenty questions overall, ranging from managers to kit sponsors to club nicknames.

 

Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1.  Where was Martin Jol managing before he took the Fulham job?

2. Who was the top scorer, due to the highest number of assists, at the 2010 World Cup?

 

3. Where did Arsenal sign Olivier Giroud from?

 

4. Who sponsor Watford currently?

 

5. What was the last trophy that Arsenal won and what year?

 

6. Which Italian side did Paul Gascoigne play for?

 

7. Who was the coach of England during Euro 2000?

 

8. What nationality is Edison Cavani?

 

9. Who is Liverpool's top Premier League goalscorer ever?

 

10. Who play their home games at Deepdale?

 

11. How old was Theo Walcott when he was included in the England squad for the 2006 World Cup?

 

12. Who missed Chelsea's crucial penalty in the Champions League Final against Man United in 2008?

 

13. What number did David Beckham wear for Real Madrid?

 

14. What is the name of Swansea City's Chairman?

 

15. Who won Euro 96 when football came home?

 

16. To which famous footballer is Sergio Aguero son-in-law?

 

17. Which three teams were relegated from the Championship last season?

 

18. Where did Emile Heskey start his career?

 

19. What club are nicknamed 'The Yellow Submarine'?

 

20. Who is the current coach of the USA national side?

 

 

 

 

1. Ajax
2. Thomas Muller
3. Montpellier
4. Football Manager
5. 2005, The F.A Cup
6. Lazio
7. Keven Keegan
8. Uruguay
9. Robbie Fowler
10. Preston North End
11. 17 years old
12. Nicolas Anelka
13. 23
14. Huw Jenkins
15. Germany

16. Diego Maradona
17. Coventry, Doncaster, Portsmouth
18. Leicester
19. Villarreal
20. Jurgen Klinsmann

What Became of The Likely Lads?

 

There are two enduring images that surfaced amongst the Portuguese press in the aftermath of the Euro 2004 Final. One was Cristiano Ronaldo's uncontrollable tears - the boy wonder reflecting the hurt of a nation. The other being Luis Figo's solitary figure trudging off the field, stooped in thought as the cameras worked hard to capture the inconsolable nature of a finals defeat. Figo's surviving compatriots Rui Costa and Fernando Couto, who would both announce their international retirement with immediate effect, shared Figo’s painful realisation that the chance of a fairytale ending for Portugal's Golden Generation had been stifled by a well organised Greek outfit.

 

Expectations had always been especially high for Portugal's Golden Generation, having won the Fifa World Youth Championship in 1989 and then again on home soil in 1991. After a period of stagnation post - Eusebio Portugal was producing players with serious ability. Victor Baia and Fernando Couto provided a solid spine, Nuno Gomes a threat in front of goal and flair players were in strong supply with Joao Pinto, Sergio Conceicao and Rui Costa who gave the side an extra dimension in the No. 10 role. Top of the class was Luis Figo, blessed with a precise delivery which would carve open the world’s finest teams in due course.

 

 

Figo was perhaps the only player of the pack capable of sliding straight into any side in the world. Carlos Queiroz, coach of Real Madrid at the time, said of Figo in 2003 - "You could put Figo in a phone booth with 11 opponents and he would find his way to the door. He'd beat them all and dribble his way out". His drilled effort at Euro 2000 was a reminder to English fans that there was a player outside the Premier League capable of matching David Beckham's talent. A well deserved Ballon d'Or confirmed Figo's brilliance in December of the same year.

 

 Pig’s heads and Barcelona fans aside Figo is held in high regard by the footballing world and his stature has only improved since retirement. Still playing in 2003, Figo set up the Luis Figo Foundation, inspiring Victor Baia to set up his own foundation in 2004. Both foundations seek to help children realise their potential as individuals and citizens through sport.

 

 By day Figo acts as an ambassador for Inter Milan. With the slicked black hair, crisp suits and an uncanny resemblance to Jose Mourinho Figo’s role consists of attending functions across the globe, promoting the Inter Campus Initiative. Labelled a non-profit social project the initiative runs in 25 countries serving a similar purpose to Figo's own foundation.

 

 

Equally fascinating and admirable is Figo's ambassadorial support for the Stop TB Partnership. Part of the global fight against tuberculosis, one of his contributions was to have himself fictionalised in comic books. The story follows Figo and a group of teenage girls and boys, who defeat a team of tuberculosis germs. Married with three daughters Figo may never see a son of his own continue his legacy. But his refreshing enthusiasm to take on numerous projects is a measure of the man. Witnessing one of the underprivileged youngsters from his foundation cut the mustard at a professional level would be, one suspects, just as gratifying for Figo.

