Tottenham's way of playing may not historically yield success, but Tim Broadfoot argues that it entertains
Tottenham may not win many trophies (around one a decade) but they more than make up for it with their famous playing methods.
Aside from the bad memories it holds, Roy Chuter examines why Heysel is not safe enough to stage major football matches
Of all the places you’d think you have a right to expect to find the latest planning and technology, and where the lessons of eighties disasters would have been most thoroughly learnt, the Heysel Stadium has to be top of the list. But for many of the Irish fans who visited the redeveloped stadium in November, it was obvious that problems remain.
Where have all the interesting characters in football gone?
Strange times when you find yourself agreeing with a well-worn cliché, but there simply aren’t the characters in the game anymore. What other explanations can there possibly be for television’s continued obsession with John Burridge? Over the past 12 months he has been beamed into living rooms, firstly in the Tyne Tees region, then nationwide, sporting comedy sideburns, singing, asking Fabrizio Ravanelli if he liked fish and chips and, more recently, embracing his old mum on Match of the Day.
Wednesday 1 In the Champions League Man Utd recover from conceding a goal in the first minute to beat Juventus 3-2 at Old Trafford. "This is a measure of how far we've come," says Alex beaming fit to burst. "If we put another three goals past Peruzzi in Rome next week we will be on our way to the World Cup finals," says Phil Neville, getting carried away. Newcastle come back from two down in Kiev to draw with two late goals, the second a bizarre deflection. Their luck is offset, though, by an injury to Tino Asprilla which will keep him out for at least a month. In the Coke, Sheffield Wed go out to Grimsby on a 4-3 aggregate. "It was another bad night at the office," says David Pleat, who may not be working late for much longer.
Thursday 2 Bad news for bar staff around Manchester – Roy Keane's cruciate injury will keep him out for the rest of the season.
Sweden have underachieved ever since the last World Cup, says Duncan Cooper
June 16th 1997 – the rainiest day of the year at Arlandastad golf course near Stockholm Airport. I stagger off the 18th green, wet through, and trudge slowly up to the clubhouse. Near the first tee a man with blond hair is struggling to put his waterproof trousers on. One foot seems to be stuck. He’s slightly podgy, unshaven, and generally rather grumpy