The Archive

A Danish superstar's decision could kick off a worrying trend in modern football

It doesn’t look like Gareth Barry will ever get the chance to measure his skills against Brian Laudrup. The rain that washed out Chelsea’s game against Aston Villa on October 31st, and Laudrup’s decision to quit Chelsea just two months into a three-year contract, meant the 17-year-old was spared that particular examination. But nevertheless the recent histories of the two players are linked. Their respective transfers, both in the news this month but at opposite ends of the price range, offer hints about the way teams may have to be built in the future.

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A Cinderella story gives welcome exposure to the fledgling American competiton, writes Nick Patience

Although the championship game of the third season of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the US didn’t quite go the way most observers thought it would, you won’t hear any complaints from the soccer authorities, who are still struggling to get widespread recognition for a sport that ranks fifth at best in most sport fans’ eyes.

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Andrew Turton finds out more about the solid, if unspectacular, chairman at the Bluebirds

Distinguishing Features Tall, handsome and immaculately turned out. The local press always pictures him staring trance-like into the distance, apparently dreaming of the Premier League. Dream on, Samesh.

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After years of young Asian players being discarded so readily by clubs, Matthew Brown explains why the next generation just might be the real deal

Jimmy Khan was 14 and full of hope when he signed associate schoolboy forms for Blackburn Rovers. “There we were standing in the office of the chief scout when in walked Howard Kendall, who was the club’s player- manager at the time. I’ll never forget his exact words. ‘What’s this then? Am I witnessing the signing of the first Asian football star?’”

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Mansley Allen gives us a brief history of Brentford

1929-30 A Brentford team likened to“a well tuned Rolls Royce” break a League record by winning all 21 home games. Carried on doing the Charleston in Division Three (South) as there was only one up in those days – could explain the Depression.

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