 

 The Golden Generation came close to silverware on a number of occasions. France, inspired by Zinedine Zidane overcame Portugal and an incensed Abel Xavier at Euro 2000. In Germany six years later Zidane’s penalty made the difference once more. It was England who were the fall guys for a team who, led by Figo, were desperate to progress to the latter stages of Euro 2004 and the 2006 World Cup, fully aware that time was catching up with them. Rui Costa's exquisite effort, hammered past David James at 91 kmph left England shell-shocked in 2004. The goal would have been the difference but for Frank Lampard's equaliser.

 

 

Praise for Rui Costa has never been short in supply. Named in Pele's somewhat dubious Fifa 100, which included El-Hadji Diouf amongst others, Rui Costa's reputation landed him a role as Director of Football at his beloved Benfica immediately after his professional retirement. Currently continuing the role, Rui Costa determines the manager and players that arrive at Benfica, a powerful position for a former player with no previous experience. His purchases have helped Benfica and Portugal keep up with the rest of Europe. The signings of Ramires and Javi Garcia were vindicated by a first league title in five years and both players have since moved on for large fees.

 

 Fernando Couto has achieved relative success since retiring too. Handed the Director of Football role at Braga in 2010, he was appointed assistant manager at the beginning of the season. Aspirations to disrupt the status quo of Rui Costa's Benfica and Porto at the top of the Portuguese league may well see the ambitious Couto take over managerial duties.

 

 The Golden Generation have all retired gracefully bar Nuno Gomes, who is chasing a final pay check at Blackburn. Their stature at an international level has elevated the likes of Figo, Rui Costa and Fernando Couto to promising positions within club football. Still, the Golden Generation’s continuing influence on Portuguese football is unsurprising. Their hunger for success, installed at an early age, was always going to serve the players well upon retirement.

 

 

Figo knows how to carry himself, having led by example for Portugal and rumours continue to circulate that he will replace his old international adversary Zidane in a technical role at Real Madrid. Having surrounded himself with gifted players throughout his career Rui Costa’s eye for talent is beginning to come to the fore at Benfica.

Portugal have unprecedented faith in their former stars. Joao Pinto, another member of the Golden Generation works closely with the national side. With the rapid and successful promotion of former international stars Pep Guardiola, Oliver Bierhoff and Laurent Blanc to posts at both a club and national level this approach appears to be working. England – take note.

 

 

The Class of The 90s: Rise of The Superstar

A decade which started with Gascoigne's tears and ended with Solskjaer's glorious toe poke; the decade more importantly when technical ability surpassed expectations, when the class of the 90s outgrew the 20th century.

The class of the 90s defied expectations with a 'whatever you can do I can do better' attitude which football was only just acclimatising itself to. Ronaldo hit 34 goals in 37 appearances for Barcelona in the 1996/97 campaign, Roberto Carlos hit a stunning banana kick and an English 18-year-old had the audacity to skip past an Argentine defence before smashing home a memorable goal.

 The class of the 90s developed on the talent of previous generations. Figo and Beckham reinvented the capabilities of a wideman with an emphasis on precise delivery. Cafu and Carlos built on the model full back set out by Carlos Alberto adding a greater goal threat, whilst Roberto Baggio slivered his way through the smallest of gaps possible. Raul emerged as the prodigal son of Real Madrid, Del Piero the equivalent for Juventus- instinctive strikers, who could perfect the tap in and the finesse finish. The introduction of the Champions League showcased this abundance of attacking flair coming to the fore.

It's no easy feat to be at the top of your game for three or four years at a time, arguably the minimal period of sustained brilliance to be considered one of the greats of your decade. Staying clear of injury is vital; had it not been for injury some of the decade's most gifted stars could have achieved so much more then they did - both Baggio and Ronaldo's knees struggled to keep up with the rest of their bodies.

The right manager plays a role too. For roughly fours years Ronaldinho captivated the Catalan crowds, but when vice seduced him Frank Rijkaard did little to halt it ruining the troubled genius. Had Ronaldinho chosen Manchester United and Alex Ferguson his chances of a prolonged peak would no doubt have been heightened.

Playing in a successful side is a often a necessity. It's with the Madrid's and Milan's that you win trophies and a individual needs some silverware to show for his endeavours. But the 90s saw the rise of the individual, the ego, the No.10.

The football maverick has been reincarnated many a time, both before and after the 90s - think Best and Balotelli. And the 90s had the privilege of witnessing the likes of Romario, Ginola and Cantona liven up the game on and off the field. Romario didn't do training, even Sir Bobby Robson could not implement a harder work ethic. The distractions of the game surfaced during the 90s but were still in a relatively harmless stage. The Liverpool suits in 96 and their infamous Christmas party in 98 were signs that player power was growing.

