Despite having a rich history that includes Gordon Banks, Cris Freddi wonders if England is currently going through a dry spell in producing top-class goalkeepers
As far as I can see, this is the first era in which managers would rather go abroad for an erratic has-been like Bernard Lama than develop a young keeper who is likely to sod off as soon as his contract is up. Blame Bosman. They all do.
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
Phil Dorward looks at the impact of Ivan Golac, one of the first foreigners to manage a football club on these shores
When Ivan Golac was sacked as manager of Dundee United in March 1995 he returned to his native Yugoslavia to buy a chocolate factory. It was totally in keeping with the events of the previous two years: Golac realised the dream of winning the Scottish Cup, United’s first victory in seven attempts, before dispensing with tactics and getting United relegated the next season. In essence, Golac was a pseudo European manager, chocolate being the only continental thing he ever produced.
Mike Ticher explains why some Chelsea fans, himself included, feel that the tributes paid to Matthew Harding struck the wrong note
Reading the newspaper tributes to Matthew Harding in the days after his death, it was hard not to be struck by how easily the bare facts of his life could have been presented to paint an entirely different picture of the man.
Following Alan Shearer's move to Newcastle, Premier League clubs have more talent than ever before
Alan Shearer has made a habit of living up to his billing: the two thirty-yard strikes on his Blackburn debut that accompanied the Crystal Palace chant of “what a waste of mon . . .”; the goal on his England debut against France; the five he notched in Euro ’96; leaving Blackburn the month he appears on the front cover waving at Kevin and Alex. £15m is a hell of a price tag, but if anyone can handle it and deliver 30 goals a season, then Al’s the boy.