Fotherby on Tour: Des Walker
"Howard Wilkinson has been very persistent," about coming from Arsenal, said David O'Leary. "He would like to pair me with Des Walker if they are successful with a bid to Sampdoria."
Moxcowhite • Daniel Chapman
Transfers, guesses and data panic
English football seems to be shifting its emphasis towards NFL style front-office departments as a means, I suspect, of making investors feel better about their gambles.
Cameron Stewart ⭑ From A-Z since '92
On the pitch, Cameron Stewart couldn't overcome events off it, either to save the fans' tired minds or his own disputed contract — an exercise in football as limbo.
Fotherby on Tour: Duncan Ferguson
Jim McLean wanted a clause in the deal with Leeds preventing them from selling Ferguson to Rangers. But Duncan Ferguson really, really, really wanted to play for Rangers.
Sentimental stitching
The game has been so successful in selling loyalty back to fans that the thing loyal fans hate most is the idea that a marketing campaign might work and attract new fans — ugh!
Caleb Ekuban ⭑ From A-Z since '92
It became easy to feel bad for players like Ekuban, who had been dropped into the Championship with little preparation and even less luck, and done their best, and suffered for it.
Fotherby on Tour: Trevor Steven
It's easy to understand from the adjectives — diligent, hard-working, cultured-but-disciplined — why Trevor Steven appealed to Howard Wilkinson. Besides, he already had Steve Hodge, so might as well collect another midfielder Diego Maradona had run rings around in 1986.
A bit of Thomas Häßler
Häßler starts on the right, facing up Dorigo and taking him inside, until he and Batty are next to each other and there's a hand-off, when Häßler moves the ball onto someone else. One blink later and he's on the left wing.
Bruno Ribeiro ⭑ From A-Z since '92
Bruno Ribeiro took squad number 10 and took it back to its roots. His passing range, short stature and sharp tackling temper off the left were the nearest thing to a modern John Giles.
Fotherby on Tour: Diego Maradona
Pairing England's most-hated footballer with England's most-hated football club would have sunk the likes of Emlyn Hughes into tabloid column apoplexy for months. Which would have been fantastic.