Maradona was sublime, because he could take a decent but by no means special Argentine side and win them the World Cup. During the 90s the ability to carry a side was seen more frequently. Baggio waltzed Italy to the World Cup Final in 1994, Cantona pulled United over the line come May 96 and Bierhoff stunned the Czechs a few months later, taking matters into his own hands with a masterclass substitute performance.

Top of the class were Ronaldo and Zidane.

A revolutionary specimen, Brazil's Ronaldo hopped between clubs repeatedly in the 90s, such was the demand for his signature. He choose the right clubs at the right time too. At PSV he could continue what Romario had started and learn under Robson's steady guidance. A brief but prolific spell at Barcelona showed he could do the business for a huge club.

Four goals and three assists at France 98 confirmed his status as the deadliest forward in the world. Surrounding himself with the best playmakers in the world, the record of almost a goal a game at each club meant Ronaldo bought silverware to any team. What was impressive was his ability to swap Spain for Italy with such ease, scoring goals against notoriously rigid defences.

Zidane's brilliance was only truly highlighted in 1998, with a firm forehead and a 3-0 rout of Brazil on home soil. Zidane's double in the 1998 World Cup Final in France signalled what would become a habit of performing on the big occasions. One of the most graceful footballers of all time, his tenacity was deceptively patient, confident of producing a moment of magic in the 89th minute when required.

A stain on his reputation was the 1997 Champions League Final, when Juventus succumbed to Borussia Dortmund 3-1. Zidane was subdued by Paul Lambert, who must wish that Barry Bannan possessed the discipline to do the same. And when Ronaldo faltered at the final hurdle in 98, Zidane took centre stage. Like Ronaldo, Zidane was able to swap Italy for Spain comfortably and eventually outshone Ronaldo at Real Madrid. Madrid took the class of the 90s and assembled a squad of Galaticos.

 By the end of the 90s football was ready to embrace the 21st century. Take Ronaldo, a hybrid who consistently displayed all the individual elements of speed, precision, power and ruthlessness. The Van Basten's and Muller's were blessed with and honed their game's upon one or at best two of these elements. But Ronaldo was lethal in any area of the oppositions half, a threat that couldn't be pinned down.

Adkins Sacking - Nature of The Beast

Nigel Adkins.

Once upon a time you had the Brian Clough's, Bill Shankley's, and Ron Atkinson's. Men who would walk through the door of a new club and never leave without an almighty fight. Men who demanded respect and in due time got it. Nobody has any respect anymore.

 

 Make no mistake Nigel Adkins will be at watching the game this evening absolutely seething. Most managers feel relieved when their called into the chairman's office and given the boot after a dreadful campaign. There was a sense that Paul Jewell might have had a heart attack had he remained managing Ipswich for a week longer. But Adkins has been treated badly.

 

Nicola Cortese, a man with his own vision.

I won’t go as far as to say I want Southampton to now go down, because players like Rickie Lambert have been terrific this season. But I have no desire to see Pochettino succeed. His record is average at best and we've seen already with Juande Ramos at Tottenham and Fabio Capello managing England that a manger with very limited English is a recipe for disaster. What's aggravating is that it was an English manager on the end of a brutal dismissal and Nicola Cortese, the Saints chairman, had no intentions of replacing Adkins with another home bred manager.

 

Pochettino can go one of two ways. He can stick with the current crop of players who appear good enough to stay up, or shake things up considerably. The young talent of Jack Cork, Nathaniel Clyne and Luke Shaw have benefited from a manager willing to blood youngsters in crucial fixtures, a brave decision which has worked brilliantly. It would be a shame to see say Pochettino bring a left back in from Espanyol and a striker likely to fit his philosophy more so than Rickie Lambert.

 

Bill Kenwright, a shining example who has Everton's best interests at heart.

 

Southampton have not beaten Everton in their last six Premier League meetings and whilst Everton have won only twice in 13 attempts in the Premier League at Southampton, the subdued atmosphere and drop in team morale could pave the way for a easy three points for the Toffees. Bill Kenwright epitomizes the type of chairman which have become a rare commodity in England. His patience and trust in David Moyes has seen steady growth and Everton now pose a genuine threat in the fight for fourth place. Cortese wants Southampton to be in Europe within the next two years or so, but his approach threatens to derail a side who were on the up.

