Reviews from When Saturday Comes. Follow the link to buy the book from Amazon.
Three years after one relegation, Sunderland are bidding for another record low points total. Andy Dawson analyses Mick McCarthy’s recipe for success
In 2003 Sunderland set an unwanted record when they were relegated from the Premiership with a staggeringly vile total of 19 points. The Black Cats’ current squad make the hapless mob from three seasons ago look like José Mourinho’s Chelsea.
Romário may be greying but he’ll still score you plenty of goals – provided you don’t ask him to travel or do too much of that training nonsense, explains Robert Shaw
Romário da Souza Faria celebrates his 40th birthday on January 29 still mad about goals. His critics might add that he is equally passionate about bars, nightclubs, the beach, bad-mouthing fellow strikers and developing minor knocks on the eve of away trips. But when he claimed his award as the Brazilian national championship’s top scorer in December 2005, Baixinho (Shorty) was speechless. Or rather he told the presenters of the ceremony in Rio’s João Caetano theatre that he did not really need to add any words to back up his impressive goal tally.
Eyal Berkovic’s return to Israeli football has not gone well, despite the considerable size of his ego, as Shaul Adar reports
After playing for five English clubs and Celtic, Eyal Berkovic moved back to Israel this summer with Maccabi Tel Aviv. His season’s statistics make sad reading – nine starts, subbed seven times, coming on as a sub twice, no assists and only one goal. His team scored more goals without him on the field. His only contribution seems to be in coining a new Hebrew idiom: “I went to consult with the crocodiles.”
Simon Tyers tells the story of one of this summer's more unique characters
Next June Australia will, more than likely, be officially anointed as 2006’s equivalent of the 1998 Jamaica side, the qualifiers full of unlikely UK-based players that will do in the Republic of Ireland’s absence. All five penalty takers against Uruguay have played in England, as has (and does) keeper Mark Schwarzer. The Boro man’s understudy, Zeljko Kalac, has played here, too, but is a rather more unlikely World Cup player, from the point of view of many in Leicester.
It wasn't meant to be like this. Norwich's sensible approach to promotion and relegation has ended in recriminations, rather than happiness and a fresh challenge for a Premiership place, writes Graham Dunbar
A heartfelt question to supporters of Sheffield United and Reading – do you want promotion? Honestly, do you?