 

The problems with a foreign chairman begin to emerge when teams make it to the promised land. The fans and the squad are all pulling in the right direction when the new chairman spends millions of pounds on transfers, a quick solution to reaching the summit of the Championship. But these foreign chairman expect to see rapid growth immediately once their team enters the Premier League. Neil Warnock was unfortunate to be dismissed at QPR and they were lucky to survive the season. If the ambitiously ran Leicester or recently bought Nottingham Forest gained promotion the likes of Nigel Pearson and Alex McLeish would know that talk of a mid-table finish is expected rather than a dogfight to survive.

 

Mike Ashley, don't expect his friendship with Pardew to last.

 

Most worrying is the perception that chairman who don’t rate the manager in charge when they arrive are making no effort to build bridges or give them their chance. Mike Ashley never really wanted Chris Hughton and saw him as a stopgap. The same can be said for Sean O' Driscoll at Nottingham Forest. Foreign investment is now being perceived with a level of suspicion because fans cannot tell if these buyers have the clubs best interest at heart. In the case of Southampton, such an unjustified sacking brings this question to the forefront of footballing issues once more.

Ferguson's Finest Squad? I Think Not.

Sir Alex Ferguson recently claimed that his current squad equals any in terms of ability during his time at the Manchester United helm and with good reason he may argue: United have an impressive 52 points from 21 games.

 

Ferguson's declaration will give his side the confidence to go to the Bernabau and get a result. But  confidence can get you only so far sometimes. United's forwards have papered over the cracks this season and Ferguson must be sat at home wondering how his side are so far ahead of the pack, with his defence having taken more of a battering than Steve Bruce's nose. De Gea is on his way out according to the Daily Mirror, an ageing Ferdinand is out of contract in the summer and without Vidic for the majority of the campaign United's defence have conceded 28 goals already.

Hardly a shining resemblance of the stable back five made up by Schmeichal, Neville, Pallister, Bruce and Irwin in the 90s. It's hard to find support for Ferguson's claim when he frequently switches between his first choice goalkeeper and centre back pairing. And allowing James Collins two free headers should be a court marshal offence in itself. Roy Keane must have been wincing at United's defending and would be the first to line up with his rifle.
 

The old guard.

 

There is no doubt Ferguson's current crop is stronger than his teams of the early 2000s. The quality is more consistent across the board, you struggle to pick out a Djemba-Djemba and there's less of the expensive disappointments like Veron. Neither is there the arrival of players past their peak, Ferguson is placing faith in Phil Jones and Chris Smalling rather than outdated defenders such as Laurent Blanc. Even upfront, Van Persie is as lethal as Van Nistelrooy and Hernandez and Welbeck given time will match up to Yorke and Cole.
 

Eric Djemba-Djemba, named twice he was so good...

 

It's in midfield where the statement falls short. Giggs and Scholes are accomplished players but their peaks were in previous United teams. The players around them are a long way off world class. Valencia is a fantastic player, whose delivery is as appreciated as much as Beckham's was. But remove Valencia and you have a midfield struggling in creativity. Van Persie is everywhere for United, not least dropping deep on numerous occasions along with Rooney to start an attack. Carrick is decent at best whilst Anderson flatters to deceive.

Rotation is now commonplace in the United midfield because no one is making a position theirs. Giggs, albeit a legend and still able to perform at the highest level, should not be getting a look in even in dead rubber Champions League ties. That is if this side is Ferguson's strongest. If Carrick and Cleverley are off par Anderson can be called upon. But the more reliable fresh legs of Nicky Butt, for Keane or Scholes, was part of the reason United were able to romp to the treble in 1999. Darren Fletcher fulfils a similar role but has not been the same since his illness. Meanwhile Nani and Young's inconsistent form has left fans praying for the return of Ronaldo.
 

Tom Cleverley, a talented prospect.

 

 That said, this squad has easily enough potential to become one of United's greatest teams. Rafael is looking a more complete player this season and Jones and Smalling are technically sound stoppers with footballing brains similar to Pallister and Bruce. It remains to be seen whether Cleverley can reach the heights of Scholes, but once fit Kawaga will show his quality. Hernandez is Solskjaer all over and has more of a predatory instinct. Van Persie can lead this current squad on with his goals and creativity for at least three more years whilst hopefully spurring Rooney on.

'I knew I should have kept my mouth shut'.

 

It has been a comfortable ride thus far for United but don't be surprised if they falter again. The make up of Manchester City's squad is more suited now to the role once held by United, the late comers who hit form at the crucial time. If Vidic continues his spell on the sidelines, Van Persie joins him and Ferdinand is not offered a new contract, United's side will lack determined leaders to carry them over the line. Kompany, Toure and Tevez have the legs, fitness and tenacity to keep going until May. Madrid will be a massive test for this United team and one which on current watching they may well fail to pass.